Christian Business Owners: Get fit. And if it doesn't stick? You don't pay.

Everyone thinks to lose fat you need to cut out sugar but I've eaten sugar every day over the last 5 years and I'm down ~40lbs down over the last 5 years. Eating sugar within my calories helps me keep the fat off because God didn't make food to just be fuel. He designed our bodies to take pleasure in food too. In fact pleasure, in it's proper context guards us from temptation. That's one of the reasons Paul encourages married Christians to not go too long w/ out sex. Holy Pleasure is guarding. Enjoying great food, to the glory of God, responsibly guards you from being tempted to over eat else where.

I could say something simple like “Bible time” or “I love Tennessee.” but that doesn’t begin to describe the staggering level of guilt I experienced in this moment for not being grateful enough. And it’s weird. Because some might consider me a gratitude expert. I am the guy who could sincerely shout praises to God in the middle of the storm. I am the guy with the self control to say “thank you Jesus” when my baby is screaming in my face at 3:00 am. I am the guy who says “this is all from GOD” when my family and I experience his goodness. But for some reason I’ve still been convicted. My gratitude is not sufficient. Sure. I’ve built enough gratitude to regulate my emotions. Hell, I’ve built up enough gratitude to stare death straight in the face and say “thank God for the opportunity to strengthen the endurance of my faith.” (James 1:2-3) I’ve faced that through the near collapse of my marriage, of my business, the death of my father, and more. But something is hitting me different as seasons have changed. My buissiness is experiencing a ton of momentum. My wife is showing up in a way that overwhelms me with joy. I’m in the best shape of my life. My daughter is healthy. And I still have gratitude in the hard moments. But I’m realizing I don’t praise God enough for the good things too. And I don’t praise him in advance for the further good he’s bringing me. Part of it is because I already feel overwhelmingly blessed. Another part of it is because I’m seeing the writing on the wall. God is continuing to bless me. And there’s nothing I can do to stop it. It almost feels against my will - like if I woke up tomorrow and asked him to stop- he’d say “no”. And part of it might actually be some guilt. There’s part of my programming where people around me made me feel like a piece of sh*t for desiring more. Lies from things they said that have held me back for so long. I’ve been shedding those lies off of me for two years and still have a lot more to go. But I’m at the point where I’ve recognized that God is so good - I’ll never be able to give gratitude that’s “good enough” or that appropriately describes his goodness. I can’t even anticipate the miracles he’s going to work out for me today, let alone this week - because he’s just that good. I just want to un-train the prideful, fearful parts of me that feel bad for receiving those blessings. And with that - the challenge of “I’m not being greatful enough.” God calls us to so much gratitude - he calls us to a perfect standard of gratitude. A gratitude that heals us, and makes his name known. But also - we’ll never be able to be grateful enough - and that’s ok. Jesus is grateful on our behalf. He lives to intercede, to pray to father on our behalf - perfectly worshiping, and expressing gratefulness - for all he is and all he’s given us - from eternity past. And btw - no I’m not sharing this from a place of despair. I’m sharing this to be real. 99% of people this hellscape of an app never share the real. It’s either the “journey” with absolutely 0 authority or credibility. Or the “mountaintop” with no real. Leadership demonstrates authority while being real. Jesus let his disciples watch him weep. But he also defeated death. Do both.

Want bigger biceps? A better Chest? More shredded abs? Nothing wrong with that. It would be perfectly Biblical to pray "Lord give me the discipline and consistency to build a body that demonstrates the power of your Holy Spirit to my wife and children." The distinction isn't what you want it's why you want it. If it's for selfish gain - it will be meaningless and void. But when it's to glorify God - it has eternal ramifications.

Doesn’t include BJJ 1-2x/ week or every literal step I’ve taken but here we are gents. A staggering 5.5k/ day. Don’t see ROI in dedicated walking time outside of normal fam walks. Walking pad at desk: no. How do actually deep work/ Bible time with a freaking treadmill whirring under your feet? I’ve increased it at times, but the data doesn’t lie. 5.5k average over 10 months of year. 10k can be average from sport training days or normal routine But not good use of time to schedule in “dedicated walking.” Wild. That’s what my retired clients & wife do. Few guys who walk a lot for biz. But over all - disciplined nutrition much better use of time.

Should Christian men be "jacked" not just healthy?

