Jump around!
{Waaaaaaaaa} <— the shrieking sound in this song
Word.
Karen is probably joining my gym! Today I met her there for an afternoon workout and a tour. And tomorrow we’re meeting for cycle! I biked over to the gym at 4PM to meet her. Before I left…snack plate.
Also before I left, I checked the schedule to see what group exercise was on the list. Noted an Athletic Conditioning class starting at 4:25. Once I was there, I decided I didn’t really want to go to the class.
But then I found myself at the door at 4:23 with Karen and our tour guide. They asked if I was going. To look cool, I said yes 
And then I went! I don’t know why I have such a mental block [ <— shyness] with group exercise.
The class was a LOT of jumping!! That’s the only way I can describe it : ) Lots of jump rope, hopping in place, etc. My calves are already sore! We basically jumped and ran around the track, up and down the stairs, jump roped, and grapevined for 35 minutes and then ended with some weights. It was actually a pretty fun workout.
One thing I realized: my gosh I need new sports bras 
I decided midway through the class that I actually liked the 4Pm workout time enough to maybe switch to it for a while. Then I left the gym at 5:30. And realized it was dark. And I was hungry. And dinner wasn’t even started!
I would have eaten my arm but THIS was being prepared:
Matt’s best home attempt to clone Great Harvest Flax Oat Bran. I’m so very sorry, he can’t share any details about the method – they are top secret! But I will say that this clone was VERY close to the real deal! Very exciting for me, as it’s my fav!
Dinner tonight was that lentil soup I’ve been craving…
Carrot ribbons, chopped bok choy, matchstick pepper and celery
Asian Lentil Soup
- 2 carrots, peeled into ribbons
- 2 celery stalks, matchstick cut
- .5 green bell pepper, julienned
- 1 bunch bok choy, chopped
- 2t garlic gold oil
- 1C lentils
- 1 carton veggie broth
- 1t garlic gold nuggets in oil (the little jar – my favorite GG product I think!)
- 1T minced ginger
- 1T soy sauce
- 1t Worcestershire
- 1/4t cayenne
- S & P to taste
-Sautee carrots, celery, bell pepper, and chopped stalks of the bok choy in oil until tender.
-Add all other ingredients, bring to boil, reduce to simmer, and cook 20-30 minutes, or until lentils are soft.
Makes 4 servings.
I loved how the lentils still had a bite to them, and this sure tasted healthy!
FOB on the side –
For dessert we watched The Office and 30 Rock. Love my shows!
But now, entertainment is coming from a book!!!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
I wish he could share the bread recipe… it looks incredible.
Christine says
That class does sound fun — but I too, am always shy at group classes — with exceptions for yoga and Pilates, where I never feel self-conscious.
Ohh an Asian lentil soup! Never though of that…and I’ve been looking for something good to make with bok choy!
Kath — Today was my last day at work!!!! Winery tomorrow!
Kath says
Yay! Congrats!
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says
Wow that bread looks awesome – I understand why the recipe is top secret!! That soup also looks delish. I had an awesome soup myself tonight – perfect for the cool weather.
Simply Life says
oh that lentil soup looks delicious – I’ve been looking for vegetarian ideas to use my Worcestershire sauce so this is great! Thanks!
LOLA says
I ALWAYS THOUGHT WOCESTERSHIRE SAUCE HAD ANCHOVIES IN IT? DO YOU HAVE A GOOD HOMEMADE RECIPE?
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Whew that class sounds heart-pumping! Jumping takes a whole lot out of you.
Dinner looks fabulous! Love, love lentil soup!
mindy @ just a one girl revolution. says
I really want to try more group classes at my gym, but the vast majority of them are during the work day so I can never go! Sad!
Melissa @ HerGreenLife says
Ugh, 5:30pm is when I leave the office every night. I might not mind so much if I finished the day with a bike ride instead of a car trip :/ The extra darkness doesn’t help, but my wonderful husband does often have a jump start on dinner, which makes a huge difference 🙂
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
i love lentil soup – and anything with bok choy!
Laura (Starloz) says
that bread, holy yum
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
Oooh, I want that bread!!
I’ve been craving lentil soup lately! Looks delicious!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I LOVE lentil soup! The bread looks amazing! I have been in a gluten free bread making frenzy lately! I am having a blast making it! Have a great night!
Beth says
That class sounds awesome. Group exercise can push you so much harder than you’d push yourself! As for sports bras, moving comfort makes the best ones ever. They’re pricy, but they keep everything in place like no other bra does.
