When my alarm goes off in the morning, I get up immediately. I never hit snooze. Ever. So yesterday it went off at 4:25 am and I popped out of bed ready to start my day the best way I know how.
However, after 46 seconds (give or take a few), I quickly came to the conclusion that working out was a bad idea. My head was a throbbing mess and my eyes were all puffy. [I have since discovered that I’m slightly allergic to the gorgeous bouquet Kyle got me for Valentine’s Day]
So I did something completely un-Elise. I snuggled back in bed for an extra hour of shut-eye. It wasn’t very restful (which is why I think snoozing is a stupid concept to begin with). Still, my body was thanking me later. I’m proud of myself for listening. That’s also not very “me.” I admit, I push through workouts that were not meant to be far more often than I should.
I didn’t even want my morning coffee. Crazy right? Identity crisis!!!
Now that looks more like my style. Phew! Brunching and lunching meals seen above, described in detail below.
I made my breakfast tupperware of whole rolled oats with wheat bran. It was a half and half blend, then I plumped it up with chia seeds. Finally, I tossed in frozen blueberries.
I wish I had remembered to add nuts or coconut though. It was like a not-at-all-sweet blueberry muffin. But it was missing something. Next time…
My morning was chaotic as I was pretty busy with one of my patients who seemed to be heading towards renal and liver failure (while going septic, too). I did find a second to snack on one of the apples though…the pear didn’t get my attention ‘til later in the afternoon.
When lunch time finally rolled around I was starving. If I hadn’t been about to chew my arm off, I may have eaten lunch on the unit while catching up on charting. I hate charting. But I always force myself to take “me” time and enjoy my lunch because if my patients are safe, then the other stuff can wait. Plus my hospital has break relief nurses.
Lunch was the perfect blend of grains and veggies. So yummy.
That white shredded stuff is not cheese. Not white rice either.
Give up?
Shredded cauliflower! It’s so simple, you’ll laugh.
All you need to do is use the shredder blade on your food processor.
One trip through the blades of death will give you instant raw white “rice.”
I have big plans for this aside from salad topping. I have a feeling if I stir fry it on the stove with nutritional yeast it will taste just like popcorn. It’s got a fantastic crunch. Definitely took this salad to the next level.
The other ingredients included spinach, carrots, cherry toms, shredded cauli, and leftover sweet ‘n savory Israeli couscous. The flavors of the couscous dish have melded even more. This is one of those meals that gets better and better with time. Mmmm…I was 100% satisfied.
I had pistachios and tropical dried fruit for dessert.
The only bummer about lunch was the fact that it was raining. I hate staying in the hospital all day. I did eat in the cafeteria (as opposed to the nurses lounge) but that’s still not the same as getting out in the fresh air.
Fact: in New York, not ONCE did I stay in the hospital for lunch. Torrential storms, 7 inches of snow, negative wind chill…it didn’t matter. I refused to stay inside for 12 straight hours; and I never did. Not once. I always got out, even if it was only for a second to run across the street to Bruno’s. That seems impressive for 2+ years of shifts (75% of which had crappy weather). To be fair, my old hospital didn’t have a cafeteria, plus all the Starbucks employees at the location across the street knew me and gave me unlimited mugs for free. How could I turn that down.
While I do miss the kind baristas who helped feed my caffeine addiction, I don’t miss carrying my umbrella 365 days a year.
Oddly enough, yesterday’s yucky rain really got to me and I didn’t leave the hospital! Talk about an uncharacteristic move on my part! This is Southern California! After braving the nasty East Coast snow storms, often risking my extremities to frostbite, it’s truly ridiculous that I managed to ruin my streak in LA. Obviously I’ve turned into a total baby. Rain rain go away. 🙁
When it was time to head back to the office unit I packed up my cooler and hit it. No post-meal coffee. No chai tea. Just water.
I was actually too busy the rest fo the day to finish my dried fruit off, which meant I arrived home hangry.
Walking in the door, I found Kyle in a food coma on the couch (I was so jealous!). That’s when I discovered the best thing ever.
He saved me leftovers!
They may not look like much, but those are made-from-scratch waffles. Vegan waffles. Made using “the top secret" recipe. 🙂
I was so pleased that I didn’t have to think about putting dinner together that the crumbled appearance didn’t even phase me.
I topped it with soy yogurt and went to town.
After clearing my plate, I made tea, put together a dessert plate (theo almond and cherry dark chocolate & candied ginger), then got ready for another day of work.
Random questions: Do you hit the snooze button? Where do you eat your lunches at your job?
Ah, that’s awful about the flower allergy. At least he saved you waffles to make up for it!
I always do homework or schoolwork through lunch =/. I either eat at my job while doing homework or in class. Sorry about your patient! And I actually never hit snooze but that’s normally because I’m already awake because my roommate had been hitting snooze for 45 minutes =P.
Your eats always look amazing by the way! I try to use them for inspiration =)
No snooze button for me – I ALWAYS, without fail, wake up just before the alarm sounds.
I do snooze, but only when I really need it!
Snooze! Usually just once though and seriously, like you said there is no point, haha! Way to go for listening to your bod…I too fall victim to pushing through an exercise sesh when totally not necessary.
I am such a snoozer! I wish I wasn’t. Teach me your ways!
omg SAMESIES! haha you were totally me this morning! or vice versa? and i didn’t even want coffee either! no gym and no coffee desire was a supah weird morning. i still coffee-d it up though for fear of what might happen if i didnt haha
Yum yUm YUM! Almond and cherry dark chocolate sounds unbelievably amazing…especially with that candied ginger, holy yum! I never hit the snooze button…I see no point in pushing snooze 5 times when I could’ve had a happy 30 minutes of peaceful sleep! I’m def. one of those people that happily hops out of bed first thing in the morning without thinking twice:)
ok, i MUST have those vegan waffles! they sound divine.
i do snooze, but i need to stop–i agree with you that it’s not restful sleep.
