Day 2 and 3

[discodoris]

Yesterday went well. I was still not feeling 100%, but I walked to work and walked home for lunch.  For breakfast I had a wholemeal muffin (English muffin, not an overgrown fairy cake) with a little butter and the inevitable mug of coffee.  I was definitely feeling nibbly and in need of snacks, but the punnet of grapes on my desk did the job and I stuck to eating those.  Lunch was four wholegrain crackerbreads, spread with low fat houmous, followed by a probiotic yogurt, an orange and an apple, plus of course the coffee.  I should point out that I do drink water through the day as well – not all my refreshment is in the form of coffee.  In fact, I tend to drink low sugar squash more often, in the evening.

Activity wise, I mowed the lawns, which were both looking desperately shaggy, since they’d been neglected for weeks.  I also cleaned the kitchen and tidied and vacuumed my bedroom.  I’m not kidding myself that this was a mad amount of calorie burning, but it was definitely more activity than I have been accustomed to recently. After all that housework, I made myself some sandwiches, similar to Monday night, with the other half of the pack of prawns that I’d opened.  Having a really sharp knife helps enormously, in that I can slice a loaf of bread thinly.  I’ve noticed that it’s nigh on impossible to get thin sliced bread any longer and that supermarket offerings actually default to thick slices in most breads – so the amount that I use for one sandwich, would actually be one slice of ready-sliced.

I felt really tired and my back ached after the housework – another sign of my lacking fitness, I’d say.  All in all through the day, I had five cigarettes. One walking to work, one walking home at lunchtime, one when I got in, in the evening, one during a break from the housework and one before going to sleep.  I allowed myself to turn the computer on and the television at around 8.30, after doing the chores.

I had more to do this morning though – there was washing up to be accomplished, tidying and vacuuming of the other two bedrooms and the lounge needed tidying, dusting and vacuuming.  I accomplished the former two tasks before work and had the last of the wholemeal muffins toasted, spread with a little butter and a mug of coffee. I wish I’d had time for a full shower, but contended myself with a decent wash instead. My hair needs a wash really – well, it actually needs a cut, but I’ve yet to schedule that. I must call and see if I can get a lunchtime appointment soon.

I walked to work again and back at lunchtime, to complete the tidying and vacuuming. It all looks great – I wonder whether I’ll manage to keep it that way, or whether it will degenerate to a tip again in the absence of any visitors to motivate me. I had more wholegrain crackerbreads – five this time, as that was all that was left in the packet, with another pot of low fat houmous. I’ve opened the white seedless grapes today, as I have been eating red seedless. I read somewhere that the supposedly beneficial components of red wine (on top of light alcohol consumption) may also be available in red/black grape skins, so I try to have red/black grapes as often as white. I did have one hiccup – there was a meeting at lunchtime and a plate of sandwiches and snacks appeared in the office – I’ve had one small ham salad sandwich and a savoury cheese in flaky pastry roll. I didn’t even think about it, which is a bit sad, I realise now. Oh well – a habit that needs to be broken. 

I also realised during the morning, that I was a lot less congested and at long last am breathing normally through my nose, rather than through my mouth. I was still unpleasantly hot and my back ached after the housework at lunchtime. Still – again – a little bit of exertion at a time. I’m looking forward to this evening – I have a close female friend visiting and we have every intention of a gossipy evening. I’m cooking us both dinner, a chicken stirfry, I think.