Yesterday was just one of those super funky days. Today has been a very good day. The difference? E-X-E-R-C-I-S-E.
So yesterday I got up with good intentions. I put on my workout clothes. Drove my daughter to school. My plan was to come back, eat breakfast, charge up my iPod, work out on the erg machine, then shower and go to work. (luckily, or unluckily, I have a VERY flexible schedule and boss)
I had been thinking that maybe I ought to add back some “good carbs” into my eating. I’ve been eating more eggs than I can count, mostly egg whites. So I thought to change things up I’d have a little oatmeal. Now, I am not a huge fan of oatmeal. I loooove “smooth” hot cereals like Malt O Meal but not sure how it compares health wise. I remembered seeing an ad for Starbucks “Perfect Oatmeal.” I got the oatmeal and was quite charmed by the tiny little packets of brown sugar, chopped nuts and dried fruit. I passed on the sugar, and added about 1/2 packet each of the nuts and fruit. Then I ran into someone I knew and chatted for a while. MISTAKE. When I got to my car, there was a bright green $45 parking ticket. BOOOOOO.
I came home. I was upset. I added up my points for the oatmeal etc and was mad when I realized it was more than I’d anticipated/wanted. I went into a funk. I started fooling around on Twitter/Facebook and before I knew it, hours had passed. I kept saying, “I ought to go exercise” but I didn’t. Then I started feeling HUNGRY and that made me even madder. Damn that oatmeal!!
I ended up not exercising at all. I had to go somewhere and didn’t have time to exercise AND shower, and I really needed to shower. I was in a funk. For some bizarro reason I had the weirdest, strongest craving for HOT DOGS all day. Really? Hot dogs? Why crave what is basically a NON food but really a piece of garbage? I don’t know. But I could not get hot dogs out of my mind. My brain was crawling with hot dogs.
Fortunately, I practiced some deep breathing and managed to get through the day without eating any hot dogs. I was in a big rush. I ordered Indian food takeout. I ate much much much too quickly although did not eat any naan or rice. It was good but I probably ate too much. (note to self: buy food scale next time at WW) Went out to see a friend’s performance. Bought a bottle of water at intermission. Went to bed vowing to have a better day today.
TODAY, I woke up and after driving girl to school, went straight to my trainer. He was fa-bu-lo-so. He gave me a great Biggest Loser type workout. I felt like Sione. He kept hooting and yelling, GIRL, you are really BRINGING IT! I was happy and sweaty.
I have been having some hip muscle pain for the past couple months -first the inside of my hip (groin) and then it migrated to the outside. My trainer’s bodyworker came in and he so very generously GAVE ME half of his time with her. She had just done this workshop on hips and she was eager to try out all her new tricks. I was so excited!! She worked on me for 30 mins and when I hopped off the table I felt like a million bucks. Seriously. It was sooooooooo good. (note to self: schedule more bodywork)
Then I had a pre-existing appointment to go to this chair massage place (yeah! another bodywork) with a friend. We each got mini 15-minute chair massages which was great since this one focused mostly on my neck and shoulders. YAY. Then we had lunch and I had a very satisfying/modest bean soup, Mediterranean salad and a few steamed clams. All good.
I feel sooooooooooooo much better today. It’s like a different universe. I have to remember this every single day. If I don’t get my dose of endorphins, I feel awful. If I do, everything is easier.
February 27, 2009 at 9:58 pm
just for your reference if you are trying to add whole grain cereals into your diet
whole grain hot cereals:
oat bran
oatmeal
quaker multigrain
ralston high fiber
roman meal
wheatena
refined hot cereals (sorry to inform you):
cream of rice
cream of wheat
grits
malt-o-meal
whole grain cold cereals:
cheerios
muesli
grape nuts
nutri-grain
raisin bran
shredded wheat
total
wheat germ
wheaties
while it is tempting to eat the refined grains because sometimes they are less calories, the whole grains are worth it health wise and GI wise. personally, oatmeal, total, grapenuts, and cheerios are staples in my diet.
February 27, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Well drat. I am sure the Malt O Meal was too good to be true! I will check out some of the whole grains on your list.
March 2, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Exercise ABSOLUTELY makes a difference! I’m so glad you were able to fend off the Hot Dogs!
March 3, 2009 at 4:06 am
I bought a box of Wheatena today.