Good morning!!! I’ve had a great morning so far – a wonderful workout, a hearty breakfast and I’m headed to TARGET during the week!!! One of the things I’m most excited about with going back to school is the flexibillity of running errands on days other than Saturdays. My first class isn’t until 12:30 today, so I’m running to Target on the way to campus to pick up some school supplies (more flash cards, a new binder, pencils!)
Pre-Breakfast
My body clock is off so it’s been harder getting up. I bumped the alarm back to 5:30 since I don’t need to leave the house quite so early any more but I haven’t adjusted from the holidays yet. Maybe tomorrow! Even though I could sleep until 7 and workout then, I feel like sleeping is a waste of time beyond my required 8 hours so up I am! Plus I get so much more done. This morning I had another frozen mini oatmeal pancake with PB – I only have 1 left and need to make some more!!
Workout
As I said above, today’s workout was just wonderful. 35 minutes on the ET with Real Simple, then a fun treadmill interval workout where I alternated between 7.2 flat and 6.2 incline 2.0, followed by fun times with the ab roller!! ~500 kcal burned (thanks to the fast running)! Whoo hoo!
Creamy Oatmeal
I’m SO FULL today after my oats. I didn’t even want to finish my coffee. Strange! I had the last of our slivered almonds so it looks like a lot but it was mostly crumbles. I added a few pecans for more crunch. Also included is brown sugar, ground flax, 2.5 oz banana, and 10 grams peanut butter.
My coffee (drank half and gave the rest to the human garbage disposal I’m married to)
Breakfast kcal ~565.
Fashion Faux Pas
At least it’s gray on gray!!! But you know what, I just don’t care if my feet are comfortable! Christy and I are planning a walk after our class today, so I need good walking shoes!
Have a good day! I’m off. Will try to get to last night’s comments soon!
Jen (the Simpsons quote girl) says
Hey Kath,
Thought I’d share an oatmeal sort of recipe. I threw in half of a KIND bar like you had yesterday into the boiling oats. The sugar melted down to sweeten the oats, and the nuts, dried fruit, and granola got nice and soft. I used the macadamia & apricot bar. It was definitely a new flavor for oats. Would totally try again.
hk says
genius, such a clever idea!!!
Marie says
Hey! I’d like to ask a general question about calories when working out. I usually burn about 400-500 cals each day at the gym from 30+ min. running, ~30 min lifting, and lots of ab work. I’m 5’11 and currently 149 lbs. I try to “restrict” my calories to about 2200 a day (from the MyPyramid website) but can easily eat 3000 cals a day to finally feel full and satisfied. I’ve never been heavier than 159 lbs at my highest weight, but feel the best at about 150 lbs. Is this amount of calories acceptable for me when I’m working out most days of the week? I’ve noticed that you workout about like I do, so I was wondering if you try to eat a certain amount of calories each day, or if you just eat based on your hunger level? I’m sorry if you’ve addressed this question before, but I just recently started reading your blog and really like it! Thanks for putting in so much effort to help us all learn a healthy lifestyle! 🙂
amy says
Be careful at Target! I always get myself in to trouble there. You can never go in there for just one thing!I love the Super Targets that have Starbucks inside. That is a double whammy!
Allison says
Marie, I am a little puzzled by how you got the 2,200 number from MyPyramid. I am 5’10 and when I put in my info, including exercising an hour a day, it says 2600. Everyone’s calorie expenditure is different and you have to do what is right for you. If you are really hungry on 2,200, then you aren’t eating enough. I got back down to 149 after my daughter was born by eating about 2,400 a day and I steadily lost weight on that (and that was after I stopped nursing).
Kay says
Hey Marie! I always advocate listening to one’s own body and doing what works for oneself. With that being said, I think you could be eating more calories. Since you say you could “easily eat 3,000 cals a day,” I think that’s a good sign that your body craves more fuel.
You are pretty active and TALL (I am too, and I have to say I love that we can eat more because of it! 🙂 And you’re also basically just trying to maintain, instead of lose weight, so I think upping it will help you do this and feel more satisfied hunger-wise.
