Not sure where to start

Learned so many things in just the past few days...not sure what I want to blog about.

First, just an FYI. Pickles. Like them? We do. I buy the gallon jug at Sam's. OK, so the gallon of whole pickles costs less than the gallon of pickle spears. I look at them and think hmmmmm are the spears more expensive because they're already cut, or do you pack more spears into the gallon than whole pickles. Ya, I know...have told you before my mind is a freaking scary place. We use a Tupperware pickle keeper so we don't have to haul the gallon jug out every time we want one. So, today, I popped open the new jar and began to spear them for the pickle keeper...then I thought aha! Perfect day to do the experiment. I got out a big bowl and cut the whole entire jug into spears and then began stuffing them back into the jar. I was actually surprised by the outcome. A gallon of whole pickles takes up exactly the same space as a gallon of pickle spears. Ya, so I flunked physics too...as that really did surprise me. I thought you'd fit more cut pickles into the same amount of space. So, it is indeed cheaper to buy whole pickles and cut them yourself...which is what I've been doing all these years. Now I know my effort was worth it.

OK, that isn't what I wanted to blog about, but I just had to share that. I shall keep the rest short so I don't bore the pants off you.

Portion size is important. Yes, that's not news, really. It is, when applied to the following situation. I hate veg as you all know. I measure my veg so I know I'm getting enough, not so I know if I'm having too much. So, I like broccoli soup. I make my own, WW friendly and it's good. It's really good. So, I always think, hmmm I like it, it's pureed, I'll just eat all 3 servings of my veg right here in this bowl. I start eating and it's fabulous. I keep eating and it's good. I get 1/2 way through and I think 'crap, there's a lot left in the bowl. A few more bites and I'm gagging it down. So, a good thing just got crap. I leave the rest in the bowl. Don't know how many veg I consumed, or how many points either. A bust.

So, after my mind was on fire from 'The Great Pickle Discovery', I turned to other things. I was fixing broccoli soup for my lunch today...to pack veg in you know? I cooked the living crap out of the broccoli and pureed it to smithereens with my boat motor. Was really pretty in the pan. The first thing I decided to do was to portion out the slurry right then, before I added anything else. That way, I can experiment with each batch. I might want 2% Velveeta in one, or Parmesan in one, or like today, I used Laughing Cow light Swiss. So, got 6 containers I think with 1/2 cup pureed broccoli each. I left 1/2 cup in the pan. Looked like a piddly amount. I thought oh I should add more, get more veg in. Then I remembered what ALWAYS happens. So I didn't. I added a wedge of LC, and 2T of fat free 1/2 & 1/2. More pepper...and that was it. Put it into my soup cup. Hmmm not much....then I settled down with that and my 'garlic toast'. Today I made my 'garlic toast' with a Thomas bagel thin, 1 t olive oil, fresh garlic and fresh basil, and sea salt. I sat with my soup and it was good. I got half way through and it was still good. I scraped the bottom of the bowl and it was still good! I wanted more...I wasn't gagging. Wow!!!

So, yes, I still need 2 more veg today somewhere...but I had 1 that I liked. I'm determined to change my thinking and actions this time round. Change my habits for life, not just for the duration of the diet. I can't go through life gagging down shit I don't like. Well I can, but I won't. If this is going to be a plan I can live with the rest of my life, I have to make it good.

Today, so far, it is good.

I'm old, but I'm still learning!!!

:-)