Saturday started off great – I got to sleep in until 6:45 and then got my workout done first thing! Although it’s tough to not pitter around the house, I love getting my workout done first so I can relax and enjoy a leisurely well-earned breakfast nice and clean and dressed.
I had my usual toast with jam and PB before the gym:
I LOVE Trader’s Joe’s Raspberry jam, but I just ran out and opened this jar of Strawberry Rhubarb Jam from South Carolina that someone gave us for Xmas. It’s only 25 kcal per tbsp and has an acceptable list of ingredients. Yum! I love, love, love homemade jams.
Workout
At the gym I did 30 minutes on the Stairmaster, 12 on the ET and then about 15 with the husband doing push-ups, pull-ups (assisted :oops:) and dips. It’s a great way to challenge your upper body all at once and a nice break from free weights, bands, and machines. ~450 kcal burned.
Fine Dining
We didn’t sit down to breakfast until 10:00 a.m. so I knew I wanted something lighter than oats. The husband wanted to do buttermilk pancakes again, but I’m meeting Maran for lunch at noon and need to be just a little hungry then!! Otherwise I would have had a big breakfast and a later lunch at 1:30 or 2.
So I decided on eggs today. Following the “two types of people in this world” concept, I believe there are those whose bodies love protein and those who love grains.
I’m definitely in the grain category. Eggs NEVER fill me up unless I have lots of grains with them. So I chose them today for a change and because I know I’ll be hungry for lunch.
The husband scrambled 2 eggs plus 1/4 cup egg whites with a few of his spicy peppers:
Also had 4 oz of sliced pear with cinnamon
With last of the homemade foccacia (1 oz piece) with some Smart Balance and jam:
And a latte:
(You’re probably thinking I’m nuts calling this a “light” breakfast, but it’s not necessarily light in calories, just light in fiber/fullness factor for me – I still needed some fuel after my workout!)
One thing we’ve been doing lately is trying to make our meals elegant and as fancy as we can. With this in mind, I pulled out a fun little platter we have and arranged my breakfast in a row rather than our usual big square plates. It was SO FUN to eat on this, in the beautiful green dining room, with a cloth napkin (for the environment as well as the elegance and convenience!) and with the sun shining in on my cute husband across from me!!
Total breakfast calories (including pre-workout toast): 470.
You all should try the cloth napkin thing – I’m enjoying it so much just because I don’t have to run and get a paper napkin before each meal. We reuse our cloth ones for a week or so since sometimes we don’t even use it and others we just need to dab our mouth. Of course if we ate anything really messy we’d switch them out for a clean one.
Saturday Plans
First I’m doing lunch with Maran (we might go walking afterwards in our neighborhood!). Then I should have some down time to get stuff done around the house or run some errands. Then I’m meeting my college roommate for coffee or tea around 3. Then we’re having the husband’s mom and brother and company for dinner tonight for pork tenderloin, acorn squash, mushroom couscous, and homemade sourdough bread by the husband. Should be a fun time – and I’m looking forward to another glass of that fabulous wine from last night! But JUST ONE GLASS!!! I hope I don’t get caught up in the moment!
shan says
Hi Kath! I love your blog! I have a question about the pom seeds? Do you eat the whole thing in your yogurt? They are kind of a labor intensive fruit to eat, any tips?
Kath says
Shan,
I eat about 25-35 grams at a time, which is like 2-3 tbsp. It takes the husband and I about a week to go through them having a little each day.
Kath
Steph says
Random question….how do I start a blog? I’ve been inspired to start my own, similar to yours and Cristin’s EatLikeMe blog. But what’s the easiest way to get started?
bev says
Kath, Just wante dto share this fabulous omlet, it is really good 🙂 : Miraval Omelette
Sunday breakfast. From Miraval Resort & Spa in Catalina, Arizona. Egg-white omelettes don’t have to taste like quilt batting. Chefs at Miraval whip up a fluffy, veggie-heavy number. Their secret? A dollop of lowfat cream cheese, which improves the texture and adds a rich taste.
Makes 1 serving.
Olive- or vegetable-oil cooking spray
1/4 cup diced fresh shiitake mushrooms
1 tbsp finely chopped green onion
1/4 cup diced tomato
1/4 cup packed, chopped fresh spinach
3 egg whites, lightly whisked
1 tbsp lowfat cream cheese
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Coat a nonstick sauté pan with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Cook mushrooms and onion about 5 minutes; add tomato and spinach and cook an additional 3 minutes. Mix in egg whites, cream cheese, salt, and pepper. Cook until bottom and sides are firm, about 4 minutes. Flip omelette in half to serve.