There are various “calorie need” calculators all over the Internet. I checked a couple out, and they did show you should eat more calories to maintain your weight. I’d experiment with slowly upping it and see how you feel, but I have a feeling you will find your body (and mind, appetite, etc.) will like it!
Kay says
Oh yeah, after reading Allison’s comment, I’d like to add that I am as active as you (from the sounds of it), and even though tall (5’9″), not as tall as you, and I would lose weight on 2,200 calories day. I know this because it happened. 🙂 Don’t be afraid to feed your body!
Anonymous says
Definately jealous of the taller people who can eat more. 😉
Jen (the Simpsons quote girl) says
me too. go “under 5 feet tall crowd”!
Mary says
Kath, do you find that kashi crackers fill you? I notice you will eat them instead of bread alot of days and still be satisfied.
Also, what is so great about butternut squash? Is it lower calories than a baked potato?
kathryn says
let me tell you, i am 5’11 and 157. I so want to be at 150… alot… but i used to weigh 230 and dropped it by really restricting my calories. now, i probably eat between 1650 – 1950 a day and cannot loose weight.. I know that people say that to loose weight, eat more, but i know how you feel on the “it feels like too much calories” to loose weight…
Tracy says
Kathryn~
I am 5’7 and now weigh 145-I am going to lose until I hit 130. I have lost that weight in about 3 weeks. I gotta tell ya-I eat really healthy and keep my calories to about 1000- 1200 per day. I don’t need more than that. I don’t workout, per se, I walk 30 min. every morning and I do some swimming when my kids have swim lessons. I just want to lose the weight and I don’t want it to take forever! I have changed to a healthy diet, now I just work on portion control. Maybe just drop a few more calories and up your activity level by a little. 7 lbs is nothing-you can do it! You’ve already come so far-you know how its done! Then you can just maintain.
Jen (the Simpsons quote girl) says
Oh, no. Oh, dear. There is just so much that is not the greatest advice there.
There is no such thing as permanent superfast weight loss (cause it is not fat loss – water, muscle, glycogen depletion). Yes, there is such a thing as an excessively low cal diet.
Seriously, give these links a read. They will give some basics on losing fat in a healthy way without damaging your metabolism (which will curb fat loss when your body goes into starvation mode to protect itself and begins pillaging muscle stores for energy rather than fat stores).
Increasing muscle is the best way to burn fat as a lb of muscle burns many, many more cals at rest than an lb of fat. I have been there, done that when it comes to eating far too low (and exercising far too much). The results are destructive. Please take care of your body. You may not know what it is like when it starts to crap out on you, but I don’t want you to have to find out.
http://www.hotnfit.com/fat_loss/cornerstone.htm#top
http://www.hotnfit.com/nutrition_basics.htm#top
Aimee* says
I LOVE your sweet potato idea! I am definitely trying it this week sometime! Hot sauce, sweet potatoes, black beans, and fage. 4 of my favorite foods! Especially fage.
sometimes when i need a sweet treat i add a bit of splenda to this and some mini dark choc. chips. It tastes like a little cupcake!
Tracy says
Jen~
If you are getting in all the nutrients you need and feel ok and are not hungry, I really don’t see the problem. There are some studies that show that with proper nutrition, lowering your calorie is not only not detrimental, but beneficial. I’m not saying anyone should become anorexic, but as long as you are living a healthy lifestyle, a lesser amount of calories isn’t awful. And considering 30% of the country is considered obese and an even higher percentage is overweight, maybe we should all rethink our eating habits. Being healthy is the bottom line.
NATI says
Your blog is getting me excited for the new semester. I LOVE routine. Thats something thats lacking on vacation… But I have a question. I am going to be really busy monday-thursday and will be at school from 11-5 or from 6(pm) to 10(pm) Im worried about how this will confuse my eating pattern…… any suggestions would be super appreciated. Thank you!
texasfoodie says
Okay- I know you have a lot of comments to respond to so you can skip me for a while and address this later if you want.
Also- thanks for quelling my curiosity about the lap top… hope I didn’t offend anyone with my Dell assumption.
