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! :)
That just looks amazing. I haven’t tried the overnight oats yet but when I do this weekend this is definitely how I will try them.
I hit a workout slump two weeks ago and I gain weight so quickly that I’m having a hard time bouncing back from that right now.
But in a way I needed the break mentally, because I’m really revved up now to get on that bike and ride1
That breakfast looks more like dessert! Yum!
Oh yes, let’s talk about falling off the wagon. A few years ago I was hitting the gym hard, loving it, feeling great and looking the best that I ever have in my LIFE. A friend got married, and at her wedding reception I got drunk and twisted my ankle really bad on my super high heels. It was bruised, and I could barely walk for a couple of weeks, let alone work out. That was the end of that. Now, I am motivated to get back to that point so I started running. ANDDDD…. hurt my knee. But I really don’t want to lose this feeling, so I am elliptical-ing until it gets better. Injuries really, really suck.
yes they do…sorry to hear about yours. I wish you a fast recovery!
That breakfast looks AMAZING! Very happy to say I never get in exercise slumps. Sometimes, I start feeling a little burned out because I wake up SO early for my workouts. When that happens, I’ll just take a week off and get right back at it the next!
What a way to start your Friday morning! I’m glad that it cheered you right up :D
As for falling off the exercise wagon, I must say, I’m pretty new to the “regular exercise” game. I don’t run, I don’t swim, I don’t do much, I just WALK. I guess that says a lot about my fitness, but I’ve never been much of a runner, and I walk fast ;) It’s nice to enjoy the scenery around me slowly… when I’m running all I can think about is when to stop! I can’t even run a mile without feeling like dying :(
Happy Friday! :D
Wei-Wei
There is nothing wrong with walking at all! :)
unfortunately, off the exercise wagon for over a year now :(
u r genuis with food…it looks to beautiful to eat :)
I do the exact same thing! I’ll go through weeks, sometimes months of getting at least 5 days of exercise a week…then I have finals or something and I fall off the wagon. It’s like taking that first step to get back in is the hardest and I start out feeling like the workout is going to suck, but then it’s my best yet! Then I’m HOOKED all over again…at least until the next interruption, whether it be tests at school, family obligations, or just life. I’m glad I’m not the only one. As much as I love exercising, sometimes it’s easy to get in a non-exercise rut. Happy Friday Angela!
I had trouble getting into cardio this week. My weight-training, on the other hand, is going really well.
*wipes drool off keyboard*
That look amazing! I absolutely love your breakfast creativity- never will I be able to perform so well in the kitchen at breaky hour!
I totally relate to the exercise breaks and finding it really hard to get back on it. Whenever I get a sports-related injury that prevents me from doing a certain exercise I try and do a different form of exercise so my body doesn’t get into lazy mode. For example, if my Achilles heel is bothering me from excessive running I’ll do Yoga and maybe the hated eliptical. I’ve read a lot of running articles that suggest temporarily taking a break of certain exercise in exchange for a new one to keep it exciting and keep you on track with your goals. Good luck on getting back into it!
That looks AMAZING. And, yes I do fall off the exercise wagon. For me, early morning workouts is the only way I can go, but some times, like this whole week to be exact, my bed has felt too too good! Of course my allergies have been hassling me, and I have a 6 month old, that wakes up as soon as I move, but still. I’m going to use this fabulous breakfast you posted as bait to get me back into the swing of things. Unfortunately it will have to wait til Sunday. However, I will go to the gym pumped, ready to train, and then come home to this delicious breakfast! I can hardly wait, Im so excited. Yes, it’s that first workout one must get over to get back into the swing of things.
Yummy looking breakfast! Bananas seem to be the way of the world in the blogosphere today.
Yes, I do have trouble keeping my motivation 100% of the time. But who doesn’t?
I have a hard time balancing social life and exercise. I sometimes have to choose exercise instead of socializing with friends and that can be disappointing.
Other times there just isn’t enough time in the day after work and taking care of my animals to fit in a workout and get some quality time in with my boyfriend!
Its a ebb and flow I feel. Some weeks I work out 5 days out of the week, other weeks its onlt 2. But, I figure I’m at least staying active! There is NEVER a week where I don’t workout at all, and I think that is impressive.
I think everyone experiences lack of motivation at times… And as everyone also knows, those are the times when it’s the hardest to push through. For me, it helps to not plan a ‘super woman’ work out… start out small and work up, until it becomes a habbit again and I start to crave that endorphin rush again.
GUILTY! :)
Totally guilty. I used to beat myself up when I would take too long of an exercise break and especially if I had no desire to exercise. What I’ve realized is that this reality is part of the ebb and flow to life!
Sometimes our bodies need to slow down for whatever reason, even if it feels longer than normal! Rather than feel guilty, I try to enjoy the relaxation and slowly start back up again!
I agree…I find that by looking at things long term helps put a week off here and there in perspective!
we’re all guilty of this from time to time. sometimes i enjoy being lazy.. othertimes i gotta tell myself to suck it up and just get back on.. otherwise i feel crappy and not myself. xox
Yup! I am right there with you… and a lot of other people it seems. I have skipped the gym all week and am having a hard time getting back into the groove. Once I get out of the habit I find plenty of ways to fill that time. But I know this beast and I have the cure (for me anyway): instead of beating myself up I say “okay self, no gym for you till Monday.” Now I know I will want to go to spin class or something this weekend but I have already made other plans, come Monday after work I will be dying to hit the gym, do my routine, and feel that wonderful energy rush. It will be a treat and will keep me going back all next week. That’s what works for me anyway!
Good trick!
I absolutely have exercise slumps! It’s true that the first day back into it is THE hardest…and really sucks…but I try to remember that the first day can be easy. “as long as I get out there and DO it”, I tell myself. That usually gives me enough motivation to really kick butt the next day and feel like my normal self again!
Oh my goodness yes! I am currently deep into a slump! I have basically not exercised since my Mexico vacation in mid- Feb! Ugh I can tell it’s taking it’s toll both physically and mentally. I am forcing myself to yoga tonight to get going again!
Wow it must be delicious breakfast day in food blog world! This looks like a breakfast dessert! Ah-Maz-Ing!!!
I feel like slacking on the exercise when my schedule gets super busy and also when I don’t have anything to train for. I’m so motivated when I have a race or event coming up!
Usually after going a few days without exercise…I’m going absolutely stir crazy! I usually can’t wait to get back into it and burn off my extra energy.
im usually that way too but I think now because I do physical work on my feet all day I burn off the energy that way, so I dont notice it as much!
Is that breakfast for dessert? It looks wonderful!
I never fall off the exercise wagon. I am so worried about “falling out of the habit” that I try REALLY hard not to do that. I’ve been lucky not to have any serious injuries (knock on wood) that made working out impossible. After my Shamrock Run I had a bit of a sore ankle so I just went easy on the workouts and focused on swimming instead of running.