I made it to bed around 10 last night and set my alarm for 5:26. I was a little slow getting up, but the heat was on so that made it easy 🙂
I had a great sweaty gym workout this morning – 40 minutes on the Stairmaster (WHEW!) plus about 10 of lifting: biceps, shoulder press, deltoids, triceps, chest, squats. I also did pull-ups, which I usually do palms facing in (I’ve been told this isn’t a “true” pull-up). But for some reason today I just started doing them palms facing out and easily did 10. I realized mid-way through why it felt funny – I was doing them correctly! I’ve improved in strength too – cool 😎
I decided to pack my lunch today because it’s raining and we have lots of bread instead of going to EarthFare, so that slowed my down in the kitchen as well. But I ended up making the perfect bowl of Cinnamon Raisin Banana Oats –
- 1/2 cup oats (still out of wheatberries!)
- 1/2 cup soy milk, 1/2 cup plus a splash water (I add a splash when I have raisins b/c they absorb some)
- Pinch salt
- Small ripe banana
- 1 dried apricot, chopped
- Vanilla
- Flax topping
- A small amount of granola plank
- Spoonful BB
I have a test this morning, then I’m working on projects all day.
See ya later gators!
seelee live (for the love of peanut butter) says
These oats look soooo yummy, definitley adding them to the oats list!
Have a great day-looks like you slept excellent :o)
Jen (Running with Food) says
Good luck on your test! Question for you … did you add the dried apricot while cooking or add it in at the end? Have a good day! 🙂
Madison says
7.5 hours of sleep – that sounds perfect 😀
Charlie Hills says
Another question for you: do you think you’ll ever just wake up one morning and think, “Ugh, if I have to eat one more bowl of oatmeal I’ll scream?” And then fry yourself up some bacon?
Kath says
Jen,
Always add dried fruit at the beginning so it’ll plump up.
Madison,
I prefer 8-8.5!
Charlie Hills,
That’s like saying would you ever get sick of cake or icecream or wine – never!!
Kath
Alex says
I think the palms facing in is actually a chin-up rather than a pull-up – so it’s still a legitimate exercise, just different!
Lisa says
I love dried apricots – even though my mother tells me they remind her of ears.
Megan says
Hope your test and projects go well! I love cinnamon raisin oatmeal!
Tina says
You can do 10 pull-ups?! Holy moly!
Scott (one food guy) says
Palms in = Chin-up
Palms out = Pull-up
Nice job!
Shelly says
Does anyone ever have problems sleeping through the night? I am always exhausted when I go to bed, but I end up waking up 3-4 times and have trouble getting back to sleep– which makes me even more tired in the morning!! Any suggestions?
Oh She Glows says
I didn’t get much sleep either last night! Hmph!
Great workout today- a sweat session in the AM always makes me feel better. I was so tired when I got up but half way into my workout I felt awake and more energetic.
Good luck on the test!
coco says
good luck on the test and the project!
Great morning workout and breakfast!
ashley (sweet & natural) says
Good luck with your test!
On a sad note, I was in a rush at the grocery store last night and accidentally picked up a ginormous tub of 1-MINUTE oats instead of a ginormous tub of old fashioned. Nooooo!
Amy says
Aw good luck with your test! At least you got a fab workout in before your day really starts. And i love that spoon. It is gorgeous 😀
Betsy says
i have no upper body strength…i need to work on my pull ups asap. does anyone remember flexed arm hang in grade school??? oooo, i was so bad at that.
Jen says
Good luck on the test!!!
zestycook says
Kath,
Good luck on your test. Glad to see you had a great workout….. Oatmeal looks terrific
zesty
Casey says
Hey again Kath! I just wanted to tell you that I never ever could finish a bowl of oatmeal because of the flavor and texture. But now after reading all your different varieties I am this morning scraping the sides of my 2nd bowl (made some for dinner last night) of PB oatmeal! Last night I made it with banana and this morning with apple. LOVED the apple! Thanks for the ideas! 🙂 And again- you are a true inspiration to eat healthy!
Have a great day!!
Casey
Moran says
Good luck today, Kath!
Erin says
I didn’t sleep well last night either. I think it was a full moon (or almost one) and all the woodland creatures were up late (owls, etc..) Whenever it’s a full moon the glare always keeps me tossing and turning too. Maybe that’s the reason?
Tracy says
Kath, I’m confused…did you add raisins to your Cinnamon Raisin Banana Oats or apricot?
Heather says
Yummy oat combo you have there… and the spoon is so cute 🙂
Good luck on the test/projects!
amanda says
Hi Kath,
I’m a new reader!
I never realized I was doing pull-ups incorrectly! I’m going to have to try this the right way. Congrats on getting it right!
bobbi says
I forgot about raisens:) I love the oats!
Mel says
Your oats look really tasty!
Good luck on your test!