So my question is- how do you feel about Kefir? I haven’t seen you drink it, and it seems like it would be a great thing immediately following my morning work-out- especially since I don’t normally get a real breakfast for at least an hour after I finish. The only thing I can see is the high level of sugar, but do you think the benefits outweigh that (I guess it’s one of Dr. Perricone’s Super Foods) ?
Thanks!
texasfoodie says
oh yeah:
http://www.lifeway.net/product/kefir_lowfat.php
That’s the specific product I am referring to.
BKshei says
Hi kath … I just wanted to tell you how much you blog has helped me. I am FOOD OBSESSED, always kind of have been. i love to love it, love to hate it, love to eat it…and also get a rush out of NOT eating (A habit that gradually became more evident after losing my freshman 15 a couple of years ago) However, I discovered your blog and have again found a way to enjoy food again without so much of the guilt of actually allowing myself to eat REAL food. I love trying to find healthier substitutes to old favorites and, the best part is I have actually lost MORE weight since I started checking out your choices and realizing that I CAN eat and not gain weight and have so much more energy and feel so much better about my lifestyle… So, thank you and I look forward to trying more of your healthy recipes!
— an appreciative college student in NYC 🙂
Patricia says
Hi Kath!
I want to start adding Flax to my oatmeal in the mornings, in which aisle of the grocery store do you find it in?
Do you think you could take a picture of the wrapper the next time you make oatmeal or anything with flax?
Thanks!
Karen L. says
Hi Patricia –
You can find flax seed in the bulk aisle pre-packed. The common brands are Spectrum Naturals and Bob’s Red Mill. Spectrum may be in the natural living/supplement aisle. Bob’s may be in the cooked cereal aisle along with their other grains.
It’s best to buy whole seeds vs. pre-ground, because despite the protective packaging, flaxseeds lose omega-3 potency soon after being ground. I use a mini coffee bean grinder to grind two tablespoon servings prior to use, which is more convenient than using my massive food processor.
I add flax seeds to my dishes regularly, as they are a terrific vegetarian substitute for fish oil. Enjoy!
Patricia says
Thanks Karen!
I’ll make sure to get it on my next trip to the grocery store!
Alison says
Actually, I’ve read that the body can’t digest whole flax seeds so to get the benefits we have to eat ground flax seed. I can’t remember where I read that but I wonder now which is right.
Karen L. says
You are absolutely right, Alison! To clarify, I am suggesting to Patricia that she buy them whole and grind them herself prior to eating.
Kath says
Jen,
Brilliant!! I will have to try that sometime!
Marie,
What’s most important is that you’re fueling your body with the good, satisfying foods, not the exact number of calories. If you’re eating 2,200 of bars, sugary or processed things, your body will probably still crave more regardless of the number. Only YOU know if what you’re eating is fuel or empty calories – not MyPyramid or any calculator. But if you’re eating 2,200 of a balanced, healthy diet of whole, fresh foods and you’re still hungry, eat more. I would meet in the middle with 2,500 or 2,600 and see how you feel there – sounds to me like that might be a better fit than 2,200.
I am part of the 5″ group too 🙁
Thanks to the readers who wrote responses!
Mary,
I wouldn’t really say that kashi crackers are filling but I think they are much more satisfying than a slice of toast – mostly because they take me a long time to eat and fill huge cravings for them at the same time!! I do find a sandwich more satisfying than a dish + crackers, but I just like to mix it up. I consider them a side dish more than a “filler” like fruit or yogurt.
Nati,
My only suggestion would be to watch my meals because I’m having to be pretty portable this semester!! I like to have a huge breakfast, a large lunch, a medium afternoon snack and a smallish dinner. But that’s my stomach and not yours! Just play around with what you can – meals vs. snacks – and see what works.
Texasfoodie,
I like Kefir a lot (the plain only – the others are too sweet!!!) but I never remember to buy it. I like yogurt more though because it’s more chew.
BK,
Glad you like the blog!!
Thanks to Karen for answering the flax question for me!
Kath
Alison says
Oh gosh, sorry Karen! I totally skipped over the second paragraph of your comment! Thanks for clarifying.