Give It Up for the Old Guys!

He may not know me, but he's influenced my life. 

I eat lunch with him often, and he refreshes my soul.

He took my awkward teenage self and taught me what it means to love people.

Many miles separate us, yet I know he prays for me continually.


I've only known him a short time, and I'm glad he's in my life.


Sunday's sermon has been on my mind all week.  The passage was Genesis 13, and the practical tip was to "get an Abraham in your life!"  A faithful, encouraging, old guy with a heart for God.

Fortunately for me, I've got five old guys to make fun of....ummm....to "enjoy" in my life.

Chuck Swindoll is a preacher at a church in California.  His radio show, Insight for Living, is on at 12:05pm each day on the local Christian station.  As much as I can, I try to take my lunch break at 11:55am so I can get my lunch heated or ready to go and head to my car in the parking lot.  Especially on pleasant days when I can roll down the windows.  I tune in to hear the next in his sermon series.  Most recently he's been walking us through all the books of the Bible, sharing highlights of each, giving background, and always including a practical tip for the day.  His powerful words are encouraging.  His laughter is contagious (he always has a great story!).  And he has influenced my spiritual life without even knowing it.

Work is an expression of what God can do through me.  Purpose is as important to me as anything, and the work I do at Standard Publishing is very fulfilling--getting incredible resources into the hands of church leaders who will share Jesus with others.  All the details of "work" become fun and exciting for me each day, and I find it enjoyable to eat my lunch while working.  Occasionally, however, I need a break from the routine.  On those days, I am honored to enjoy a lunch out with my friend, Mark Taylor.  He's one of my favorite "old guys" to hang out with.  He enjoys people, good food, and a hearty laugh!  By the time we get together, I'm always in the mood to chat and he's always there to listen.  Best of all, he's wise.  He's lived far longer than I, and I respect his careful words, encouraging spirit, and "normal-ness."  I am myself and he's okay with that.  He certainly refreshes my soul.

I was a dorky teen.  Skinny, pimply, and introverted.  Fortunately, Dan Baker took the time to get to know me.  He was my youth group leader.  And what I remember most is just hanging out.  Going places, laughing, babysitting his kids, playing video games, and having fun.  Not sure if it's a spiritual gift, but God definitely bestowed ENERGY upon Dan, and he is awesome at sharing it!  He is my complete opposite:  outgoing, outgoing, outgoing!  I thank God that he came into my life at such an important time.  He saw "me" and drew me out of the shell I was hiding in.  Since then, we have had multiple opportunities to have lunch, laugh, and hang out.  His love for people is contagious, and he changed my life for the better.

Love has no boundaries.  Good thing, because this guy is one of my favorites and he lives many, many miles away.  My dad, John Faust, is a patient, caring, follower of Christ.  As I grow older, his example reminds me of multiple Scripture verses about family (Deuteronomy 6, Joshua 24:15), marriage (Ephesians 5), living on this earth (Philippians 4:4-9), and staying focused (Mark 12:29-31, Romans 12:10).  He taught me about Jesus through his life, his marriage, and his work.  And now that I'm a dad, he continues to teach me.  I hear his words of encouragement, and I see "him" in me when I react a certain way.  He was a faithful prayer warrior when I was young.  And I know he prays for me now.  He showed Jesus to me then.  And his legacy continues through his prayers, my life, and through our family in multiple ways.

Most recently, I have had the privilege of knowing Tom Van Meter.  I call him "old guy" and he calls me "young kid."  He and his wife, Joann, know my grandparents.  They actually have a very funny story about Pop and Gramma...a story I love to remember because I chuckle every time.  Tom is a great guy!  Though he retired from Standard Publishing, I was able to work with him for a little while.  His focus was on the Biblical Choices Christian school curriculum and our paths crossed when he traveled to events that promoted it.   Since then we work together under different circumstances.  He works as an independent contractor for Standard, and I coordinate his activities.  He calls me "boss."  I call him "crazy old guy."  He's old, and he's fun.  (proven by the picture below!)  Among his many positive traits, I have found a great listener and friend.  He is careful with his words.  I am quick to let my tongue roll.  He enjoys getting to know people and is easy to talk to.  I struggle to stay focused on one person at a time and really listen.  His life mirrors Christ.  And I find that I grow closer to Christ when I spend time with Tom. 