Bear says
I was just wondering, how many calories do you burn when you do about 40 minutes on the ET? I figure that my heartrate is about 140 when I’m on the ET and I was just trying to get a general idea of what I’m burning. I don’t have a heart rate monitor, do you recommend getting one?
VeggieGirl says
Hooray for having the heat on!! It’s saving me, haha 😀
Mmm, Cinnamon Raisin Banana Oats!! Faaaabulous.
ModelBehavior says
Charlie Hill that was hilarious, I seriously burst out laughing when I read that, thanks for a morning laugh 🙂
www.modbehav.com
Biz says
Nice work out!
Jennifer says
Kath, do you grab something to eat before you exercise in the morning? I
Megan says
Ok, that’s it…I am inspired to do pull-ups. I lift weights on a regular basis but I never do pull-ups. I don’t think I could do more than one! I need some Barney Butter too. That spoonful looks so good with all those crunchy almonds in there.
Julia (Santa Barbara Dreaming) says
My one goal in life is to do a pull up.
Any tips?
Halie says
Sounds like a really good workout!
Last time I tried pull ups I could only do 1! But I was proud of myself because I couldn’t do ANY in high school.
After a while crocodile!
GB says
you called this cinnamon raisin oats… but I don’t see any raisins in your mix-ins?
Teddy says
Nice to see the bananas back 🙂
runjess says
I know you used to count your calories on a heartrate monitor. Have you compared them to the ones on the stat display on the cardio machines? I know those are usually pretty off, but do you have a general idea of how inaccurate they actually are?
jess says
Maybe it’s just me, but I wouldn’t call 40 minutes on the stair master slothy at all! Hope your day hurries up 😉
Shelby says
I haven’t had oatmeal in forever, maybe I’ll make some for dinner! Your picture is making me consider it
Fancy says
I just bought a new peanut butter that you would love and would be amazing in this oatmeal combo! It’s cinnamon raisin swirl and the company is Peanut Butter & Co. I bought it at Whole Foods (you, Jenna, and I looked at it together and I went back the next day and ended up buying it). You could also order it online. I’ve been eating a little of it on a banana for “dessert” the past 2 nights! YUM!
Fitness Surfer says
I’m a little ignorant…what’s BB. Or, I’m just new to your site. It looks delicious. I especially love the candle. Set the mood, sit down have a meal. Sometime when I eat on the run and don’t sit down I still feel hungry, and often forget that I have already eaten. When I make it “official” I remember, enjoy the flavors more, and eat less. It’s “official” I’m going to go eat lunch now =-). Good luck on your test.
Amanda says
To give a non-Kath answer to the heart rate question, I got a Polar F4 monitor about a month ago and I love it!!! I tend to do about 45 mins on the elliptical which burns about 450 cals (I get my heart rate up to about 160), but the machine tells me I am burning in the 600-700 range. For those of you relying on the machine’s numbers, I would say that you can assume you burn about 75% of what the machine says you do. Just my opinion 🙂
Fitness Surfer says
OK, I scrolled down and learned all about BB. Love the T-Shirt too. Will definitely check it out.
BethT says
Here is a really cool article on how to progress to doing pull ups:
http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/displayarticle.php?aid=51
KatieTX says
Kath-I got my smoothie king free cards in the mail today and I am so excited! Thanks so much! I love all the contests!
Kath says
Whoa, I didn’t do 10 real pull-ups – they were on the assisted machine!! I do them with 70 lbs resistance, which is a big improvement from where I started and still hard, but not 100% authentic 🙂 I can only do about 3-4 real ones.
Casey ,
Awesome!!!
Re. Raisins,
SORRY!!! There were a tbsp or so of raisins in there too!!!
amanda ,
Welcome!!
Bear ,
I personally burn about 325ish calories going for 40 minutes at resistance 13-14. My HR is usually right around 150.
Jennifer ,
Not anymore before my 5am workouts (although I will if I’m extra hungry). This summer when I was in summer school I literally didn’t have time to eat and realized I just need a few gulps of water and I’m good to go. And we learned in Sports Nutrition (around the same time) that workouts less than 60 minutes generally don’t need anything pre-workout. (Although it’s totally individual and depends on how your glycogen stores were when you went to bed and what you had for dinner, etc.)
Julia (Santa Barbara Dreaming),
Start on the assissted machine and work your way up! I used to be able to just do 1, now I can do 3-4 – maybe more these days. Although, correction, I can do 3-4 chin-ups – probably only 1-2 real pull-ups.
runjess ,
I answer this on the FAQ page in Exercise Questions.
jess ,
Good point!
Fancy ,
I’ve been wanting to try that kind but never have!
Fitness Surfer,
Welcome!
Kath
Cat says
Amanda – thanks for the info on calories burned on the ET! I’ve always been curious about that… 5:26 am? That is not slothy my friend, that is super woman!