Want Not, Waist Not Writing---by Reb MacRath
You could have knocked me over with a feather when the doctor's nurse told me my weight, I won't even write it here. But despite trips to the gym 5 days a weeks, daily walks, stretching, and a diet consisting of fruit smoothies and one main meal a day, I'd gained about 20 pounds. And I couldn't blame this on a stiff surgical knee that kept me from cycling or jogging.
No, on reflection the culprit came clear: the snacks and treats I relied on to finish my abandoned WIP: dark chocolate, peach scones, turkey breakfast sandwiches, popcorn, unsalted pretzels. I was getting the work done daily, yes. But the calories and the high cost were taking their toll.
To reverse the sad situation without losing steam on the WIP, I devised a dual attack.
1) Want not, waist not. Right off, I needed to rewire the part of my brain that linked expensive and fattening treats with my writing mojo. Wanted: something simple and delicious that wouldn't teeter my blood sugar or bore me like chopped celery.
2) As an ex-smoker, I knew the importance of keeping the ghost smoking hand busy. After all these smoke-free years that hand still felt lost when I worked. And the lips--no crude remarks, please--still wanted something to suck on.
One day I heard Kojak calling with a lolli in his mouth.
I spent hours exploring Amazon's lollipop options. They range from dirt cheap to designer-priced. And they included boxes holding hundreds to bags containing dozens. I focused on sugar-free, Vegan brands, individually wrapped and small enough to pocket if I've only half-finished a pop.
The brand I chose scores on all fronts. A little lollipop lasts me 90 minutes; longer if I set it down now and then as I would a cigarette. And my writing sessions are more focuses since I'm not getting up to brew more tea or replenish those snacks.
Cost: by keeping at this, I expect to save hundreds of dollars a month. And I look forward to learning my weight lost by July.
This is my report.
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