mmmmsleep

[verbicide]

I was so incredibly worn out by the end of day yesterday. I was in bed by 7, asleep by 9. And except for a brief moment at 2am when I had to pee, I was out like a light the whole night through.

I came home. Made dinner (homemade tomato basil sauce and fresh ravioli), watched a bit of the Daily Show, and tucked into bed with Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix.

I'm still stubbornly determined to finish my re-read before starting on the new book and determined to avoid spoilers of any kind. I finally broke down yesterday and ripped open the Amazon packaging so I could gaze at it.

I wish I could stay in bed all day and just read. But nope. I have to get dressed and get out of the house in the next 10 minutes. Wah!

Also, the funny thing about exercise... when I'm doing it regularly (like every day, or every other day), the momentum carries me through. When my routine is disturbed for a weekend, it makes me want to run around shrieking HAHAHAHAHAAA NO MORE EXERCISE EVER AGAIN!!!! Or something. Stop/starting is so hard. I didn't swim over the weekend, there was no time. I didn't go to Amanda's last night, I had no energy. I'm meeting Alexis on Wednesday, that's a lock. I should go to Amanda's on Thursday. Swimming on Friday. Cycling on Saturday. Swimming on Sunday. And hopefully the routine will give me that momentum I need again.

I did, despite eating a mammoth steak on Saturday, manage to lose the 6lbs of party bloat I gained from Vegas. So there was much rejoicing.

Comments

[archaica.livejournal.com]

God I know what you mean. I was short at the end of the month, so I couldn't pay my gym bill. So now until it's paid I haven't been exercising? Good lord. Getting back into it is going to be SO HARD.

I think I need to buy weights for my home. At least if I stop going to the gym, I'll be keeping up with that activity.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Oh that's the worst. When you lose the gym membership. Good luck with that, I know it's hard.

And I've been thinking of buying some free weights, too. Because there are nights that it's just too hard to get to the gym, but I could do some lifting. And I was thinking of getting one of those giant workout balls and a medicine ball. With those three things, I could do most of my workout at home, too.

[archaica.livejournal.com]

On the one hand I like the ritual of going to the gym and exercising the same way every time and doing it as a rote thing. On the other hand, in practice I stuck to that religiously for about six months. Then I realized my life is not nearly that boring that the regimentation can be stuck to that easily. I dunno. Doing 80% of the workout at home doesn't sound like a bad trade-off. Less expensive, too. Hell, I should just do laps in my college's Olympic-size pool.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

I agree. There's something about the gym that makes my workouts more intense and productive than workouts at home. It's good to get out of such a comforting environment for it.

But I think for me, even doing 20% at home would be a nice boost to my routine.

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

Falling off the exercise/diet/good habit wagon is tough. It's amazing how powerful routine and momentum can be.

Also, I fear spoilers. I guess i'm going to have to Order of the Phoenix now that the next book is out, because there will be no excuse. Right. In my *cough* copious spare time.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Luckily, I'm still on the diet wagon. But I haven't worked out since last Thursday (oops).

Too little time, too many books!

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

Correction -- never enough books, never enough time!

One of the many wagons I need to climb on is the cooking wagon. I nearly cooked last night, but I'd neglected to thaw out the chicken. If I were more motivated, I'd've just used the microwave, but that runs the risk of pre-cooking and besides I had other stuff to finish.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the extra miles on my bike, though.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

I have this really easy, really good recipe for balsamic chicken and mushrooms if you want it?

Easy and quick to prepare, and really tasty.

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

Yes, please. I'm not historically good at recipes, but it's something I should try out.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

This one is pretty foolproof :)

Balsamic Chicken and Mushrooms

Ingredients:
2 tsp vegetable oil
3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar (Note: I tend to just use 2 T of Paul Newman's lowfat Balsamic Vinegar/Oil dressing instead of the oil/vinegar separately)
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 large garlic clove(s), crushed
1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast(s), four 4-oz pieces
2 cup mushroom(s), small, halved
1/3 cup canned chicken broth
1/4 tsp dried thyme, crumbled

In a nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of oil.

In a medium bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar, the mustard and garlic. Add chicken and turn to coat.

Transfer chicken and marinade to skillet. Sauté chicken until cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer chicken to a platter and keep warm.

Heat remaining teaspoon of oil in skillet. Sauté mushrooms for 1 minute. Add broth, thyme and remaining tablespoon of vinegar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are deep brown, about 2 minutes longer.

Serve chicken topped with mushrooms.

I usually eat mine with rice. It's surprisingly good!

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And, coincidentally, I had just clicked on this. I'll be more careful in picking my mushrooms.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

How funny! And reminds me that I still need to do my Tuesday NNN report! Ack!