Determined To Succeed

Happy New Year’s Eve, my friends. I don’t know if you have any traditions but one of mine is cleaning one’s house so that we ring in the year with less clutter, less mess and a cleaner outlook on the new year. I also believe it brings better luck to the person doing the cleaning.

Since I started losing weight I’ve always tried to clear out the old whenever possible so that not only I have no way back but also have to bravely step into the future. I have done that with my fat clothes and I simply must clean out the pantry of any negativity (meaning non-healthy snacks). Is it scary? Yep. Sure is, but it works for me. By not giving myself a way back to the past it keeps my gaze solely focused on the future.

I have already started doing this by working out this morning. Fat doesn’t take a day off and neither do I. So I did my five miles on the elliptical and 100 weighted tummy crunches to help get my mind right as I look forward to a happy and prosperous 2010. I want as much of the “old Bill” to go away to make way for the newer, shinier and better Bill in as many ways as possible. Next, in between Tweeting and Facebooking and getting ready to ring in 2010, I will be cleaning up a bit around the place. Laundry here. Dishes there. Clean sheets on the bed. And I will try to get to my office area (but no promises on that one).

It is my belief that we have to look at life holistically, meaning that one aspect of our lives – however seemingly detached from other parts – IS part of other stuff. Cleaning out the old in our lives means many things to many people. For me, it’s making sure that I never see the old 400 lb. Bill Ivory Larson again.  Getting rid of the weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle so that the Bill Ivory Larson that’s left is a better, stronger and healthier man.

Before you get up and out tonight look around you, take stock and be happy you are either on or about to start your weight loss journey. Be happy for the positive forces around you, and look to getting rid of the negative. Make yourself your number one priority. The new year is a time or renewal and we should all commit ourselves to personal renewal to make 2010 the best year ever.

So get up now and start clearing out the old. It may be scary but it will be the best thing you ever do for yourself….spending energy and giving focus to yourself. This way we can all collectively, enthusiastically and sincerely say HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Good morning, my friends. And what a chilly morning it is.

Living in southern New Jersey the temperatures here are a bit warmer than they are in Chicago (my awesome hometown). That is due to the more temperate weather conditions brought on by the ocean, as opposed to the frigid temperatures in the Midwest brought down from the arctic (think THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW but with now big weather cyclone of death).

Anyway, while no where near as cold here as it is at home it’s pretty nippy. The wind chill factor will make it feel like the high teens or early twenties today which is enough to make anyone think twice about braving the cold to get a workout in.

But I’m here to tell you not to let the cold stop you. Cold is one thing and being cold is another, but seeing that number on your electronic scale drop lower and lower is an amazing thing and brings you a warmth no matter what time of year.

Here we are in the throes of winter – the perfect time to kick your feet up, get a good book and cozy up on the couch staying warm. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is what we don’t want to do especially working out.

You’ve heard me say before, there’s a quote in the “Star Wars” movies for everything. This is no exception. In “The Empire Strikes Back,” Luke is preparing to face Darth Vader with only minimal training as a Jedi Knight. Obi Wan, his mentor and friend, warns Luke that while he can feel the Force he can’t control it, saying to Luke, ”This is a dangerous time for you, when you will be tempted by the Dark Side of the Force.”

He couldn’t be more right.

This is the time of year when we are not only tempted to stay indoors and keep warm but attend holiday parties and functions filled with the intoxicating smells of the tasty catered hors devours – delicious warm mini quiches, pasta buffets, sample platters, hoagies, pigs in blankets, bread and cheese trays, dips, chips, salsas and more.  My mouth’s watering just thinking and writing about it all.

No matter the temperature outside or the time of year and all the parties it brings, it’s up to each of us to control what we eat and to remain committed to exercise. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean we should slack off and wait until it’s warmer to get reacquainted with our exercise routines.

I’m human, just like you. I like watching a great flick on my couch and hunkering down all warm, but this weight loss journey is a constant thing we’re doing no matter how frightful the weather is outside our windows. There are consequences to what we eat and how much (or how little) we exercise. For me, eating better and exercising is a part of my every day if I want toget back to and stay at 225lbs.

And what continues to motivate me – the pride of my mom, friends and loved ones as well as my goal to have a 36-inch waist instead of the 58-inch waist I used to have – will help me live a hopefully long and healthier life so that I can enjoy, every now and then, the warmth of my couch and a cup of nice hot chocolate.

