We have the best weather here in North Carolina: 4 distinct seasons, with a short steamy summer and short just-barely-too-cold winter. The rest of the time we have beautiful fall + spring days. (And maybe a hurricane 😉 ) Today is the most perfect day I can image. I woke up to 65* and biked to the gym. There are fall-like shadows out there, the sky is bright blue. We’re nearing 73* now. Perfect for shorts, but not too hot. The only place I think has better weather is Southern California (and that’s if you don’t mind missing a wintery Christmas!)
So I decided to attend step class once more before I have to be in nutrition class during the time slot. Today I used a double step height, but my heart rate was only 5-10 beats higher. I was a rockstar with the choreography today! We used a lot of the same moves as last week so I was much more comfortable with the turns and skips and hops. I think the total calories burned in about 50 minutes was about 220. I also did a little ET while I waited for the class time to come, and then biked home.
Once home I made the most delicious bowl of oatmeal. It had all of my favorite characteristics: creamy oats with lots of things to chew suspended inside, sweet from banana, a chewy topping, and PB on the spoon for richness.
I also tried a new secret ingredient: vanilla bean paste! BethT recommended I try this and i picked up a jar at Williams-Sonoma from a gift card leftover from our wedding! (It now only has $5 on it 🙁 ) I love how this paste puts specks of vanilla bean in the oats. The first ingredient is sugar, but I only used a teaspoon. I might use less next time too just to make it last longer. But it was definitely more fun than plain old extract. We have 3 kinds of extract that I rotate: Mexican vanilla, some other foreign kind the husband’s grandmother gave us in a jar, and regular pure vanilla. I love the Mexican if you get a chance to try it! It’s a rounder vanilla-y flavor.
Specks!
The Perfect Combo:
- 1/3 cup dry oats + 1/3 cup 1% milk + 1/3 plus 1/4 cup water (add more for raisins)
- Pinch salt
- 2 tbsp ryeberries
- 2 tbsp raisins
- 1/2 really ripe banana (what made it so spectacular!)
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1/5 or so of pom-walnut granola plank
- Spoonful PB
Plus some reheated leftover coffee that was terrible but I drank anyways –
Have a terrific Tuesday!!
caitlin (see bride run) says
how ironic — i wrote about the same cardio class issues in my last posting! 250 calories for an hour of sweating isn’t worth my time or trouble… although it was a nice change of pace and it was a mental challenge!
your oatmeal looks FREAKING amazing, as usual. i could eat it off the screen.
BethT says
Glad you tried it! Try it in cupcakes too 😀
Tina says
Vanilla bean paste!? Sounds amazing! I’m looking for this next time I am at the mall! 🙂
Allison K. says
Mexican Vanilla is the best, hands down.
C says
I am orginally from NC, I completely agree about the weather except it does get very humid in the summer. I have never been to Southern Cal, but I htink Hawaii’s weather is perfect!
I will have to look into that vanilla bean paste, sounds interesting.
Kelsey says
220 calories for 50 minutes of a cardio class sounds really low to me. You could burn that amount walking for the same amount of time so I find it hard to believe it wouldn’t be higher. What do you think?
Betsy says
i want specks in my oatmeal!
CPik321 says
I have never heard of Mexican Vanilla. Where do you get it from?
Heather says
Oh, never heard of vanilla bean paste! I’ll have to check it out at W&S.
Great job on the step class! I am SO uncoordinated in those classes.
Jenn says
fitnessista, for some reason i can’t post on your blog… but I love it!
i see that you’re maintaining a big weight loss, could you post before and after pictures? thanks!
Ali says
Mexican vanilla is my fave too! When we were in Cabo for our honeymoon in June I stocked up, buying 15 jars! They are great gifts: special and not very expensive if you get them in Mexico!
Betsy in Pittsburgh says
What are ryeberries?
Aimee H. says
I burned 250 calories from my 30 minute beginning step DVD last night (Cathe Friedrich- who rocks my face off btw and I highly recommend her).
