Category Archives: Breakfast

Heat and an Upcoming Races

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Good morning all!  I hope that wherever you’re reading this, you’re away from the heat/humidity demon that has been squating over the midwest for the past week.  I swear to goodness it’s been the energy zapping culprit that I’ve been complaining about since Tuesday.  Remember on Wednesday when I was complaining about feeling like a a wet rag and could only run 2.5 miles?  Yea, that really hasn’t gone away.  Like at all.

I should be doing more of this =)

And because I’ve been running on empty this week, I haven’t been doing much other than catching up on my reading and Harry Potter films.  I was able to make a bargain with myself to complete my 4 mile run yesterday.

“Amanda, if you keep on running until you hit 4 miles, you can have ice cream after!!!!”

DONE!

4 miles in 34:55 – 8:43 avg pace.  And then afterwards I wanted to nap for 3 hours.

I know that you’re supposed to listen to your body and not over do it, but I’m also watching my calendar and it reminds me that Sunday is our next 5k; the Ele’s Place Race.

I am really looking forward to getting back out there and seeing if all this training will pay off in a faster finishing time.  But if I don’t get a PR, you already know I’ll be blaming the heat.  You heard it here first, folks.  Keep me accountable.

Despite complaining about rising temperatures, I felt like I wanted something a little more substantial for breakfast.  When in doubt – OATMEAL!!!!  I’m so glad that I remembered how to make it!

Start with 1/3 C. ooooold fashioned oatmeal + 1/3 C. skim milk.

Heat in a pan over medium/high heat.

Stir in 1 C. frozen blueberries

Stir, stir, stir!  It’s done when the oats look poridgy or about 4 minutes.

Freshly frozen blueberries - a delicious oxymoron.

Add some almond butter and enjoy!

This was just the fuel to get me through my 3 miles @ 8:40 pace!!!!! And my abs/upper body circuits with Ms. Jackie “Ripped Abs” Warner.

Return Home and Intentions

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Hey Blog Readers!

I am so glad to be back in my groove and back to bringing you the highlights of my gloriously fabulous life.  I truly hope that you’ve missed me as much as I’ve missed you.  I promise that my leave of absence wasn’t due to just finger fatigue, but there is a plethora (yes, plethora) of excitement going on that’s kept me away from a desk and my laptop.

Past Five Days Wrap Up

  • Flew to New York to see my beautiful, creative, sparkling and preggers sister, Jennifer.
  • Toddled around Manhattan
  • Drove up to and explored Cooperstown, NY – home of the Baseball Hall of Fame
  • Chilled with my other sister, MiracleGrow (Jamie) and her adorable family.
  • Ran in the 5k 15k Boilermaker Road Race
  • SLEEEEEEEEP!
Fear not, I’ll be devoting more detailed blogs to each of these events.  Just how I feel, “Oh Joy!”
So what did I to today to get back into my groove?  I decided be the change I wish to see in my waist-to-hip ratio.  Let’s just say that running in the Boilermaker inspired me to revamp my training and eating goals.
Declaration of  10 Intentions
  1. By the summer of 2012, I will be fully trained and prepared to run a half marathon.  All in one day.  In less than a day.
  2. Begin and complete the first year of my graduate program (hopefully at the University of Cincinnati)
  3. Planning out my training schedule for the week ahead.  Make an appointment with the Dungeon in Alaska and have a backup plan for when the damn snow drifts render our Ford Focus marooned.
  4. FOOD DIARY!  ”Dear Food Diary, I have a major crush on Bobby, but he’s totally into Sarah.  Bitch.”
  5. Lose 10 pounds.
  6. Maintain 10lb. weight loss.
  7. Don’t become obnoxious and “know-it-all-y” when I lose my 10lbs.
  8. BE GRATEFUL
  9. “Choose” my life instead of “Should-ing” all over it.
  10. Read two books a month – I’ve already got a list of 4 books I want to tackle.  They all have a vampire as the main character.  ”Hello.  My name is FancyOatmeal and I’m a Twilight Loser.”
Fueling my new-found fire
Hello, Lover!  I have truly missed my smoothie breakfast option.  Trust me, I ate good in the neighborhood while in New York, but there’s something so wonderful about knowing what you’re putting in your body and that it’s totally healthy for you.

Smoothie and Caffeine; a Breakfast marriage made in heaven....then my tummy.

Today’s recipe:
  • 1/2 C. greek, fat free, plain yogurt
  • 1/2 C. Almond Breeze, vanilla, unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 C. frozen blueberries
  • 3 frozen strawberries

1 scoop Nature’s Plus Black Cherry SPIRU-TEIN protein mix 

I just need to say how much I love the SPIRU-TEIN protein mix.  I’ve been using it for years, off and on.  It’s truly one of the best tasting protein powders.  I’m not being paid to say this.  I’d like to be paid to say this.  HOOK A SISTA UP!

