This weekend has been a bit meh. On Friday I had some news that was a bit disappointing that left me in a bit of a funk, then yesterday I was working – which was ok, but since I had pulled a muscle in my lower back, standing around for 5 hours put me in a right nasty mood. Then to top it off the flush on the toilet broke (James has fixed it bless him). Grrr! But, not to be beaten, a few simple pleasures have picked me up and made me feel better. That bowl of ‘courgette bread’ oats was comfort in a bowl this morning. I whisked in an egg and some vanilla extract while the oats cooked and then added a grated courgette topped off with peanut flour sauce and dried cranberries. I had that after my spin class – I did have to really push myself to go, but I felt so great afterwards! Combined with that extra hour of sleep this morning and the following lovely things, I’m now feeling miles better.
I was so pleased that I had thought ahead and took some soup out of the freezer to defrost for when I got in after work yesterday:
This is some of my carrot, ginger and orange soup with some hemp seed sprinkles. Even just looking at the colour of it makes me smile!
On Friday evening James and I went to Tescos for shopping and I found some Tea Pigs Chai Tea in the reduced section:
I added some almond milk of course, lovely!
Squash and brussel sprouts are my fave foods at the moment, so a dinner of them topped with a home made organic beef burger was just what the doctor ordered:
Last night I enjoyed a hot epsom salts bath while watching stuff on Netflix on the iPad – you have no idea how happy I am to be able to watch TV in the bath! After that I decided to dig out some of the chocolate I bought in Berlin:
This chocolate is fabulous! Accompanied with a mug of hot chocolate it was a great Saturday night treat. Add to that an email from my best friend and I was in a much better mood!
Last but not least, baking is definitely one of the simple things that makes me happy:
Apple, pecan and maple flapjacks, recipe coming up next week! Although I try not to use food to pick me up, I think it’s ok when it’s all healthy stuff eaten in the right amounts. So glad that I’ve been able to knock emotional eating on the head!
How did you spend your extra hour this morning? I was very happy to have the extra hour in bed! What are the simple things that pick you up when your feeling a bit meh?
That German chocolate looks lovely! You used to be able to buy that brand in Waitrose, my Mum used to buy it for me when I was at school (although that was many moons ago!!). I find a good run or Zumba class help pick me up, or just getting up and moving.
I’ll have to see if I can still find it in Waitrose! Totally agree I think just having something to get you moving about does the trick :-)
Awh sorry things have been a bit ‘meh’ for you but I absolutely think food can help and I don’t think that’s a bad thing when like you say, it’s healthy choices and not like you went out on a binge of crappy food because that makes you feel worse when it’s fuelled by emotion! I totally turn to eating my fave foods, baking some stuff and probably going shopping…although I shouldn’t haha.
I totally want to try the Ritter sport chocolate! Can’t seem to find it anywhere over here…
This morning I had fully intended on sleeping an extra hour because um, I love sleep a lot haha but I woke up early which isn’t like me, so headed to the gym. I’ve had extra time to chill though which has been nice :)
That’s a really good point, I guess we automatically think that eating emotionally is a bad thing but sometimes it’s a completely healthy and natural reaction! I’m sure I might have seen that chocolate in Sainsbury’s I will have to hunt it down!
Sorry to hear about the meh-ness, Laura. I fell into a bit of a funk myself at the end of last week, and I’m hoping it decides to lift soon. Our weather turned kind of nasty last night, so I fully intend to spend as much time in the kitchen as possible — baking is my favourite form of therapy.
Hope you’re doing better today!
Thanks Amanda, hope your funk has lifted!
I spent it training a client! Hope your back is quick to heal, those foods would definitely brighten my day! Have a lovely sunday x x
Thanks Tamzin, hope you have a great week and the storm isn’t too bad where you are!
Sorry to hear you had a bit of a rubbish day- things always all happen at once don’t they.
That soup looks fab- I roasted some pumpkin yesterday and am going to make some soup for tomorrow evening- perfect for this weather!
For me it is the act of baking that cheers me up or relaxes me, not really the eating of the food.
I woke up early this morning, then as some of the clocks had re-set I realised it was even earlier, so I went for a 10k run, had a shower and then got back into bed to read- bliss :)
Haha, yes I think I had all my rubbishy things together but at least I got them all out of the way! I agree on the act of baking, I think there’s something very comforting about creating something. Your Sunday morning sounds like bliss!
Oh that is literally my perfect dinner right now! As much as I want to mope alone when I’m having a crappy day, I’ve always found spending a little time with friends or family always lifts me up. And chocolate doesn’t go a miss either ;) Happy +1 hour day!
You are so right, I think mine was made worse because I was working from home alone on Friday, I did feel a little better once James came home and I could have a rant!
Aw sorry you’ve had a bit of a bad day. When I’m feeling a bit down I love to snuggle in bed and watch my favourite movie, or have an early night. I used to binge on chocolate and ice cream but I know that makes me feel a lot worse, and the cheer up is only short lived.
That’s just the place I’ve come to with the chocolate and ice cream eating! An early night is always a good one, I love waking up feeling refreshed!
That soup sounds so good! I’ve had a dreadful weekend of girl-flu :( Feeling really meh myself!! I’ve just bought your super conscious program, so I’m going to get stuck into that, hopefully lift me out of my sickness and funk!! Hope you are feeling better!
Oh no! Hope you feel better soon :-) Thanks for buying the programme! I really hope you get a lot out of it x
*hugs* I’m really sorry you’ve been having a tough time of it. I hope the extra hour in bed revitalized you and you’re feeling a bit better now.
I didn’t really get the extra hour (not that I’d be sleeping anyway) because I was up early to get to Newcastle Town Moor for the marathon there. Luckily no panic attack this time, but gales and rain just seem to follow me around – seriously high drop out rate due to the conditions and I don’t blame the people who had to stop! I finished, but bloody Hell it was tough. And then I got back to Durham and it was pretty lovely here by comparison!
Really the only thing that can ever pick me up is running – still haven’t found any other coping mechanisms that work!
xxx
Thanks Jess, I’m definitely feeling much better now :-) Oooh looking forward to your race recap! Glad you were ok but I can imagine the conditions being challenging!
Hope your back is better soon! Your soup looks fab, I love cooking simple & nutritious stuff when I feel a bit down and meh.
Thanks Lexi! I’m the same with cooking, it’s quite nice to know that I get the same comfort from cooking good healthy stuff as used to from chocolate and ice cream!
Hope your back is feeling much better soon Laura and the funk stays away! I’m addicted to Ritter Sport, the shop in Berlin is one of my favourite places!
Thanks Claire :-) Yes that shop in Berlin was fab! I wish I’d bought more now :-)
Ahh that sucks about things being “meh”. I definitely have those days. Usually when I get down about not being able to run because of an injury. Usually running is the sure fire way of making me happy so not being able to run sucks a lot. But spending time with Ben and watching a good film with cake helps!
I love that German chocolate! I love the indiivdual chocolate sweets they do – kind of caramelly. Mmmmm.