Until then, time to bundle up and head to the gym. That elliptical is waiting…

So last night I went to a “tweet-up,” a meeting of people involved in the Twitter community. These meetings are very cool for a few reasons. You get to visit new places/restaurants (this time it was the awesome Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown PA), you get to meet great people face-to-face (many of whom follow you on Twitter and vice versa) and you find out tons about the social media community.

What makes meetings like this hard, though, is the food aspect of things. Not that the food at Victory was bad (quite the contrary – it was amazing and their homemade warm soft pretzels with cheese and mustard are to die for, really) it’s just that I have my extra poundage to lose and I knew going into last night I’d have to be careful with what I ate (and drank).

I wrote a column a couple of months back on how social situations can derail your weight loss journey and believe me when I tell you – I had to remember every word of it last night. There were a ton of people there, too, ordering everything from buffalo wings to salads, burgers to loaded nachos and all of it seemed to pass right by me. So I got a good whiff of some amazing looking food. But I had to keep in mind my inner voice (that darned little angel that sits on your shoulder) telling me “you know you have to be good. So just be good.”

It took a lot but I listened. It’s hard when we’re out and about and wanting to sample the great smelling foods of where you are. But I knew I couldn’t do that last night because 1) I need to re-lose the weight I’ve gained back recently and 2) just because we can eat doesn’t mean we should eat. So I compromised with myself. I ordered one of those wonderful, delicious and warm soft pretzels and shared it with a few folks around me. This way I could have my pretzel and eat it, too.

And you wanna know something? That was alright.

I didn’t totally give in to having wings, or a burger or what sounded like amazing chili. Nope. I was good, especially knowing I couldn’t work out first thing this morning as I had to get right to work today due to an appointment I have at Noon. But as I lose more weight I will treat myself to more of their food and the foods of other places I want to visit. I am just proud that I resisted my urges to splurge calories.

I CAN resist bar food!

Sure, I will always eat what I want on my weight loss journey but last night would have been bad when I’m just now getting back on track after the holidays. And when I have been good for a while I will go back and have another one of those pretzels (they really are their own food group) and one or two other things from their menu.

After all, good things come to those who wait.

In my past life in public relations I worked for an aquarium. Working there was cool. Not only did I learn a lot about the life aquatic I was given the opportunity to participate in a swim with the sharks snorkel experience. It was in a word awesome. To see a shark coming at you and knowing you shouldn’t move was out of this world exciting! And by the way, most sharks are docile and don’t bother you unless you bother them or look like food dangling in the top four or so feet of a body of water.

After that experience I was intrigued by all things water and scuba diving. Don’t ask me how or why I got that bug to learn diving but I did. Ever since I was young, while having a fundamental knowledge of how to swim, I was afraid of the deep end of the pool. I guess it was the sensation of not having my feet on terra firma, possible drowning and not being able to breathe – you know, normal stuff. But I had all of my diving buddies at the aquarium tell me how cool it is so I sucked it up and signed up for dive classes.

If you’ve never done this yourself or know someone who has the training is broken up into two parts – actual water training exercises in a pool and classroom training. In this classroom training there is one thing, one mantra, that is above all others when it comes to learning to scuba dive. Plan your dive and dive your plan.

You might be saying to yourself “that’s sounds logical,” but they drill that into your head because, most times, divers need to be reminded to extensively plan a dive, every aspect of it, before placing one fin (not flipper) in the water. This simple mantra is the difference between a successful dive and one that could go disastrously wrong.

Weight loss is exactly the same.

As we approach New Year’s Eve many of us will either be making a resolution to begin losing weight or re-affirm our commitment to our weight loss journey. In either case it is imperative to go into this (or continue) with a plan for success. Seeing a goal is one thing. But achieving it takes not just guts but also a step-by-step way to get to that goal. It is a simple thing to do but it’s where most of us lose our air and bail on the resolution weeks, days, even hours after making it.

You make plans to go to the grocery store, right? You never go not knowing what you need. Imagine what it would be like going into any store blindly. It would be overwhelming, confusing and you’d walk out with nothing. That’s why we make lists before we get to a store. So we know what we need, how much of it and plan for it for a specific purpose. Oh sure there’s the general milk, eggs, bread (mmmmm, breakfast) but you buy a power adapter for a computer or a 20-ounce can of pumpkin for specific reasons. Think of weight loss and maintenance the same way.

If you want to lose twenty pounds (an arbitrary number I just plucked from thin air) then ask yourself…

…how long will I give myself to get there?

…what foods do I need to eat/give up to achieve my goal?

…how will I increase my working out/activity/exercise?

…when will I tell people?

