The Backyard Garden That Fooled Us
I remember growing up when my parents decided to start a backyard garden. They tended the small plot, fertilized it, sprinkled some seeds, and watered it faithfully. Dad was the farmer, Mom the supportive supervisor, and me—the curious farm-hand.
We saw success: watermelons, a pepper tree, and a lush, flowering bush that dominated the little plot. It took time, but things seemed to be going well. We waited with bated breath to see what it would yield.
One day, a family friend came to visit. Proudly, we showed him our thriving backyard. He took one look and exclaimed:
“Farmer Charles!! This garden weed taking over!”
Before we could say a word, he swooped in, yanked the “lush bush” from its roots, and saved the actual plants that had been choked out.
Dad let out a hearty laugh, and we all joined in. City folk or not, our friend was right. We had been watering weeds. And once they were gone, our other crops finally started to flourish.
My Health Journey = That Garden
Why this long story? Because my health journey feels like a comedy of errors, much like that backyard experiment.
That moment of the friend identifying and uprooting weeds feels a lot like me holding a mirror up to myself lately—seeing mistakes that are both laughable and painful. If only I knew then what I know now… how much further along I’d be!
My 5K Goal, My Strength Training, and… My Plateau
If you’ve been following this blog, you know I committed to running a 5K in under 30 minutes this year and strength training faithfully.
The running was fun, but it started cutting into family time. So, I gave it a break and leaned more into strength training. And honestly? I felt good about that choice.
But then I measured myself, checked the scale, and looked in the mirror. My results—the “yield” from all this tending—were paltry. Nowhere near what I thought my effort should have produced.
So, I did what I always do: I prayed. And the Holy Spirit showed up like that family friend, ready to root up some weeds in my fitness journey.
What I Learned (a.k.a. The Weeds I Was Watering)
Here’s the hard truth: I’ve been in maintenance mode.
With my inconsistent calorie tracking and protein intake, even though I’ve been working out hard, I wasn’t actually moving the needle. Weeks of research and trial and error finally revealed it.
I was plateaued.
And part of me felt burned out—working so hard with so little to show. But here’s the reset I’ve come to:
- Replace 5K training with 1 HIIT + 1 LISS cardio workout per week
- Cut back strength training to 3 focused days (just core lifts, tracked carefully)
- Cut out fried foods (because the calories are just not worth it)
- Track protein and aim for 130g per day (this one will be hard, y’all)
The Bigger Lesson: Trial, Error, and Grace
This isn’t the first time I’ve realized I’ve been watering weeds, and it won’t be the last. But I’m learning that God uses even my plateaus. He redirects me. He helps me laugh at myself, course-correct, and keep growing.
I may still be stumbling, fertilized weeds and all, but I believe He has me exactly where He wants me. On the journey. Learning, pivoting, experimenting.
Because in the end, growth isn’t just about what shows up in the mirror. It’s about the faith that says, God will send clarity and help—I needn’t be overwhelmed.
Nouriched: Eat, Move and Rest Your way to Wellness 
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