How a bodybuilder does his grocery shopping
My boyfriend made fun of me this weekend at the grocery store for actually paying attention to what's on sale. Of course, my boyfriend eats one meal a day and I eat six, so you do the math. Bodybuilders eat a lot and must be smart shoppers. If that makes me cheap, then so be it, but I'd rather spend the bulk of my money on things more exciting than chicken breasts and oatmeal. Like steeply discounted Calphalon cookware from Amazon.com. Or vodka.
In any event, this is what it's like to come home from the grocery store when you're a bodybuilder:
All-Bran - a staple in my diet - was on sale, so I stocked up on four boxes and saved $10.76.
I use low-sodium chicken broth in almost all of my cooking, so I picked up a couple of extra cartons, on sale for $1.88 each.
Splenda - an absolute must. In fact, this was not on sale, proving that I am not a crazy coupon lady after all.
And now for the packages of Perdue chicken breasts. I could go on and on about the cost of chicken breasts for days. The Safeway chicken breasts are cheap, but they're horribly cut and smell kind of weird. The designer chicken breasts (ahem, Perdue) are fantastic but absurdly expensive ($5.99 per pound). Well, imagine to my surprise (Actually, I was not surprised because I checked the weekly circular online before I left for the store!) that Perdue chicken breasts were on sale today for $2.99 per pound. I bought every single tray on the shelf. That's 12 trays of chicken breasts. They are all sitting in my freezer, and I saved $37.40.
It will take me about a month to go through all of those trays.
OK, so maybe I am somewhat obsessive-compulsive when it comes to grocery shopping. Blame that on my mother. Just don't say I'm cheap. I mean, do cheap people even buy the kinds of foods I buy? Like, the kind you have to cook? I think not.
Comments
Dude i totally understand where your coming from. I regularily clear the shelf at the local supermarket when uncle ben's wholegrain 2 minute rice goes on sale at 3 for £3 instead of £1.27 each. My record was 21 packs in total. Sure i did feel a bit like a crazy loon as i scrambled around reaching into the shelf and almost getting stuck! even at the till, i was still a little wild in the eyes and protective of my basket as people looked at me a little freaked. But you know, who cares, coz in the end i saved £5.73 and didnt have to shop for rice for 3 whole weeks
Posted by: neil | November 29, 2007 05:06 AM
A few things: 1) a bodybuilder? That's soooooo gay, 2) stop blaming your ma for your craziness, 3) find a butcher.
Posted by: James | November 29, 2007 05:39 AM
What kind of supplements are you using these days?
Posted by: adam | November 29, 2007 09:03 AM
Costco, gurl.
Posted by: wehotom | November 29, 2007 09:30 AM
Don't listen to Boyfriend. Shopping with Toby is fun.
Posted by: Shank | November 29, 2007 09:34 AM
With all of those chicken breasts around, I'll be surprised if you don't start laying eggs before you finish them all.
Posted by: Steven. | November 29, 2007 10:19 AM
See, that's just smart shopping. Once I have to grocery shop for myself, I plan on doing exactly what you do. I don't care if I'm a crazy coupon lady, I'm going to save money!
Posted by: Jake | November 29, 2007 10:22 AM
That's true about cheap people. I hate cooking.
Posted by: Frontier Psychiatrist | November 29, 2007 10:31 AM
you're not cheap, you're frugal. cheap people are assholes who leave shitty tips. frugal people are one's who look for a bargain.
Posted by: s.eth | November 29, 2007 11:34 AM
huh. i seem to remember our shopping trip differently. i don't believe i ever made fun of you, so much as you did to me for NOT paying attention. in fact, i think i'm remembering a lecture in there. PLUS, i saved about five dollars with my Harris Teeter card.
ps...no mention of the 60 dollars worth of crystal light you bought for 35 on Amazon? :)
Posted by: the boyfriend | November 29, 2007 01:00 PM
I love a man who loves a grocery store sale. I get my meat at a Bodega, and it's definitely similar to your safeway variety.
Posted by: Steven | November 29, 2007 01:46 PM
Smart shopping doesn't make you obsessive compulsive. What makes you obsessive compulsive is how you line up all the boxes and packages exactly just so.
If you line em up like that on the little checkout line conveyor belt, then you deserve the OCD crown (I currently hold it).
Having said that, though, there is something oddly appealing about the arrangement in this photo.
TOBY SAYS: That is how I line them up at checkout!
Posted by: Greg | November 29, 2007 02:06 PM
My grandfather's pet peeve was people who said they saved money when buying things on sale. He insisted that unless you put the difference in price in a savings account, you merely spent less than you otherwise would.
Crazy old Scandinavian fucker.
Posted by: Aaron | November 29, 2007 03:00 PM
I wish I could shop like that. I get flyers in the mail every week and never look at them. So, now that I'm trying to cook/eat healthier I spend upwards of $130/wk on groceries and I'm sure I could save if I just took the time to read flyers and shop at different stores to find the best bargains. Good for you Toby!
