For me, going to the supermarket to do food shopping is one of the most unmotivating and annoying things on my to-do list for the week. So much so I try and drag it out to every two weeks if possible haha
I think it goes back to the whole personal space thing I spoke about a couple of weeks ago. The thought of pushing that damn trolley around in circles whilst I’m in close proximity to others isn’t high on my ideal list of fun things to do.
Some people love it though! Can’t fathom how or why but surely they must be serial killers because it just doesn’t make sense.
Still, it has to be done and there’s no one else to do it for me so I have no choice really. Otherwise I starve to death. Or eat junk all week…. Not an option so yeah I have no choice.
I’m in a routine now where I’ll get up early on a Sunday morning and go do it purely to avoid the mad rush and have the fewest amount of people around as possible. It’s kinda sad really but hey don’t judge. You do you.
The last few weeks I’ve gone in so early they haven’t even had a checkout chick start their shift yet. You know what that means don’t ya? Me having to scan a whole trolley full of food. Oh dear.
Being a checkout chick isn’t on my bucket list of things to achieve in this lifetime and the experience of scanning my own food has only reaffirmed my thoughts on it. Scanning everything yourself is the biggest pain in the arse. I’m shit at it and I have no idea what I’m doing. Honestly it feels like 50 people have come and gone before me before I’m even close to finishing. And yes, I’m the dickhead that scans 24 cans of tuna individually rather than scanning one and typing in the amount. I dunno which button to press!
And then there’s the self-checkout attendant lady person whatever you call her. Pacing up and down behind me watching intently my every move. It’s bloody nerve racking shit I tell ya. I got beads of sweat coming down my brow wondering if I’m doing it right. Am I too slow? Does the milk go in the same bag as the bread or am I supposed to put it with the frozen stuff?
Talk about pressure.
I reckon for sure she knows how shit and slow I am at scanning everything and packing it neatly and that’s why she ALWAYS comes over and asks if everything is ok. Either that or she thinks I’m stealing. She’s had to check my bags a couple of times just to make sure everything is ok. Oh my god go away!
Everything ok darl?
Does it look ok lady? Do you think I wanna spend half an hour on my Sunday morning scanning food and packing it into bags?? For goodness sake can’t you guys put some staff on so I can do my shopping in peace and not have to get bailed up by you every time. So annoying!
And no I don’t say this to her face…
I politely say ‘thanks for your help I really appreciate it’ accompanied with a humongous smile. All whilst deep down inside mumbling to myself things I probably can’t repeat at this hour but I’m sure you get the drift.
She even had the nerve one time to put me on the spot and ask if I wanted to donate some money to a charity she was promoting. I’ll be honest I paid straight away only because I wanted her to shut up, not because I was feeling generous.
Good up-sell lady. Kudos to you.
Speaking of up-selling, now that you have an insight into my nightmarish supermarket experiences and how I operate when it comes to my shopping habits, there is some interesting info I want to share with you.
Not sure if most people know this but supermarkets have a tactical way of making customers spend more. And more to the point it’s usually on foods that inhibit the progress we want to make with our training.
Trends and studies have shown that us shoppers spend the majority of our time in store along the perimeters. We’ll tend to duck in and out of aisles infrequently and only when absolutely needed.
This is where supermarkets do their thing. Knowing these trends, they will set up all of their promotional and sale prices at the end of the aisles. All in clear view for everyone to see.
Further to this, most of the items marketed as a sale are impulse buys – lollies, snacks, chocolates and other treats that shoppers may not necessarily be shopping for.
However when us shoppers see these products advertised as ‘half price’ or ‘buy one get one free’ all we think is ‘what a bargain!!’ and slip them into the trolley.
Why buy just one can of coke when I can get a slab for a discount?
2 for 1 chocolate bars at the checkout while you’re waiting for a little old lady to unload her groceries (bless her) – sounds like a good deal to me!!
Next time you go for your weekly shop be more aware of the marketing tactics shopping centres and big name brands use to get you to buy their products. Stay disciplined and focused on the right foods you need to help compliment your training and be aware of the ‘sale’.
Most times it’s for junk food that will not only hurt your hips but your hip pockets too.
Ps I’ve now worked out exactly the right time to go in on Sunday morning to avoid too many people and make sure there’s a checkout chick that’s started a shift.
You should see the smile on my dial and strut when I walk past self-checkout lady now after having someone else scan and pack everything for me….
Ahhhhhh this is living 🙂
‘’If you have a body, we can help you’’
Ben
Infinite Fitness Peninsula
