Page 9 of The One

“So I was told by the doctor. Which is why I’d like to try this. I’ve done some research myself. I guess I’m eating all the wrong things so don’t slap my hand too hard.”

He was cute. Funny too. She shouldn’t be thinking that with a patient, but she couldn’t help it.

“Why don’t you tell me what you normally eat,” she said. “Give me a rundown of your day or a week. Just a summary.”

“I can do that,” he said. “It’s pretty boring so I’ll try not to put you to sleep.”

“I had a good night’s rest,” she said back with a smile.

He grinned. “I get up around five, eat some eggs and toast, work until noon. Then I hop on the treadmill and run for thirty minutes. I work from home,” he added.

“I figured as much, but you could have easily gone to the gym on your lunch hour. Many people do.”

“I used to before I moved back to the area. For lunch I make myself one if not two sandwiches and some chips.”

“What kind of sandwich?” she asked. “What do you put on it?”

“All sorts of meats. Mayo or oil with it and cheeses. I’m not fussy.”

All the wrong things to do daily, but she was just taking notes. “Continue.”

“I work until six, then lift weights for about thirty minutes most days, and grab dinner.”

“You work out twice a day?” she asked.

“I sit at a desk all day long. I need to move or I get stiff.”

“That’s good. What is your dinner made up of?”

“Whatever I can find,” he said. “Pizza or Chinese, premade stuff. My sister brings me over food a lot now. I’ve been grilling burgers or steaks and eating it leftover.”

“You didn’t mention any fruit or vegetables. Do you have sides with your dinner?”

“Do chips count as a potato?”

She laughed. “Sadly, no.”

“Then no, I don’t eat a lot of them. It’s not that I don’t like them, it’s more I don’t buy them or I’m lazy when it comes to making them.”

“So time is a factor?” she asked.

“You mean do I have time to cook?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“I do, but I don’t. Or don’t know how to cook much,” he said.

“It’s not that hard to learn. Why don’t we start with changes you can make first. Sandwiches are easy for you at lunchtime, correct?”

“They are.”

“Try eating turkey or more lean meats. No mayo or oil, but mustard. Cheese is good, but try for real cheddar or something else, but just one slice. Whole grain breads are better than white bread.”

“Are you going to give me a printout of this?” he asked. “It seems easy enough to make those changes, but I’ll forget it.”

“I will give you a lot of information to take home with you,” she said. “It sounds to me the biggest issue is your fats. You’re eating all the wrong ones.”

“There are good fats?” he asked. “My sister says no fat is good.”

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