I have always stated you should tell your friends you are trying. They will be a support system for you, like you guys and my friends are to me. Then set about writing down on paper the answers to the other questions. And writing it down makes it that much more real. But when you’re done you have the plan for your diving into weight loss. You can, of course feel free to modify, tweak and add to this plan but it’s a great start.

Now all that’s left is to dive into your plan.

We do it at work all the time. Strategy sessions that turn into “actionable steps” (God, I can’t believe I am using ho-hum corporate-speak). We do it when we’re going out (what to wear, how long it will take to get there so we’re not late, etc.). So let’s turn that into something for you. “Actionable steps” for the most important thing in the world you have to take care of – yourself.

So with just a few days to go before New Year’s Eve/Day think about this. What will your plan look like. My plan involves going easier on the Cokes for a bit, maintaining my workouts and eating more steamed foods instead of fried. I am human, and I do need to come up for air every now and then to eat what I want…

…but if I didn’t have my plan I’d be lost, floundering in the water adrift at sea.

Hello my friends and welcome to Sunday, December 27th, which just happens to be the last day of Christmas weekend and the first weekend of Kwanzaa. With most of us back to work tomorrow today is the last day to fit in the last remaining things we have to do, especially getting ready for New Year’s Eve/Day, getting some after Christmas/Boxing Day bargain shopping in or cleaning up from the weekend.

Sure, there are plenty of things to do to take up time in a day but it is most important to make and take the time to do what we need to do for ourselves. So I’m going to ask you a simple but tough question. Ready? What have you done for yourself the past few days? I know we’ve all had wonderful foods (and in my case a wee-bit too much food), spent time with family, friends, co-workers, etc., but what have you done just for you to help yourself on your weight loss journey?

Did you get up the past couple of days to work out and exercise? Did you eat a bit less before, after or during? Did you tell people you’re trying to lose weight and stick to it? I really hope so because no one is going to take care of you but you, especially in this weight loss journey.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not coming down hard on anyone because, as I have stated in the past, I am human, too, and am just as guilty about not working out when I should, eating badly and too much, etc. I am just here to remind you today that in all that needs to be done you should take some time out for yourself, maybe an hour, to work on your weight loss journey because that’s important, too.

Every journey has a beginning, we all know that. And while we will be walking this path for the rest of our lives (eating better and exercising to maintain a goal weight) there is a goal we’re trying to reach. We must all do what we need to do to get there. That’s why I say to tell everyone of your incredible courage in starting your journey. For support, understanding and a nudge when you need one.

Sure, today may be the first sunny day we’ve had in southern New Jersey in quite a long time and a great day to get out and enjoy but the first thing on my “to do” list was to get up and exercise. Now I can enjoy the rest of my “to do” list and only think about what foods I should or should not eat all day instead of wondering when I could possibly fit in a workout, too.

We are all here for each other along this path we’re taking, and there will be many who join us along the way. Maybe you’ve encountered some people who you’ve inspired to lose weight (which is awesome). But always remember one simple thing…

…the steps you take today, or any day, will get you that-much-closer to your goal of weight loss and we are all on this path together. So add YOU to your “to do” list.

YOU should always be the first thing on that piece of paper, notepad or Blackberry/IPhone task manager. After all, you are the most important thing in the world.

For those uninitiated, today is Boxing Day in the U.K. So I am sending a huge shout out to all my friends, visitors and fans in the United Kingdom today! I had it in my mind to actually get up at 6:00 a.m. (or thereabouts), work out and then hit the stores looking for great discounts, deals and sales.

Um, yeah. That didn’t happen.

Instead, I woke up around 8:00 a.m. and listened to the sound of the rain outside (which is melting the last of last week’s two feet of snow). It is wonderful and very peaceful. Then I dragged my sorry and sagging butt out of bed, threw on clothes and headed to my gym.

Despite my lazy “get up and out of bed” mode I was quite excited to get back into the gym after indulging (maybe a bit too much) on wonderful holiday foods. “Eh. It’s O.K.,” I told myself as I did my four miles on the elliptical. “I will get rid of this extra weight,” I said as I did my 100 weighted tummy crunches. “I know I will,” as I did my 50 arm curls with dumbbells.

It was an awesome workout, one that I am proud of. And while I didn’t get the Boxing Day/day after Christmas sales I got something way better…time for me, dedicated and devoted to me to exercise and take care of myself and this weight loss journey.

You guys out there may be out shopping by now and will return to a wonderful RSS feed saying I’ve updated my blog (I hope so, anyway) so I hope you took and/or take some time out today from shopping to work on you. That is so very important on this journey we’re all on. It doesn’t matter if it’s a walk, an hour at the gym, sit-ups watching sports at home. DO that for you and you give yourself the best present of all this holiday season.

