Grocery Shopping. An hour longer and a hundred dollars more than it should be.

I kind of had a plan. I'd outlined some potential eating options for breakfast and lunch (the most challenging) and some dinners. I even earmarked some dessert/snack options.

We don't grocery shop more than once a month anyway (aside from immediate depleted items like milk, bread and bananas), and it probably costs around the same amount. It just, um, took about 4 bags less than it usually does. Losing weight costs more money, apparently.

(Yes, I realize there are about eleventy thousand studies out there tying the poor to the obese. This isn't new news for me. Just smarts, is all).

I think I did okay. I held back some of my enthusiasm: "I can have yogurt!" "I can make smoothies!" "I can get frozen entrees!" "I can cut up veggies and have them on the go!" "What about a fruit salad?!" I decided to take on a few "projects" (bake some chicken, cut some red peppers) and leave the rest to to prepared or easy prep food.

I did get a few frozen dinner thingies. Had one tonight. It was yummy. I try to stay away from foods with more than 500 mg of sodium, but this might be an area where there needs to be occasional compromise.

I got some snacks and desserts, including some Skinny Cow fudge pops, some 100 calorie something or others. I got Special K bars (which I eat any way) and some Laughing Cow cheese (which I get from time to time). Picked up some fixin's for turkey and cheese sandwiches, and then thought I'd try the Arnold's Sandwich Thins, which look like skimmed off burger buns, after a recommendation from a friend.

I've basically decided I'm just going to have to try stuff. When they run out, if I like them, I'll get more, but if not, just keep trying other versions of the same product type. It's not going to be magic. I'm going to have to work on the points (I think today will be another "below threshold" day) and keep some good variety in there, but at least I have some better tools around here now to get through the rest of the week, especially for lunches.

I'll post my points on Weds, and I'll include notes about my first trip to the gym since, um... (mentally checking to decide if Obama was in office the last time I went... Yes!!) maybe this spring. I'm sure you are on the edge of your seat!

Thanks for reading!