Why Did it Take So Long to Think of That?

Let me first start off by saying a big THANK YOU to those of you that commented and left me suggestions yesterday about my problem with eating on the go.

They were all great suggestions.

The only small problem is the fact that it's not coming up with ideas for food, nor the preparing food a head of time I struggle with...it's the literal act of eating on the go.  Meaning, while I'm driving down the road.

When most people think of "eating on the go", they think of needing quick meals to prepare in a short amount of time.  Thus, why I think I got so many great ideas for preparing foods on the weekend that can be grabbed each day of the week.  

That's not the problem, it's the fact that I don't have any time between getting off work and having to jump in the car to drive to the ball games.  When I stop at a fast food place for food, it's stuff that we eat in the car while driving.

So, that's why taking sandwiches was my basic go-to food...because I can eat those while I'm driving down the road.  

But, with all the great suggestions, I did come up with what I believe will be a great idea to help me out...and I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner.

I had already decided that the only food that would really be "on the go" worthy would be sandwiches. Paired with some kind of fruit.  However, I was struggling with the fact that my lunch each day usually consists of a sandwich...and I didn't want to eat sandwiches twice a day each time I had to travel to a game.

What I'd failed to see, however, is that there's no reason I have to take sandwiches for lunch.  I have plenty of options for lunches.  I have microwaves to use during my lunch time.  Why on earth couldn't I pack myself a hot lunch and take sandwiches for my dinner?  Duh!!

There's no reason why I can't eat dinner for lunch and lunch for dinner, right?

With a little preparation this week, I can prepare foods to take for lunch like salads, leftovers, and quick meals that I can prep at night and take with me the next day.  Then, I make sandwiches for Jelly and I to eat on the road as we're traveling to the games.  

I picked up some sub rolls, in order to have a more hearty sandwich some nights, and an array of stuff to make them with.  I also bought a couple pounds of grapes, to pack as a compliment with the sandwiches.   I can keep the rolls in the fridge at work, and at the end of the day I just grab my lunch box and we go.  

Simple.

Why this idea didn't hit me before I don't know.  It makes so much sense.

I guess I've just been preprogrammed to think that the best lunch food for me is sandwiches.  I hardly ever take something different for lunch, unless there's leftovers available from the night before.  Which doesn't happen very much, because I've become a stickler for preparing only enough food for the family to eat sensible portions for dinner.

I was shooting myself in the foot with that idea.  My intentions were good, but now that I think I'm better at controlling how much I eat for dinner, there's no reason that we can't prepare a little extra for me to take for lunch each day.  

So, that's what I'm going to do.  I'm going to try it out and see how it works.  

Rachel also came up with another great idea for me to use, on days where I might want a change.  And that would be protein shakes.  

While the idea of drinking my dinner has never really appealed to me, there's no reason I couldn't do that every now and then.  I also noticed at the store, yesterday, on-the-go soup cans.  They're drinkable...so a great idea for while I'm driving down the road.  Have one of those with a few whole wheat crackers while I'm driving, and I'll be all set.

The solution really was staring me right in the face.  I'm not sure if I didn't see it before because I maybe didn't want to.  Not having a solution to my eating on the go kinda gave me an excuse to eat junk food.  And the last thing I need is anymore excuses.  

Eventually, I want to be able to get to a point where I can walk in to a restaurant and order stuff that's healthy.  Just about every fast food restaurant I know offers some kind of healthier alternative to burgers and fries... I just choose to not order them.  Until I have the willpower to do that, then I just need to stay away from those places.  It might be a little more work to prepare foods ahead of time to take with me, but it's just what I have to do.  

And I'm going to end today with another feel-good...

Yesterday, I put on a pair of shorts that I bought at the end of May.  They are a size 20.  When I bought them, I had a muffin top that stuck over the top of them.  Being that I refused, at that point, to buy a pair of 22s (which is what I probably should have done), I just opted to wear the shorts with baggy t-shirts so the muffin top wasn't too obvious.

I put those shorts on yesterday, and didn't even have to unbutton them to get them on.  I can pull them up and down without undoing the button or the zipper.  In fact, there's about a 2" gap between my shorts and my stomach.  Almost to the point of being too big to wear!  I paired them with a close fitting shirt and there was NO muffin top!

I really feel that in the next few weeks, I'll be able to dig out all of the 18s that got too small for me and will be able to comfortably fit back in to them once again.

I could probably start doing that now.... but I want to wait for a few more pounds to fall off.  

I have two more weeks until my next doctor's visit, and I'm still holding on to the hope that I can be down to 239lbs by that time.  Which would mean, by last week's weight, that I'd have to lose 8lbs in a couple of weeks... which may not be possible, but I can get as close to that number as possible.

Once I hit 245lbs, I'd have lost 20lbs since starting.  Last week, I was only 3.4lbs away from that number.  It sure would be nice to hit that milestone this week, but I'm not going to get ahead of myself or set myself up for disappointment.

If I have to wait until next week to hit that number, so be it.  I know it will come...and that's the most important part.

Right now, I need to go and get ready for work.

Have a great Monday, everyone!!

Till next time!