Compulsion

Lessee - I ellipted & lifted (shoulders/back) on Monday night, yeehaw. Seriously, yee-HAW! I made my swiss chard, which was EFFING delicious - I couldn't believe it. I was totally prepared for it to be bitter or completely raucous (in a bad way), but it was DELISH! Crunchy, nutty, full-tasting. It probably helped that I used a spicy garlic oil to saute it. I had some again last night, left over, and it was *still* yummy! I highly recommend it, as it is tres good for you.

My darling bf almost sliced a finger off trying to cut up the beets, until we realized that we should probably cook them first. Please don't laugh, I had no idea, and the recipe suggestions I had never mentioned cooking *before* slicing (it just said "blah blah blah sliced cooked beets blah blah blah" - so helpful). And I cooked up my zucchini and squash, also so tasty!!!

I also tried a lentils-n-rice recipe in my rice cooker, based on a suggestion I found on Fatfree Vegan Kitchen - I can't remember how I made it there. Goddess bless the internet! Anyway, I am always interested in easy ways to make beans, and this couldn't be easier. I was hesitant about using the rice cooker for anything but rice (no oil, no spices), but this made me a believer. It is a pretty mild dish, so I would probably add some bouillion for flavor next time.

I have found that I'm leaning more & more towards a vegetarian, even vegan-type diet (although I can't see myself giving up ice cream anytime soon!). I don't know if it's a combination of the health issues that are discussed at length amidst my anatomy & physiology learnings/text, the lifestyle of a massage therapist (many seem to take uber care of themselves and be more "earthy crunchy" - of course I am generalizing here big-time), the need for my son to get away from dairy etc., or just the general thoughts of mad cow disease and the way that animals are raised for slaughter in the U.S. (I generally try to get organic chicken anyway), but I am finding myself turned off by animal protein, even fish. I doubt I'll be 100% but I have been eating more beans and less animal protein these days (of course, I don't think BAGBunny ever thought she would be there either, but look at her now!). And lots more veggies & fruit too!

Getting back to the title of my post...last night I brought the veggie/bean meal for dinner at school, which I don't normally do (I bring cheese & granola bar, or something light like that) - I have found out that I am usually so fricking hungry when I leave that I'm 1000x more likely to give in to stopping at the ice cream place or meatlover's fast food after class is over, when it's past 10:00 at night - bad idea. Anyway, I had the meal around 7:00, and it was scrumptious. However, by 9:30 I was hungry again (damn!) and debating what I could stop and get. *sigh* I ended up at DQ with an ice cream/smooshies. That's where the compulsion comes in. I could have gone home and had more veggies/beans, or something else better-for-me than ice cream, but I *had* to have it once I thought of it. Rebellious teen? Whiny toddler? What did I want? Was I truly just hungry, or was it something else? I just don't know.

It could be that I am a little more hungry because I have been working out again. It could be that I need to bring a bigger serving of the veggies & beans. Maybe I didn't get enough calories yesterday. I won't know the answer to that if I'm not tracking my food, which I haven't been doing regularly. I was also quite tired, and actually dropped off while I was resting in my seat before class started. I can tell you that that is *so* unlike me. I'm really thinking it's the working out.

Speaking of which, I didn't do anything yesterday, and then planned to get up this morning but a repair person was coming and the bf had to leave for work early so I couldn't go to the gym or track or whatever. I guess I could have done a yoga dvd, if I had thought about it. So my plan is to get up tomorrow morning and either gym-it or track-it. Friday we're heading off for camping so am anticipating some fun movement there. Not that the gym isn't fun, it really is. I'm a sick puppy, eh?

*Update: note: sorry for being a dunderhead - just turned comments on, whoops!*