Hi! As you all know my name is Pat Williams. Most folks call me Pastor-Pat. My husband, Pastor Bruce and I share a wonderful life together. We have the awesome privilege of showing God's love to homeless, loveless, drug addicted men and women in the Metro-area. For the past 10 years we have been running an 18-unit non-profit drug and alcohol treatment facility called the Williams Prepared Place and a church called Hope of Glory. We met volunteering at a homeless shelter, got to sharing our testimonies and came up with the wonderful idea that we had something to share with the world! "You can be set free and delivered from the bondages from drugs and alcohol by the power of Jesus Christ." We started by giving shelter in our home to those who were serious about recovery. We prayed for them and taught them what we had learned about how to live happy productive lives free from substances.

I feel so blessed and fulfilled in my life…..except for this one little thing…..well it’s a big thing I guess. My health is not at all a testament to what I preach and teach. In recovery we teach that you absolutely can not be successful with out support and accountability. So what made me think that loosing weight and getting healthy was something I could do by my self? As one TV talk show host says "'How's that working for ya?" Well it's not.
I am the oldest of four girls all of whom now live in Omaha. (That makes me very very happy)
A long time ago one of my sisters said of our family "We don't die". You know I had to agree with her as far back as I could remember on both sides of our family there were no major illnesses. Three of my grandparents had diabetes but they all lived long relatively healthy lives. And those without and sickness just got old, went to sleep and never woke up. For years I took comfort in that…until in 1996 when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. It was during the treatment for this that I gained 50 lbs that I have yet to loose. I had been cancer free up until last April when again a cancerous lump popped up on my neck this got my attention and for a little while I was on a mission to exercise and eat right. After the Dr. removed the lump, said that it was not serious enough to treat, I again lost my resolve.
Now in this past year my mother and father each have had cancer diagnoses and one of my sisters has begun to have some chronic health issues. In recovery there is a time when a person finally comes to the point when enough is enough and they are ready for a change. We call it "a moment of clarity" . While watching TV I learned of this incredible opportunity called the WOWT BetterU Makeover challenge. I had my moment of clarity and I am truly ready for change not just to stay one step ahead of cancer but as I am learning I have put myself at risk for heart disease as well.
If you look on the home page of the BetterU program you will see a little block of links titled "The Choice is Yours" The first link says "I choose to live and not die". When ever I get anxious about my health or the health of my family members there is a verse in the bible I quote that gives me comfort. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. Psalms 118:17
Today I choose to learn how to live and not die. Today I choose to be held accountable for my choices.
Our first assignment for this week is to set goals. Here are my first goals:
1. I will exercise 30 minutes each day.
√ I joined the gym with my husband and started working out last Friday.
2. I will include one heart-healthy food to each of my meals every day.
√ I am buying fresh vegetables instead of canned or frozen and eating fruit 3 times per day.
I started on Saturday.
3. This weekend is my husband's birthday and we are going away.
I will not use his birthday as an excuse to binge eat.
(You'll have to wait till Monday to see the results of this goal ) J
4. I will do my food journal every day. (Ugh. I so hate this one! Why?)

That's it for now…gotta do my journal. :-(
Blessings, I'm praying for all my fellow challengers.