I feel like the sun has risen a million times today – I’ve worked out, cleaned bathrooms (realtor coming tonight), made breakfast, made lunch, and working on those blog posts now!
Getting up at 5AM to exercise is sooooo easy if you go to bed early!! That’s the key guys. I read in bed until 9 and fell asleep with plenty of time for 8 hours to fit in (heh heh)
Up this AM at 5 and downstairs by 5:30 (gotta wake up with my iPhone!). I tip-toed through the kitchen and straight to my car. At the gym I tackled 30 minutes of Stairclimbing and 15 on the ET followed by 10 solid minutes of heavy weight lifting (picked up the 17.5 lbs today over my usual 15 for biceps, shoulders, chest, etc.)
Home –> Shower –> Make lunch + breakfast at the same time. Normally I always make my lunches at night, but you know how the kitchen was yesterday. Tips on packing lunch on the go? Check out my latest at Breathe!
Yum, yum!!!
The Mix:
- 1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill Apple Cinnamon Hot Cereal
- 1/4 cup oats ( <—- really liked the half oats/half hot blend!)
- 1 cup water ( <— I like adding more water than I need these days to really let the grains cook well and absorb)
- 1/4 cup vanilla soy milk
- 1/2 frozen banana (I did not thaw this first and it did not thaw quick enough in the oats, so I’d recommend thawing in your bowl first)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- Cinnamon and vanilla
- 1/2 cup pumpkin, stirred in at end
- Crunchy coconut granola
- Coconut butter
- Coconut
- Cinnamon Vanilla Sunflower Butter!
So thankful for sunlight!!!
A hammerhead shark?
Very filling combo today!!
Have a gaaaaareattttt day!
{ 77 comments… read them below or add one }
haha i agree! it’s so much easier to get up at 5:30 when I’ve gotten to bed by 10…unfortunately impossible on some nights!
Filling combo, DELICIOUS sounding combo! I agree about the early workout thing; I think early in the morning is the best time to workout anyways, it totally sets you up for te day! I always do my workout before breakfast
Have a good day!
I have been trying to move my morning schedule earlier but gosh is my body resisting that! Getting 8 hours in is key! I think I may have to force the fiance to start going to bed earlier…that might help as well!
Amazing morning! Not to bring up any bad thoughts, but was the roach found?? :-/ I try to go to sleep earlier but have a hard time keeping up with that on weekends.
He was NOT FOUND!
You’re on a roll this morning! I’m a morning person too but you’ve accomplished way more than me
I’m thinking today’s coffee looks like a cow’s head…no?
I love productive mornings
Back in the summer I would go to sleep at like 8:30 just so I could be up at 4:30 to exercise before work…it was great to have that out of the way by 6:30!! Hope you have a gaaaarreeaattt day too! 
(P.S. I can’t wait to get my own french press!!!)
I see a t-shirt!
Gotta love busy bee mornings! Sounds like you’ve already gotten a ton done!
you are right about going to bed early being the key — unless i’m in bed by 10, I can forget about waking up for an early workout! (like today!) I’m not too happy that I’ll have to go to the gym AFTER work.
Have a great day!
p.s. i also agree that the coffee shape looks a lot like a cow’s head
Every time I make coffee I look for the shape in the foam now! I can’t help it…too many mornings reading KathEats!
Never been much of a morning person (still your typical college student who doesn’t believe the day starts before noon) but I’m trying it out these days…We’ll see.
Going to bed early is the trick, for sure! Reading in bed makes me sleepy, and I force myself not to look at the clock. If I’m tired and don’t realize how early it is, I sleep well.
You have so many awesome oatmeal toppings this morning. So delicious!
I usually go to bed at 8-8:30 and get up at 5 but the snoring roommate disturbs that 8-9 hours of solid sleep that would be sooooo helpful during my morning workouts.
Very nice post on Breathe by the way! I’m so happy you posted that — I’ve been looking for more ideas for snacks and quicker foods and meals on the go or things to munch on in between classes and that may just be what I was looking for! Now all I have to do is figure out how to make fresh hummus in the dorm and eat it before it spoils instead of buying a pre-made, preservative-packed container of it…
I have such a different sleeping/waking schedule at school than when I did working this summer! I had your exact schedule this summer and it was so satisfying to have my workout done before the sun rose! But now things are a little different. For example, I worked out from 11-12pm last night!