Give it up for the old guys! 











"Old Guy" and "Young Kid" in Nashville, TN
for a Christian School Convention

50 by 40

In December 2011, the goal was set:  lose 50 pounds.  The timeline was yet unknown.

The belly gets flatter and the body gets stronger, amidst pain, sweat, walking, a 5K, diet (ahem.."food balance awareness"), 15-minute online workouts, travel for work, and vacation.

The attitude has changed.  Energy has returned.  Tying a shoe is no longer an early morning Olympic event.  The shirt and pant sizes are shrinking....as well as the consumption intake.   Playing in the yard includes actually running to retrieve the ball.  Sweat has become a friend more than a foe.

Time to coin a new motivational phrase.  Ah...."50 by 40"

Lose 50 pounds by 40 years old.  The progress is worth noting:  almost 40 pounds lighter as of August 1.  Now just a few months to reach the goal's end on November 1.

The challenge is real.   And it's possible.
The plan is in motion.  And it's a daily choice.
The ultimate goal is balance.

50 by 40.  The results are [finally] within reach.

This city boy is being countri-fied!

This year has been full of doing something new, and Memorial Day Weekend was no exception. 

On this holiday, our family has enjoyed camping with my in-laws and extended family.  And it’s my kind of camping…via motorhome with all the primary needs:  shower, comfortable bed, refrigerator, and air conditioning!  In a beautiful part of Ohio, we relax with a swimming pool, shade trees, grilling out, campfires, s’mores, fishing, and more!  The 3-day weekend is both exciting and restful.  The kids enjoy playing with cousins, and the adults enjoy reading, talking, and laughing together.  We spend most days hanging out…until special moments come along that we participate in.  And two of those times are worthy to write about today.

The first was my son’s desire to “go fishin’.” 

As my father would say, I’m not the brightest bulb when it comes to sports…and fishing is no exception.  My grandpa had a pond in the back, and I vaguely remember going out with my brother and dad to fish…only to realize I didn’t like slimy worms, hooking the bait, waiting, or standing there waiting to catch something.  I don’t remember catching anything, and even if I did I wouldn’t want to remove the fish from the hook (Stick my hand in that thing? Yuck!)

And now, 25+ years later, my son wants to fish.  Of all the things in the world to do…

The great news is that my wife’s cousin and family enjoy fishing, and they know how to go about it, and they are willing to teach my son.  Yay for family!  So one early evening, we set out to “go fish” with fishing poles, bobber thingies, a container of nightcrawlers (Ew!), and a hope that we’d be able to catch something. I was there to watch and encourage the rest of the bunch.

For me, this is where it got interesting.

The fishing part was pretty straight forward.  Tie the hook and bobber thingie, attach the nightcrawler, press the button, throw and release the line, wait, reel it in slowly, and start over.  It took my kids a little bit of time, and then they got it.  Other family members were using the same technique…at first.

The interesting part was when we all started to pay attention to our surroundings:  the shady parts of the lake, where the sun was, where the fish were, who was hooking the most fish, why they were successful, etc.  The kids started listening to the wise counsel of our fishing-friendly family members.   They watched where the fish were swimming and then moved to where the fish were biting.  They patiently waited, allowing the fish to first notice the bait and then second act on it. They took great care to make sure the bait was ready on the line and not tangled in a web of plants nearby.  Watching the fish nibble at the bait and either grab hold of it or choose to move on, the kids were giddy with excitement and trying hard to wait patiently.  Once the fish did grab on, they quickly reeled in the line and a beautiful fish soared into the air!  The rest of us yelled and screamed and whistled and hollered at the JOY as another fish was presented to the family! 

Once we were aware of what we needed to do and then by refining our methods, we experienced much more JOY and much better results.  Hmmmm….reminds me of a certain verse about fishers of men…how interesting.

The second special moment of the weekend does not have quite the same spiritual undertones.
 

Have you ever seen the movie Son-in-Law?  If you haven’t, get it now.  If you have, then you’ll appreciate this story all the more.

This city boy is being countri-fied. 

