Dream Live Thrive the Dherbs Battlefield: New York Nights 20 Pound Goals

I awoke in my Victorian styled room to fresh fruit; guava, pomegranate, oranges and bananas, plums, grapes and a few fruit I’d never seen before. It was a wonderful birthday morning and from the looks of the looks fruit bowl that was delivered it was going to be a sweet and adventurous birthday.

Happy Birthday To MEEEEE

The Waldorf Astoria had been a dream of mine since I was a boy – and not simply from Eddie Murphy’s “Coming to America” which urbanized the “Astorian” Culture. But truly, I’d dreamt of the Grand Ball Room for some time not knowing that it would become a dream fulfilled. Waiting on the Lord was truly one of my better decisions; I was a guest at the Historic Waldorf that’s slept just about every President our young country has known and performed to a SOLD OUT standing room only aidiencce. What an honor it was to perform for the Honorable Shimon Peres @PresidentPeres and the fallen Heroes of the Israeli army. 

Another high light of my trip to New York was the personal introduction to Alan Menken that my friend Wendy Parr gave. She’s such a Rock Star person with an amazing gift. Boo can SANG. Alan whisked us on a parade through our childhood as he perused some of the songs that helped a lot of us want to sing and live the “Broadway” life. Mr. Menken is a Hero to some. I was beyond elated to be in the room let alone getting an introduction and vocal stamp of approval from Wendy. Alan was kind, open, charismatic and warm. He took time to share with me his personal encounters with Luther Vandross, who is one of my hero’s; I was grateful for that exchange. It’s hard to imagine a legend like him just being “real” but he was and he even got his amazing daughter Anna Rose (with her sangin self) to come up and sing as he accompanied. It was a wonderful birthday experience. After that I took to the chilly streets of New York for a brisk walk. It was cold the ground icy and it snowed a bit, but I didn’t care I was in the city that never sleeps and I was nowhere near tired.

From there I met a friend and traveled to the Museum of Modern Art – it was a wonderful time and the exhibits were interesting, unfortunately by then, my phone was dead so I couldn’t take any pictures, the memory however is fixed in my head. After a long day I retired to my room, instead of ordering some fancy “Its my birthday” type dinner I wanted what every other red blooded American tourist who only visits New York a few times a year wants … Pizza; a hot Slice, or three. Yeah that’s right damnit. I had three. And it was good, leave me alone I’ve already prayed! Lolol

The truth is New York was the breath of fresh air I’ve needed. I think we all have to step back and look at the work we’ve been doing, the energy we’ve been pouring out and take a glance at the results. I appreciated my trip because I’m closer to see the person I’ve been celebrating for years. That’s what this trip did for me. I’m thankful to God that while I was even at my heaviest I felt like the guy I’m becoming now. The thing now is jumping back in. You gotta jump back in. Advice I’m giving and taking. I feel like I honored my birthday and celebrated my weight loss win, It’s now time to set new goals.

Shedding the excess weight, sculpting and shaping. I have news for you world. I’m not done yet. I’m putting my best foot forward and rolling with the plan. Lose That Weight. I will see and LIVE my weight loss goal and Dherbs is going to help me Champion that goal. So grab your cleanses guys http://www.Dherbc.com http://dherbs.com/store/full-body-cleanse-p-1.html?sgst=1#.VOhQ5CmJnlI

I have a new 20 pound goal and I know I can make it. Join your boy and lets get Goal!

100 Pounds and Down; The Weekend Warrior

Floyd Mayweather Celebrity Basketball game 2010; Abraham McDonald sings the National Anthem

Weekend Warrior! 100 Pounds and Down!

S a t u r d a Y

Travel Bag:

• Oranges √
• Plum √
• Nuts √
• Dried fruit √
• Distilled Water √
• Good attitude √

Schedule:

• Merge Summit 2012 with Niecy Nash and the cast of TV Lands The Soul Man,
• Guest performer for the 2012 She Cares Foundation Celebrity Basketball Game
• Song Writing Session with Wendy Parr
• Jam Session with John Morayniss

A good attitude and keeping busy is unquestionably what kept me afloat this weekend as I balanced my new diet plan.  Having a support system, whether its one or two people is going to be a saving grace for you also…trust me, it has definitely been that for me.

I woke up Saturday morning excited because I’d made it to Saturday without compromising my decision to change.  I thought to myself this Type II Diabetes is gonna get its tail whooped one way or another!  I’m armed with my DHERBS cleanse, exercise and a support team around me.  Winning isn’t easy and it sure as hell feels like something in the process, ya know?  I had put things in order and felt victorious, hopeful that I could do this, that I can win therefore making the difference in my life and adding years to it.  Again, there I go sounding all profound, right?

Well, It was some weekend and it did have its ups and downs.

Wrote a song `bout it, like ta hear it, here it go!  What the “bleep” was I thinking, going cold turkey with no damn turkey?  Where were the angels of all that is rich and fattening, tasty and fried when I made this decision to uhm, “better my life”.  I mean, who in the hell left the gate open so they could escape?

Saturday held a lot of inspiring moments and anecdotes from some of my favorite friends and people; however none of those things, stories, people or pushes satisfied the hunger pain I was having.  When it was said, “man shall not live by bread alone” I most definitely thought he was saying that I should partake in all things ham, fried and creamy!  And now I have to go through an entire LA day with a bag of nuts and packed fruit to survive?  I mean really!?

And really, that’s what I did :).  This figuring it out as you go plan is something of a headache.  I’ve never cooked raw food, damn-it, raw food has never been cooked!  Lol.  But, the mere thought of caving now is more than disheartening.  It’s Not An Option.  You see?  I’m a firm believer that it took a lot to get it on, so it’s going to take something New in me to get it off and defeat this disease that takes so many lives unexpectedly.

I guess when you hear the term “raw food” there’s an automatic dislike emblem that stamps itself across your forehead.  Lol.  I’m still battling with my “old” taste buds and I’ve found out the hard way, their ass aren’t going anywhere without a fight!

Something inside of me all weekend has nudged… “if you don’t get me a piece of chicken there may be some kind of spontaneous combustion that will eventually take course inside of me”.  Well, needless to say, that didn’t happen. But I do want to talk about the discomforts that come as you’re transitioning into a new space and way of living.

Being uncomfortable will become the least of your worries.  The discomfort is your body naturally acting out just as a child would.  It wants what it wants and that’s just it.  But you, me, we have to be the masters of what thinking we ascribe to.  I will not get chin checked by my belly or my taste buds!  I recall a friend saying to me, “we need to eat for energy, not taste”, of course I thought, “Shut D hell up!”  But how many times have you eaten something and instead of wanting to get a move on it; you decide to sit down on it instead.

I had my “eureka or ah ha” moment as Oprah would say on Sunday while dining with friends.  I was sitting at the table whilst people piled gobs of ranch dressing on their salads, eating bread and filling themselves with iced tea, lobster, steak and chicken.  Granted, I thought, ”I could have just one piece of bread, right?  No sooner the thought came the evidence that I had the wrong idea.   It wasn’t about what I could eat because truly I can eat what I want, it became about what I should eat.  Not much of an epiphany, but it did give me the strength to do none of what I’d originally wanted.

If I have to pack a bag, I’d rather that than wrap up and amputated leg.  It boils down to making the decision.

This weekend was a rough one but a victorious one.  It was me finally becoming ok with what I’ve decided to do…again.  I say again because there are constant reminders all around the city that say stop and taste this.  Today, I’ll just have another taste…of life.

See y’all Monday.  God only knows what obstacles will be there waiting for me.

A photo I took while doing the Oprah show.