So now it’s time to hop in the shower and get out and explore what rolls of wrapping paper are left at the Container Store and see what logo tees are left at Old Navy.

That will be a workout in itself, I’m sure.

For all of my friends who celebrate Christmas – Merry Christmas. And for all of my friends who don’t – Happy Friday to you. It’s overcast this morning in southern New Jersey today and a wintry mix and/or rain is expected later with a high of about 41 degrees.

You guys don’t usually get the weather forecast from me but I thought I’d be a bit different today and share with you my holiday wishes. You see this Christmas, as you know, will be a reflective time for me. As I take time to remember my mom, JoAnn, I think about her, Christmases past and Christmases yet-to-come. In my mind’s eye, when I see those future Christmases, I see a time when we have reached (or in my case re-reached) our ultimate weight loss goals.

Oh sure, we’re gonna indulge (as we should from time to time) in the foods of the season, much like the snow that blanketed the Northeast last weekend. But the trick is to prepare, both before and after, for the storms of food we face on the holidays themselves. We can do that by working out before and after and making sure we have our provisions. Not the bread and milk and waffles and such that people buy when the latest “storm of the century” is approaching. No, I mean things like fruits and other lower-calorie foods on which to snack.

I also mean forgiving yourself the couple of extra pounds you may gain during a holiday. Why? Why is that important? Two reasons.

One (and I remind myself of this one every single day) – you will re-lose that weight. In this weight loss journey of mine I know I will continue to eat the foods I want to eat. And, from time to time, my weight will show it. But I will forgive myself and also know the days during which I indulge are fewer and much further between than they used to be. That I’ve come such a long way I know what to do to take care of myself. That the pounds will come off and will stay off when I work out and watch my intake the rest of the time.

Two – If you do not let yourself have the foods you like every now and then you, I and everyone else will turn into grumpy old Scrooges. I certainly don’t want that. This may be different for everyone reading (and thanks to all those who do read me, especially my new friends in North America, Canada, Belgium, Serbia, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Thailand) but being miserable is no way to sustain a new way of life. Weight loss is a lifestyle we’ve chosen. This new lifestyle also has with it a reality component which states you will eat foods sometimes bad for you. Oh well. Enjoy them but get right back on track. One day will not derail you…unless you let it by continuing to eat the way you used to and slip back into your old comfortable patterns.

So you see, while today’s forecast calls for rain, my forecast calls for success. We are all on this weight loss journey together, no matter what part of the world you’re from. One of my wishes this holiday season is to touch the lives of and share weight loss stories with people from every part of the globe.  Another one is to re-lose this extra weight I’ve gained back (bah humbug) and be each other’s strength along the way.

This way, no matter where you are, your personal forecast is for sunny skies and a healthier and successful weight loss day.

‘Twas the night (o.k.  day)  before Christmas, when all through the house

every creature was stirring, even the small mouse.

The snackings were laid out by the kitchen with care,

In hopes that visitors soon would be there.

I was nestled all snug on my couch

while visions of sugar-plums, cakes and turkey danced in my head – made me feel like a slouch.

So I got up and put on my workout clothes,

before the urge set in to settle in for a long winter’s nap.

When I reached the gym there was nary a clatter.

I looked around in disbelief to see what was the matter.

No one was working out, they took the holiday off

But with my favorite elliptical open, I knew not to scoff.

So off to it I flew like a flash,

To do my four miles before I had to dash.

Ah, the windows were alight with the sun’s bright glow

As I watched my machine’s TV (HLN) to see the presents highlighted on their morning show,

when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles (or Flyers, or Sixers, or Phillies) his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the weight machines! to the workout mats along the wall!

Now work out! work out! work out all!”

I always wondered how he kept so fit,

even in this season of eating, sometimes healthy, sometimes S&%t

After about half-an-hour, just like me they flew,

up to the gym-top and then I knew,

St. Nicholas had seen I was a good boy this year,

trying so hard to get my butt in gear.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I kept peddling, and was looking around,

St. Nicholas dropped a note all bound.

It said “Mr. Bill (oh, no!), you’ve been quite good this year

you conquer your weight loss demons with sometimes laughter, sometimes tears

but you stay true to your weight loss cause

just as my name is Santa Claus.

Keep up the good work and I will too,

And try not to eat too much of Mrs. Claus’ stew.

As this is the time of year we’re teased into thinking

that we’ll find comfort in the food and the drinking.

That is not so. You know it’s true

And as I am busy I take my leave of you.

In this next year of two-thousand ten

My wish for you and your friends is for a healthier yen.”