On Sunday, it came to my attention that there would be line dancing in the big shelter.  If I had a bucket list, line dancing would be on it.  My wife and family were a bit surprised by my excitement at the thought of "gettin' cowboy" and "cutting a rug" with the country folk, but I was serious!  When am I ever going to do this?!?!  And the best part:  no one knows me here!  Why not?  We all decided to “check it out” and walked over to the big shelter at 7pm to see what it was all about.  The temperature outside was about 95 degrees and in that shelter, well, it was hot!  There were approximately 15 women and a few young guys copying what the instructor was teaching them.  And they were pretty good!  The unfamiliarity of this peculiar movement combined with the ridiculous notion that I have rhythm and/or ability motivated me (and my wife’s cousin) to jump right in and try it!

While I am truly embarrassed by my ability, I am not too proud to post this video on facebook to prove that I actually did it!

What a blast!  We learned and danced the “Chattahoochee” as well as the “Electric Slide.”  As much as I wanted to make fun of the whole line-dancing crowd, I have to admit it was hard work.  I was sweating head to toe and definitely got my cardio workout in!  The moves were fairly easy to learn, and when the music started it was a challenge to keep up.  Once I was able to focus off the instructor and on to the dance itself, it was easier to enjoy the experience!   If I had the opportunity again, I’d do it again in a heartbeat! 

I may be a horrible dancer, but oh!  It was so much fun!

Getting out of my comfort zone is always a good thing.  Many more things in this world are available for me to enjoy…if only I will throw myself out there one more time and take another step forward. 

A Great Day for a Race!

We did it!  
The Faust Family completed a 5K together! 

The day started out a little bleak, with a spitting of rain at the start.  We drove downtown early and parked, then walked to the "starting point" near Reds stadium.  Chaos was the word of the morning, with more than 4200 participants - the highest ever to participate!  We got into position on 2nd Street and counted down from 15 until the horn blasted, and we were off!

(We had a quick family meeting during the cattle herding and decided to start out walking, which we all agreed to.  Then, when the horn went off, we actually just stood there because there were what seemed like a billion other people merging into a tiny space to get through the "gate" and so we didn't actually start moving for another 5 minutes)

And then we were off!  Each mile was a bit more challenging than the previous, and we all had a great time walking, jogging, and even running a lot more than I thought we would!  As much as I thought I'd have to walk more, I surprised myself by breathing well and jogging/running without much problem.  It was so refreshing to feel the confidence and pride after working hard at home. 
My daughter is convinced we'll be doing the 10K next year!

The "Finish Swine" was the most fun.  The kids and I finished about 5 minutes before Mommy, so we had the opportunity to cheer her in and the kids really enjoyed that!  They called all of our names when we passed the finish line and it was an AWESOME family moment!  Especially when we all received 5K Flying Pig medals!  We were proud of each other for all coming in under 45 minutes, too!

I've always loved time with my family.  This day made me proud to be husband and daddy even more.  Maybe we will do the 10K next year.  As long as it's together, I'm up for anything!

Will This Pig Fly?

In January, our family decided to sign up to run/walk the Flying Pig 5K together.   Just 4 months later and we're almost to the date of the actual run/walk....and I'm not sure this pig is ready to fly!

Four months ago, I weighed a lot more than I do now.  I felt like "slob, blob, robb" -- definitely a pig.
In four months, I've lost some weight and increased my energy level.  I've tried new things, including jogging during my somewhat-daily walks and drinking my lunches.  This pig no longer feels big.
Small changes have increased my confidence and motivated me to continue my journey. 

This Saturday, me and my family will be walking side by side for 3+ miles.  Just to sign up and pay the money to participate shows me that we are on the right track.  Exercise and health are 2 things that we're teaching our kids and continuing to learn ourselves.  This is definitely a step (no pun intended) in the right direction.  And personally I am looking forward to a milestone in this pig's journey to slimming down. 

Walking/jogging a 5K is not something that's been on my bucket list.  Fear definitely takes over when I think about it:  fear of failure, looking stupid, falling down due to being out of breath and/or tripping over something or someone--and in my case, it'd be when the local cameraman is filming me!  Being with family is helpful, that's for sure.  Now knowing that it's possible to walk briskly and even jog without dying is helpful too!

No matter what happens on Saturday, I am proud to be a pig that is learning to fly.....in more ways than one.

The Fat Man Is Thinning (Part 2)

In February, I committed online via this blog to continue thinning in anticipation of Cincinnati's Flying Pig 5K on May 5th.