Yes, going to bed at 9 is the key to getting up at 5 to work out. This is how my spouse and I do it. Except today, when I was half-dressed for the gym and my 3-year old came out of his room with a tummyache. Bye bye gym, hello Mommy time.
You are reminding me that I need to up my weights again. I was doing the 17.5′s this time last year, but now I’m back down to 12′s.
I got hooked on AM workouts when I got engaged trying to get in shape for the big day.. that was 4 years ago (yikes!) Now I wake up at 4:15 without the alarm.. and yes that includes the weekends. I
I agree- waking up isn’t too hard as long as you get in those 8 hours!
Have a great day
dang girl, you are a machine! Even though sometimes its awesome to be lazy (ok, or all the time), sometimes it feels really good to be productive and get a lot done. like your morning it sounds like.
I used to be an early riser, but now I have the hardest time! Must be my old age
Reading your morning posts make me energized when I read how much you’ve accomplished!
That DOES look like a hammerhead shark … although I’m also seeing a side-profile of Toto from the Wizard of Oz. With a wee heart at his throat
Hi Kath,
I just followed the link to your lunch box article…and then stumbled across your article “Embrace the Cycle” – thank you for writing it! I usually feel EXACTLY the same (with 2 weeks “firm” and the rest “fluffy”, and definitely experience similar things with weight/water loss/gain). Anyway, it was really really nice to hear that these are natural things and that other women are dealing with them, too. There really isn’t much “real-world” stuff out there specific for women. So, i appreciate this very very much. I’m going to go through some more of your articles. Although I love your blog here, I’m really liking the other writing you’re doing as well.
Take care and have a great day!
Darryn
Glad it was helpful!
Amazing what a difference going to bed early makes huh? I wish I could! I don’t get home at night T-Th until almost 11, so early morning workouts are practically impossible
Mmm – I just LOVE productive mornings! It’s so refreshing, I think!
The Giver showed up in my tea yesterday!!
It’s so much easier to get up early when it’s light out! I can’t wait until I can rise with the sun instead of my annoying cell phone alarm
You have the most beautiful bowls!! I can not wait to have a real kitchen with real bowls & plates! Early morning workouts are just the best! love getting them out of the way
Or the splitting of Africa and S. America? Yes, im a dork
MA
Random but before reading your blog I had always had fun times with oatmeal but not smoothies. I had my first green SIAB this morning and it was amazing! Thanks for the inspiration!
I think your coffee looks like Marmaduke with a heart on his neck.
I have been trying to get back in the habit of 5am workouts and I am STRUGGLIN’. I know that I will feel so much better but I can’t seem to do it. I used to do it everyday, I don’t know what my problem is!
There’s my favorite bowl again!
I don’t really see the hammerhead shark in your coffee, but i do see a fat piece of broccoli!
that looks delish as always!!!
Great Breathe post! Always useful information. And I really love your oatmeal bowl this morning! Have a wonderful day!
Is that a roach creeping along the back of your dining table?
Not funny at all!!!!! Haha. I almost went to check…
… OK that wasn’t funny. I take it back!
we had our house on the market last year and keeping it spotless 24-7 was a pain in the butt!! i hope your place sells quickly!
that’s so awesome you have all that time to get things done in the morning!
How do you fit so many amazing toppings in one bowl? I lose creativity and space after adding flaxseed!
Have a great, productive day!!
Hi Kath-
We are also putting our house on the market soon (first time) and would love if you would do a post on what you’ve done to “stage” the house and if you have any tips on showing the house (how to keep things clean, etc.) Your organizational tips are always so great!
I’ll do it!
I cherish my morning workouts!
Love the Breathe post – comes at just the right time, as I’m trying to save money and buy less lunches out. I don’t know how you get up so early, I struggle to get up at 7am even when I go to bed at 10pm.
I don’t see the hammerhead – I see a Marmaduke shaped dog head!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Ahh, I wish getting up that early was easy for me. It’s so, so terribly hard. Especially when I don’t sleep well (like last night)…didn’t fall asleep til 3am. Oy..
haha you can totally tell how much more chipper you are this week, Kath!
