It’s Sunday. Had a GREAT time at church this morning – the sermon was awesome and the worship music was KICKING. Had a delicious lunch from my favorite restaurant. And now I’m in the office working and I’ve got some meetings this afternoon… all before tip-off at 5:05pm. That’s right, two of the most storied programs in college basketball are going to play a little ball. That’s right, North Carolina is taking on Kentucky in the ELITE 8 this evening. Don’t know what I’m talking about? You can just close out of this window right now and come back later.

I would like to publicly state that I want the Heels to win this evening. And, in honor of that want, I am going to share some photos of a little game that already took place earlier this season. How about we just do all of THAT, again? Shall we? Let’s keep #WINNING.

Enjoy.

Zeller says NO Kentucky, you may not.

Henson says, "I'm going to dunk on you, Kentucky."

Henson says, "You've been blocked, Kentucky."

Coach John Calipari is sad.

GO HEELS!

All for now.

all photos courtesy of Todd Melet, 1360 WCHL basketball photographer.

There are few things in life that absolutely terrify me.

Those things are as follows:

1. Needles

2. The Dentist

3. Bees

4. Being Chased

5. Being Chased by Bees

I feel for Winnie. I would not want to be him.

Seriously, those things terrify me. Sure, the dark is scary. Alleys are scary. The boogie man is scary. But for some reason, those things don’t terrify me. I’m not a “fan” of scary movies, I prefer the suspense, it’s the gory stuff I can’t take. But I digress.
And in the next few days I have to conquer, like, three of them.

1. Tomorrow I am going to the dentist. It will be the first time in a long time. I don’t even want to say how long. Now, don’t get grossed out, I have a thing about dental hygiene. Because of my fear of the dentist, I avoid going. I do that by brushing multiple times a day and flossing like it’s my job. I have floss on my person almost at all times. But for real, I am so scared. I had a couple bad experiences at the dentist when I was younger and I was scarred for life. But come on, I’m an adult. I know I need to go to the dentist, so I made an appointment. I am going. MAN UP, BUCKLEY. (I’m saying that to myself right now…)
2. Before I go to Kenya, I have to get shots. A lot of shots. With needles. I knew that when I signed up to go to Kenya that I would have to do this, but I didn’t realize how many. Oh well, I can do it. The people that I will be serving in Kenya do MUCH more difficult things on a day-to-day basis than get a couple measly shots. In fact, the Kenyans would be blessed to have the type of access to medicine that we are so blessed to have. So guess what I’m doing? I’m manning up and getting my shots and I’m not even going to complain. Or wince. Okay, I might wince. A little bit. I also might bring someone to hold my hand. Don’t judge me.
3. The bees are out. I thought cell phones were killing them off, or something? No, no, no. I don’t want the bees to die. I just don’t want them near me. I’m allergic. And their stingers feel like needles. Which goes back to one of my aforementioned fears. But no joke, I have seen so many bees today. Terrifying.

I don’t plan on playing tag or putting myself in a precarious position to run from someone any time soon, so I shouldn’t have to worry about being chased. I was a horrible kid – like, I never wanted to play tag. Of any sort. Unless I was always it. Can’t do it.

Oh, and one time, I was chased by a bee, in Chipotle. Chipotle is supposed to be my happy place. And there was a bee in there. And it chased me. It could smell my fear. It was like my worst nightmare coming to fruition.

Anyway, I am proud of myself. Because I feel like I am really conquering some of my fears. I know some of this may sound trite, but whatever, they’re not your fears.

Speaking of, what are YOUR fears and what have you done to conquer them?

All for now.

So, as I continue on my journey of really once-and-for-all getting healthy to the point at which I am happy with my level of health and fitness, I am learning A LOT along the way. I guess you could say that means this is a good learning and growing experience, otherwise what’s the purpose? Right?

Well, I’ve lost 16.8 pounds so far, and realistically, to get to a weight I’d be comfortable with, I need to lose another 10, but to get to a weight that I really want, I need to lose another 18-23. I’m not on any crazy crash diets or doing any of those “fad” things – I’m watching what I eat, counting my calories, and exercising.

