Mary-andering Creatively

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Continuing Weight Loss Adventure!

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I read a terrible headline today in my local newspaper:  “Survey Shows Weight Big Health Problem in Upstate.”  It made me depressed for a minute to think, “I am contributing to my regions weight loss problem.” I had to pull myself out of it though and remind myself of my New Year adventure for which I have developed a very orderly plan.
Continuing my weight loss adventure!

Continuing my weight loss adventure!

As I wrote in this January post, I embarked on my OWL adventure to create a new me through “Exercise.” I have been able to loose 15 pounds so far. I feel like it is a slow crawl, however, with sixty-five more pounds to go.
 
I think the key to my success will be a combination of order and adventure. I have to have order to succeed. Everything must be mapped out everyday. I need to figure out how much food and exercise I need daily to burn calories and improve my physical health.
 
I used this great calorie burn calculator to see how many calories I burn in my daily exercise activities: I am burning about 571 calories a day.  Next, I need to start recording what I am eating; so I can figure out how I can increase weight loss goals safely. I just created a diet plan on WebMD.  My daily calorie goal is 1,461 to loose 2 pounds a week.  In about 32 weeks, I will reach my weight loss goal if I can stick to this well ordered plan.
 
Without adventure, however the order of my diet and exercise program will be dull and impossible. Adventure breathes life into the mundane. When we can grab on to it in creative ways, we can make our biggest dreams come true.
 
Adventurous order means mixing things up.  I need to go hiking this Spring, remembering that for every burn 3500 burnt you lose one pound of weight. I need to have fun and try new activities that I can do with my disabilities of arthritis and fibromylgia.
 
I have to find a new love for healthier foods that help me meet my weekly goals for weight loss. So far, it has been salads, grilled meats, and non-starchy vegetables. I even gave up my sweet tea, shut my mouth.
 
Yes, sweet tea. Can you imagine a true Southern woman giving up her sweet tea?  I am using Stevia some (more on this in another post), but the taste is just not the same.  It is close though.  I miss my Southern sweet tea; although, I am experimenting with real fruit water.
I made this with calorie free soda water and 7-UP (only 1/4 cup) and added strawberries to the top. Let sit five to 10 minutes to let the fizzyness of the water extract the strawberry flavor. Not quite as good as Southern ice tea, but close. ;)

I made this with calorie free soda water and calorie free 7-UP (only 1/4 cup to help avoid aftertaste) and added strawberries to the top. Let sit five to 10 minutes to let the fizzyness of the water extract the strawberry flavor. You can sweeten with a little Stevia if you like too. Not quite as good as Southern ice tea, but close. 😉

Setting ordered goals can be an adventure. It is all a matter of positivity and remembering that you can start over again if you slip up. I love Dory. You remember her from Finding Nemo? Her simple philosphy: Keep Swimming.
 
I found this sweet song. It applies for any challenges we are facing in life.  I love it!  I think I will adopt it as a theme song. When I feel like, I am not going to make it. I am too tired or my pain to great, I will listen to this song.
 
It is dedicated to this young girl named Talia Joy. She faced such a terrible sickness with such grace and positivity. She died from cancer in 2013. I am facing health issues that can eventually kill me if I don’t act. I can change my life course on this adventure! Talia Joy, however, faced a terrible illness that was not her fault, but she kept fighting until the end and had a positive radiance that inspired millions.  I will also keep her in my mind as move forward.

 

What are your challenges you are facing today? What was your goals for 2015? How are they coming along? Share with me. I have added a linky below for those who want to add their update posts for the New Year’s journey.

I close with my verse for the year:

Phiippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

This post is for Day 5 of the Slice of Life Story Challenge, started by Two Writing Teachers.   (See Day 1 for a full explanation.)