Jil @ Big City, Lil' Kitchen says
That bread looks fabulous!! Jealous of Matt’s skills! That lentil soup looks delish, too. Perfect fall weather foods.
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations says
Oh, how funny!!! I made lentil stew tonight too. It will appear on my blog tomorrow evening. Great minds think alike perhaps. Yours looks great!
Debbie says
There is nothing better then hot lentil soup on a cold day. I love your recipes! Now I’m in the mood to create my own oat bran bread….thanks! The fun begins…..
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
oh my word, please send bread.
stat 🙂
holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
The soup looks great! Now that it is getting colder I am craving hot soup like nothing else. Oh, and freshly baked bread would be nice too 🙂
Caroline says
I know what you mean about group exercise classes…I have this block about them too but once you do it…you love it! I was just looking at the Y classes and trying to see if I could get on a schedule with any of those once December comes…
Alexa @ The Girl In Chucks says
I get kind of terrified by group exercise classes….but you know, once I’m there, I almost always enjoy myself. Just gotta get there!
Great. Now I have “jump around” stuck in my head!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
i’ve got lentils on the brain – insane in the membrane – but that’s another song…
Cara Craves... says
I am freezing cold right now and could really go for that bowl of soup!
Hannah says
Aww, you’ve got your mother-in-law into fancy nut butters and now your gym? You’re awesome!
AM says
Kath, I really think you should give onions another chance. You probably have bad childhood memories about it, but who doesn’t! I thought of this while i was caramelizing onions today for french onion soup.
Also, I finally tried your favourite dressing of olive oil and honey with a bit of kosher salt… WOW it is amazing. I drizzled it atop a salad with spinach and romaine, kalamata olives, tomatoes, cucs, bleu cheese and walnuts. AMAZING.
Kath says
I gave onions another change on my flight home from SF and they ruined my day 🙁
Glad you like the dressing!
Dorry says
I’ve said it before but I still really wish there was still a Great Harvest in Dallas! I’m tempted to figure out a way to re-open one. It’s the best! I like the Asian spin on your lentil soup. I eat a lot of lentils and this is a good way to mix it up.
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
Reading this post makes me glad I bought a can of lentil soup at the grocery store today. It probably won’t be anywhere near as good as homemade, but the stuff is so comforting when it’s chilly out!
thepinkpeppercorn says
Oh my! I adore lentil soup, and especially with a gorgeous boule like that!
Sabina says
I have a Freya sports bra and it keeps everything in place, WITHOUT underwire. Amazing! It’s on the pricey side, but worth every penny. I recommend getting one so with a separate compartment for each breast (keeps everything in place and avoids the whole uniboob).
Carrie @ TV and Dinners says
I went to my local Great Harvest just for the Flax Oat Bran bread and they don’t make it. 🙁 Does each GH franchise choose what types of bread they want to make?
Kath says
Yes, there is lots of freedom. Do they make High Five Fiber? It’s a close second. And maybe it has a different name??
Carrie @ TV and Dinners says
I am eating the High Five Fiber as we speak! Ha. I got that because it seemed the closest to the Flax Oat Bran.
Katie (The Boston Marathoner) says
I love the way lentils look (and taste) – they way they are green, but still the color is each one is slightly different.
I’m also obsessed with 30 rock. Rock out Tina Fey.
Maryea @ Happy Healthy Mama says
Do you know how very lucky you are to have a husband who bakes bread?!! I hope you do. Very, very lucky.
Kristen @ Kristen, Sweetly says
I’m glad I’m not the only one with gym shyness. I decided I should take advantage of whatever classes I could with my membership, instead of going elsewhere. But it took me a month to work myself up for the yoga class, of all things!! I like that one, and I’ve tried it at all its different times. Still haven’t worked up to trying anything new yet. :-p
Ling says
ilove my sports bra- and am kinda a well endowed girl. it’s MOVING COMFORT and it is amazing. it actually hooks in the back so i don’t have to dislocate my shoulders! Lentil soup looks de-lish! btw- i am majorly class phobic- they always seem so serious and structured- i like to get all loosey goosey after a serious day at the office.
kate says
I need to try bok choy! i dont know why it frightens me so.
Camille says
Your hubby has the best job ever. So jealous!
Virginia @ YtotheUmmy says
ha, we have the same cutting board! 😀
and ughh that bread looks GOOOD 🙂
Maddie (Healthy Maddie) says
Yum! That bread looks great. Your group class sounds like fun. I’ve always loved doing group workout classes.
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
You are so lucky to have a bread baking hubbie!!
