my less serious day: under the weather

:(

Wearing.

Left - first 1/2 of my day @work. Sweater: LOFT; Jeans: Gap (Always Skinny); scarf: Lucky Brand via TJ Maxx; boots: Steve Madden. Right - second 1/2 of my day @home. Sweatshirt and t-shirt: unknown; PJ bottoms: Gap; purple slippers: unknown.

Doing.

Despite not feeling 100%, my morning began with an ambitious 35-minute stationary bike ride (ramp interval) followed by a short walk with L around the neighborhood. Late morning I realized just how lousy I was feeling, went home early, and didn't move off the couch for the remainder of the day (except to fix food, of course).

Eating.

Breakfast was a bowl of stove-top oatmeal (1/2 cup rolled oats + 1 cup almond milk + 1/2 cup water + 1/2 T chia seeds + 1/2 sliced banana + cinnamon) topped with 'baked apples' (1/2  sliced apple sprinkled with cinnamon and microwaved for 2 minutes).

Lunch was a Lean Cuisine. I only ate 1/2 this apple (see below) and many less almonds because my appetite was low.

Once I was at home, I chopped up half of my Pink Lady apple, sprinkled it with cinnamon, and microwaved it for 2 minutes. I needed warmth. I also had a few almonds and a mug of warmed almond milk.

For dinner, I needed soup. I didn't have any and I didn't have the energy to go to the store. So, I whipped up something on my own, which turned out great - a big bowl of spinach soup and a piece of whole wheat toast topped with hummus, cucumber, and salt.

Pantry Spinach Soup (serves 1)

Ingredients

2 cups chicken stock

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 tsp olive oil

1/2 onion, diced

1 carrot, thinly sliced

1/2 cup black eyed peas (or whatever canned beans you have around)

2 large handfuls of spinach

salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and fresh parsley (if you have it) to taste

Heat 1/2 tsp olive oil and 2 cloves of garlic for 30 seconds on medium high heat. Add onion and carrot and saute for about 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock, black eyed peas, seasonings, and spinach. Once the spinach wilts down, bring soup just to a boil. Turn to low and simmer about 10 minutes or until carrots are tender.

For dessert I had a FiberPlus Chocolate Chip Antioxidant Bar and another mug of warm almond milk. And, with a warm and happy tummy I proceeded to get in bed at 8:00, slept for 11 hours, and woke up feeling much, much better.

Note: this post represents what happened in my world on Wednesday, December 7.