No Soda September

In June I shared in my Step By Step post that I was participating in a three month long HealthyWage step challenge. Well, that challenge completed yesterday on August 31 and the results are in…

I WON!!!

The competition was intense, but I ended up being the tenth person to cross that coveted 100% completed finish line! My goal, if you recall, was to finish in the top ten, so mission accomplished there! Now I wait patiently to receive not only my $90 entry fee back, BUT a portion of all the money from those participants who were not able to achieve their step goal.

Looks like about eighty of the one hundred and fifty or so people finished, so I should be receiving a fair amount all in all. I didn’t do it for the money though, I did it for the steps! I have to get myself in better shape, which brings me to my next personal challenge: No Soda September!

On September 28, two of my absolute best friends, Michael and Jenna, are getting married and I have the honor and privilege of being a groomsman in their wedding. Obviously I must look my best. These two mean the world to me and I’ve been there from day one when the three of us all worked together at Macy’s Mission Viejo! Now a decade later, they’re incredibly in love and marrying one another, something I said would happen all those years ago.

Now when I got fitted for my tuxedo rental back in June when I was out in California at the Disneyland Resort, I fit into a size 34 waist pants. Unacceptable. I must return to my standard 32. This is the size I’ve worn for nearly twenty years now. I’m comfortable here and wish to remain at this waist, so it is imperative I find a way to do so.

Now yes, I feel like I could honestly work out a bit more and hopefully I will, BUT I knew I needed a truly drastic change in my diet to ensure I achieve this size slimming. I knew what must be done, but I asked myself nearly all August if I was strong enough to do it. I needed to temporarily give up my beloved soda.

We all know how much I LOVE the products of the Coca-Cola company. They really are some of my favorite things in the whole world and while I maintain Coca-Cola is healthier than cheese (if you know, you know) I’m also aware of its sugar content. Not consuming this sugar on a daily basis should hopefully help ensure that I slim back down to my desired 32 waist.

I’m hoping this post will inspire you all to help me hold myself accountable all month long as THIS WILL BE A STRUGGLE FOR ME! There’s a couple cans of Pibb Xtra and Coca-Cola in the refrigerator that I’m going to have to give away (any takers?) because they will haunt and tempt me all September otherwise and I can’t be having that!

Time to roll out my often used line: the things we do for the people we love. Well, let me assure and reiterate to you all, there’s no one I love more than myself and this is something I’m doing for me above anyone else! I refuse to approach my thirties in a state of health that is anything less than what I possessed all throughout my twenties. Which so happens to be the true decade of age I was in when Michael, Jenna, and I all first became friends.

Wish me luck! Lord knows I am going to need it!

As always, THANK YOU all for reading! Please feel free to leave a comment below as I love reading and responding to them! I’ll return soon with another all new post, but until then, I wish you all, all the best!