by Merry Mary on July 3, 2009
My newest blogging buddy, Tyler from 344pounds.com, has asked me for help from my readers. I think you guys are the best and very willing to help out, so I agreed.
Basically Tyler is about to have his 6 month weigh in and he wants to hit 100 pounds lost. To help make this happen he wants you guys to tell him how long to make his next workout. He calls it a workout pledge and has completed several of them on his blog. By completing different actions you can add to his workout time. The pledge period will last until Sunday which is plenty of time to make the workout hardcore. He will then complete the workout once I add everything up and tell him how long it needs to be.
The Workout Pledge:
There are several ways you can add time to the workout pledge.
1. Post a comment = 15 seconds.
This is the easiest way to add time to the workout. Just comment on this post about the workout pledge and 15 seconds will be added! A comment as simple as “Do it!” or “Woohoo!” will add 15 seconds, but only one comment per person counts.
2. Follow me on twitter = 30 seconds.
I know a lot of you already follow me on twitter, but if you don’t yet do it now and add 30 seconds the workout. Only new follows count because otherwise we would be dead.
3. Subscribe to my RSS feed = 45 seconds.
If you haven’t subscribed to my weight loss blog yet, do it now! You can subscribe via RSS or subscribe by e-mail and receive my updates to your RSS reader or inbox. Plus new subscribers will add 45 seconds to the workout.
4. Link to amerrylife.com = 1 minute.
This is the best way to add time to the workout because the link adds a whole minute! You can post a link to my site or this post from your website, blog post, myspace, facebook, etc. Even if you’ve linked to me before this will add 1 minute.
The Kicker:
When Tyler first e-mailed me he said, “you just get to sit back and watch me workout.” How wonderful that sounds… to someone else. If you know me you will know that I am not the sit back and watch kind of girl. I want to play too!
So I am in for the workout pledge as well. When you guys comment/subscribe/link you will be deciding my workout time as well. I haven’t decided if I will be on the treadmill or the elliptical, but either way I will be doing 4 – 1 intervals… for as long as you guys can make me. We both really, really want a challenge so get to work!
by Merry Mary on July 2, 2009
Guess what? I’m going to see Jabbawockeez + Jesse McCartney + New Kids on the Block tonight thanks to some free tickets. I’m taking the night of from exercise, even though my back already feels better. I’m pretty excited to see Jabbawockeez perform since I’m so into dancing lately.
Speaking of dancing, have you seen Dance Your Ass Off yet? I watched it for the first time last night. The show is a cross between Dancing With The Stars and The Biggest Loser. They perform dance routines and weigh in weekly to compete against each other.
The first girl I watched dance was just so excited to be dancing and performing that I couldn’t help but smile. After her performance she got on the scale to find out how much weight she had lost that week. The score the judges gave her for the dance was then added to her percentage of weight loss for her final score.
Reasons I Love Dance Your Ass Off
- Dancing is FUN. They are right about one thing – Dancing is fun!! Dancing is both fun to do and fun to watch. When you are dancing you don’t realize that it is actually exercise too. Last week I attended my first Zumba class. I had never been to a dance like class before and left loving the workout because it was so fun. I forgot I was working out as I tried to learn the steps then just go with the flow. Dancing is fun whether you are doing it intentionally to lose weight or not.
- The nutritionist. The contestants seem to be getting good nutritional advice from the nutritionist on the show. Sometimes, especially on Biggest Loser, I question the advice and time the contestants spend getting real advice. I’m not totally sure how much time they are getting with her on this show, but the clips I have seen show her giving good advice. And good advice on how to eat is definitely what they need.
- It shows that fat people can be active. The fact that this show exists helps further eliminate the idea that overweight people are lazy and can’t do anything. Of course the contestants have more trouble doing some things, and seem to tire out, but they are out there doing routines that some skinny minnies can’t even do. It might take more effort when you are heavier (it definitely does), but these people show that it can be done. Being overweight does not mean you have to sit on the couch.
- It shows that you don’t have to wait to have fun. Related to the above fact, it also shows that you don’t have to wait to do things. Just because you are still overweight doesn’t mean you can’t dance. In fact it means you shouldn’t wait. These people don’t have to weigh 130 pounds to dance. Neither do you. Get up and dance. Have fun and forget about waiting for the perfect body before you dance.
Reasons I Don’t Like Dance Your Ass Off
I can’t think of any. When the show first came on I wanted to hate it. I did. I wrote down reasons why I hated it so I could write about them later. Now that I am to that point the reasons no longer stand up. I can talk myself out of each one if I use a different perspective to view the show.
For example, I wrote that I didn’t like it because it is so focused on looks. But then the women put on the outfits, skimpy as they can be, to dance in and say things like, “This looks hot. I look hot.” They don’t seem to care that it is focused on looks. They don’t seem to think they should look bad. Why should I?
