Made it through a week of workouts

Our final structured workout was on Friday and we made it! I celebrated by going out and lounging at the lake today, although I did get in some cardio by swimming around the boat several times and treading water the whole time we were in the water. All in all, I feel great when I am working out, although getting up at that hour is a royal pain due to my nighttime work schedule.

On another note, I have decided not to attend the services. I just can't justify it in my mind. Its not me and although part of me wants to give them a chance, nothing they can do in those services is going to change my core belief structure. I will go to the final one as required, but otherwise I am going to respectfully abstain.

Notes on the diet portion of this journey. I am fully committed to altering my diet to get the amount of protein, fats, etc they would like me to have. What I am not fully committed to is the blood type diet they would like us to be on. It reeks of fad and there just aren't enough clinical trials or reviewed scientific evidence for me to feel comfortable doing it. We are going to go grocery shopping today and stock up on everything we need for the upcoming week to really get this accomplished. Below is my diet guideline. I have found some sources online re amounts of protein in veggies and nuts so that I don't have to do meat or protein powder at every meal. I will be lacking in some, but will make up for it in other meals. Not optimal, but the best I can do.

1) Have when u wake up
-.75 of a scoop of egg protein n water
- 1 small piece of fruit
-1/3 of a cup of oats (measure dry)
-1 tablespoon of almond butter

2) 3 hrs later
-3.5 oz's of protein (see your list for options
-.5 a cup of carbs (brown rice or 3 oz's of a sweet potato)

3) 4 oz's of lean protein
-large salad w fat free dressing

4)
-3.5 oz's of protein
-.5 a cup of carbs (25 grams)
Or a large piece of fruit

5)
-.75 scoop of protein n water
-1 medium piece of fruit
-.3 of a cup of oats or 1 rice cake

6)
-3.5 oz's of lean protein
-.5 a cup of brown rice
-1 cup of broccoli or 8 asparagus spears

1 gallon of water daily

Church

I don't go to church. I wasn't brought up going to church, and typically if I am in a church there is a wedding or funeral going on. Nothing against church, just isn't who I am right now and don't know if I ever will be a churchgoer. I believe in some greater power or powers, but I have a hard time believing that there is only one right belief. How would you know yours was right? What makes one more right than another? Since I don't have these answers I have always chosen to just leave religion be. All that being said, a church is the main sponsor of this challenge, so I went to their services today.

Since I don't attend church, I have no real idea how much like other churches in our area their services were, but it was definitely not like any service I have ever been too. Lots of big screens, singing with a band, and preaching. I felt like I was in a really well orchestrated Christian karaoke. I don't mean that to be insulting, that's just what it felt like to me. Didn't really feel like my cup of tea, but to each their own. As part of the challenge, they are asking that we attend services each Sunday. Now this would only be 6 services, but just not sure I can do this aspect. I could attend with an open mind and try and get something out of the services, but it sorta feels like cheating or betraying my true beliefs by going and standing along with people who actually are committed to this faith. Now the whole program is free, so perhaps I owe it to them to make an attempt to attend their services? I'm sure there are all sorts of people that attend church and get nothing out of it. People go to all sorts of events they aren't interested in out of obligations or what they feel are obligations.

So, we will see what I decide to do on this aspect of the program. I can't decide if I feel like a poser, or if I owe it to the sponsors to at least give them a chance to preach to me. I am committed to making a spiritual change to accept working out and eating better as part of my life. I am fully behind letting go of guilt and other psychological fun stuff, but I haven't decided if this change includes me giving religion a try. Right now I just am not convinced. We will see were I am next Sunday.