Determined To Succeed

Happy weekend, my friends. Every now and then I think I have a sense of style. Ilove looking through my closet and planning what I wear and to what event. Do you do that? I do that whether it’s for a schmoozie-boozie networking event, an event I’m working or sometimes just going out with friends.

I don’t know if any of you guys have plans for which you need to dress nicely but no matter what, sooner or later (especially as you guys lose weight) you’ll have to open your closet doors and start purging stuff that doesn’t fit anymore.

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. 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.

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 go out this weekend look around you, take a deep breath, know how much you are worth this and feel great knowing you are either continuing 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 in 2010. Just because it’s February it’s not to late to begin making 2010 the best year ever. And if you have something in your closet that is a goal (for me it’s an awesome suit I bought a while back that just barely doesn’t fit yet) then envision yourself wearing it.

If you can picture it in your mind. If you say the words “I will do this,” then you will make it happen.

It’s 10:37 a.m. on Sunday morning as I write you this entry, my friends. I know I’ve admitted this to you guys before but I want to get it out there again…

…I, Bill Ivory Larson, have a Coke habit.

NOOOOOOOO! That the stupid snorty kind. I mean the sweet, dark, ice-cold bubbly kind. The kind that follows me when I go to movie theaters. The kind that wakes me up in the middle of the night craving a taste. The kind you order with rum. The kind you might order with Jack. The nectar of the gods.

Coca-colas.

I wish I could stay away but I can’t. Of all my kryptonites this one is the strongest and I don’t know why. I have loved Milky Way bars and Chinese food beef fried rice since I was a wee lad. Hell, I even used to be a Pepsi drinker and gave that up cold turkey in favor of America’s number one soft drink.

What’s wrong with me? How is it that I can not have fried rice for now going on a couple of weeks and Milky Ways the same but yet absolutely have to have a Coke? I wish I knew. Some people get up in the middle of the night for a glass of water? I get up for a taste of the “good stuff.”

OK, I know this sounds heavy handed but it’s true. I crave this stuff. I am fighting the “Battl,e of the Final Nine” as of today (woo hoo – I lost a pound) but it’s Coco-Cola that tempts me the most. I have always said I will eat (and drink) whatever I want on my weight loss journey but I seriously have to cut back. God, I feel like a smoker who says “I need to cut back to just three a day,” or something like that.

When I was a kid I could down a two-liter of any pop (how we from the Midwest refer to sodas) like it was nuthin.’ When I was 400 lbs. It was conceivable I could do that twice in a day. As I got thinner I did cut back (and still do to tell you guys the truth) but if I “snack” I’d rather have a Coke than any chocolate, pudding, cracker or – well – anything.

Sigh. I know each of you out there has an addictive food, one that you absolutely cannot resist. Is it pasta? Indian food? Chinese? A good, messy burger? Whatever it is please know I am right there with ya’ in our “addictions.” It’s hard but we will learn to control them, too, just like we are controlling the other food and drink stuffs in our lives.

In the end will a Coke or two derail me? Certainly not. I’m just trying to keep TABS (OK, you have to excuse one punny soft drink joke) on how many I drink a day and balance that out with water and other healthier drinks. I only have one body and I don’t want my blood type to end up being secret ingredient #83 or whatever it is.

Hey there and happy Friday. I feel sort of like a TV reporter out in the streets reporting live from some scene of some news happening…except that I am reporting from the Honda dealership where my car is in for a diagnostic to determine why I smell a slight burned smell coming from my engine.

To my left is the complimentary donut display. Do you know how freaking tempted I am to have one. Ooooh, they look good, too.  Jelly filled ones and chocolate ones. They even have blueberry muffins. Dammit! That’s OK, though. I just had coffee and I am good.

Why are donuts so damned delicious? To me, donuts and muffins and stuff remind me of the bakery I went to as a kid with my mom. The sweet smell of those pastries was intoxicating and since then I appreciate a good donut, especially the jelly-filled or cream-filled ones, from time to decadent time.

As I am just about ten pounds above my goal I am stronger in my resolve NOT to have a donut. I want to get back to my goal weight. Doesn’t mean I’m not gonna have one of my Sugar Free 60-calorie Jello pudding snacks when I get home but 1) it’s a treat and 2) it makes me wait for it. Both of which are good things to keep in mind.

Today just makes me think about how we all should take care of ourselves as much as we take care of our cars. I know we need our cars to get us from point A to point B but we have to be healthy, too. Check under the hood every now and then to make sure things are running OK. And ten pounds ain’t bad in my book as I will get back to 225lbs. I promise you that.

Until then, and for today, this is Bill Ivory Larson reporting from the car dealership where my car, and myself, are getting healthier.

Although I keep glancing at the clear donut box. I wish people would hurry up and eat the damn things already!