I'm happy to say that 2 1/2 months later, I am still thinning. Yay!

I have stayed motivated to walk almost daily and even begin to attempt jogging a few times in between. I must confess - I'm no runner.  My knees don't like me too much.  I will say, however, that it has become easier the more I try it out.  At this point, I'm planning to jog a bit more than originally thought in a few weeks during the 5K.   Here's hoping the excitement that day will give me the additional push I need to jog just a little bit more. :)

I'm encouraged to continue because I am losing weight too.  It's small steps, and it's decreasing.  I'm also paying a bit more attention to additional movement (LOL), which can be defined in many ways:  jump roping, a 10-minute cardio workout from SparkPeople.com, or just a few Wii Fit exercises with my favorite Wii "Buff."  I'm not all about exercise, but I am trying.  And that's what counts.

A couple highlights from my Thinning Journey:
* I am more willing to go outside with my kids and play.
* I don't get out of breath as fast.
* I ask them to walk with me.
* I jogged from the stop sign to the park without stopping and actually could breathe!
* I eat fiber and apples and a lot less of those pesky things called calories - - and I haven't died yet.
* I can feel the muscles in my belly working - - and they are very unhappy.
* Those same belly muscles are very slowly starting to peek through the diminishing rolls of fat.
* I have a new friend.  His name is H2O.  He and I go everywhere together.

In March, I took a break from all this thinning stuff and took time to write my mother-in-law a song for her 65th birthday.  What a wonderful woman and I'm so blessed to have joined an amazing family.  Later in the month, I took another break to write my mom a song for her 60th birthday.  I have known her a lot longer, so I was able to include additional verses and get a little more creative.  Normally, I come up with a quirky poem or card.  For these special occasions, I took things to the "next step" and fortunately, both moms enjoyed their gifts immensely!

Motivation is the key at this point.  The 5K is just a few weeks away.  Great news is that I have a few more motivation points to continue my journey through the year and then maintain from there:
* May - 5K (can I simply 1/2 walk, 1/2 jog and not die?  that's the motivation!)
* June - Family Reunion (I haven't seen or met some of this family for ages!)
* July - Beach Vacation (ah....will I be able to take off my shirt this year?)
* and the kicker - November - My 40th Birthday (what do I want to feel like at age 40?  you'll see...)

Taking time for family and work and me all takes balance.  A daily decision to keep in balance.
I choose to make those decisions.

Until next time....

Tried Something New Today

It's interesting how God works through people.  My friend, Sarah Mitchell, sang with me (and others) this past Sunday.  Like me, she is rediscovering herself through weight loss - and we had the opportunity to talk about it a little bit, between praise songs! :) The result was an invitation to visit her workplace  and get "profiled."  Full support in mind, I said yes - -and was pretty interested, too!

[My introverted nature doesn't like it when the tiny part of me says "hey, let's try something new today!"
I'm glad I continue to let that part of me "win" as much as possible.  Today was one of those times.]

I had the most enjoyable time today at Vibe!  Located along the bike path in Loveland and just down the way from work, I took my lunch break to drive over there for lunch.  What a FUN atmosphere!  A little yellow house with a cute purple porch, in the style you'd expect in quaint Loveland, Ohio.  Upon entering I was greeted by Sarah and her very friendly co-workers.  After a quick "hi", we moved right to lunch (I liked that!).  We moved to a smaller room with a large counter and a most-friendly hostess, who was a joy to speak to.  For the life of me, I can't remember her name, but she was oh-so-nice and showed me just what I had gotten myself into.  The menu was simple:  1 cleanser, 1 drink, and 1 shake.

[Hmmmm....I'm drinking my lunch? Interesting....and definitely fits the bill for "something new"]

Honestly I was trying to listen and take in the atmosphere all at the same time.  I kinda missed some of the initial information.  But the drinking parts were awesome.  First the cleanser looked like water in a shot glass.   And oh!  The water tasted like mango.  Yum.  To me, it felt like a palate cleaner.  From what I recall, it helps digestion.  [I'd drink it again, for sure]

Then the drink.  Lots of options:  house lemonade, tea, raspberry - - - once she said "raspberry" I stopped listening.  I got cold raspberry tea and it was scrumptious.

