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Monthly Archives: October 2011

Losing again

I wanted to update anyone who is still tracking with me on my weight loss. My weigh-in at class showed I had lost another 3.6 lbs for the week. That puts me at a total of 15.8 lbs in 4 weeks. Woo Hoo!!

In class we discussed what Phase 2 will look like once we get there (Phase 1 is 13 weeks). We also discussed what would be expected of us at the end of Phase 1 before we can move into Phase 2. We had a member from another class with us last night and they commented that the biggest difference between the two phases, for them personally, is that Phase 1 is safer. This makes sense because Phase 1 is very regimented and structured. Phase 2 is created to help wean us off of the structured diet into a world where we have to plan our own meal contents.

I’ll mention just a few things I have noticed in the past 4 weeks.

I am feeling so much better. I am not as out of breath doing normal daily lifting, stair climbing, and brisk walking. I have begun to work out with free weights and getting that good muscle soreness that tells me the muscles are getting stronger. I have worked up to an hour long workout. I am learning to enjoy exercise more because of the benefits it provides. I am eating right which includes a least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. My energy levels are ever increasing. My blood pressure is consistently in the good range. It averages around 115/70 each day. I am fitting into pants I haven’t been able to wear in a year or so. My overall attitude has improved, and I sleep much better at night.

Soli Deo Gloria!

3 Comments

Posted by barrydean on October 26, 2011 in exercise, HMR, weight loss

Occupy Entitlement and the Pursuit of Holiness

26 Oct

This morning as I was clearing out my overnight emails, and preparing to attend my regular Wednesday morning bible study on the pursuit of holiness, I encountered an email which had been passed along to me from a dear brother in Christ. The email only contained a five minute video called “Three and a Half Days“. The video is about how someone would deal with what is going on with the protesters who are protesting under the now popular heading of “Occupy Wall Street”. After taking the time to view it, I was prompted to think about how Christ would have us think about entitlements. This subject will be raised again in my mind during our morning bible study.

In our morning bible study we are reading and discussing through the book “The Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges. This week the discussion was over chapter 13, “Holiness and Our Wills”. One of the points from the chapter we discussed is that as believers in Christ we are to submit to the will of God. In order to do this it is important to understand how our will functions. There are two factors that carry huge weight in our will. These are our mind, and our emotions. The mind reasons, discerns, and makes a judgement. Our emotions bubble up with our personal likes and dislikes. These two factors help to determine our will. To choose or refuse to act in line with God’s will.

These faculties were implanted in man’s soul by God, but were corrupted through man’s fall and sin. Our reason (or understanding) was darkened (Ephesians 4:17-18); our desires were corrupted (Ephesians 2:1-3); and our wills diverted (John 5:39-40). Therefore, it is incumbent upon the believer to renew our minds (Romans 12:1-2), set our affections (desires) on things above (Colossians 3:1-2) and to submit our wills to God (James 4:7). (* citation below)

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Easy A(ssignment) w/ Update

19 Oct

Ok, this has nothing to do with my one of my daughter’s favorite movies with Emma Stone. It has everything to do with my HMR assignment for this week. I “like” (click FB link here) this kind of assignment. We are to create, consume, enjoy a hot drink made with an HMR meal replacement shake mix. I looked at several delicious recipes to accomplish this assignment but like most things I put a BarryDean slant on it. I call it the Hot Mint Cocoa. The ingredients are pictured in the attached photo.

Hot Mint Cocoa

8 oz. water

1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 heaping scoop of HMR vanilla shake mix

2 shots of Peppermint Paddy SF DaVinci syrup

I nuked the water in a mug for 1 minute and then poured it into the blender. I then added the shake mix, the cocoa, and the syrup. I then blended all this in the blender for about 10 seconds, poured the mixture back into the mug and enjoyed.

Notes: I heated the water first because the shake ingredients seem to have an easier time of blending together. I also use the vanilla shake mix instead of the chocolate and add unsweetened cocoa for that chocolaty taste because the vanilla seems to have a sweeter taste to me.

