While breakfast was still fast asleep overnighting in the fridge this morning, I was on my way back to the gym!
The gym is two short blocks plus two long blocks away from my apartment. It takes me 7.5 minutes to walk there or just under 4 minutes to jog. My plan was to walk the first two short blocks to warm up and then try jogging the last two long blocks. But two steps into the jog, my leg said NO. I listened and made myself walk the whole way.
I found strolling through Brooklyn at 5:15 on a deserted, pitch-black Monday morning to be a little bit creepy. There’s something unsettling about knowing that I canNOT run if I need to. The route I walk does, however, provide a lovely view of the Statue of Liberty, so I focused my attention on the scenery instead of on the shady gypsy cabs.
At the gym, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical at a low resistance and easy pace (which means there was really no sweat happening) and then spent a good long time with a thorough stretch and some abs. It felt good to be back to my routine, but it was a bummer to not be able to push like I normally do. I’m feeling a lot of unreasonable guilt, too. For so long when I was younger, exercise = good and no exercise = bad. And I like to be good! I didn’t think I had that mindset anymore, but being forced to stay off my feet has made me realize I kind of still do. I was so jealous watching everyone else huffing and puffing! I’m thinking of reacquainting myself with the rower tomorrow since that’s mostly upper-body-powered, right? Maybe I can get a better workout that way.
So, breakfast:
Last night, I combined 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats, 2 tbsp golean crunch, 1/4 cup chopped dried fruit (Newman’s prunes, berries, apricots, and raisins), 1/4 cup unsweetened soymilk, and 1/4 cup plain Oikos. Here’s what it looked like straight out of the fridge this morning:
After a stir:
And topped with strawberries, unsweetened coconut, and a spoonful of cashew almond butter.
I’m sipping green tea on the side and getting excited for my favorite day of the week (JOKE). Be back laaaaaaaate tonight after class!
What makes you feel guilty?
Tales of Expansion: Baby Butternut Edition 
as ive been writing about all the time lately, overeating when im not hungry/not actually wanting the food always makes me feel guilty! it didnt though when i was happier with my weight…i could indulge and not feel badly because i wasnt seeing the extra pounds! i think/hope getting back to that place will make a huge difference 🙂
yummy breakfast, and kudos for hitting the gym so early!!
LikeLike
I’ve been out at 5 a.m. in shady Brooklyn and those cabs definitely freak me out 🙂
Your breakfast is lovely, as always.
Sorry about the slow backing into the workout but I think you’re doing your body good in the long run. Just think about it, taking it easy and getting back into it slow will prevent injury and help you get back to your routine sooner!
Not exercising definitely makes me feel guilty, especially when I don’t do it for more than like 2 days. Definitely going out to drink more than once a week (even though I think it’s completely fine to have beer during the week and I shouldn’t feel guilty) makes me feel bad! But I’m working on it.
Hope your class goes well!
LikeLike
good job working out anyway!
I always feel guilty when we don’t workout for a few days, too, but sometimes it’s just not possible! As long as I do it when I can, that’s all I can ask from myself.
LikeLike
Good Job working out anyway… i would’ve given up!
P.S. you do passover?! We must swap recipes!
LikeLike
sorry to hear about your leg
great breakfast as usual 🙂
i feel guilty when I skip lifting weights.
LikeLike
that looks so good, I still haven’t tried the overnight thing!
LikeLike
OMG thank you so much for the lovin’, sweetness!
MMM kashi go lean crunch just loves to be soaked in things overnight! You’re making me miss it…must go to wal-mart!
Sorry the workouts/attempts have been frustrating. You are moving, though, which is great. I feel guilty when I don’t work out sometimes, but I realize that I’ll get back on track as soon as I can. And not much changes when you take a break. Other than that, I feel guilty when I can’t be everywhere at once, do it all. Like not going out Saturday night to a friend’s party because I had work to do. That stuff will keep me up at night.
Hope your monday was great 🙂
LikeLike
Your breakfast looks sooo good. I miss having a multitude of things to mix in my oats.
Be safe out there!
LikeLike
Gosh your breakfast looks good!
Good job listening to your body, take it easy for just a little while longer and you’ll be good as new!
LikeLike
Love those strawberries!
Overeating or eating too many sweets makes me feel guilty. I miss the days when I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Of course, now I eat healthier and weigh less. But that carelessness was nice.
LikeLike
Exerfunks definitely make me guilty. 😦 It’s ridiculous! I don’t even know when it happened!!!!
Anyway you ARE good and I bet you could run if chased.
LikeLike
Also, I’m catholoc. Guilt is bountiful.
LikeLike
Thanks for the birthday post,sweeie,and for your inhalation of sugar in my honor( I think)… Also,I felt so touched by all your blogger buddies’ b-day wishes-so thoughtful! what a supportive and friendly community! Hope your gym time gets sweatier, but take your time,please. Love and hugs,Mom
LikeLike
I’m sorry that you can’t push your hardest when you’re working out.. that must be tough! Hang in there.. I truly hope you leg feels better soon!
Breakfast looks fabulous & creamyyy.
LikeLike
aw, i’m sorry you’re still not healed 100% from your injury 😦 just keep taking it slow and you’ll be back to normal in no time! Yummy yummy oats today, as always 🙂
LikeLike
I understand how you feel! I hate not being able to run and work up a nice sweat. And that runner’s high is nice. I feel guilty for missing out on it, but you shouldn’t! Which, of course, you know.
Lovely breakfast!
LikeLike
Did I write that post? (Except for the creative and delicious looking food, of course). Seriously, Sarah, get out of my head! Between the exercise-related guilt, wanting to be good, and cursing all the people on their cardio machines? Geez!
Wish I had a remedy for that. I just hope they appreciate their obedient bodies.
LikeLike
not to burst your bubble, but a rowing machine (erg, specifically so i make sure we’re talking about the same thing) is mostly lower body (at least it should be if you’re doing it correctly). you should be utilizing the power from your legs to push your body backward, and your abs and obliques to tilt your upper body back after the lower body has completed extended fully, and finally your arms pull the rope into your diaphragm.
hope you feel better!
LikeLike
Yuck! I know how you feel. It sucks when you’re sidelined and you just get to watch everyone else putting in their hard work. When that happens to me, I mostly just feel mad at my body for not cooperating.
Tonight, I’ll really run for the first time in over 2 weeks. I also try not to feel guilty about not exercising, but it’s hard not to feel like a loser when you don’t/can’t get your sweat on. I have been dealing extremely well though, and actually considered writing my former therapist a “thank you” note. =)
LikeLike