About
About me (Mary):
I’m a blogger. I blog about my weight loss attempts and health(ier) lifestyle, I blog about my food, and I also recently started blogging about my wedding planning. I spend a lot of my time writing and thinking and I love it!
About my story:
I was always a slightly bigger kid and after problems with depression and emotional eating I ended up being an obese teenager. Although I was happy and had plenty of friends I suffered from bad eating habits and terrible body image all throughout high school. After I graduated I started working at a YMCA and started working out and eating better. Long story short, I lost 55 pounds, kept it off 3 years, then moved back home and regained the weight that I lost thanks to a return of the emotional eating. I started over again in 2009 at my second highest weight ever and am determined to reach a healthy weight and stay there. I’m attempting to lose 100 lbs but am focused more on being healthy at every weight.
I know that exercise and healthy food make my body feel better and make me happier so I will continue to add those things to my life and continue trying to achieve a healthy body weight. My philosophy on weight loss is a simple one: eat less (and better) and move more. I will not take diet pills or have surgery or do anything of that nature. I want to lose weight through my own hard work, without ruining my life or making myself unhappy.
For more info about me, read some of my best blog posts.
About the blog:
This site is a weight loss blog (and now a food blog too!!) that focuses on weight loss, nutrition, fitness, and other health related topics, usually with a positive spin (I try). I started this site, and blogging about weight in general, as added motivation to lose weight and live healthier. I blog to stay accountable to my main goal: living a healthier, happier, and more active life at whatever weight I happen to be. It is my attempt to live better through the integration of healthy habits into my lifestyle. I chose the name A Merry Life because that is what I want to live and that is what exercise and healthy eating provides me.
This site is a personal weight loss blog meant to share my story of becoming healthy, but as I’ve blogged over the years stories from others trying to lose weight have weaved into mine. From weight loss success stories to my weight loss blogging love story with Kepa, this blog has become bigger than just me. It’s about my story, and many others, all of us trying to lose weight and live healthy lives.
This site is not written by a doctor or fitness expert and all content should be taken as what it is: a personal journey of weight loss and healthy living. I’m a healthy living blogger, not a doctor or personal trainer or nutritionist, and my only expertise is in blogging. I try to post useful information about weight loss and living healthy, but remember that what works for me may not work for you. Always contact your doctor before embarking on a weight loss program or fitness routine. And remember to do what is best for you and will make you the happiest because life is too short to be grumpy all the time. Now eat, drink, exercise and be MERRY!
About the dollars:
I never started blogging with the intention of making money. However I do not mind making money off of a passion that consumes a lot of my time and effort. Please know that occasionally links will be affiliate links that earn me a few dollars if you use them and there are also advertisements on my blog. If you would like to support my site further, feel free to check out the options for doing so. If you would like to learn about making money with your own health blog, check out my guide to creating a better health blog. (It is pretty awesome to earn money through blogging!)
Subscribe:
If you want to follow my journey please subscribe to my blog by RSS or get daily update to your inbox when you subscribe by email! And make sure you check out my food blog. :)
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I just discovered your blog. Interesting stuff. I live in Memphis, too, so I wanted to say hello!
Good luck with your weight loss journey, Mary. I wish I had latched on to a healthy lifestyle when I was your age rather than seeking the next diet and miracles that just left me heavier in the end.
It’s a tough journey. Just take it one day at a time and if you slip, get back up and try it again. Slow and steady wins the race. You can do it!!!
Recently found your blog and I’m loving it so far :) I also enjoy the DMB reference at the end there haha! Best of luck, I will be reading….
Love your blog, Mary. Thanks for checking out mine earlier!
I just came across your blog. I love your positive attitude! I’m maintaining a 30-pound weight loss and I can’t imagine how I’d do if I were to gain it back. Would I have the motivation to do it again?!? I’d look to you for inspiration!
Sounds very cool to me! I can’t wait to read more!
I’m lovin’ the picture show.
Hey thanks for stopping by my blog! I love the way your blog is set up. I can’t wait to read more!
Hi Mary, just found your blog when searching for our client Taupo Bungy. Wanted to say congrats on the jump but also congratulations on this blog! I’m getting my house in order with health and fitness etc. and it’s quite a journey – good on your for sharing it with the world. May many others return you the happiness and openness that you convey.
Hi Mary,
Congrats on all your successes! And thank you for sharing with the world. I’m sure many are inspired with your help.
I’ve personally never dealt with weight. My body doesn;t gain weight when I eat poorly, but I get many other symptoms that led me to want to master nutrition.
The biggest issue I’ve had with maintaining the best health and energy, is finding the time for the cooking.
After years of inconsistent healthy eating, my partner and I developed a system that makes all of our meals 15 minutes or less. It involves prepping larger amounts of food twice per week for about an hour. We love it! The keys to our success are planning ahead and having a prep-buddy – which makes it more fun and go by quickly.
We’ve documented all our recipes and meal plans. I’d love for you to take a look. If you find it interesting, maybe you’d consider trying it out and reviewing it on your blog. Let me know if you’d like to check it out.
Blessings,
Luke
I am on a similar journey to you, I am also trying to lose weight and have been dealing with depression for many many years. You are definitely inspiration.
xo Lauren
Hi there
Came across your blog and thought I’d drop in. I’ve started a weight loss blog today; I’m hoping it will inspire me and keep me motivated. You’re not alone with the whole depression thing – I’ve been battling depression for years and it’s led to me developing binge eating disorder.
Keep up the good work.
What a neat blog! Excited to follow!
Cheers,
LC
What a great blog you have! Thanks for stopping by mine.
Tootles,
Jasmine
Hey honey…thanks for commenting on my blog so I could jump over to yours. I am excited to follow you along on your amaing journey! Rock it girl! :)
I like your general approach to weight control.
I have a method that has worked for me for the last 50 years or so. I have chosen a weight just a pound or two over my actual weight. For me, this is 130 pounds. I don’t let myself go over that. I weigh myself almost every day, first thing in the morning. If I am a bit over that weight, I am very careful the rest of the day, and the following days, until I am below the chosen weight. I eat low calorie foods, and eat only about 3/4 of the usual servings. Low (pun intended) and behold, in a couple of days I am back to below my chosen weight.
This involves losing, usually, only half a pound or so at a time, what seems like an easy amount.
Many of us are over weight. Some of us have lost weight, only to regain it. If you are over weight and have just noticed it, you have probably been gaining weight. It will take some will power to stop gaining weight. Instead of setting a goal now to get to your ideal weight, realize that if you could just stop gaining, you would healthier than if you keep gaining. Why not pick a weight just a little more than your present weight and set a goal to not exceed that for the next six months? It would be easier than trying to lose many pounds, you would only deal with about half a pound at a time, and it would not put your body on a yo-yo weight pattern, slow down your metabolism, etc.
I know that weight can vary from day to day, especially for women that are menstruating, but I do not allow myself any excuses. If my weight is higher than my chosen weight, I work to reduce it. If the weight gain was from premenstruation, I may lose an extra half pound that I didn’t need to lose. That is OK. I will have fun gaining it again.