Lastly and most importantly, the main course.  What type of shake do I want?  Well...what are my options?  Turning around, I was introduced to the huge list of options:  grasshopper, blueberry cheesecake, something, something, something, oooh.  chocolate chip.  Yes. that's the one!
Like Campbell's Soup, it's MMMMMM....MMMMM....GOOD!!! 

[While these things were happening, we were chatting a bit and I filled out some information forms.  Sarah helped explain what it was I was drinking/eating.  And once I was sipping my shake, we moved to the larger room for the "profile."]

The profile process was quick, easy, and quite enjoyable.  I say that because I felt pretty comfortable in the space, happy with my lunch shake, and at ease with Sarah as my guide.  She hooked up funny little sticky things to monitor my metabolism and then we just chatted about my health/weight goals, my specific calculations, and my nutrition/health plans. 

What a FUN, NEW experience to take part in!  Thanks, Sarah Mitchell, for a wonderfully pleasant experience!  For those in the Cincinnati area, I highly recommend the place - - and the shakes - - as an option for lunch, an option for weight loss incentive, and an option for meeting new friends! 

The Bible Experience

I hate reading the Bible.
Okay...that might need a little explanation.

Taking time each morning for a "daily devotion" doesn't work for me. I'm not a morning person. Stopping my work mid-day to catch up on my Bible reading....well, that's just not gonna happen. By the time evening comes and I've enjoyed some dinner time, family time, TV time, and computer time, I'm pretty wiped out. I am a night owl, however, so I could stay up and read a couple chapters. It's not really appealing at that point in the day.

My wonderful mother-in-law (I love her to pieces, and we get along just great!) gave me an interesting Christmas gift this past year: The Bible Experience, the New Testament. And it is AWESOME!

Now I like reading the Bible....in the car....listening to the Word of God read by a host of interesting people!

Mind you, it's nothing like the "old dramatic audio versions." You know the ones I'm talking about. Dearest Father in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name....blah, blah, blah...with the deep James Earl Jones voice and conjuring up an image of Charlton Heston's Moses on Mt Sinai....

Nope. It's "the most ambitious production of the greatest story ever told" featuring "400 world-class talents delivering powerhouse performances."
Blair Underwood is Jesus. Hearing the Bible is incredible as I listen to the words of Jesus come to life. The pictures in my head hit me with commonality and relevance in a new and enlightening way. His teachings are real. His words impact His followers, and like me they are struggling to understand Him.

By the time I listened through the Gospels, I had a new perspective on the life of Christ. His death and resurrection are POWERFULLY read. I'm in Acts now and so far, Stephen's sermon before his stoning has impacted me greatly! What a great speaker!

Yes, I hate reading the Bible; however, I anticipate my Bible reading time: on my way to work, at lunch, and driving home from work! These are the times I am growing in His Word.

Definitely consider The Bible Experience!

Banishing My Boobs?

I'm a new reader to Men's Health magazine...online.  The fitness tips and weight loss ideas are pretty inspiring....for a fat guy like me, that is.  The buff pictures are a dream away, and some of the content is a little risque.  So I stick to the tips and ideas.

Tonight the most interesting article was titled "Banish Your Man Boobs", at which I couldn't help but read because of that funny title!

My kids and I call them MB's - - and I'm sad to say mine are just plump enough to be annoying AND fall into the MB category just a bit!  The goal is definitely not to have the MB's floppin' all over the place anymore!  Hopefully sometime soon I'll just be a TB, for "The Bomb"!!!  LOL!

Now back to those push-ups.....

The Fat Man Is Thinning...

Yep. This fat man is thinning. 

Over the past few years, I've put on the weight I lost when I did Weight Watchers about 4 or 5 years ago.  Not only did I gain it back, but like the Energizer bunny I just kept going and going.  Now I'm more overweight than I've ever been.  And it's just not fun.  Being fat sucks.  Out of breath when tying a shoe, out of breath when climbing the steps, a double (sometimes triple) chin, and rolls of skin hiding the beautiful bod I wish I had!

Since last year, I've toyed with going back to WW and paying the money to sit in a room, much like AA, and gain accountability and tools to reach my best weight.  Toying is definitely the key word here.  Back and forth, with no initiative to actually DO anything!  Until December 2011.  Decision December.  This was it.  I had made a choice....and it is a choice, mind you.  It's all in my head....at least that's what Biggest Loser always says (as I eat my ice cream and watch the show!)

