Togo Goes On a Diet

On occasion, I like to take a step back and consider my own mortality.

No one lives forever and I’ve lived quite an adventuresome life. The photo above might suggest that I also have a contemplative side. And I do. It’s just that this is a picture right after Daddy and I completed a ritual steeped in tradition that doesn’t involve a lot of contemplation. What it does involve is a lot of snacks. And what appears to be contemplation is actually a brief moment of sadness when I realize that Daddy has handed over my last treat at the end of my morning walk.

Daddy is quite generous with my snacks. Possibly too generous. It wasn’t too long ago, that Dr. L over at the vet clinic suggested that I might be getting on the heavy side.

This is a reenactment of Daddy getting me ready to go see Dr. L. It’s really Daddy’s fault that Dr. L thought I had put on a few pounds. After all, when we left for the clinic that morning, I asked “Does this coat make me look fat?” Daddy just squeezed me into my harness, gave me a pat, and hustled me out the gate.

I am actually a superb physical specimen. I think that’s a clinical term. I’m limber, energetic, good-natured, and exhibit many fine qualities.

I have developed a few bad habits though. Momma has them documented.

For example, some nights I stay up really late and eat my supper after everyone else has gone to bed. I find it personally satisfying to eat by the light of the moon. But apparently, whatever you eat after 10 p.m. goes straight to your hips.

And another thing that packs it on is adult beverages. I’ve been known to down a few in my time. But it’s really a very few. Daddy and Momma are teetotalers which eliminates a lot of opportunities for me to partake. Occasionally, I’ll strike it rich and snag a cold one on the way home when Daddy isn’t watching.

And sometimes, I eat too fast right after I exercise. And if it’s a hot summer night, it upsets my tummy. I don’t know what that has to do with me gaining a few pounds, but it’s another thing that Momma wrote down on her list.

I came up with this one on my own. I was pretty sure that I eat too many of these big spongy snacks. To be honest, I have no intention of giving these up no matter what Dr. L says. Turns out he recommends them. Low in calories and designed to better my dental hygiene. If they didn’t taste so good, I might be totally devastated. It’s a serious blow to my tough guy image when it gets out on social media that I like brushing my teeth.

So, I’m on this diet. I’ve decided to cut back on adult beverages, wait a while between my exercising and my eating, eat at a decent hour, and drink more water to fill up my stomach between meals. Even though water’s pretty heavy, I do have a lot of uses for liquids so they don’t stay with me very long.

I did pick up a really great dieting tip accidently. I was inside while Daddy and Momma were eating one night. They were having take-out food. Momma suggested that Daddy might want to follow her example and only eat half of his food and save the other half as leftovers. Daddy wasn’t into following any good examples that night. And I have a feeling that if Dr. L got him on the scales, Momma might convince him to reconsider that.

As for me, I took Momma’s suggestion to heart. And that very night I ate exactly half of my food. Momma was so proud.

Of course, late that night, after taking a lap or two around the yard and having a refreshing adult beverage, I ate the second half under the light of a glorious moon. You know, dieting isn’t half-bad.