Krystina says
I’ve never done a group class, but I’m thinking of going to spin sometime this week and I’m nervous! I don’t know what to expect.
Amanda says
You are so lucky to live with a baker! I have been craving Great Harvest bread lately and that looks sooooo good to me!
Amanda (Eating Up) says
I really should go to the GH near me…
maya @ finding balance in tokyo says
I was pretty scared of group classes for a long time. Both because of self-consciousness and also because of concerns I would miss instructions in that context (all my gym classes are conducted in Japanese, naturally), but once I actually started taking them regularly I got over it and now I find that I prefer the class structure to doing it on my own (not counting running).
Due to my limited membership type I can only make it to a few classes per week, but I make sure to never miss Group Kick & Group Power, and sometimes participate in yoga classes, though the morning classes at my gym are generally geared toward an older crowd and too easy for me, so I prefer to take charity classes at a non-gym studio when possible.
JenATX says
do you know how lucky you are to have married a man that bakes?! me = jealous.. all my boyfriend can do is spout off sports statistics (hehe, among other things but nothing like baking)
Nancy K @ NancysPerfect10 says
haha I love that crazy song. I too shy away from group fitness classes at the gym not sure why. I do take Zumba through my local city parks & rec but thats different to me. Call me crazy.
Katie says
I just watched MRS. DOUBTFIRE with that song in it!
Kath says
I was thinking of that movie the whole time I posted this!!! One of my favs
Jill says
I have to agree the Moving Comfort Sports bra is the best ever. I bought mine from a store called Title 9 in Palo Alto, Ca but I guess you could buy it online too.
stacey-healthylife says
I love lentil soup so I/’m excited to try this.
Christin@purplebirdblog says
Bok choy is such a delightful veggie… I love the stuff!
Caitlyn (A Spoonful of Life) says
Oh, how lucky you are to have a professional baker in the house! Fresh bread whenever you want?? What a the luxury! I would get spoiled!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Mmmm…lentil soup and bread. That looks amazing.
Life is good. 😀
Lauren says
I have a 4pm gym time but I’m not loving how dark it is when I get out. Last night, it felt like it was time for bed as I was driving home and it wasn’t even 5:30 yet. My hunger seems to get confused too.
Honey B. says
Ha! Add Modern Family and those are my TV faves too!
Umm.. I think I would still be hungry! But wow that soup looks delicious, I will definitely make it – thanks for the recipe!! x
Kristen says
how much is in the carton of broth? Over here in Austria we don’t have carton broth like back home in the states!
Kath says
4 cups / 32 oz
Stacy says
Kath – So glad I found your blog! I have a Whole Foods within 5 minutes of my work so it’s verrrry difficult not to stop there more than once a week! I love all the choices there. I just bought my chili ingredients from there!
Also, I’d like to add you on foodbuzz if that’s OK. I just got accepted as a Featured Publisher! I need some foodie friends 🙂
FINALLY, I’m headed to C’Ville this weekend! I am a Dave Matthews Band junkie and going to see them play at JPJ Arena for their final shows of 2010 (they’re taking a huge break in 2011). 15 of us fans rented a house on University Circle! I used to live in Lynchburg and spent a good amount of time in C’Ville, and miss it terrible! I love that city.
Kath says
Welcome to Cville!!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I’m really shy with going to group fitness classes too. I only really go to them if I have a friend to go with. 😛
That soup looks delicious!
Rachel says
Beautiful bread! Flax and oat bran are my favorite breakfast cereal combo but I’ve never had the Great Harvest Bread version. Sounds delicious and hearty! I want the recipe!
Eileen says
That soup looks amazing! I love bok choy (a recent discovery) but haven’t yet added it to any soups. Must try right after shopping day!
AllieNic @ Frisky Lemon says
Your bread pictures make my mouth water!
I have the same group exercise shyness! I usually stalk a class for a week or two before I take it…I go to the gym at class time and walk by the window a million times to see what they’re doing…and then maaaaaaybe take the class the next week.
Katie O. says
30 Rock and The Office are TOTS (pronounced totes as in totally 🙂 ) some of my favorite shows! Did you ever watch that show about the guy who owned the pie shop and everything he touched that was dead would come alive? Gosh I wish that was still on!
Clare @ Fitting It All In says
Love that recipe! My old lentil stew made WAY too much. 4 servings will be nice!
lisa says
The soup looks amazing, do you know where you got your soup mugs from, I have been looking for awhile and can’t seem to find one I like or that is big enough.
Kath says
I believe they are Linens and Things….RIP 🙁