(Photo Source)

After breakfast and chit-chat with my mom, I got my act together and put it on the treadmill for 3 miles in 27:47; 9:15 avg pace.  Afterwards, I did the Jackie Warner circuit DVD for Abs and Upper Body.  It felt good.

Lunch

Dear Hubby and I had planned on seeing “Horrible Bosses” this afternoon at 1:20 which meant that I had very little time to throw together my lunch.  I had my traditional and go-to meal, turkey sandwich on a Sandwich Thin:

And knowing that this wouldn’t hold me over after a fast-paced run (for me) and weights, I threw together an updated version of the Cucumber Salad, or as I like to call it, “Anti-Onion Breath Cucumber Salad.”

Ingredients:

  • 1 cucumber peeled and sliced/diced into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/4 C. greek, no fat, plain yogurt
  • salt, pepper, and Old Bay seasoning to taste
Directions:
  1. Stir together
  2. Enjoy
  3. Relax knowing you won’t kill anyone with onion-breath when you’re done.
Movie & Shopping
Dear Hubby and I made it to the movie theater just in time to catch at least four previews before “Horrible Bosses” began.  Overall, I would give the film a C+/B-.  There was so much potential there.  I thought that the the film was perfectly casted, but didn’t quite live up to my expectations.  I’m also a huge Jason Bateman and Jamie Foxx fan.  I wouldn’t want them to combine into one super sexy witty man because I already have that in my husband.  Brownie Points!!!  
Afterwards, we hit up Sam’s Club to do our first trip to stock up on supplies for the upcoming school year on St. Paul Island in Alaska.  I thought maybe that I would have felt a little bitter-sweet about it, but it just felt good, exciting really.  I suppose that speaks volumes to the people and lives we left on that tiny island in the Bering Sea.  Or it could just be that I totally love, love, love shopping in bulk.
We picked up the following staples that are easier to buy and ship than purchase via our bypass system:
  • Ziplock baggies in sandwich and gallon sizes
  • Aluminum foil sheets
  • A new Swiffer sweeper
  • Swiffer sweeper cleaning cloth refills
  • Vitamins
  • Airborne – yes, it does work.
  • Clorox cleaning wipes
  • Orbits gum
  • Cliff Kids Z Bars
I’ve also put in orders on Amazon.com for B.A.R.E. Fruit packs, Sensible Portions Veggie Snacks, and SPIRU-TEIN powder.  So we’re getting all set.
But probably the coolest thing that I saw all day was the 3D TV at Sam’s Club.  Specifically it was this:
55″ LG 3D LED 1080p 120Hz HDTV.  For only $1900-ish, it seems pretty cool.  Until you realize that you have to look like this to watch your television,
And yes, you WILL look this perplexed.
I can’t believe that they would be showing the “Thunder from Down Under; Boys Shakin’ it BAD” DVD in the middle of a family store!

Patriotic Breakfast

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Happy 4th of July, everyone!!

What is the best way to honor your country?  EAT PANCAKES!

I figured since I did so well preparing the Swanky Dietician’s chickpea & spice sauce, I would go ahead and try another recipe that I read on a blog.  This time I decided to recreate Julie’s Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes from Peanut Butter Fingers.  Of course I was drawn to the oatmeal in the name of the pancakes, and I figured if mine turned out to be half as delicious, and cute as Julie, Dear Hubby and I were in for a bangin’ breakfast.

Here is Julie’s recipe, and I followed it with a few alterations:

  • 1 c. old fashioned oats
  • 1/3 c. whole wheat flour
  • 2 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp. chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp. flax seeds – I ground mine into flax seed powder
  • 1/2 tbsp. baking soda – I omitted this, only because this version is her updated recipe, and I followed the original
  • 2 tbsp. melted butter
  • 1 c. milk – Almond Breeze, vanilla

Love that my mom's pantry already had all these ingredients. I want to transplant this kitchen into my house, ALWAYS

Mix everything together  before cooking the pancakes on a hot griddle (sprayed with cooking spray) until they are brown.

*I mentioned above that I used ground flax seeds in the recipe.  Here are the flax seeds, and using an ordinary coffee grinder takes care of creating the perfect consistency.

Please excuse my horrid manicure. Chippy McChipperson

Dry goods

Oatmeal Pancakes!!!!

Because we didn’t have syrup in the house, a rookie mistake before promising pancakes for breakfast, I decided to go patriotic and create a red, strawberry & blueberry puree with 1 Tbsn. of honey for sweetness.

Confession:  This plate took 7 pancake flipping attempts to make two that made me feel confident enough to post online.

Truth: These pancakes were delicious!

Thanks, Julie for this wonderful recipe and breakfast inspiration.