Some people seem to think the people on the show are being mocked. “Omg, they are embarassing themselves! Everyone is making fun of them!” I don’t think so. I agree with the perspective that the contests have more courage, confidence, and talent than I do. I’m in awe of how well they dance.
The reasons I love the show far outweigh the reasons why I could possibly hate it. (Except the judges. I could do without them and their useless commentary.) If you purposely view the show with a positive perspective you will love it.
Have you seen the show? What did you think?
by Merry Mary on July 1, 2009
I love you people, seriously. The comments and conversations spawned from yesterday’s thoughts on reaching “normal” were amazing and thought provoking. I definitely would go crazy without the wisdom and encouagement you all share with me. Thank you!
I’m feeling very thankful for everything in my life right now. I just finished reading My Sister’s Keeper yesterday and it was just another confirmation of how short and precious life really is. If you have never read the book, consider buying it or going to see the movie version out now. It is a tearjerker but sometimes a message of sadness is needed to show us how many positive things we have just in being alive. Life is such a gift - don’t waste it.
Just because I’m in a grateful mood, I want to make a list of all the things (besides you guys!) that I am so grateful for.
I am grateful for:
- Life. It’s crazy that we wake up every day, make choices, run, play, breathe. How can you not be grateful to be alive?
- My family. They drive me crazy, but I love them. I know when push comes to shove they are the ones who will be there for me.
- Medicine. My back hurts, badly. I messed it up for real today and for the first time in a long time I am grateful that medicine exists to eliminate pain. I don’t take medicine often or without deep thought, and today I’m glad it exists.
- Freedom. July 4th is coming up for us Americans and we will celebrate the freedom we have and love. After watching the people of Iran and other countries struggle for the same privileges we take for granted, I am very grateful that I have the freedom to do what I want.
- Access to clean water. Considering how little we value water, and the way some of us must force ourselves to drink it, I doubt we appreciate the easy access we have to clean water. Millions don’t have this. I’m grateful for this, so I support orgs like charity: water who are working to give this to all people.
- My gym. I love my gym, the people in it, the equipment in it, and what I am able to do there. I am so thankful that my access to it is part of my job and completely free to me. It has changed my life and I am grateful for it.
- Good food. I’m so happy that I can afford (for now) good, healthy food. I think about the crap I could be eating and feel lucky to have access to good food without restriction.
- Opportunity. This might be the thing I am most grateful for, especially now that I am leaving everything I know behind to move and try something new. I am amazed that I have the opportunity to do this and excited about what kind of opportunities I will find in my future.
What about you guys? Ever have those moments where you just sit and think, WOW, what did I do to deserve all this? Moments of complete gratitude are few and far between. I hope you have a few of those moments and you think about some of the great things that you are grateful to have in your life.
by Merry Mary on June 30, 2009
I’m out of the 240s this week finally, and just barely.
Weight: 239.6
Previous Weight: 241.2
Weight Loss This Week: -1.6
Weight Loss Total: -12.2
Woohoo! I’m still rocking the 1-ish pounds lost per week. Slow, but steady. I’m trying to claw my way back out from the darkness I fell into over the last year. Moving home and gaining weight again was not the most fun period of my life. Now that I see a light at the end on this, things are turning back around and I’m sure that once I leave this place for good things will only get better.
When I think about this point in my life all I can think about is wanting to reach the point that is normal. As I lose weight I think about finally reaching a normal weight. I think about how I will feel to be normal. I wonder when I will feel normal. What event will cement the fact in my mind? What one thing will make me feel normal? Will it be a number on the scale? Will it be wearing a certain size clothes?
To be honest, though the thought “I want to be normal” pops in my head I don’t even understand what it means. I’ve never been thin, or “normal” sized. Last time I was the proper weight for my size and age I was in kindergarten when I was an adorable five year old. But as an adult I have never been even close to the recommended weight for my short stature. Sometimes I wonder if it is even something I can reach. I wonder if it will take me almost two years, or ten, or if it really is unattainable for me. Regardless, I’m going to keep trying.
by Merry Mary on June 29, 2009
A while ago MizFit talked about her Vision Board. The concept intrigued me enough to create my own immediately after reading her post and a few other sites on vision boards and how they can help shape your future with the law of attraction. Basically by visualizing what you want you will achieve it. Sounds like something I could use, so with some magazine cutouts, glue, and a poster board I created my own vision board.
So you might be wondering what the vision board looks like. Check it out below. You can see that it is not very specific with goals or plans. I wanted a vision board that would inspire me to be the best that I could be in all the most important areas of life, not a detailed roadmap. And this is what I created:
With my own vision board I included a few quotes but stuck with more visuals. I also wasn’t very specific with goals besides my weight one that I have. Other than that I simply tried to include things I love to do and want to do more of in the future. I grouped things together creating categories, or clusters, of aspects of my life.
