True climber

For whatever reason or another, I talk about food a lot. Probably it's because I like to eat. And probably because I ride a lot, which requires lots of food.

This, again, is about food. Sorry. And no, mom, I don't have a weight problem. I'm perfectly fine.

A few weeks ago on Competitive Cyclist, a "What's New" piece included an anecdote about eating lunch with a pro cyclist. The writer knew race season was coming up because the rider ordered soup for lunch. Not soup and salad, not soup and sandwich.

Just soup.

Interesting. Interesting. Also interesting: Campbell's Healthy Recipe soups have low sodium, low fat and not a ton of calories. They're also $1 for a two-serving can at Hy-Vee. Oh, and they taste good, too.

While that seems like a pretty huge gulf in calories in vs. the massive amount of calories out, you're right. That said, I've been wanting to drop a few pounds for a while now. Not because I'd be healthier, not because I'm at risk for anything. Nothing like that.

I just want to go faster. And if I'm already a decent climber, a few pounds less will surely be helpful, no? I have Snake Alley as my No. 1 goal for the year. It goes up, steeply, a lot. So there you go.

Also included on the menu: salad. I've always liked salad. But I have a few cookbooks full of actual salads (grilled chicken, vegetables, etc.) that we're just now making. Damn, they're good.

It all goes back to the good choice/bad choice lifestyle. I haven't had a soda in ... days, I think. Saturday, maybe? I have no idea. I haven't missed it yet. I'm sure I will in the summer, when it's 9,000 degrees.

Until then, it's soup and salad. Separately, as entrees.