Everybody thinks you end up looking like this by obsessing over what you look like. I genuinely go weeks and months at a time forgetting I actually look like this. So much detachment from outcome, so far removed from comparing myself to others, so much focus on being consistent with the inputs. Entire focus in daily eating is “how can I glorify God with every decision I make about what I put into my body?” Entire daily focus in training is “how can I steward well the body God gave me to accomplish my God given mission.” How can I love others as I love myself? How can I take part in the attitude of Christ who disciplined his flesh? Weeks/ months go by and I take a look at the progress and am blown away. Crazy what happens when you have the right focus in mind. Not about outcome. About what God works out in your heart through the process.

The basics of influence: demonstrating control over something other people want control over. Wealth. Health. Relationships. Temptation. Etc. That’s why so many people follow Jesus. He demonstrated control of death itself - something other people want control over. Want to influence the people God called you to lead? Demonstrate control over things they want control over.

After 2 years of marriage I’ve noticed that my wife submits, supports my initiatives, and respects me more readily when I’m submitted to Christ & taking an attitude of humility amongst other men who sharpen me. She actually doesn’t want me to have it all figured out. She’s wants me obedient to Christ and learning from others. Submission to Christ and humility is leadership she can trust. Not fake bravado. Knowing where God wants us to go and what he wants us to do based on his word and the edification of other men he places in my path. Been good 👍

I’m obsessed with speed. Nothing is faster, Lower calorie higher protein than protein bars or pre-made shakes. I’ve exclusively stopped drinking whey shakes + milk. It takes too long. This is faster. Less brain glucose required. More available brain space for thoughts that worship the Lord. I’m not kidding. This is worth it.

Ate sugar every day for five years. Lost 40+ lbs, sustained over 5+ years, while growing business, getting married, having baby, moving from Florida to Tennessee. Here’s how daily sugar helped me:

Low confidence that you’ll be able to stick to nutrition goals on a trip? Watch this.

Here’s the thing, if your ALWAYS going back on your word in fitness. Then you’ve NEVER done it from a place of identity in Christ. It’s always been shame/ fear or behavior modification. It’s classic human nature. Shame/ fear “Do this to avoid more pain” Behavior modification “Do this to be good enough or attain result.” Identity looks like: “Who does Christ say I am?” “How does that impact & inform my decisions here?” That path leads to results with peace and consistency. Not more yo yo lack of self control and going back on your word.

If God gave you a big, time consuming mission, and you've determined getting top 1% lean supports that... Then there's prob someone who handles your meals. Wife, chef, etc. And if that's the case - there's always a potential margin for error on precision of tracking calories and protein. You didn't plate the food. Some one else did. A human being. Who might love you - but can't consider implications as deeply or readily as you can. Their short term goal: Make sure there's a smile on your face when you eat the food. And sometimes throwing a bit more olive oil in the mix feels like the right call to make sure it tastes good. Not considering how the 10 years of failed attempts at susstainably getting shredded costs you more than potential health issues, that cycle impacts the way you show up in every area of life. So what needs to be done? 1. Start with leadership - they're a human, they need to know the vision and why it matters. They need to know how it's in their self interest to go the extra mile in supporting your goals. Then need to know you care about multiplying their God given gifts of culinary excellence. Leadership isn't about telling people what to do, it's about giving people a vision, a path, and empowering them to achieve the goal even if the process looks different than you would've imagined. 2. The system. They want to cook well for you and theres two ways this can show up. #1 High calorie meals with healthy ingredients. Mindset of "nourishing that family." without recognizing the fragility of calories in context of getting lean. #2 Low calorie meals that taste like dog food. Eventually you won't eat em. Fam will hate the "daddy diet". If these two ditches aren't avoided - it won't work long term. They need a system that educates them to nail your cals and protein without making meals boring, or different than the family. 3. The accountability. Even YOU aren't consistent without accountability. Why would you expect them to be. Goals need to be made clear. Quality needs to be assured. And adjustments need to be made over time when pace isn't being met. There's a reality to building a system in your life where your chef or wife can cook to perfectly support your goals of getting lean - but it takes work. And that work is worth doing - because it's building an asset for your health that pays you and your family back every day of your life for the rest of your life. “This can’t be done” is a limiting belief keeping countless busy men fat. Don’t be one of them.