It Looks A Lot Like “Rain”-deer!

It rained all. day. long. Crazy! The Valley of the Sun is currently taking a holiday hiatus. I hope it returns soon – I mean, I will be seeing plenty of cold weather once I get back to school!

I want to start the post by answering some questions that came up recently from blog reader Jessica (hey!):

You eat so healthy and really choose great looking foods!!!
What do you usually do when eating out, like what tips do you have to really choose great stuff, without the guilt and the grease!? haha!
AND, just curious, what do you typically do with working out?? Or whatever are your most common weekly workouts or favorite ones that go by the fastest?! I am just like you, I constantly have to change my cardio routine or else I get BORED!

These are both great questions, and ones that I have never specifically addressed on the blog before. I’m thinking of adding an FAQ section for the future. But for now…

1) In terms of eating out, there are several options I go for that allow me to enjoy a reasonably healthy meal without sacrificing the fun that is eating out. I am a BIG fan of bread – it’s one of my favorite foods – so I like to enjoy the bread basket instead of turning it away. I also order a lot of soups and salads – with dressing on the side, otherwise they glob it on and it doesn’t even taste good – and fill up on both before the entree. And when it comes to the main meal, I usually opt for chicken or fish and make sure that there is a veggie or grain side dish in there somewhere!

Basically, I follow the same guidelines that you would follow if you were making the meal yourself – but I also keep in mind that I am eating out and therefore have no control of EXACTLY what is going into my food, so I tend to eat more of items such as soup and salad and bring any extra leftovers home for Bobby to enjoy later.

2) I am going to start posting a more detailed description of my workout in my posts – and may add a workout tab to the blog. My “New Year’s Resolution” – or really, just my newest goal because it has nothing to do with the new year at all – is to start writing down and logging my workouts, so what better way to do it than through the blog?!

~*~

Ok, enough with the massive block of text! I completely understand if you just skipped over that part, but I wanted to make sure I answered a comment – I’ve been slacking lately 😳 If you have a question that I never answered, please leave me a comment again. I promise I will get back to you this time!

Onto the food! Breakfast today was incredibly indulgent, if I do say so myself. I’m calling it Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal.

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Why yes, those are Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Drops in my oatmeal! I know, I’m insane – but I couldn’t stop thinking about them after last night, so I figured why not get the craving out of the way first thing?! This bowl contained the following:

  • 1/3 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened original almond milk
  • 1/4 cup Kashi Go Lean cereal
  • 2 tbsp. peanut butter (one mixed in while cooking, one on the spoon)
  • 3 Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Drops

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Wow, it was good – how could it not be? The milk chocolate melted into the oats while I was eating, and combined with the peanut butter, my mouth was in heaven. I probably couldn’t handle the intensity of this bowl every day, but when the craving strikes – you gotta give in (especially on a rainy day)! On the side, I had the usual mug of Coffee Cocoa.

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Kelly T. mentioned I should have a mug giveaway. I’m thinking of trying to contact this company and see if they would let me because I love these things so much! I’ll let you know if I hear back!

I spent the morning responding to emails and reading some more of The Host – it’s so interesting! Stephenie Meyer is such a great writer! I also received a knock on the door – a delivery man with an exciting package!

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Rena from Arnold Bread was kind enough to send me the other two versions from their new Grains & More line. You can check out my review of the first two by clicking here. I can’t wait to try these, too! Thanks, Rena!

Eventually, I decided to burn off some of the energy from that breakfast, so I hopped on the elliptical for 30 minutes. Typically, when I do the elliptical, I do intervals to ensure I keep my heart rate up. It looks something like this:

0:00-5:00: Level 9, Resistance 9, Alternating 30 sec. rest/1 min. sprint

5:00-10:00: Level 20, Resistance 10, Pedaling backwards

10:00-15:00: Level 16, Resistance 9, Alternating 30 sec. rest/1 min. sprint

15:00-20:00: Level 9, Resistance 9, Alternating 30 sec. rest/1 min. sprint

20:00-25:00: Level 19, Resistance 10, Pedaling backwards

25:00-30:00: Level 6, Resistance 9, Alternating 30 sec. rest/1 min. sprint

I adjust the ratio of intervals and pedaling backward based on how long I stay on the elliptical. Today was just a short workout because it was technically an “active rest” day – but since it was rainy outside, it kind of took active out of the equation! So I had to improvise.

After the workout, I cleaned up and made a mish mosh lunch. I started with a very familiar looking combination of Greek yogurt, pomegranate seeds and blackberries. You must try pom seeds with Greek yogurt ASAP if you haven’t already – the double tart/sweet thang goin’ on is out of this world!

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I also had a microwaved egg white – pictured below in the container I use to actually microwave it! I spray the green thing with cooking spray and the egg literally slides out when it’s ready. I found a pair at Bed Bath & Beyond – I love that store!

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And last but not least, a serving of Lundberg Barbecue Rice Chips. My mom loves these so they are always in our house – I just realized how yummy they are!

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Not long after lunch, I picked up my brother from school and we did a little shopping for an additional gift for my mom. It was something she had mentioned a while ago, so hopefully it will be a surprise! And hopefully she will not be reading this post 😉 Oh well, I’m not giving too much away! When we got back, I did some more reading and warmed up with another Coffee Cocoa.

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Dinner tonight was extremely satisfying. Grilled chicken topped with a flavorful gravy with a vegetable medley on the side.