If you’re not good at math (which I am not) this part may get a bit confusing, but this is something I’ve just recently learned. If you know this already, you can move on to the next paragraph, if you don’t, just maybe then you’ll learn something. So, to make something rather complicated sound basic here’s the deal:

• 3,500 calories = 1 pound
  • Basically, this means that for every 3,500 calories you eat, you gain 1 pound, for every 3,500 calories you burn, you lose 1 pound
• The average person burns between 2,000 and 2,500 calories per day WITHOUT exercise (that’s just doing your daily stuff like, being alive, breathing, showering, etc…)
• They say that the average woman should eat around 1,600 and 2,000 calories a day and average man should eat around 1,800-2,200 calories a day.
  • So basically, if you don’t exercise at all and eat around 2,000 calories a day, you’re going to maintain your current weight
  • Do know that these numbers are based on averages – not taking into account metabolism, height, weight, etc… but they are good representation
• So, basically to LOSE weight, you need to subtract 500 calories from the average daily caloric intake to burn more calories than you eat during a day

There are a lot of websites that can help you figure out a more specific number, here’s one that I used.

So, for the past two months I’ve been eating about 1,300-1,500 calories a day and burning somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 calories a day. (I go to the gym a minimum 5 days a week, most often 6 days a week. I’ve learned that a rest day is SO incredibly important – but those days I’m at the gym, I’m burning a lot more than on days I’m not… duh).

When first heading out on this lose-weight path, the weight comes off like BOOM! POOF! Where’d it go? It’s so easy and you really feel like you’re on a roll. And then, BOOM! POOF! It stops. And you hit… dun dun dun: THE DREADED PLATEAU. The dreaded plateau is when your body gets comfortable with your current lifestyle and says to you, “Nah, I don’t really feel like losing any more weight. I’m gonna hang out here for a while.”

It’s one of the most frustrating things in the world. I know that you have to just keep your body guessing and eventually the weight will come off and the plateau will end, but until then, my golly it’s a process.

I share this information just to 1) Get it off my chest, 2) Share my experiences, and 3) Hope that there’s someone out there who’s reading this and knows exactly what I’m talking about and can either learn from me or heck, I can learn from them. Is that person YOU?

All for now.

So, remember how I told you guys there’s a lot going on? And that big stuff is happening? Well, everything is starting to finally fall into place.

Here’s a little background: one Sunday this past October, Pastor Benji showed a slideshow of a mission trip that New Hope had taken that Summer to Kiria, Kenya. Kiria is a small village located at the base of the Aberdare Mountains, which is approximately 40 miles northeast of Nairobi and approximately 100 miles south of the equator. New Hope has sort of “adopted” this village and continues to support it financially throughout the year. Just looking at the pictures of the trip and hearing about the relationships that were created, the service work that was done, and just the amazing things that the church was doing, I knew that I wanted to be a part of that.

I have always wanted to go on a service trip. In college I remember trying to get an “alternative Spring Break” mission trip together a couple times, but just couldn’t gather the money and resources to make it happen. I was looking for the right opportunity and the right place to go.

I have a passion for loving on and helping people, learning about and experiencing other cultures, and sharing in my faith. It’s not about going into someone else’s culture and imposing rich American philosophies – it’s about immersing yourself in their culture, learning, listening, and really opening your eyes to something different. It’s also about being there as a resource and helping hand.

So, when I heard that New Hope was going back to the village this Summer, I knew that I was being called to go.

From July 28th – August 6th (that’s THIS SUMMER!) I’ll be going. The deposit is paid, the commitment form is in, and I am going.

What am I going to be doing there? Well, in addition to fellowshipping and doing life with the Kenyans, a majority of our time will be spent digging trenches for water distribution lines, building and repairing roads, constructing a concrete pad for water tanks, building and fixing church and school furniture, assisting in the teaching of school classes, and providing medical services where needed.

Okay, so some of you are probably thinking, “Molly is going on a mission trip? THIS summer?” I could probably come up with a list of reasons why I shouldn’t go (life/work/time/money). There’s a myriad of excuses I could use to not go. However, the truth is, I keep coming back to the one reason why I should and ultimately want to go – God loves people and so do I. Going wasn’t a hard decision. When it comes down to it, Jesus laid out a pretty simple religion for us: Love God, love others, and love ourselves. My point exactly. Deciding to go is easy. Paying for it however, is the real challenge.

To be totally honest, I don’t have $3,500 just sitting in my bank account. So here’s where I do something I never do: I ask for money. I would love it and be so appreciative if you could support my mission trip with a donation. A little, a lot, really anything is helpful.

