Another size smaller, no deeper in debt
May 11th, 2009Usually when jeans come out of the dryer, you have to wriggle in a little bit as you wait for them to loosen. My first clue that living green was still helping me drop weight: Dryer-hot jeans were still a little loose. That means I’ve dropped two sizes now, just by changing what I eat.
It’s not hard to figure out what happened. While I wasn’t eating poorly before — I stopped eating much junk food years ago — I was eating a lot of meals out and to go. And that means large portions, and often, meals eaten on the run and without much enjoyment.
When I started eating at home, making most meals from only a few simple ingredients, I had to think about what I was doing. Prep the ingredients — chop, measure, weigh — cook and wait. Since I had taken some trouble, it made sense to set the table and pour a little wine. By the time I got around to eating, I ate more slowly and more consciously. And I certainly ate less.
Because I don’t really enjoy cooking — and especially don’t enjoy cleaning the kitchen — I’m happy to save food for another day. That’s one meal I don’t have to clean up after, so if I’m not hungry, into the refrigerator it goes.
I’m not a zealot. A month ago I was stressed out and run ragged, and grabbed a service-station dog. It wasn’t bad, but I’d still rather have one at the River Cats. Some situations just scream for something crappy to eat, but green eating is the way for me now.
And I still don’t know where I’ll end when I’m done losing weight. Don’t much care, either. I’m feeling good for my health, and good for my contributions. The weight loss — whatever it is, and I can’t tell you by the scale because I don’t own one — is just a bonus.
Another bonus: Eating this way is cheaper, too. No more restaurants on the charge card, and cash stays in my wallet a lot longer, too. In these times, that’s probably the best bonus of all.
My neighbor John doesn’t need to make a special project out of living greenly, for a year or any period you choose. Since his days in the Peace Corps — he served in Africa — he has lived quietly, simply and thriftily. More so than many of us would imagine could be possible.
If only we hadn’t taken all the time given us by every new “convenience” and filled our calendars with more and more committments that are hard to escape. Like commuting. Like organized activities for the kids, and hobbies for us. It seems in the end we spend more time on the road, and with more stuff that we need to spend more time maintaining.
I picked up chicks on Saturday. Since that was at a