I love driving to work in actual day light! Makes for a much better start to the day
i love your morning coffee shapes…totally look forward to them every day! sounds like a great morning workout
You must be one of those people that as soon as you lay down in bed you can fall asleep. Even as an early riser, I cannot make myself fall asleep at nine. My body just doesn’t want to. Waking up at 5 is never easy for me. No matter how many times I do it.
I wake up to my iPhone too to go work out! Haha! Wow, that combination for breakfast looks amazing! YUM!
Delicious breakfast! I wish I could get to bed so early, but it’s impossible most nights. My body is awful whether I get 8 or not, even if I got to bed early it’s still painful to get up so early. Maybe it’s subconcious? I don’t know, all I know is my body has a hard time waking up early. I wish it wasn’t so difficult!
SO glad to see you are having a much better day then last night! =)
Those are the best mornings! I love if I get up early and accomplish so much, especially if you get a workout in! I love yor bowl! Handmade? Pottery is my favorite.
it’s nice to know I’m not the only person, not in elementary school, who likes to be in bed by 9! I agree it gives a buffer to allow 8 hrs of sleep. My weekday alarm is set for 6, and I’m out the door by 6:10 for my morning walk (dry, rain or snow).
Great looking bowl of oats! I add 1 cup + 2 TBSP water to my oats to get them extra creamy.
Jenn
I love that bowl…
Oats look pretty good too!
p.s. I’m in bed at 9pm as well!
i’m in bed at 1 and up at 10 i love being in college!
That said, i’m sure there will be a day where 5 o clock is my alarm and I can tell you one thing, I’m NOT morning person what so ever. It just doesn’t work lol and breakfast looks awesome as always kath
I’ve noticed a big difference cooking oat bran instead of oats. Bran cooks so much faster! That’s a great idea to add more water so the process is slowed down a little. I’ll need to give that a try.
Hoorya for picking up heavier weights! I just got up to 20lbs with my biceps, but can’t manage that with my shoulders! I neglected my shoulders for years when lifting and can barely mange 12.5lbs with them!
I’ve been trying to get an early workout in every day – sometimes on the weekend, too! It’s just so nice knowing that it’s over and done with! The great thing is that today I got a great run in this morning, which leaves me time to attend yoga with a friend this evening.
Those oats look great!
K
its a muffin in your coffee!!
It looks like a Great Dane to me, looking to the right–with a white spot/splotch (which Great Danes often have!).
I see Falcor from The Neverending Story in your coffee. And he has a little heart shaped mole
I think it looks like there is a dog in your coffee! I do the same thing and wake up with my iphone for a bit before I get out of bed!
I have been adding more liquid to my oats too!! They seem to cook more quickly with my stainless steel pots + a gas stove, so the extra liquid definitely helps!
Your sleep schedule amazes me – and I’m so envious! After late nights last year writing my thesis and now travelling in hostels, I now can’t get to sleep until at least 1am… I can’t help laughing that you get UP mere hours after that!
Kath, I stumbled across your blog on foodbuzz and love your perspective on life! I also struggle with waking up early to work out. It’s kind of embarrassing, but I sleep in my gym clothes so I have one less excuse to get out of bed.
welcome!!!
I have done that too
But sometimes I have night sweats and then I have to get all new workout clothes! PJs are easier to wash 
Thanks Kath! I love your inspiring, wonderful posts.
Thank you!
i love combining my grains in the morning too – all about textures!!!
MUST TRY THAT OATMEAL YUM!
Is it just me or does the top cup of coffee look like Abraham Lincoln side portrait
and the bottom coffee looks like a dairy cow’s head/face… ?
Your oatmeal always gives me such great ideas for making my own oatmeal tasty.
Glad that I am not the only one who likes to go to bed so early. I like to wake up between 4:30 and 5 AM and get my workout in. It feels so good to have accomplished something so early in the day. It sets a great tone for my whole day. I am a morning person for sure!
looks great! i only enjoy getting up early if i go to bed early!
jenna
to me it looks like a chef’s hat!
Thanks for the link to your article on Breathe! I’ve been needing some new ideas for quick lunches to take with me to work. I don’t get a lunch break, so going out is not an option…and I prefer it that way because it saves me money at the end of the day! I am quite the procrastinator and find it hard to get moving in the morning, and these are some ideas that have me inspired to prepare the night before (or in the morning), so I can grab and go.