I then heard him spring to his sleigh and give his team a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

And at the end of my work out I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good weight loss fight.”

Hey there, my friends. When I woke up this morning  I had an uneasy feeling inside me. I guess the only way I could explain it is by using the old 70s TV show “The Incredible Hulk.” Inside of David Bruce Banner was a beast that, when angry, in pain or distress, etc., would come out as a defense mechanism to protect him from evil.

So I hit the gym today with that feeling of uneasiness, the feeling that my Beast needed to be fed somehow. But my Beast is different, a reverse of Banner’s.

In my weight loss journey my Beast is that evil demon telling me to eat. But it has changed. In the past I needed to literally feed my demons, my Beast, to keep it down. Locked away. Sated and happy. My Beast would come out when I was hurt or wounded by people’s words or actions and so it would come out and tell me to eat. Now, when the Beast rears its ugly head I feed it with my workouts. It may not like it that much but that is the “new” me.

This is an emotional time of year for me. With Christmas just a couple of days away my thoughts easily drift to my mom and how much I miss her. Up until the last week or so I shunned listening to holiday music (particularly on my birthday) but have gotten much more into the spirit of the season even singing along to my favorite Christmas and Hanukkah songs (yes, Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song Parts I & II” are hilarious). And this set of first holidays will be the heardest, I know. But I am doing my best to get through.

But still, the Beast stirs and wants to be fed. My emotions cause my Beast, my demons, to come out and they make me want to eat, and Eat and EAT! Literally feeding it. My Beast doesn’t protect me, it hurts me. So I push harder and harder to use their negative energy to fuel my workouts and make their energy positive, especially since I am at 237.5 today (I love my new Conair scale).

I then can surpress my Beast another day, or week, or month and know I am losing the weight I need to lose. And most importantly, not letting my Beast win. I won’t lie. It’s hard. My God, you guys know it’s hard. It’s the hardest thing we do some days. But like David Banner I can’t let the Beast get out. I will not let it control me.

It used to do that. But not anymore. Hell, I even resisted donuts yesterday when offered. And while I eat whatever I want (I did have some Chinese food last night for dinner) I pick and choose what I eat. My head wins out, and therefore, so does my body. Not my Beast. Not my demons.

Sometimes we have to lock those Beasts away and control them the best we can. Otherwise, if they run riot, we may never get them back in their cages and truly lose our way along the path to sustained weight loss.

OK, here’s a shameless plug for another part of the website. I just posted my brand new review of the Sandra Bullock movie “The Blind Side.”

As I was doing my five miles on the elliptical this morning I was thinking about that story. How incredibly lucky Michael Oher was to have found the Tuohy’s who gave him the chance he needed to be more of than he knew he actually was instead of the man that everyone saw (and about whom they made judgments).

I know exactly what that feels like and it is a truly crappy feeling. Do you know how crappy it is to walk down the street and have people look at you like less than a human being just because you are overweight? It sucks. Do you know what it’s like to be looked at getting on a plane and seeing the expressions of people already sitting there and knowing they are thinking “Oh God, please don’t let that behemoth sit next to me.” Or worst of all, to go out to eat and see people passing judgment in restaurants as you order knowing they are wondering if you’ve ordered one of everything.

To all of those people in this world, screw you!!! I was always more than what you saw I was always crying so hard on the inside (and out) because of the things you said, how you looked and how you reacted to me. Just because I was larger doesn’t mean I didn’t have feelings and didn’t mean I didn’t WANT to lose weight. It’s juts that now I’ve found my Tuohy family in hard work, exercise and eating better (and not so much).

You see, sometimes it takes a chance meeting, instance, happening or occurrence to start a person on their journey. For me, it was my health, hurting joints and crushed ego (after seeing that photo of me in the shark tunnel). That’s what snapped me out of it and set me on my path to lose 175lbs.

If there is one thing that movies like “The Blind Side” are good for it’s that, for at least a while, people think past themselves and their stupid prejudices to see the potential resting in so many of us. And while I am not saying people don’t go back to being judgmental it’s nice when people think we’re more than our weight shows us to be.

We are beautiful. We are strong. We have feelings. We cry. We also want to lose weight, we just don’t know how sometimes. So hold your tongues, thoughts and feelings and keep them to yourself. Besides the fact I’m sure you have faults of your own about which you’re not proud and don’t want brought to the forefront we are sick and f&^%$#g tired of hearing the following how big we are. We know that, dips&$t!

We just need you to do one of two things: Get out of our way and keep that negativity to yourself or offer your hand in friendship and support as we begin or continue our weight loss journey.