I Have Will Power, I Swear!

Post-A-Day 2011:  What can’t you say no to?

Everyone has an addiction or a weakness of some sort – the inability to say “no” to something.  For me, there are two things I have no will-power over.  Chocolate and Diet Coke.

I love chocolate.  Not just an “I’m a girl and I need chocolate!” type of way, either.  I NEED chocolate.  Daily.  Whether it’s a Hershey’s Kiss or chocolate pudding, a plain Hershey’s Chocolate Bar or Lindt Chocolate Balls.  It doesn’t matter, I must have some sort of chocolate on a daily basis.  I don’t have any will-power to resist the urge, either.  I will say; however, that I have been able to limit myself to 1-2 pieces a day, which is a huge improvement.  There are times when we don’t have chocolate candy of any sort in the house that I will even mix up a cake mix (minus the egg) to eat because I want chocolate so badly.  Yum – NOT so good for the diet!

Caffeine.  Oh that horrible drug.  I don’t mind that I am addicted to caffeine, but I do mind that my drink of choice is Diet Coke.  There are many studies that illustrate the affect of diet soda in general on the body’s ability to absorb calcium.  I don’t want to do something that could adversely affect my health later on in life, but unfortunately, I have not yet been able to give it up.  I tried switching to iced tea – that way I could still get my caffeine – but it isn’t the same.  I love iced tea, and it is actually my choice of drink in the hot summer time.  There is just something wonderful about the carbonation combined with the flavor that make it so yummy.  There are also studies that show diet sodas actually are detrimental to the weight-loss process, which is another issue for me.  Can’t be drinking it if I’m really serious about losing weight. 

I do have will-power, just not with chocolate and Diet Coke.  I can tell my kids no and stick to it.  I am harsh and force myself to stay inside instead of exercising (ha ha ha – sarcasm). 

Maybe it’s because I’ve developed a mentality that I have no will-power when it comes to them, but I think it’s more complicated than that.

I’m blaming my dad.  Yep, you heard right, IT’S ALL MY DAD’S FAULT!  Sorry, Dad, but you know it’s true!  🙂  You see, he has great control and will-power with some things.  The man walks outside in some of the nastiest, coldest weather for exercise because he has the will-power to overcome his desire to stay inside where it’s warm (that and his hatred for walking on the treadmill).  However, put a bag of potato chips in the cupboard and let him know they’re there?  They’ll be gone in a day.  😉  Well, maybe not a day, but relatively quickly at any rate.  So, Dad, in spite of all the great traits I inherited from you, you did happen to give me a couple of your worst (or funniest however you look at it) – your clumsiness and your lack of specific-item will power.  I love you any way.

What is the one thing you absolutely could not say no to, and why?