Avera McKennan Community Weight Loss Challenge Bloggers

Doug and Jenny Bartel have agreed to chronicle their 12-week journey through the Avera McKennan Community Weight Loss Journey in a blog- for all to see! Check back often and tell your friends, as we work together for a healthier happier community!

August 18, 2008

I think we were all wondering what it would be like at the end of this twelve week challenge. Twelve weeks is plenty of time for life to hit us with challenges and allow our resolve to be tested. But here it is. The basic question is this, “Are you healthier today than when you started?” or “Did you learn something that has made you healthier today than you were yesterday?” My hope for all of us is that we would shout a resounding yes. If you hit your goal…good for you! If you’ve fallen short, keep going, the challenge isn’t over. I have had some great success over the challenge but I’ve also fallen down a few times. When I fall I have to pick myself back up and continue on because I no longer want the physique I had before…because I’ve seen the other side…because I am worth it. It is amazing how at the end a challenge our mind try to trick us into thinking it’s over, but you and I know it has just begun.

I say we set a new goal, a new challenge. As the old saying goes, without purpose the people perish. So let’s work towards Christmas! Working hard at the Thanksgiving table…being thankful for something more that adding 5 pounds of fat on our bodies. Let’s work hard through the fruit cake, cookies and candy delights. Let’s give ourselves the gift of life this Christmas. Let’s freeze as the layer of blubber is no longer there to insulate us. Let’s make sure that the fat summer clothes and swim suits work better as curtains next summer than miserable attempts to hide what cannot be hidden. If you’ve lost the weight…keep it off. If you still have a ways to go, like me, let’s keep being active and filling ourselves with the best fuel for doing life. 

I’ve lost 30 pounds and I could not have done it without Avera and the weight loss community and support of my wife, family and friends. Thank you Avera for believing in us, for giving us a chance to do something good because we are worth it. Thank you for taking a risk and giving us the chance to change our family histories. Our future children and grandchildren thank you for helping keep us around until God calls us home! So here’s to hoping you no longer qualify for the Santa job. 

Your friend and fellow journeyers,

Doug and Jenny

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