I seriously used to burn about 500 calories in my step aerobics class with an instructor (for 60 minutes of intensity).. so I’m pretty curious to know what the deal is.
erica says
Delicious looking oatmeal as always.. now I’m craving a huge, comforting bowl myself!
Justy2003 says
I’m so jealous of your weather. When I woke up at 5 am it was already 82* with a “feels like” temp of 90*! Can’t wait til it cools down and the humidity breaks…I think I’ll enjoy my runs more, that’s for sure!
Anne P says
i love this cooler weather 🙂 nice in DC today, too! although warmer than yesterday which was perfect.
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) says
Never heard of vanilla bean paste before, but it sounds good!
VeggieGirl says
GORRRRGEOUS close-up shot of your oats – yum!!
Gliding Calm says
wow your oatmeal pics are especially gorgeous today Kath!
JENNA says
kath-how do you get your oats so creamy? do you stir the whole time they are cooking? I’ve tried using the same combo of oats and liquid as you and mine are not cream like that?
magpie says
I’ve heard great things about Mexican vanilla extract – not to mention that it’s cheaper if you buy it there!
Serena says
I agree with everyone on the calorie burn questions – 220 for an hour seems really low, even for a fit, 120 lb woman!
Lauren says
do yall trust or go by the calorie burn on the elliptical machines?? Since I have hurt my back, I am only doing that and even tho it gets boring an old after over a week now, I still figure it’s better than nothing!
I do a regular precor machine I think it is at the gym and the resistence I keep usualling around 10 and it says in 30 min I burn about 400 calories or go almost 4 miles? Is that right or average?
Sami says
Kath, the specks are cute. =] I still can not wait for my planks and bars from Honest foods. I went to another store where I found the Apple Ginger bars and was sooo tempted to buy them! But then I reminded myself I was getting some for free soon. =]
My school starts tomarrow. [Boo!] It’ll be harder for me to keep up reading the blog but I’ll sure try. It’s become part of my daily routine now, haha.
Serena says
Oh, and thanks so much, Kath, for the advice on last night’s dinner post about cutting back on calories. I think you’re probably right that I may be interpreting thirst as hunger – I am definitely going to try drinking more fluids, and also maybe eating a little more protein to fill me up and help my muscles since I’m working out more/harder. 🙂
Bev says
Kudos on that oatmeal 🙂 Mexican vanilla sounds awesome !
Trina says
I live right by Mexico people! Maybe I’ll have to start picking up bottles of the real stuff and starting a little vanilla selling business 😉
I may be wrong about this, but I was under the impression that in America, we can only get VANILLA EXTRACT, where as in Mexico the Vanilla is actual Vanilla-not extract, and that’s the difference…does anyone know about this??
Hil says
Jenn–check the “Kath” tab on the main page for before and after shots.
Lauren–I think the faq section addresses that issue.
jayne says
I’ve been on the lookout for mexican vanilla for a while now.
also, i’m looking for a sports nutritionist in the boston area… anyone have any suggestions? i’m a marathoner trying to get my time down (and my energy up!) thanks!!
tfh says
Ooh, vanilla…although it looks terrific in oats, I might just have to put it to the use BethT suggests above. Yum!
Jaclyn says
Lauren – Just to let you know what my personal experience has been, I recently bought a HRM and noticed a huge difference from the calorie count displayed on the elliptical. I do an hour on the Precor AMT and it’s almost a 200 calorie difference. I’ve heard that it’s not a drastic for other people, but that’s my experience.
HangryPants says
Kath, I just love your happy spirit today! Contagious.
I also love that vanilla paste. The specks are like in the real vanilla Breyers ice cream that I love so much! Sorry your gift card is about to run out – I hate when that happens.
Happy Tuesday to you as well. 🙂
Heather
Kat's Veggie Life says
Wow I have to try that Vanilla Bean Paste! I hope I can get some because it sounds delicious. I used to get vanilla bean fraps at starbucks occassionally and the part I loved most was the specs!
I also love your joyful spirit today! I am dreading the next season in Vancouver – RAIN, RAIN, oh and MORE RAIN! However I still walk and hike in it and try REALLY hard not to let it get depressing. It is already back to being dark in the mornings – I love summer when it is light out at 5am! It makes getting up at 5:30am much easier!
Kelly l. says
kath- did you notice a big difference in the vanilla flavor in your oats using the paste?
DaisyMay says
Do you think people are less apt to losing weight if they are in a committed loving relationship? I was reading an article about it and was just wondering other peoples opinions. I mean if you are in a great relationship and have good self esteem. just a thought for discussion
caitlin (see bride run) says
i second jaclyn’s opinion on the HRM vs ellitical machine reading.
when i run and my average HRM is 180 bpm, i burn 500 calories in an hour. in an aerobics class, i’m amazed if my HR goes past 135 — hence, the 250 calories an hour.
caitlin (see bride run) says
daisy may – i think my future husband and i have used our relationship as an opportunity to become healthier… we go to the gym to spend time together and like to cook together. i can see it going either way.
Mariposa says
When are you going to Boston? How long will you be staying??
(I live outside Boston, thats why I’m asking..)
laurabars says
I think you guys are being a little over the top about how many cals you burn. As long as you exercise for 30 min-an hour and get your heart rate moving, you should be great. If you are trying to figure out how many cals you burn and how many you eat etc. that just seems like you are way too obsessive about it.
Quinn says
Kath: This vanilla bean paste intrigues me. I’ve never been big on WS, but after seeing this and Chandra’s ravioli press, I might be a believer.
DaisyMay: I think it totally varies at different stages in the relationship. When my fiance and I really became committed to one another, it was more we were comfortable with one another, and in turn gained weight. I deem this our “Happy Relationship Fat Period.” But now, we push one another to be the best we can be, in our jobs, with our relationship, with our bodies, in every facet of our lives. And when you want someone to be their best, and they want the same for you, I think fitness and good health fall right into place.
Hil says
DaisyMay: For me, it was the reverse of the sterotype: I met my husband when I was at my heaviest and I stayed there for the whole time we were dating (not counting a brief “I’m in love” loss of about five pounds). I didn’t start losing major weight until after we got married. For me, getting married really made me think about the direction my life was going in the long run. It gave me the freedom to stop demanding instant results from myself and to just take small steps that really added up over the long run.
caitlin (see bride run) says
for people for are interested in losing weight, counting calories eaten and burned is important. if you are only burning 250 calories in a work out session and work out EVERY DAY, it will take you 14 days to lose one pound. so… yes… it matters.
lucy says
i found the vanilla paste on amazon as well, in case anyone isn’t close to a ws
http://www.amazon.com/Nielsen-Massey-Vanilla-Bean-Paste/dp/B0000W0GP2
Kath says
caitlin ,
I agree completely re. worth my time.
Kelsey + Aimee H. ,
Well, my heart rate was about the same as when I’m power walking or walking up hills. I guess it’s just not that challenging to step up and down? My legs were really tired at the end, so maybe it was more like a weight lifting workout.
Betsy in Pittsburgh,
Whole rye grains. Just like wheatberries but from the rye plant.
JENNA ,
Milk + banana = amazing. Check out the “Kath’s Tribute to Oatmeal” page for more info.
Kelly l.,
Not a huge difference from extract, but it was more fun. Maybe a tad more flavor, but I dont’ know if it’s worth going out and buying. I’ll have to experiment some more with it.
DaisyMay ,
I think it depends on your motivation. Even at my heaviest, the husband never said anything about my body to make me want to lose weight for him so for me it all came from my own motivation. Those who might only be motivated as a way to get men, well, they might be the ones to relax their healthy habits upon a long term relationship. I like what Quinn said too.
Mariposa ,
The 21st-24rd (although I’m leaving REALLY early on the 24rd). We’ve got a dinner for 23 planned for Friday night if you’d like to join in we have 2 spots left!
Kath