Nutritional analysis per omelette: 110 calories, 2.5 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 10 g carbohydrates, 13 g protein, 3 g fiber
bev says
I’m glad your using the cloth napkins . Once you start you always will use them. I buy them on sale (willliam -sonoma, pottery barn, or crate & barrel ,. etc. ) I wash when they get soiled. Have a great weekend 🙂
Lea says
Just checking out your blog, it seems like you tend to obsess a little about counting calories and compensating with exercise to be able to “enjoy your meals.” Don’t get me wrong– I love to exercise, too, but I don’t feel the need to plan my meals around how much exercise I get in each day. Just a thought.
Ryan says
Hi Kath! I love your blog and my great friend Emma gave me the link to it. She is seriously addicted to it and checks it several times a day….I’m not quite that obsessed yet but I do LOVE it. Anyways I was wondering how you make lattes at home? Do you have a machine or a milk steamer and which brand do you have? I am addicted to Starbucks but I am thinking I can save money by making my own fancy drinks at home.
Ala says
I love the great care and attention to detail you have when displaying your meals. It is something I am trying to work on….enjoying and savouring the entire ‘experience’ at each meal.
Kath says
Steph
Go to http://www.wordpress.com or http://www.blogspot.com and sign up!! It’s really easy. If you want to do a photoblog, you’ll of course need a camera, but anyone can get a free WordPress blog and get started typing away!
Lea,
Obsesses is a strong word – and very subjective. I tend to think I’m just aware and responsible. We’re all entitled to our opinions though.
Ryan,
Glad you like the blog! Here’s a response the husband typed a while back on the cappuccino maker:
We have a Krups coffee maker/espresso machine. Got it as a wedding present! Here it is:
http://www.krupsusa.com/All+Products/Coffee+Machines/Espresso+coffee+machines/Products/XP2070/XP2070.htm
When we have “lattes” what we’re really doing is brewing coffee, and topping it off with about 3oz of steamed milk. That’s not to say that we haven’t made a real latte with espresso, but that takes a little more time.
Which brings me to our only real criticism about the machine: it takes too long to use the machine because you can only do one action at a time, and by action I mean:
brew coffee
warm up the espresso maker
make espresso
warm up the steam arm
use the steam arm
I’m guessing that each of these requires most or all of the machine’s electrical capacity, so you can only do one. Also, the warming up of the espresso maker and the steam arm takes about 60 seconds- which doesn’t seem like much, but because you can’t be doing much else, you just stand there staring at the machine until the “ready” light pops up.
The other complaint I have is that the steam arm is activated by a button, not a dial that you turn to release steam. Somehow I feel like this contributes to the length of time it takes to warm up.
Despite all this, we’ve been pretty pleased with it.
Kath
Jill says
Kathy,
I've been doing the cloth napkin thing all my life (my parents started it) and it really is the best thing, whenever I'm with people who use paper it drives me kind of nuts! I know what you mean about protein vs. grain people, and I'm totally there with you on the grains! I've actually read in one of my nutrition textbooks that women have more of a craving for grains while men for protein. What do you think?
Molly says
That comment about protein vs grain people types is really interesting. Is that just a saying- or where have you read about it>
Karen says
Re: the above judgemental comment by a passerby – I don’t think Kath “obsesses” about “calories eaten vs. calories burned” at all!
Through her weight loss journey, Kath has discovered a formula that works for her in maintaining optimal health and wellbeing. In my opinion, Kath beautifully balances two great pleasures in life–eating “real food” plentifully and physical activity. Who doesn’t take greater appreciation in eating a hearty meal after working up a good sweat? This is natural, normal. Kath has managed to lose a significant amount of weight, learn a lot through that process about her own body’s needs, and transition into a very stable nourishment-based eating pattern.
To me, this blog represents precisely what “balance” looks like.
Kath says
Thank you Karen – You have such a way with words. I really appreciate your feedback 🙂
Kath says
Jill and Molly,
It's just a theory of mine – nothing I've read or heard. There is a lot of information out there on protein being the secret to feeling full and satisfied vs. fiber being the secret (you know all these fad diets – Atkins vs. The Fiber Factor Diet). In my opinion the "secret" is – surprise – a BALANCE of both 🙂 But I think there are those who can have more protein (eggs + toast) for breakfast and feel full for hours and those who need more fiber (oatmeal or cereal) to get the "full" feeling. Although most grains have protein (oatmeal has 5 grams of protein per half cup) I think the difference is that the grains have both whereas the eggs are mostly protein. So some of us have more demanding stomachs than others! Again, this is all just something I've observed about myself. I NEED whole grains, especially at breakfast and lunch.
Kath
Cassie says
Steph-
Starting your own blog is easy! I just started my own last night! I used www.blogspot.com but wordpress is just as good. Good Luck!
Kath has been such an insipration to me as i am sure to all of you. I have started my own blog to hopefully represent one more example of healthy living. I would love if you checked it out.
www.healthybitesbycassie.blogspot.com
Thanks!
Jill says
I'm there with the whole grains, not only does my mouth prefer them, my stomach does as well! I'll try to find the article for you guys and will send it along if I have any luck.