And get that Perdue chicken...some of those bargain brands really are nasty.
Posted by: Bill | November 29, 2007 03:03 PM
I know I'm being picky, but I'm curious as to how the Splenda artificial sweetner is a must in your bodybuilding diet. As I understand it, Spenda isn't really a "natural" product, as its advertising implies, but is created by the chlorination of sucrose, and it actually has slightly more calories than an equal quantity of sugar (despite its claim to be calorie-free).
TOBY SAYS: Hey, asshole. If you are going to rip off the Wikipedia entry for Splenda, you should quote the whole thing:
Splenda actually contains slightly more calories than the same mass of sugar (391 kcal per 100 g vs 390 kcal per 100 g for white granulated sugar). However, since Splenda is one tenth as dense as sugar, a given volume of Splenda has one tenth the energy of the same volume of sugar.
Posted by: Craig | November 29, 2007 07:25 PM
Bodybuilders also vary their diets, which you seem to not be doing (buying hormone- and antibiotic-ridden factory farmed chicken, yuck).
TOBY SAYS: What the fuck do you know about bodybuilding?
Posted by: JLS | November 29, 2007 07:53 PM
It's disappointing to see an alleged Italian from the NYC area purchasing pre-made, bottled red sauce. Ick.
TOBY SAYS: Are you questioning my heritage? I don't have time to make vats of my grandmother's sauce, and Rao's happens to make an excellent jarred sauce.
Posted by: C.Go | November 29, 2007 08:47 PM
Why does one need that much Chicken Broth? :-)
TOBY SAYS: I cook with it almost every day.
Posted by: Paradiddle | November 29, 2007 09:17 PM
Hey, I love your blog. Why am I an asshole for asking how you use Splenda in your bodybuilding diet? And yes I did go to Wikipedia, so what? You're as touchy as Londonpreppy.
TOBY SAYS: Go back and read your comment. You come across as a smartass.
Posted by: Craig | November 30, 2007 10:29 AM
Yes. Cheap people do do their own cooking. Ask any soccer mom. Have you met my best friend's ex-boyfriend? That man was so cheap (even though he made six figures in the mid-nineties). My friend would want to eat out and his boyfriend's response was always, "We have food here."
Posted by: Alfonzo | November 30, 2007 11:39 AM
Oh, one other thing, try Stevia. It's sweeter than Splenda and completely natural and it isn't a neurotoxin.
Posted by: Alfonzo | November 30, 2007 11:43 AM
Yes, but I'm a lovable smartass. Now do something about those pathetic triceps!
Posted by: Craig | November 30, 2007 12:02 PM
Oh, one other thing, try Stevia. It's sweeter than Splenda and completely natural and it isn't a neurotoxin.
PS- I ripped your John Cena video, but I did credit you for it.
Posted by: Alfonzo | November 30, 2007 12:03 PM
Toby, I didn't mean to sound rude. And for reference, I've put on 20 lbs of muscle in the last 18 months. So yeah, I know a thing or two.
Just like in your workouts, varying your diet is important too.
TOBY SAYS: Of this I am aware.
Posted by: JLS | November 30, 2007 01:23 PM
Craig says above: "You're as touchy as Londonpreppy".
Wow, I guess I should be proud that people refer to me even when I have nothing to do and I'm not involved with the subject. I guess my legacy is out there beyond and above my reach.
And to satisfy this touchy reputation a bit more: Of course I'm with Toby on this one, yes we write about our lives and experiences on our blogs, but when people we don't know feel free to make judgments and comments I think we have every right to retaliate
Posted by: London Preppy | November 30, 2007 03:36 PM
My life has hit rockbottom. I'm considered an asshole on both sides of the pond by two of my favorite bloggers. What an accomplishment.
TOBY SAYS: Now you are making me feel bad!
Posted by: Smartass Craig | November 30, 2007 05:06 PM
Do you take protein/weight gaining supplements? How many grams of protein do you consume everyday? I've seen a big difference in my weight and muscle gain since I've started consuming protein shakes and a few other supplements.
Posted by: Mario | December 2, 2007 02:48 AM
Toby's got a potty mouth!
Toby's got a potty mouth!
I'm telling!
Me: Hi, Toby. You look nice today :)
T: FUCK OFF!!
Me: No really, I think Italian guys are hot! :))
T: ARE YOU QUESTIONING MY HERITAGE?!!
Me: I just thought...
T: EAT SHIT, ASSHOLE!!
Me: :(
Posted by: CasaNova | December 3, 2007 04:21 AM
I for one welcome more OCD grocery stackers! Much love Toby, and "gin" is a great safety word
Posted by: Tim | December 3, 2007 07:40 PM