Yesterday morning called for something spectacular in the breakfast department.
I awoke around 6am after a sleepless night. I faintly remember beeping. Loud beeping. Shrill beeping. Our power went off a few times during the night and when it turned on again, all of our electronics starting having beeping fits. I tossed and turned most of the night…beep, beep, beep. It reminded me of being in a dorm room in university and having the fire alarm go off at 4am every weekend.
After stumbling downstairs, I decided the only thing that would make me feel human again was a breakfast so spectacular, I would not be able to think of anything else.
Banana Split Vegan Overnight Oats
Packed with delicious oats, chia seeds, almond milk, coconut, chocolate protein powder, banana, and strawberry jam…how could you go wrong? Rumour has it, this breakfast will keep you buzzing along for a solid 4 hours.
Ingredients:
Overnight Oats:
- 1/3 cup regular oats
- 3/4 cup Almond Milk
- 1/2 scoop Amazing Grass Chocolate Amazing Meal Protein Powder (adds 5 grams protein)
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
Directions: Mix above ingredients in a bowl and place in the fridge overnight. In the morning, give them a quick stir and add toppings + banana below.
This Chocolate Amazing Meal tastes so good in overnight oats…
Banana split:
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 tbsp Unsweetened coconut
- 1 tbsp Strawberry jam
- Chocolate coconut syrup (mix 1 tbsp dark choc. chips with 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil and melt in micro)
Can you handle this? I can’t.
My heart skipped a beat when I prepared this and looked down at my masterpiece. Was I really about to eat something so delicious!?
Oh yes, yes I was.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Eric drooling over this as he pretended not to ‘like’ oatmeal. Pffffft. ;)
It kept me full for 4 blissful hours. Food did not cross my mind once all morning which is very unusual. I estimated the calories in this recipe to be about 450-500. The perfect amount of fuel for a morning on my feet.
Plans were made to make it again soon, real soon.
You can get creative with the toppings too…I could see yogurt or coconut milk being delicious as a topping or even some raw vegan chocolate chips. How fun would it be on a Sunday morning in lieu of pancakes?
Yesterday was a good day after all. :mrgreen:
An Exercise Confessional
I have been having a hard time getting back ON the exercise wagon since my break while healing my groin pull. I find it can be easy for me to blow off exercise once I have had some time off. It is almost like I get out of the habit and start to enjoy the extra hour in the day to get more work done! This week has also been super busy so I have been using that as an additional excuse not to get back into my routine. I keep saying ‘oh tomorrow I will get back into it’ and so far it hasn’t materialized.
Today’s question- Do you ever fall off the exercise wagon? Do you ever experience slumps or lack of motivation?
It definitely happens to me every now and then! I think it is normal to have certain weeks where it is hard to get into the game. I try not to let my slump go longer than a week (aside from an obvious injury that prohibits me to). I find once I do get back into it, it just comes easy. It is that first workout that is always the hardest isn’t it? Then after my first workout, I remember why I am in love with exercise. Sometimes it takes some fresh endorphins to remember though! :)
Those banana split overnight oats look AMAZING. I am definitely going to have to try something similar!! Wow.
And in terms of falling off the exercise wagon, I think its easy when you get sidelined for an injury or have to take time off for some reason or another. When I’m in the groove I am very consistent, but I always have a hard time getting back on the wagon if I’ve been off it for a while.
I definitely have days/weeks where I would much rather do nothing–anything–than workout. Usually at school I am super motivated though. It helps with passing the time and I find that it’s when I’m super stressed that I want to workout.
It’ll be interesting to see how I manage to get my butt moving when I am not as stressed post graduation.
Your upcoming triathlon will get your butt in gear, no?
Oooh that breakfast is making me drool. Holy yum.
I have worked out consistently for over 10 years, so YES I have definitely fell off the wagon. The only thing that has worked for me? JUST DO IT. Just begin again, start that routine. It is a cycle. You work out -> feel great, confident, stress relief, etc. Sometimes changing things up and doing a workout without pressure, like walking outside helps me too. Oh, and taking time off! I have gone a few weeks without exercising and been ok with it, but I always come back!
LOL – I have totes been off the exercise wagon this past week also! I have a two HUGE final assignments due for my night school classes. Exercise just does not fit into my schedule of cramming to get it all done in my perfectionist style! I’m not worried about it though – I know when I get back to normal, my exercise will too!
Oh my… that breakfast is definitely drool-worthy!!!!! Defintiely going to have to dry that sometime VERY SOON!
OMG that looks like heaven in a bowl!!! I somewhat make oatmeal with similar ingredients in it every morning (major sweet tooth) — cacao nibs, chia, banana, EV coconut oil, goji etc. I look forward to my bowl of oatmeal from the second I get up :)
Angela, It is so funny that you bring this up. After I ran my 10K, My body and I were in need of an exercise break. I was worried about taking a week off because, like you, I was afraid that it would be too easy to keep blowig it off. Yesterday was my first day back on the exercise wagon and instead of running, I went for a nice bike ride and this morning I started a new strength workout. I think what helps me is switching it up with some new cardio and strength moves. That way your not going back into the same ole’ routine! Get back out there! You’re gonna feel so much better! ;)
I agree! And I was kinda waiting til I had my swimsuit pruchased so I can swim laps…well now I have it so im good to go! :)
oh, i TOTALLY get that way! for some reason finding motivation is just so hard sometimes. i wonder if this means you should heal a little more though? that’s what i found was the case with me last year when i sprained my ankle hiking…i was thinking i just wasn’t in the mood, but deep down i knew i needed to take some more time off. not sure if that’s the case with your injury, but just thought i’d throw that out there :)
it def. could be because of that…I was thinking maybe FEAR…fear that I dont want to hurt myself? I think just easing back into it will be the best.