Decision December is proving to be a very good thing these days.  See, I am not going to WW and paying the money to sit at AA and gain accountability and tools.  I already have those tools from the last time I did it.  What I didn't have last time was the will power - the "me" - choosing each day to make this work.  Confession time:  I proved to myself doing WW that I could lose weight while NOT exercising.  It was my motivation.  And it worked - I lost 24 3/4 pounds toward my 25 lb goal - before I went on vacation and blew it off completely!  (yes....what a waste!!!)  In that part of my life I worked in a job that had little to no sitting down all day, everyday.  So while I wasn't exercising, I was definitely more active than my current job, where I sit and work on a computer most of the day.  Anyway....I had 1 thing right in my motivation then - I needed to lose weight.  And that I did.

So this time around, without WW, what am i doing?  I'm changing "me."  The fat man is thinning....and learning to listen to the skinny man inside!

First, I'm walking.
Decision December included a letter from a new Workplace Wellness partner that offered a "new and innovative approach to wellness, designed to help our medical plan participants tailor a program that meets [my] individual needs. Participation is voluntary, participation based and 100% confidential."
After attending the on-site meeting, the "voluntary" part actually meant:  "by participating, [me and my spouse] will NOT be charged a monthly fee.  If [me and my spouse] choose not to participate, [we] will be charged a monthly non-participation fee." 
So - me and my spouse now have pedometers and we are participating in a voluntary program so we don't have to pay a fee.  I'm walking (apparently this is a new and innovative approach to wellness, designed just for me! Yippee!)


Second, I'm eating better.
Being on WW definitely helped me understand what I needed to eat and what I should stay away from.  Using those tools and all the nifty calculators and info online, I've dramatically decreased my calories each day and I'm eating more filling foods so I'm not as hungry as before - - - AND not craving all the yummy stuff! 

Third, I'm a Wii Fit Mii.
A couple years ago, we got a Wii for the family to play all those fun games together...and we do that.  Then my wife thought it would be "awesome" if we got Wii Fit so she could exercise at home.  The first few months were neat.  Since then, it just sits there.  Hmmm...tickle in my brain.....why don't I start using that?  So I am.
I created my Wii Mii and profile.  It was so comforting that the little balance board talking icon told me I had to step on the board and then said "oh."  (I perceived it as "oh....you're fat.")  because the next thing she told me was my actual weight, and my Mii began to expand!  Yes, you freakin' Wii board, I am overweight!  Thanks for making me feel so good about myself.  It's hard enough looking in the mirror!  Now I have to look at my fat cartoon self as I work out!  Lovely.

Finally got my Wii Mii set up and on to training.  My trainer is a well-built, computer-generated guy.  I call him "Buff" - - maybe someday I'll be as buff as Buff, I repeat to myself.  He has so many nice things to say about me.  He's glad I've taken the first step in working on my core strength and balance.  At first, after only 5-10 minutes, Buff wasn't quite as pleased with my performance.  I was off-balance, sweating like a pig, and giving up quite a few times in the workout.  He commented how my right side was shaky, my core needed more work, and not to give up.  Yeh.  I hear ya, Buffy.  I'll tell ya where you can stick this Wii remote!

My attitude has improved greatly.  I'm determined not to give up.  That's big for me.  I'm not much of a motivational person - at least when I talk to myself.  I'm learning to listen to my body and respond with positive talk - Yes, I actually CAN do it.  Yes, I am getting stronger.  Yes, I could actually have abs.  Yes, Buff, I am tired and I am shaky, but I am doing it.  Buff is much more pleased with me.  But that doesn't matter to me.  I'm doing this for me.

Results?  Well, the goal is 50 pounds.  It's February and so far, I've lost about 12lbs.  Not bad for a fat man.
The fam has decided to participate in the Flying Pig 5K in our city, so I'm working on not dying while running/walking the 3+ miles. The doo-hickeys online tell me that 50lbs in 3 months is much too small a time period to do that - It's not like I'm on Biggest Loser - so anything I can do to decrease the poundage and increase the muscle will be very exciting by May's 5K.

The fat man is thinning....and the skinny man under there is starting to feel like himself again!