Update:

Last night for class I weighed in for a loss of 3.4 lbs. for the week. That is a total weight loss of 12.2 lbs in three weeks. The weight loss is great, but the increased energy, attitude, and better sleep ranks much higher in my achievement stack. I am able to walk over 2 miles at a rate of about 3.2 mph, I am doing 30 minutes without stopping on the elliptical trainer, and working out with weights for about 45 minutes every other day. Can I just say “I wish I had started this earlier.” ? But I believe in a sovereign God, and He is giving me the strength to do this now.

Soli Deo Gloria!!

2 Comments

Posted by barrydean on October 19, 2011 in DaVinci Sugar Free Syrup, HMR, Hot Mint Cocoa, weight loss

My playlist

17 Oct

One of the favorite things to occupy my time is to listen to music. I have created many playlists over the years. Some are still around and some have gone to the recycle bin. Today I am going to share some of my favorite songs from some of my current playlists. Most of the songs are from recently released albums. I like to stay in touch with what is currently playing in the ears and on the iPods of today.

In order to share my playlist I will be using an application called Dropbox. This application will allow me to create web links from the individual mp3 files so I can post them in this blog. I also use this application to easily move and share files between my smart phone and my computer. If you haven’t heard of it or seen it in action, signup, and download. It’s free!

Now the playlist:

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Posted by barrydean on October 17, 2011 in Dropbox, Music, playlist

Excited over syrup

14 Oct

Today our shipment of DaVinci Sugar Free Syrups arrived. I have been looking forward to this shipment in order to put some more variety into my HMR shakes and cereal. The whole family is looking for some variety in their coffee drinks. In the provided picture you will see the syrups we ordered. If you cannot read the label (you can click on it to enlarge it); from L to R – Coconut, Egg Nog, Pumpkin Pie, Orange, Butter Rum, Peppermint Paddy, and Peanut Butter. We also ordered a couple bottles of the SF sweetener syrup.

First up – Chocolate HMR shake with Peanut Butter syrup. Delicious!

Soli, Deo, Gloria!!

1 Comment

Posted by barrydean on October 14, 2011 in DaVinci Sugar Free Syrup, HMR

Seasons are for Change

13 Oct

This morning as I walked out to the mailbox to return a Netflix DVD, I noticed something. Maybe I’m not the most observant person in the world, but I noticed that fall had come, basically over-night. Our yard was beginning to get that ever consistent colorful covering, you know, leaves. UGH!! It looks like some raking will be in order this weekend. (BTW, the movie was called “Red”. See it. I recommend it.)

Fall has always been my favorite time of the year. The days are not as hot and the nights are cooler. The leaves on the trees begin to change color and the air has the distinct smell of wood being burned in fireplaces. Aside from the spring season, fall is replete with signs of change and change about to come. It reminds me of our God and creator and how he set the earth in its rotation. As this blue rock rotates around the sun it also tilts on its axis causing the changes in the seasons. Depending where you live on this beautiful blue rock, throughout the year you are getting nearer the sun or further away. I know, Earth Science 101.

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Strong Start

05 Oct

Strong start is a term I am now associating with the HMR WM program I am in. It refers to additional consumption of the foods I am allowed to eat or additional physical activity. I can also associate the term with the amount of weight I’ve lost in my first week.

During my weigh-in for HMR class last night the scales showed that I have lost 8.7 lbs of me so far, and the first week wasn’t even a full week. The weeks in our class go from Tuesday to Monday. I am looking forward to see what God has in store for me in this week. We have two assignments: One is to double up on a shake during our first day of this week (today), this refers to “strong start”. The other assignment is to add some physical activity in one of your days that burns 50 more calories than your best day last week. Lord willing I can accomplish this. My best physical activity day last week was 475 calories.

Soli, Deo, Gloria!!

2 Comments

Posted by barrydean on October 5, 2011 in Alegent Health Weight Management, calories, HMR, weight loss

Excerpts from the Fall Conference

03 Oct

My first day of October 2011 began with a mountain top experience. My bride and I attended the Omaha Bible Church Fall Family Conference. The conference guest speaker this year was was the theological giant Dr. Bruce Ware. The theme of the conference was: