The alarm went off at 4:45a.
The Star Spangled Banner concluded at 5:01a.
And I was off to the gym!
With a little Vega Sport to give me energy. I didn’t have the time or appetite for any real food, but this quenched my thirst and kept my stomach from growling throughout my whole workout. It was the berry flavor one, which I liked a whole lot more than the tea-ish lemon/lime flavor.
I warmed up my mind and body with 15 minutes on the Stairmaster and then headed to the locker room to SWIM!!
30 minutes of mindless swimming. I love + hate that I can’t listen to music, read a magazine, talk to a friend. I just have to swim with my thoughts. And I thought about fun things like my upcoming beach trip!
I shared a lane with Sue, who recognized me in the locker room from Chuck’s cycle class and has read the blog! Hi Sue! Good luck with your half marathon!
I showered at the gym and threw on some summer clothes and came home to make-up and put on my work stuff. It was a great system.
Since I have little time for breakfast on days when I workout in the AM, I had a smoothie planned!
The Vita-mix
- 1/2 giant banana
- 1 cup milk
- 1 scant scoop Vega Vanilla Almond Shake + Go Smoothie (I can’t decide if I like this or the Vega Vanilla Chai better – they are both amazing!!)
- 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries
- 2 huge handfuls of packed spinach (I had forgotten how amazing baby spinach is in a smoothie!! So sweet!)
- Nature’s Path granola
- Coconut Biscoff magic shell!
Match made in heaven: coconut butter spiked with a little Biscoff spread magic shell!!
Note how the magic shell clumps the granola together!
And the dish ran away with the spoon!
I lurve iced tea spoons. They are the best to eat with for leverage, the small head and their length (ideal for OIAJ!) I’ve been on the hunt for some pretty, antique spoons for OpenSky. Who wouldda thought the ones use everyday are worth $50 a PIECE!! (Thanks grandma!)
I found these gorgeous opalescent stainless steel 8″ iced tea spoons by Rosanna and put them into my shop right away!
They come in a set of 4 and are dishwasher safe
[That’s the new embedded shopping cart from Open Sky! Hope it works….]
Clean the Vita-Mix = BUBBLEZZZZ!
I’m hoping to grab some coffee when I get to work!!
Marina says
wow, that was an early wake up!
Love your smoothie, and specially that spoon. I seriously need some fancy dishes and spoons in my life right now 😀
Lana says
Good morning! 🙂 Happy early-workout – I agree, it feels so nice to have the afternoon “off.”
Have you ever heard of the International Association of Women’s Running (IAWR)? You can receive weekly email articles about runner’s nutrition, ideas, motivation, etc. Not sure if you want more material to read (he he), but I can forward you the email from this week if you want to consider signing up. Leave your email (spelt out to avoid spammers!) and I’d be happy to.
Either way, happy Wednesday. :)))
Kath says
I haven’t! Sounds cool, but I get enough emails already.
A Teenage Gourmet (Sami) says
I especially like this post. The magic shell granola clump picture describes what the coconut butter does perfectly. And I just bought some new baby spoons recently that I’ve been using. I agree. . . they’re the best. 😀
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Your AM workout sounds fabulous! I used to always warm up with the stairmaster too. It was a great way to wake myself up. 😀
Love the spoons! 😀
Dorry says
Your early AM workouts inspire me – I have a hard time setting my alarm in the 4’s but there’s a 5:30AM yoga class I’ve been meaning to try…
That smoothie is perfection and the spoons are gorgeous. Hope you got your coffee!
maxinthegym says
I love morning workouts too 🙂 Especially yoga first thing. It really wakes me up 🙂 Glad to see you’re back into working out in the morning!
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
Wow, 4:45?! I’m going to try to get in the hang of getting up that early to workout before work at 6:30….might need to ask you for some tips, I think I remember you posting some awhile back! The Biscoff coconut granola shell looks like a delcious piece of toffee. Yum!
Fructa says
Hope not to interfere with the love, but… you can totally listen to an ipod while swimming. It’s pretty awesome. http://www.h2oaudio.com/store/
Kath says
Yeah, I know that exists but I don’t want to buy one and never use it!
Ashley@thehungryscholar says
Those spoons are gorgeous!
I envy your ability to wake up that early in work out!
Stacie @ Imperfectly Healthy says
I haven’t really swam since I was young – I miss the solitude of it!
Those spoons are so pretty! I’ll have to check them out!
Robyn @ Frugal 'n' Fit! says
I love how the magical shell clumps the granola. When I read that, I was salivating. It’s like a little bit of dessert for breakfast!
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says
Sometimes the best thing about cardio is not watching tv, reading a magazine, or listening to music. It’s thinking.
Cardio is a great way to clear your mind. almost as good as yoga.
Brittany says
Hooray for early morning workouts. I just got back from mine as well!!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Those spoons are great! I always eat with small spoons (when I was younger, I ate with a 1/4 tsp! haha) Today, theres a few baby spoons in the drawer. Those are much prettier, though!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
You know it is going to be a good day when you get up and get a great workout in! Your smoothie looks tasty! Have a great day!
Lauren (Clean Eats in the Dirty South) says
sounds like an awesome start to your day. i love starting warm summer days with a smoothie… so refreshing, especially in this southern heat!!
Simply Life says
Great breakfast mix!
Hannah says
Two things: that smoothie is fantastically vibrantly green green green, and dear heavens, you should try and market that biscoff magic shell in your store! I reckon it’d go gangbusters 😀
Veggielady4life says
That’s awesome that you’ve finished your workout, had a gorgeous/delicious breakfast, and are ready to go!! You are such an inspiration. Love those spoons… just a little pricey for me now. Hope you have a wonderful day!
Helen says
Iced tea spoons are so elegant, perfect for eating smoothies. I really admire the fact that you get up so early to workout. I don’t even think my gym is open that early!
sue says
good morning! love how you eat smoothies in a bowl!
Lori says
Love the spoons. I love working out in the morning. It just gets my day going better. I usually get up at 4:30 or 5:00. The quiet is what I like about swimming. It’s just me and my thoughts. Most days I find it helpful to think out problems or things going on in my life. Have a great day.
Stacy (StacyGrowsHealthy) says
So do you break up the coconut/pb concoction or just eat it like candy?
Kath says
I eat it in chucks in there
Kristin (Salty Tooth) says
Love the spoons, they are so pretty!
Michelle says
Hi Kath! how do you get your coconut butter so drippy? (for lack of a better word.) I ordered some from your shop but it seems to be a solid mass in the jar that I have to chop at. (With some mushy gel like stuff on top.) Any ideas of how to make it so I can drizzle it? Thanks!
Kath says
Mine is drippy because my house is hot. In the winter I used to just microwave it for 20 seconds or so to soften it. Or you can chip it into a bowl and just microwave that part. I never had a problem with microwaving it over and over because it didn’t get hot – just slightly less cold.
Michelle says
Thank you!
Marilou @ Mostly Healthy says
I wish I was able to get up that early to work out, but eee no 🙂 I guess Matt helps?
Kath says
Matt is long gone at work!
Courtney @ Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life says
Morning workouts are definitely my favorite! Although, today I had a little extra time to sleep in, since Wednesdays are my PM classes at the gym 🙂
Barbara(Blood, Sweat and Heels) says
YUM! Oh how I adore coconut oil and butter!
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
4.45!!? Oh Kath, how do you do it!!??
Amanda says
I’ve noticed in some of your post that you use a frozen banana to add to your oatmeal but how do you get it to soften up to mash in oatmeal? I have a banana in the freezer and want to use it up but I dont know if I need to put it in the refridgerator the night before I want to use it like I would other frozen fruit??
Kath says
It should heat up with the hot oats. Or you could microwave it.
Lindsay @ Summit Sandwiches says
I am so impressed that you get up at 4:45 in the morning to workout. I have such a hard time working out in the mornings…today, I literally dragged myself out of bed for a run at 6:30. I can’t imagine doing the same at 4:45. I’m hoping that in time, I’ll get more used to morning workouts and be able to crank ’em out like you do!
