Noticing some of the little things

Coming up on two weeks and I’ve noticed a few things.

First is the initial soreness from working muscles I hadn’t used in years is gone. It still takes some self-motivation to get to the gym, but it’s getting easier. I’m heading off there again this afternoon. And here’s a friendly suggestion: when you see me at the gym walking the track, shooting hoops or in the weight room, that’s not the best time to pitch a story idea for the Frontiersman.

I enjoy interacting with the public and, after more than 16 years as a community newspaper editor, I’m used to being recognized and discussing the news and the newspaper in almost any venue. The supermarket, in line at the bank, at a restaurant are all places I regularly talk with folks and hear their ideas. Heck, I was even pitched a story idea while I was in the middle of umpiring a Little League softball game.

But please, don’t think me rude if I don’t respond while huffing and puffing in the gym, and I promise I won’t interrupt your workout, either.

OK, enough of the lecture.

What I want to talk about this time is — not talking.

That’s right. It’s one thing to be on a diet and watching what you eat, but it’s another altogether to never have a break from it either. I’m so paranoid now (and this is a good thing) that I won’t even look at the potato chip aisle in the grocery store for fear one of the hundreds of Trim to Winners out there will recognize me and “out” my cheating ways here on this site.

It’s almost like a game, “Catch the Editor Cheating.” Whomever catches me eating the most fattening food wins a prize. Nobody likes to be pants in the town square and this would be just about as embarrassing.

I’m really enjoying the sharing going on here on the Trim to Win site. Lots of good ideas and good recipes. I’m still sticking to my philosophy of the less you know the better. I didn’t look at the scale during weigh-in and I haven’t been on one since. That said, I am noticing a few little things.

I’m a realist and know that a few pounds for someone my size isn’t that much; however, so far what ever I’ve been doing is starting to work. I feel more energetic (still not sleeping well, but we’ll get into that when I see the doctor) and when I do eat I’m not eating as much but still feeling satisfied.

I still have cravings, especially for potato chips. That’s my weakness. Some people crave sweets, like candy and cake. I’m a saltaholic. I have found something that helps curb my craving for salt but isn’t loaded with calories or fat.

Pickles. Dill pickles. I especially have found the pickle chips for hamburgers are fairly crunchy (of course, not like a chip) and a few are usually enough to do the trick. I love pickles anyway, so this isn’t a stretch, but during those nights when you have the munchies bad and you’re trolling the kitchen (searching every cabinet 12 times, as if you missed something the first 11) a few pickles and force down some more water (Noah has nothing on me, baby) helps.

That’s it for now.

Later, Winners!