It’s no shock that my eating habits were horrible up until my heart attack. We’d have takeout multiple times a week some weeks and a lot of times that consisted of burgers for me. Sure I’d get the occasional salad from some place that delivered, but McDonald’s got rid of salads years ago. I haven’t eaten McDonald’s since January 31st. I will admit that I miss their French fries and sweet and sour sauce, but really if I am going to get a take out burger now, I am going to go some place with better quality meat, especially since I only have been eating burgers twice a month, if that. So far that has been one of the local places or Wendy’s.
Friendly’s was my absolute favorite burger place. Last year due to a lack of people willing to work for next to no pay, the Rehoboth Beach location was forced to close. This means that the next closest Friendly’s location is 45 minutes away in Dover. I may like burgers, but I am not traveling 45 minutes just for some meat and cheese. A few weeks ago I drove by the old Friendly’s building and they were working on it. It appears that it is going to be reopening soon with a drive through. This means that I can get Friendly’s take out without leaving my car. Is this lazy? Absolutely. Am I oddly excited about it? Yes. I’ve never seen a Friendly’s with a drive through window before, so for a restaurant that has been part of my life since I was a child, this is exciting the kid in me.
You get somewhat emotionally attached to a franchise and its food because you ate there growing up.
I remember going to Friendly’s for ice cream after getting my tonsils out growing up. Kris and I would go to Friendly’s in New York a lot. It’s just one of those chains that has delicious food with some memories attached to the franchise. It’s weird how that works right? You get somewhat emotionally attached to a franchise and its food because you ate there growing up. Through good times and hardships that can be the one stable constant in your life. Friendly’s is one of these kinds of things for me. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that they have good food and ice cream as well.
I haven’t had a cheeseburger since May and it’s now June 21st. I am not sure when Friendly’s is reopening, but I am seriously considering not having any red meat at all, just so I can have it as close to opening day as possible. It is summer though and summer at the beach means tourists. So many people show up and just congest everything. Traffic, restaurants, super markets, everything is just very busy in the summer. We don’t even go out around the Fourth of July because of how nuts everything is here. If it opens next week, we’ll probably be waiting at least a week or two to eat it. In theory I could have a burger now and still be able to eat Friendly’s once they open, but I’m still trying to get down to my goal weight.
That’s another reason I’m looking forward to Friendly’s having a drive through, on days where it hurts to walk and we’re getting take out, I don’t need to go in and be in pain.
I am no where near as heavy as I once was, but I am still heavier than I should be. Granted it’s only 40 pounds now, but I am still trying to lose the rest. I’ve gotten to a point that it just doesn’t want to come off though. I probably need to increase my activity, which I have been trying to do, but I’ve been stagnant the last few weeks. It doesn’t help that my foot randomly flares up due to the pills I am on, which makes moving difficult. That’s another reason I’m looking forward to Friendly’s having a drive through, on days where it hurts to walk and we’re getting take out, I don’t need to go in and be in pain.
Pain or not, weight loss or not, I think it’s important to have these kinds of treats every now and then and I can’t wait to be able to finally eat one of my favorite burgers again. If you don’t overdo it, it should be fine, right?