Day 352

Just got in from the grocery store and dropped $150 – for just the two of us. Guess I’m getting old, but when I was in high school and worked at a major grocery store chain, the people who bought a $100 worth of food had 3 and sometimes 4 baskets full. There is just the two of us, and we didn’t buy meat or any of the superfluous stuff (toiletries, cleaning supplies – stuff like that). We do try to buy organic, which is more expensive, and if you look at it in comparison to eating out – which we did a lot of this past year – it is cheaper.

We have at least 7 full dinner-type means in this, plus a lot of extra stuff. I eat breakfast every day (how about that!), and I added in some oatmeal bars for when I’m in a hurry. Also bought a new cereal (gotta have the cereal) and some fruit-type bars that are sort of grab-and-go. I have an hour gap in between classes on Monday/Wednesday/Friday, and I didn’t want to get into a routine of eating at the school food court. The only thing there I like is Chick-Fil-A and a sandwich and water is nearly $7.00. And as much as I like them, they are fried, and I’m really trying to not do any more fried than I have to. And, $7.00 is a tad much for not much of a lunch, at least for me. On Tuesday and Thursday, I have a couple of hours, so I have to be careful not to eat/snack my way through it, especially if I am grading. I tend to eat a little mindlessly when grading papers as I get so into them that I’ really am not paying attention to what I am eating. Another good observation/discovery.

So, I have some good (as in different) things to add to the breakfast mix and that should help keep it from being the same old-same old. KL can eat peanut butter on toast every single morning, but I can’t, so I am looking forward to mixing it up.

I also got a decent sized bag of Bear Naked Fit granola, and I’m hoping to use it to snack on between meals so I can see about keeping the blood sugar level and do something about getting the metabolism to fire up some. KL has told me over and over – actually for quite a long time – that not eating was not good for me from a metabolism standpoint, and I now know she is right. Eat more (but carefully) and often (but smaller amounts), and don’t skip meals. It really messes with the metabolism and I need to get that squared away – both for now and to keep the weight off later.

Weighed yesterday morning and I’m now 10.5 pounds lighter than when I started. Not bad for a “non-diet.” If I can just keep it up and make the changes slowly and surely, then I think this is not only doable, but also sustainable. And that is what I am after. If I can lose even a pound a week, then that is 52 in the year and that is definitely a good thing. Once I am lighter (okay, a lot lighter) I may start running again, or at least doing some long walking.

Tomorrow is a fun day here. I mentioned in earlier blogs about one of the dogs I helped save recently – I actually was first to see this one and he was near death, literally. He is going to come to live with KL and I for at least a few months, and we want to see how it goes. We used to have a Great Pyrenees and I truly love the breed. I lost mine and I’m hoping Bandy will work out here. Worst case scenario is that we help him through the short term dealing with the heartworm treatment, and then he finds the right home for him – a place he can live safely forever. He might be the one for us – have to wait and see. We already have a cockapoo and we recently had the two of them together to see how they’d do. Lots of disparity in size, but the Great Pyrs as a breed is so laid back that little usually fazes them. They instinctually make their own decisions and can be a little headstrong (they are often left to guard sheep or whatever and do all the decision making out in the field). The cockapoo is a little hyper, but she is also an only dog, so we weren’t sure she would be okay with another dog, especially a really big one (she is 20 pounds, the pyr is right now about 70 pounds and will be about 100-120 or so when fully grown).

Anyway, he is coming tomorrow evening and we are looking forward to it. As much as I really love the little dog, I have missed having a pyr. A lot. It might be a tad difficult for a few days – two dogs needing walking (and we have nine acres, but no fencing right now) – but we can work it out. Will be fun to see if they can be walked together or if it takes both of us to do it.

Had an apple earlier today, and a banana tonight. That is a ton of fruit for me, but I’m trying to be better. Really I am. Have put some fruit in the cereal (don’t really like that, but trying to), and I’m going to keep at it.

Guess it’s time to run. Sorry if I’m rambling – what! There’s no one there anyway, and I don’t really mind. I do it all the time when I am writing fiction.

Tomorrow (if all goes well).

-Average Joe
Somewhere, USA