The other thing you can do to help is to pray. As much as God and the church love mission trips, not everyone else does. And there are definitely going to be challenges along the way. So your thoughts and prayers are really appreciated. If you’d like to know more about the trip, I’d be happy to tell you more about it. Just let me know. I’d love to talk about it.

I will, of course, be blogging about my experiences before and after the trip. I would say that I would be blogging during the trip, but the odds of having a solid and/or reliable internet connection in the small village of Kiria, Kenya are not high.

I’m excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Thank you guys for everything.

All for now.

 

That’s right. I said it. I’m a LOSER. A loser of WEIGHT, that is.

In getting back to my old blogging habits, I try to write about things that are on my mind, things that I’m working on, things that I’m going through at this particular moment, etc… because A) It helps me to organize my thoughts, B) If I’m struggling with something, it helps me to work through it, and C) There’s a part of me that hopes someone else who just so happens to come across this little blog can identify with whatever I’m writing about and learn something / gain something / or even add their own two cents in the comments.

before the Shamrock N' Run 5K in Feb. 2011

My weight has always been something that I have struggled with and been self-conscious about. Do I think I’m fat? No. Do I wish I were a size 6? Yes. I’m short, I have wide hips, and those (infamous?) genetic “Buckley Buns”. I have been a size 10 since high school – again, it’s those darned hips of mine. I digress.

Over the last few years, I’ve found myself in this new era of “Molly wanting to get healthy and exercise.” I was never a runner – in fact, I was a terrible runner, sort of still am. But I set out to become a runner, and I’ve half-way accomplished that. I ran the Tar Heel 10-miler for my first race, the New Jersey Long Branch Half-Marathon, and a couple of 5Ks posting relatively okay times. I’m not ever going to be the speediest, but trust me, if I can run, so can you. I’m signed up to run the Tar Heel 10-miler again this year, but right now a bit of a knee injury is standing in my way. GAH. Again, I digress.

I started running to accomplish a goal, but mostly I hoped that running would help me shed those pounds I have so desperately wanted to lose. There was a point last year in which I was running 20-30 miles a week, yet I wasn’t losing weight. I was feeling better, but I hated what the scale said. Then I got injured and stopped running. Working at a desk all day doesn’t really allow for much exercise and frankly, I hate scales, so I stopped weighing myself. To be completely honest, I noticed I had gained weight, but didn’t think much of it.

Then I received my wake-up call. I was hanging out at my friend Laura’s house one night right after the 1st of the year. Went to the bathroom and noticed she had a scale in her bathroom – so I thought, hmm, I wonder… I got on the scale and saw a number I never in a million years would have thought I would see. [Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not going to tell you what that number was. It was that bad.]

I immediately knew that I had to get my act together.

Rejoined the YMCA the next day and re-evaluated my situation. Where had I gone wrong? What could I do to fix this? This needs to be a lifestyle change, not some fad-New-Years-Resolution.

Since then, I have been working out 6, sometimes 7 days a week, I quit drinking Diet Coke (which is HUGE for me, if you know me at all), and stopped eating after 8pm (with a few exceptions here or there). I’m not on a “diet.” I’m simply more aware of what I’m putting into my body. Since January, I have lost 16.2 pounds total. I had actually lost closer to 17/18 but I’ve hit that dreaded plateau period right now. I still have at least another 10-15 pounds to go to get to a place I’d be comfortable with, but I’d really like to lose another 15-20.

I have a couple things to thank for my progress so far. One, my BF . He’s such a workout fiend that it’s been nice to have him to motivate me to go to the gym. On days he doesn’t want to go to the gym, I do, so I make him. On days I don’t want to go to the gym, he does, so he makes me. We don’t really workout together, but to have someone else there to keep you honest really helps. I can’t emphasize that enough.

This is my calorie intake for the last week.

The other is LoseIt.com. I actually had discovered the iPhone App FIRST before I discovered the website. I can’t speak highly enough about it. It’s a FREE app, and 100% worth it. Don’t worry, if you don’t have an iPhone, you can sign up for free on their website, too. I’ll be honest, it takes a few days of getting into the habit of using it, but once you get comfortable, that’s exactly what it becomes: habit. Basically it’s a place to fill in all of your “vitals” and set up your goals and weight loss plan – it then gives you the tools and resources you need. You log all of your food and exercise and it calculates your daily calories. It even has restaurants and supermarket food loaded in there for you to search – and yes, it even has Chipotle. You’d be surprised as to how many calories some things are.

