Get The Chipmunk!
ByOn Thursday, February 11, 2010, I spoke for the Women’s Council of Realtors in Dallas, Texas. I was stunned that I began listening to my talk as I was giving it. It was vaguely annoying because I needed to be focused on what I was saying…not on what I needed to do– because I suddenly recognized that I had something in front of me to do.
I’ve had a few more days to consider what was going on during that talk and I’m ready to “Get the Chipmunk!” If you attended the meeting, you know that “getting the chipmunk” means that you stay focused on what God has put in front of you to do and you do it now! You don’t get sidetracked, consider your options, or the “what-if’s,” you just “do it now”! The chipmunk story is an analogy that I use to encourage people and it came about because my father, Zig Ziglar, did the impossible when he chased down and captured my pet chipmunk with his bare hands! That story, combined with what my pastor, Gene Smith, taught me, is making it difficult for me to accept the “status-quo.”
My pastor taught me that I don’t have to worry about the particulars of what God’s will for me might be…I only have to be available and willing to be obedient to do what God has put in front of me to do. I’ve been tasked, since my telling of the chipmunk story last Thursday, with losing the excess 35 pounds I’ve gained over the past ten years. Yep, that’s what’s in front of me to do, and I’m going to do it using the same faith, the same determination, the same self-discipline, and the same simple tool I used to quit my three-plus-pack-a-day cigarette smoking habit.
When I quit smoking over 15 years ago I used duct tape to wrap my pack of cigarettes and I wrote “God and I can do this” on the tape. I made myself a promise that if I wanted a cigarette, I had to go through that duct tape and through my belief that God and I could get my smoking habit taken care of. I carried that pack of cigarettes with me for years…you never know when the urge might strike! Now, I’m going to wrap my Snickers bar with duct tape and a note that says “God and I can do this!” and I’m going to commit to having to go through that note – and through God – to get something sweet if I decide that I just have to have something sweet.
You see, I know sweets are the main addiction I have to food, as are simple carbohydrates that convert quickly to sugar in the blood stream. I think those foods change the way I feel and that is the problem. I need to go to God to change the way I feel; not to food. I’ve struggled with this problem since my early teens and have lost and gained hundreds (probably in excess of a thousand) of pounds over the years. Today I’m going to commit to “get my chipmunk.”
I’ll keep you posted on the progress, the trials, and the triumphs.
My weight today is 159, just nine pounds under my all time high.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by tomziglar: Get The Chipmunk! A nice blog post by my sister, Julie Ziglar Norman http://budurl.com/panx...
On August 2, 2009 at the ripe ole’ age of 36, I wrote on Twitter… “…decided that today was a good day to start the rest of her life. 2.41… 45… 951.” Note the “951″. What does that mean…? It was my way of “typing in code” that at age 36, my 5’1″ frame was carrying 159 pounds. Does the 159 sound familiar? I read your post today and wept. You have inspired me to continue on my journey to a healthier weight. Thank you for allowing me to recommit and “get my chipmunk” while you get yours. It was not a mistake that God allowed me to stumble on this post today.
[...] …You named your blog “…get the chipmunk…”? In Uncategorized on February 17, 2010 at 3:19 am This morning, I happened on a blog post written by Julie Ziglar Norman via Twitter: Get The Chipmunk! [...]
Julie, Thanks for sharing your commitment to lose weight and having the courage to post your weight on your website. Most of us are far to sensitive to do that. My wife and I have committed to get our chipmunks too. We’ve gained a combined 100+ pounds since we were married ten years ago. I’ll be following your progress as you chase your chipmunk.
Thank you very much for this blog Julie. You’ve certainly inspired me to get my chipmunk too! ^_^ “God and I can do this” is a perfect thing to remember.
Thanks Louis…it is a fact…when you trust God, put Him first and make Him the reason, you can do what He has put in front of you to do.
I’m glad that story touched you…have you made up any ground on your chipmunk?
Brain – I sincerely hope you and your wife can keep up with the zigs and zags chasing weight loss involves. So far I have not eaten a single sweet thing since I posted the blog – or even several sweet things….I have my taped up Snickers bar in my purse and when I’m tempted to eat dessert or grab an ice cream cone I remember that I have that candy bar in my purse if I want something sweet….and then I remember what I wrote on it and I just forget the whole impulse. I am, however, thinking about what bread, simple carb made from flour, item I can do the same thing to because of course I instantly started eating more simple carbs and I know that is slowing down the weight loss. I lost 4 pounds the first week. I haven’t weighed since then but I’ll post it when I do. Good luck to you both and I’d love to know how you two are doing.
Emily – please let me know if I can encourage you in any way! You go girl…those chipmunks are FAST!
On August 2, 2009 at the ripe ole’ age of 36, I wrote on Twitter… “…decided that today was a good day to start the rest of her life. 2.41… 45… 951.” Note the “951″. What does that mean…? It was my way of “typing in code” that at age 36, my 5’1″ frame was carrying 159 pounds. Does the 159 sound familiar? I read your post today and wept. You have inspired me to continue on my journey to a healthier weight. Thank you for allowing me to recommit and “get my chipmunk” while you get yours. It was not a mistake that God allowed me to stumble on this post today.
Sorry for the delay in response. Emily – are you any closer to your chipmunk? I’ve lost 7 pounds…..not exactly gangbusters but it is progress. I haven’t had sugar since I wrote the chipmunk blog but have learned that removing one simple carb leads to overconsuming another simple carb. I’ve been off of flour for a few months….I expect pototos are next. It is interesting to discover what foods I abuse as I drop problem foods from my list of things I will eat.
I have to remind myself…progress – not perfection. I need to add exercise to the list……have you already done that? I’m almost 5’3….that’s an FYI. Please let me hear how you are doing.
Hi Emily,
I’ve been slow but I’m still after that chipmunk! I’ve lost 11 pounds and I’m still after it. How are y ou doing?