Back from the Dead

I finally got sick. I never, ever, ever get sick! Honestly, I haven’t been sick in bed since high school! And, even now, I rarely get a cold. If I do, it lasts a day or two and it only happens once a winter or so. However, living with a teacher, who is always sick, I feel like a superhero: impervious to germs! This time, however, I actually got sick– I even had a fever! My body was worn down and susceptible to Mal’s gross high school germs. Meh.

Last night, I slept for 16 hours straight and woke up feeling so much better this morning. I still have the sniffles, but I think I really just needed sleep. Hooray for sleep!! 

Breakfast

I ate my morning bowl of oats around 11:45 AM. Eating breakfast at that time of the day is so weird for me. Usually, at 11:45, I am thinking about lunch. 

Today’s oats were especially creamy and delicious! The banana slices and vanilla hemp milk added a whipped texture to them. In the mix: oats, wheat berries, banana, raisins, vanilla hemp milk, and two spoonfuls of peanut butter (not pictured). Man, this was SUCH a good batch! 

With iced coffee… 

Thursday Recap

I took some photos yesterday, so I figured I might as well include them in today’s post. I didn’t want all of that hard work to go to waste! (I didn’t photograph dinner– I was too sick for food blogging.) 

Yesterday’s lunch was a homemade strawberry salad. Fruit in salads is so fun! It instantly livens-up a regular, old salad!

In the mix:

• arugula
• strawberries
• grape tomatoes
• carrots
• wheat berries 
• mozzarella 

Lunch also included an orange,… 

…a thick piece of bread, and a Quaker Simple Harvest All Natural bar. 

Housing Day

Thursday morning in the Yard was so fun! It was Housing Day at Harvard. On Housing Day, freshman find out which of the 12 upperclass Houses they are assigned to for their remaining three years.

Bright and early on Thursday morning, the upperclassmen stormed the Yard to show their House spirit and wake-up the freshman. The upperclassmen show their House spirit in a variety of ways– from running through the Yard with banners and chatting their House name to dressing in House t-shirts and even mascot costumes. (There are many pre- and post-activities that revolve around Housing Day, too!)

I absolutely loved the Housing Day spectacle in the Yard yesterday morning! It reminded me so much of my own college shenanigans! Working for a college definitely keeps you young at heart! 

Yes, John Harvard is wearing a bear head. 

Exercising When Sick 

Now that I am feeling better, I am debating whether to exercise or not. I don’t have a fever anymore, but I’m still feeling a tad sluggish… maybe a workout will energize me? I’m not a doctor, but here are my thoughts on exercising when sick:

• I use the “above the neck check” to determine if I am well enough to exercise. For instance, if my symptoms are all above the neck, like a runny nose or a sore throat, then I think I’m okay to exercise. In my opinion, exercise can often help you feel better. I listen to my body and lessen the intensity of the workout, if needed. For example, some gentle yoga can increase your body’s circulation and help combat that rundown, yucky feeling, and an easy jog can unclog your sinuses and rev-up your energy. But, of course, this is totally a personal decision. If I’m too stuffed-up or just plain exhausted, exercise might make me miserable, so in that case, I don’t exercise! 
• On the other hand, if I have symptoms below the neck, such as body chills, aches, stomach “issues,” then I take it easy until I’m feeling better. And, if I’m running a fever, I definitely put off exercising until my temperature is back to normal.
• If I exercise in a public place (like a gym) while I am sick, I try to consider my fellow exercisers. If I’m contagious and I can’t get through 10 minutes of my workout without coughing or sneezing, I stay home and rest. I don’t want to pass on my sickness to other people. 

Tagged as: exercising when sick, Harvard, Harvard Housing Day