These days I’ve been eating my lunch amidst all the internship applications that I have to process. However, when the weather is nicer, I like to sit outside by the on-campus lake:)
I never hit snooze! I just set my alarm for when I truly need to wake up. What’s the point of half-sleeping when you could just get full sleep?
Lately I eat lunch wherever the hell I can!
Love you post. Thanks for being my guest today 🙂
The cauliflower idea is great – I can’t wait to try it! I bet it would also add a ton of crunch to a salad – YUM!
And I loved your guest post today on choosing raw – you are such a great writer!
http://oatsandspice.wordpress.com
Just read your guest post on Gena’s blog, and great post!! I really enjoyed reading it, and have to agree with both you and Gena!! Two of my favorite girls 🙂
haha and I hit my snooze button too many times
I don’t do the snooze 🙂 But I do make sure to allow myself plenty of sleep each night. It’s like my work around.
I love food processor-ed cauliflower! I use it as ‘rice’ in my raw sushi and I sautée it with olive oil, garlic, and nooch to make a sort of faux ricotta that I use in lasagna. SO GOOD!
Working at an elementary school I eat my lunch anywhere I can get peace and quiet (I wear earplugs a lot during work). Rainy days are the worst. All the kids are inside and there is no such thing as quiet. I have to choose between annoying loud kids and annoying loud adults. Kids always win.
it was a pleasure!
The fact you get up at 4:45 AM (normally) and work out is astonishing. I can’t get up before 8:30 if I tried…Not since my freshman year in college have I been up at 7AM ready to start my day. EEEKK, so not ready for a real job after grad school. And I totally get you on having to leave the hospital during a 12 hr shift. I used to work at a restaurant from 9-6pm and I couldnt leave my hostess stand…now that is the worst and it caused me to quit because how could I not leave a 15 foot perimeter in a 10-11 hr work day? Insanity i tell ya.
xoxo
Lo
P.S. I am logged in under my professional website on WordPress, but its me: Honey Nut Lo who just commented 🙂
what nice rest day!! i never hit the snooze button but i dont get up as early as you! i love when dinner is already made for me!
well this is interesting to me…because you are NOT really a morning person, but you dont snooze…and i AM a morning person, and I snooze literally about 5 times every morning! hmmm…
I never hit snooze. Never. Like you said, the sleep you get from a snooze is never good, and it just encourages me to keep sleeping for “just a few more minutes.” Getting out of bed always sucks, but once I’m done an early workout I feel 100x better!!
I have a few NYU lounges that I rotate between. I know where all the heaters are and like to snuggle up against them…NY is too damn cold, I’m with you there. (And yes, I need to move to SoCal, I agree.)
I’m not allowed to leave the hospital during my shift. 🙁 I usually eat my lunch in the breakroom, which means that I’m sometimes interrupted by coworkers, doctors, or visitors who ignored the “restricted area” sign. Ah well. I would love to have 30 minutes outside to break up my day. That sounds amazing.
Oh, and I confess to snooze abuse. I need a rehab program. :p
Awww ~ bummer about the flower allergy! I have totally crawled back into bed too before when I just wasn’t feeling it. I can never go back to sleep though so I do not know WHY I bother 🙂
I NEED to get some of that sweet & savory israeli couscous – sounds awesome!
I LOVE the idea of cauliflower rice too.
Miss you!!!
XOXO,
Danica
I need to start making my lunches look more like this one!
Hehe, I have that same pick Klean Kanteen bottle. 🙂 I was dragging yesterday morning too, I blame the weather and winter blahs. The waffles look great, I need to whip out my waffle iron again and hopefully not burn peanut flour into it. 🙂
I rarely hit the snooze button, I always wake up thinking of everything I need to do and want to get moving. My hubby on the other hand…
Yet another reason we are the same person…I *never* hit snooze and *always* get up immediately after my alarm goes off. I can’t stay in bed…if I did, I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I always feel “guilty” or something–like I should be up. And I should–the alarm went off, after all! Lol…I have issues, no?!?!
Courtney
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I can’t believe your old hospital didn’t have a cafeteria! I’ve never seen that! Oh, I WISH I got a relief tech at work during lunch. Unfortunately, we eat in the department and if we get busy halfway through, lunch gets put on the back burner. It always seems like the ER gets busy right around lunch time (I blame it on the docs that want to go to lunch so they order all the diagnostic tests they possibly can). I frequently have to throw down my meal in 10 minutes or less! This makes it so hard for me to slow down on my other meals even when not working since I usually do it 4 out of 5 days a week! 🙁
I rarely ever hit the snooze button. I’d rather just get up and get the day started…snooze is just a tease!
well, we are polar opposites on the sleep/workout thing. i don’t think i’ve ever “popped out of bed” a day in my life 🙂 i hit snooze waaaay too much (up to 5 times a morning!) even though i know its not quality sleep.
i also hate working out and its a huge struggle to talk myself into doing it. in the past year i bought a wii workout “game” that lasted about 8 workout sessions, then i bought wii just dance 2 thinking i might work out if it was more fun, and that one hasn’t made it into the wii console yet.
BUT…i am determined! in a recent post you talked about jillian’s 30 day shred again and i’m going to give it a try. the other things felt like stabs in the dark but you and so many other people have talked up the 30 day shred so much that i know it will work…as long as i can be disciplined enough to actually use it!
ya they r yummy 😀