For instance in one corner is travel. This is one of the great joys and addictions in my life. I love to travel and explore new places. If someone tells me there is an adventure to be had then I want to have it. So I dedicated part of my vision board to the idea of travel and exploration. I want to do much more of this in the future when I have more money and financial security.
In another corner of my vision board is the health cluster. I have images that remind and inspire me to be healthy, eat better, exercise more. I have a picture of the “Crazy, Sexy, Cancer” Girl whose life story inspires me. I have my goal weight included and this blog as well, which although it has seen me through more downs than ups lately is still a source of therapy and strength (thanks to all the awesome comments I receive). It keeps me mentally healthy even if physically I am not doing my best. And that emotional health aspect of my life is as important as any other. My healthy section of the vision board shows me that I will be healthy and happy now and in the future.
There are others smaller parts of my vision board, like the part of love and relationships. One day hopefully I will have a wonderful husband and family of my own. I also will be financially independent and secure, which is a major goal for my future. I included things on my board to remind me of that accomplishment I will one day celebrate. I hate being in debt and currently am trying as hard as I can to get out and avoid it forever. Maybe I should have put a picture of Dave Ramsey on my vision board, hehe.
by Merry Mary on June 26, 2009
Completely unrelated to the normal topics of this blog, I would just like to announce:
I quit my job today!
Yes! Yikes! OMG! What have I done? I have so many thoughts and emotions in my head right now regarding this. I’ve been saving and planning for this for a few months, so I have enough to last a while until I move and hopefully find a new job wherever I end up (right now it is between Oregon and Minnesota). I’m taking a break from Memphis. This may or may not be forever, but I need to live somewhere besides Tennessee right now.
Even with my saved money I am still worried about expenses. It costs quite a bit to move that far away. And I have BlogHer coming up in July, which I am now wavering on. I really, really want to go and meet some cool bloggers, learn how to make my blog better, and more good stuff. But with the huge expense of trying to move across the country I am now unsure about attending. Maybe I should just sell my ticket? Or I can go and just really try hard to cut back on expenses (I don’t need to eat, right?)? I need a Splenda Daddy to help cover some expenses, hehe.
But regardless of all this… I am scared, freaked out, anxious, excited, happy! The emotions are ridiculous and and amazing at the same time. I don’t know what my future holds but I am excited about whatever it is. Starting this weekend I’m breaking free and enjoying the time I have left in Tennessee with my friends. This weekend I’m going to take a blogging break, clear my head, and have a little fun. I’m going to enjoy some living, not blogging.
Hope you have an amazing weekend too. Go follow your dreams, whatever they may or may not be!
by Merry Mary on June 25, 2009
For about two more weeks (resigning tomorrow!) I am employed by a gym. I work in the office doing boring, boring paperwork stuff, but I really still enjoy the atmosphere and the ability to use the gym for free and take classes (Zumba tonight!?!?). I like that I’ve met a lot of people who have lost weight, who are dedicated to their health, and who appreciate talking about food and fitness. It has been a great experience.
One thing I find odd about working at the gym, and our culture as a whole, is the way we use food to celebrate. The monthly staff birthday party to celebrate June birthdays is tomorrow and I’m the lucky girl who gets to go shopping for the food. I was instructed to buy cupcakes, chips, cookies, and soft drinks. There is a whole list of ideas for things I can buy for the party – none of which I would buy if I was shopping for myself because it is all junk.
I’m not again having a piece of cake every once in a while – obviously. But why do we do this all the time? We celebrate birthdays with sugary, fatty foods. We celebrate every special occasion like this. Some of us even take it further and celebrate the little moments with food. Have you ever had a great weigh in and then celebrated with food? Yeah, it happens. We are obsessed with food and use it to celebrate at every opportunity.
I’m tempted to rebel. To take a stand against the ironic and sad fact of ubiquitous food-centric celebrations. I want to just say, “NO, I won’t buy these cupcakes!” (I mean, what are they going to do – fire me? Ha.) It is not even the fact that I would eat them, because I won’t. I never eat the food at the work birthday parties because it is always so sugary and I have no reason to if it is not my birthday. I just don’t want anyone else to eat it either. Half of the people there are overweight if they don’t work on the fitness floor or teach classes. They don’t need cupcakes any more than I do. So why am I being sent to buy them?
Sorry for the complaining. I know I will go buy it so all my coworkers are happy. I’m curious about what you guys think on the subject. Do you celebrate everything with “bad” food? Or is it just for the very, very, very special occasions? Or not at all? Am I crazy to care about this at all since I won’t be eating the stuff?