I haven’t stopped eating things I love, I’ve just learned that it’s all about balance and moderation. Plus, I get a free pass with fruits and veggies – those calories don’t count. I mean, who ever got fat from eating too many tomatoes or too many celery sticks? NO ONE. Anywho, If I go over my calorie intake one day, then I make sure I’m under the next. (It also factors in your exercise as negative calories).

The LoseIt.com website also has message boards / forums where you can make friends and get advice on recipes, exercises, and general weight loss. The people on there are super supportive and really help you along the way.

I know, I’ve entered my own nerdy weight loss world, but it’s okay. This is the exact type of thing someone like myself needs. OH, and you can even set up motivators to remind yourself throughout the day to log your food.

Anyway, I share all of this extremely personal stuff because I know that this isn’t something only I struggle with. I’m really not in this for the temporary, drop 10 pounds gain back 30 deal… I really want to finally achieve that goal I have so longed for. I’ve accepted that I’m never going to be a size 6 and look like Heidi Klum, but I know that I can feel better about the way that I look.

I will be blogging periodically about my progress – mainly for the purposes of keeping myself honest. But will you guys help to keep me honest? I do have to say, seeing that line go down makes me very happy…

my LoseIt.com weight chart where I can track my progress

Also, if any of you out there have gone through / are going through / thinking about going through something similar, I’d love some advice. I’d love to hear your struggles, challenges, and triumphs. Share your stories. Share your tips.

Love you guys.

All for now.

in Nashville, TN on New Years 2011!

Long time no see. I know, I know. Excuses, excuses. I have no real excuse other than life got in the way of blogging.

It happens. We (okay, maybe not “we” but I) got through phases. We all do. And don’t even tell me you don’t, because I know that’s a lie.

Both my personal and professional life have changed A LOT in the past, oh, 8 months. (Yikes! Has it really been that long since I blogged?)

Well, there’s a lot that I have to catch you up on, and it’s not all going to happen in one post – plus, there’s a lot of big stuff coming up, and I want you guys along with me for the ride.

If you’ve ever been a reader of my blog, you know I like to make lists. So, to catch you up in a nutshell, here are the things that have happened since I last blogged:

1. I went from working 3 jobs to working only one
2. I wrote and performed a one-woman show
3. I met a boy. Nay, a man. He treats me better than I ever deserve to be treated. He’s smart, incredibly funny, and makes me want to be a better person. And, of course, he is just an all around swell guy. (If he’s reading this he’s probably embarrassed… oh well, DEAL! )
4. 

   how cute is my nephew?

   My NEPHEW WAS BORN. Oh my gosh. My nephew! On July 19th, 2010 my nephew Kyle Robert Murphy stormed into this world and he is such an incredible baby. I love my sister and my brother-in-law and I’m so grateful to have such an amazing family. And seriously, I mean, look at that baby… how cute it he?!?!?!

5. I became obsessed with Carolina Football and Basketball. I’ve always been a  football / basketball  fan, and have always loved Carolina, but working at WCHL (the flagship station for the Tar Heels) and covering all the games this year got me close to the situation and I now know way more than I ever thought I would. GO HEELS!
6. I finally found a church I love. I definitely want to write an entire post on this later, but finding a church that I love is something that I wanted for a long time. I went to church growing up, and in middle and high school, did InterVarsity and a small group in college, but when I got out of college and I moved, I strayed and focused on other things. I had done a little bit of “church hopping” but didn’t find anything that struck me as relevant or something that connected with me. And I’ve found it. I go to New Hope Church in Durham, NC and I love it. The music, the word, the people are all exactly what I was looking for and I couldn’t be happier. (Again, more on this later.)
7. I joined the worship arts ministry team at New Hope – I’m singing again! I have SO missed doing this and it’s so rewarding.
8. I got promoted! That’s right, I went from 4 jobs, to 3 jobs, to 1 full-time job, to getting promoted to a management position. I am now the Duchess of Digital Media for WCHL in charge of the build out of our new website, all of our social media, online marketing, etc… basically anything that has to do with the web, I am in charge of it for the radio station.

Well, a good start to getting you caught up. I’ve really missed writing and sharing my thoughts, musings, experiences, stories, etc… if you will. Hold me accountable, people.

I love you guys. I’ll be back soon.

All for now.