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
yummmmmmmmmmy SIAB 🙂 i’m also super impressed you can get up so early in the AM to workout…i try so hard, but always end up going back to bed. oops 🙂
Gita says
Wow!! I am so impressed – you woke up at 4:45 for the workout. I wish I could do that. May I ask what time you go to bed? Your smoothie looks absolutely delicious.
Kath says
Around 9. I count backwards for 8 hours of sleep.
Jenny says
To get up so early and faithfully go work out afterwards… You’re quite seriously an inspiration to all of us! I saw another commenter saying that maybe Matt helps — I’d think that knowing you can always throw together an absolutely delicious breakfast would help at well, no? 😉
And gosh… What adorable spoons!! I want one! (Probably can’t ship them to the Philippines though…)
Kath says
Matt’s gone at work! I’m all by myself 🙂
Callie says
I’m also starting to workout in the AM. It makes me feel energetic and happy the rest of the day. 🙂
Cute spoons. I’ve been wanting to replace some of our old ones…
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
Well now your workouts done, you can check that off your list and relax a little more after work.
Marissa says
This morning I actually spent some time searching my kitchen in vain for a long spoon to eat my overnight OIAJ! I always end up getting my knuckles covered in peanut butter from the rim while trying to scrape out the last bites from the bottom of the jar, hahah.
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
i was just talking to another blogger about a hotel pool (maybe at the peninsula?!) that pumps music while you swim. wouldn’t that be nice?!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says
Those are beautiful spoons! I love new dish ware 🙂
Gavi @ GaviGetsGoing! says
Smoothies in the morning after working out are my favorites, too! And I love topping them with some cereal (I use a gluten-free, high protein variety) for a little added bulk and crunch. So far, my favorite combination is strawberries, spinach, a dash of Amazing Meal chocolate protein powder, a tiny bit of PB2, and a peach or nectarine. Summery, refreshing, delicious! Enjoy your day!
Lauren says
The first picture I saw of that spoon, I knew I had to have it! Can’t wait to buy!!!
Brittany @ A Healthy Slice of Life says
I admire you and your morning work out! What time do you get to bed to have the energy to get up and swim at 5am?
Kellie says
Sometimes workout in the quiet are the best. They clear my mind the most and leave me feeling refreshed.
Camille says
I hear you, swimming can be either boring or relaxing, depending on your mood.
Sydney says
Iced tea spoons… what a great idea! I could definitely use one of those. I always have the problem of struggling to stir the chocolate into my almond milk because only the very edge of the spoon sticks out of the glass. Haha duh… get yourself an iced tea spoon, Syd!
Julz says
That magic shell sauce looks amazing! I bet it tastes amazing too 😉
Paige (Running Around Normal) says
That IS a great system. I haven’t thought about showering at the gym, then going home to do makeup, hair, etc.
Kath says
Re. 4:45AM: Read my tips on the Q+A page on getting up early. You have to adjust your body clock to get in bed on time.
Wei-Wei says
O_O 4.45am. I would never be able to make myself sleep early and wake up early… I guess I’m just a night owl? Haha it’s nice to be up early all alone sometimes, though. 🙂
I’m not sure how I feel about quiet vs musicked workouts. I don’t think it’s safe to listen to music while running, especially on the road here in China, and sometimes it’s interesting to listen to conversations on the street, too… but if you’re by yourself on a run in, say, the countryside, background music would be nice. 😀
Have a wonderful day today, Kath! 🙂
Wei-Wei
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
You’re such an early bird 😀
Love the spoons!
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) says
Oh those spoons are so pretty! Love the color!
Becka @Musings says
4am? Oh man. I thought I was doing good running at 7:30. I go to sleep at 4 most the time! HAHA. I really want the vitamix for Christmas. Hoping Nate get’s my hints. 😉
Dee says
ohmahgah. I need those spoons.
Carolyn @ lovinlosing says
I don’t mind not having music when I’m swimming because I’m concentrating so hard on my form. 🙂