Quick. Anyone have low carb crackers and cheese to go with my whine? I developed a cold while away on my trip. Now I’m home to finish out with a little staycation but I feel like crap on a half shell. Every hour or so I experience a sneezing fit. I’m concerned that by tomorrow it will have moved from my nose into my chest and the congestion will clog my breathing somewhat which will make it damned difficult to do Zumba as planned.
Yes, I believe I just poured another glass of whine.
Oh well. It could be worse. At least I had a really good time while away and, when I’m sick, I don’t have as much of an appetite. On the drive home this morning, I stopped at a famous fruit/vegetable market and picked up some yummy produce. In addition to strawberries and pineapple, I picked up a mamey sapote, Asian dragonfruit, and something called a black sapote which I’ve never had. I have to wait for it to develop before I can taste it but I promise to report back after sampling it for the first time. The kale was fresh and bright so I bought two bunches. They also have an incredible selection of Florida-harvested honey in different varieties with a tasting bar. After much deliberation, I chose the Tupelo honey to bring home.
This place makes fruit shakes and smoothies too, so I treated myself to an absolutely scrumptious strawberry-banana-dragon fruit smoothie for the ride home. This drink was a bright, lovely magenta color from the dragon fruit. Ever hear the expression that we eat with our eyes? Well, I love love love that color, so maybe it tasted extra yummy.
Now I have fruit for smoothies and to make a platter for our extended Tai Chi class on Saturday morning. (Surely I’ll have stopped sneezing by then!) I am also determined to make a kale soup this weekend. While up on the Cape earlier this week, we all went out to a beachside seafood shack. I ordered the Portuguese kale soup. While the flavor was good, the soup lacked oomph. For one thing, there wasn’t as much kale in it as I expected and it was heavier on the broth than it was on other filling ingredients. I’ve decided that, surely I can do better. I’m thinking something with white beans, parsnip or rutabaga, onion and plenty of kale in a vegetable stock, perhaps with some diced tomatoes. Sometimes I like to wing my recipes. Other times I’ll research at Epicurious.com or Foodnetwork.com. If find a recipe that really rings my bell, I’ll use it but I often use one as a starting point and go from there. We’ll see.
I’m totally focused on eating healthy and on plan now that I’m home. It isn’t that I ate unhealthily while away, except for the overabundance of carbs, but I feel like I’m rejuvenating. I have a goal to absolutely lose a minimum of a pound a week and shoot for more. I might have to wait a couple of days to get over the cold before I can jump on the increased intensity of my exercise efforts, but I’ll get to it as soon as I can.
I’m giving up on the home Pilates machine. I’ve tried it and it just isn’t for me. I posted an announcement on Facebook today offering it at a reduced price to any of my local friends. If I don’t get any takers, I’ll ask one of the guys I know if he’ll list it for me on Craigslist. (I’m leery of doing it myself and then having to set up potential meetings with strangers.)
In the meantime, while away, a friend told us about the 7 Minute Workout that was written up in the NY Times. It includes 12 exercises, each of which you do for 30 seconds with 10 second breaks in between. I walked in when two friends and my sister-in-law were in the middle of it so I didn’t do it, but four of the exercises are the ones I’ve been doing from that “Four Essential Exercises” article that I read. The beauty of this 7 Minute deal is that the only equipment you need other than your body is a chair and a wall. I don’t need a lot of extra room either. I’m not sure about the jumping jacks. I haven’t been able to do them great at Zumba, but I’ll give them my best shot for 30 seconds. As far as the step up onto a chair, I might need to start with a footstool instead and work my way up. Whatever the case, I am more determined than I am discouraged.
I even found a free app for it for my phone and a short time ago, found a website that offers a timer so that I don’t need to keep resetting the timer on my phone. Honestly, the tools are all available to make this as easy as possible. All I need to do is supply the body, the coordination, and the actual willingness!
This makes a few things that I need to try and report back to you on. Stay tuned!
Weighty Matters 
I think it’s pretty great that you get upset when you miss Zumba. 😀
Aw, poor baby! (I believe in the healing power of ‘poor babies’.) I’m so sorry you got sick. Sparkly vibes that you are better for your Tai Chi class!
I love your idea for a kale soup. I may see if I can interest the housemates in trying it. We’ve been getting blueberries (a couple of handfuls at a time) and cherry tomatoes from the yard, and that’s been nice.
Take care!
Thanks for the “poor babies”! I agree that they help.
I hate it when I get sick away from home. Or immediately on returning home. Such a pain. Hope you can shake it off soon.