 I am also contributing to Holly Mueller’s Spiritual Journey Thursday. I love the encouraging and fortifying community that you find there.  Holly and our community welcome anyone who would like to join us! For the past couple of months, we’ve been writing around the One Little Words of our little community.  Feel free to join us on Thursdays if you’d like.  If you have OLW, our community is writing about it each week. Join us and let Holly know at @muellerholly on Twitter.
This week we are writing about Libby Mueller’s word, ADVENTURE.
I am also contributing to the Two Shoes Texas linkup where the word prompts for this week are Order and Ocean.

This linkup will be open all March and April for those working to create a new focus for 2015. Share your update posts and lets encourage each other this year! I will have another linkup in May for an update post.

 

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  4. You can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens you, Mary Hill!

    Keep up the great work – you are an inspiration!

    I can imagine that this journey isn’t easy (especially when you have to give up your sweet tea!)

    Try to read my post today: “Why We Need to Dream Big”. Hopefully, it will inspire and encourage you. I’m proud of you!
    Heather @ My Overflowing Cup recently posted…Why We Need to Dream BigMy Profile

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  5. Good for you! I cannot seem to find my want to to want to live a healthier lifestyle, so please pray for me! I am your neighbor at Faith-Filled Friday linkup.

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    • Gina, will pray for you for sure. I am trying to stay around for my grands from my daughter. I have grands from his children and they are so special to me. I want to see my daughter get married and have children of her own too though. 😉
      Mary Hill recently posted…Weekend Wind-Down Party, #61My Profile

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  7. I feel your adventure – it’s one I’ve been on my entire life. This year (in January) my world was turned upside down when my body began to violently reject anything that involved gluten. A simple probiotic brought a change to my life that has been drastic. However, I’m learning to embrace the ride. It’s not easy, but when I get frustrated, God is always there. (I’m not a fan of sweet tea, but I do like plain tea with sugar-free lemonade in it . . . perhaps this will help your craving???)

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  10. You have such courage. I commend you for putting forth the effort to take control of your life. I read once that we honor God when we honor our bodies. All my best for your journey. Sounds like you are on the right track.
    Margaret Simon recently posted…Adventure in DanceMy Profile

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  11. Hi,
    Your post left me with so many feelings, I don’t know which to comment on!
    I followed the links about Talia, who I hadn’t heard of. That was poignant to me as a child I know is in a desperate state trying to fight GVH disease after a last-resort bone marrow transplant. Her family agrees with the Talia message- donate blood, everyone who can.
    As for you- you seem like a person who can stay on the hard task you have set for yourself. Because you are logical, and reflective, and creative (love the beverage photo) and you have a sense of adventure to carry you through. Best of everything to you.

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  13. Mary, I love the combination of order and adventure, not just for reaching your goals, but as an approach to pretty much every facet of life. We need order, we need dedication, and more than anything we need FAITH! But we also need to create adventures in our daily lives, tings that will make us smile, renew our spirits, and help us reach out to others in new ways! I’m going to remember those two words, both are really important to me too, and one with out the other means we cannot soar!
    Josie Two Shoes recently posted…Two Shoes Tuesday #120 – Ocean or OrderMy Profile

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  14. I hope all good things for you. I need to embark on a healthful living journey and I just put it off and put it off. I crave convenience. It certainly sounds like you have a well-thought our plan. I love how you can “prove it” with the drink you made and your knowledge of the calories and knowing the calorie burn calculator. I can feel the power in that. Kudos to you.

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  15. I applaud you making changes to improve your health. My husband and I have been trying the same since Jan. 23. It is not easy, sometimes we resort back to eating something unhealthy and have found it does not taste as good as we remembered! Best to you on your journey to a healthier you.

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  16. Best blessings to you, Mary, on this weight loss journey. Along the way you will find reasons to celebrate. Make sure you do. Our church had a 3-D group: Diet, Discipline, and Discipleship. It was really good. With all three, there is success waiting for you. I agree about the stevia. I’m trying to learn to like it, too. D 🙂
    Dianna Bennis recently posted…Day 5 SOL – Grateful for What I HaveMy Profile

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