In a way I’m lucky because my bicycle is my only means of transport so if I need to get to work or to teaching then I need to get on my bike. This way a day rarely goes by that I don’t get exercise (albeit unwillingly some days) :)
I would just start out going outside or on a treadmill, walking, then up the speed a little at a time. Once you get the endorphins pumping you won’t be able to stop yourself!
Those oats look amazing!!! I can’t wait to try them! Oh, I definitely fall off the wagon! I’m currently trying to get back on it and had to change things up completely to keep me entertained. Bought a new iPod with updated songs, got a month membership to a hip new gym, and am meeting with a personal trainer today to help me figure out something “fresh” to get me back in the game. :) We’re only human and I’m just glad that during my “slump” I still fed myself nutritious foods. It makes me feel less guilty of not working out like normal. :)
That breakfast looks amazing Angela! :)
When I’m in a routine, I do great with getting my exercise in. But when something disrupts it- pain, etc- I have so much trouble getting back into it. Honestly I find it harder to restart exercise than go for a 10 mile run.
It makes me think about how hard it is for people trying to exercise for the first time, and have sympathy for them. It’s tough!
“Honestly I find it harder to restart exercise than go for a 10 mile run” I couldnt agree more sometimes!
And that is such a great point that you brought up about people starting off for the first time!
That happened to me last month!
I had a rough cold so I took a week off. Then I took another week off because things were busy at work and after a week off it felt normal not to exercise. Then I had dental surgery and I had to take another week off. Before I knew it, I had gone a month with maybe 3 workouts in total. It’s weird – when you are working out, your body craves another workout. When you are not working out, your body craves the couch.
So that’s what happened – I got home from work every day, and I couldn’t do anything except watch 5 episodes of 24 in a row. I felt completely fatigued and I didn’t understand why. Then I took a yoga class and went on a two-day cross-border shopping trip (whole days of walking), and realized that this was the first time I didn’t feel fatigued in two weeks. Then, after missing three more days of workouts, I felt fatigued again. I finally realized that it was the workouts, and got back on the wagon.
Sorry for the super long essay, but I just want to say, after over a week of working out, I feel like myself again and my body wants exercise. So, I am sure that if you start again today, and just do something – anything – for five days out of the next seven – in a week you will feel super excited to work out too!
“It’s weird – when you are working out, your body craves another workout. When you are not working out, your body craves the couch.”
yes yes yes! I found the first few days while healing and off exercise were SO hard then it was as if my body adjusted and was like ok, a free hour in the day now! haha
Oh my gosh I just ate this!!! I was half way through my regular breakfast when I thought-wait I must try Angela’s new recipe!! I used greek yogurt instead of overnight oats, but boy, this breakfast baby was DIVINE!!!! I literally licked the plate clean!!
Ugh, the exercise thing. I have two different spots on each leg that hurt sometimes when I walk, but mostly when I stretch them. It’s been bothering me for a while and I’ve tried resting and then starting back again and nothing seems to work. It IS very frustrating! But really, your strength to take it easy when you know you should has inspired me just as much as any other blogger’s workout, if not more! I’m more forgiving with myself about taking days off. So Thank You!
haha so glad you like it!
I am glad that my own resting could help you too :) It is a hard thing to do at times.
Every few months I get injections in my knee that sideline me for a couple weeks. After all that resting, it’s SO hard to get back to the gym. Beforehand, it was no question something I’d be doing after work. But after the treatments it’s like I never have enough time to go!
I go through phases where I love exercise and when I hate it. I’m in the dislike phase right now but see my daily afternoon walks as more fun that working out. As long as I’m moving…
I’m sure a million people asked this (and you might have already answered) but where did you get that cute orange spoon? I think Kath has a similar one, no? I love that size and the adorable shape!
The orange spoon is from a kitchen store in Florida and I don’t know the name (sorry!), but you can also get them at Crate and Barrel too!
That looks SO good! I am going to try it this weekend =)
Yay, I’m glad it’s normal for people to fall off the wagon! I’m having exams right now and it’s hard to incorporate exercise! I try not to fall out of the exercise habit because my body has a hard time readjusting to regular exercise if I don’t exercise in a awhile.
I’m definitely going to work out today though!!
Omg, that breakfast is definitely drool worthy.
I agree that it’s harder to get back into an exercise routine after you’ve had a break. I really really didn’t want to run this morning but I just got my butt out of bed and on the road, telling myself I’ll only do half the miles I had scheduled. I ended up doing them all! The hardest part for me is just getting out there.