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The chicken turned out perfectly moist and the gravy sauce was incredible! It provided such an intense flavor – almost like a vegetable soup topping!

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As for the veggies – they were that just-right tender consistency that I love. It included carrots, broccoli, green beans, cauliflower and chopped sweet potato.

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After dinner, my mom and I watched The Biggest Loser finale – what a great one! Honestly, everyone looked amazing! It’s really incredible how hard they push themselves. While we were watching, I had a “cup” – literally! – of raspberries topped with Kashi Go Lean and almond milk.

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I’ve still got some night left ahead of me, so I’m going to hang out with my mom and eventually read some more of my book!

Sweet dreams – what are your hump day plans?!

39 Comments

  1. my aunt said it’s crazy rainy in phoenix! it’s just COLD down here in t-town!
    the peanut butter cup oats look amazing! i saw that egg poach pod at bed, bath and beyond today and was so intrigued.. go to know it works!!
    hope that you’re having a great night and hopefully i’ll get to see you this weekend!

  2. You said it–those oats are insane–insanely awesome! I can’t wait to try something similar.

    PS I love that modern green bowl you used for your eggs!

  3. omg pb cup oats!?!??!?! um, can you make me that when i come out? LOL…oh wait, i remember, i don’t like pb in my oats…the chocolate will do though! 😀

    my humpday is going to be just as boring as the day before and probably the one after. i can’t wait for this week to be OVER!

  4. everything looks extremely delicious and healthy~~~ i’ll try that combo of oatmeal 🙂

    And I’m a big fan of bread in restaurants too! 🙂 I’d give up a good plate of beef for the bread 😉

  5. Everything looks so great! Especially that oatmeal! I bought those same chocolate chips to make cookies this week and they are out of this world!

  6. You answered those questions really well! I love your big blocks of text actually! 🙂 That oatmeal is driving me crazy (I haven’t had breakfast yet)!! I’m with you – address those cravings head on. And if they need to be addressed later in the day, maybe more than once, don’t back down. 😉
    Gorgeous day Jenn!
    Oh, and my plans? Oy. Hopefully getting my car back and busting out of this place for awhile!

  7. Your oats look decadent! Yum. I love mixing chocolate into oatmeal..or anything, actually!

    As for my hump day, I have a super long doctors appointment/evaluation, then I think I’ll go to the gym before going to dinner with my best friend at our favorite sushi restaurant!

  8. I think this bowl of oatmeal is fabulous. Ever since my chocolate ice cream bowl, I’ve been hesitant to try something too sweet in my oatmeal, worried I’d appear to be a glutton 🙂 This is a nice reminder that chocolate is chocolate, no matter what time of the day, right?

    I haven’t watched Biggest Loser in years, but I used to really enjoy watching that show WHILE working out – very motivating.

  9. i am DROOLING over your breakfast—if i hadn’t already had mine I would totally be making that this morning.

    thanks for the eating-out tips, that’s something that I’m still trying figure out!

    have a great day—I hope it’s sunnier for you today : )

    ps i loved our phone date yesterday, we need to make that much more of a regular occurrence!

  10. My humpday plans: heading home! Last final at 9:45…you can tell I’m studying REAL hard 😉 I’m hoping your day in sunny today!

  11. I think you’ve got a great mindset of eating out, I too treat it like I’m at home, I eat the same food groups (if possible) that I would if I had made the meal 🙂

    OMG that oatmeal! I’m speechless.

    Glad you are enjoying the Host, I love Stephanie Meyer, she’s great…and I’ve totally be keeping up with New Moon movie new..November 20, 2009 baby!

    I have to go to the dentist today, bleh, but then it’s a good day from there. Have an awesome day Jenn!

  12. Hey Jenn,
    Looking forward to reading more about your workouts. It always helps me to read what others are doing, fitness wise. It’s inspiring and gives me new ideas. Gotta shake things up every once in a while, no?

    Your morning oats looked incredible. Those chocolate drops are huge – love it! Glad you’re enjoying your holidays at home with the fam.

  13. I love your idea of a link about your workouts, is it alright if I do that too? I think it would be a great way to hold myself accountable! I second that idea about a mug giveaway!

  14. I keep looking at the silicone egg thing at a store near my place and I was always curious as to whether they actually worked well or not. Thanks for the heads up I’ll have to pick some up next time I’m out. I’m so tired of using my regular bowl and having the whole mess stick to the bottom!

  15. I’m drooling over that pb/chocolate oatmeal. Pretty sure I could eat that every day!

    You can use that egg thing for poaching too, right? I feel like I read that somewhere…

    I really need to start watching the Biggest Loser.

  16. Those blackberries, raspberries and pomegranate seeds look delicious. I’ll have to get some when I get home for break with my mom’s money of course. 🙂

  17. That is by far the most decadant looking bowl of oats I’ve seen in awhile, wowza! Those chocolate chips, look fake!
    My momma LOVES those chips too!
    -Caroline

  18. I’m glad you all liked the decadent oatmeal 🙂 It was fun to make and eat!

    Erin ~ Glad you like my big blocks of text 😉

    Jenny ~ I have been keeping up with the release date, too – can’t even WAIT!!

    ErinE ~ Nothin’ like using the parent’s money for grocery shopping when you’re home. Hey, we’re ALL going to eat it, right? 😉 That’s what I tell them!

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