Another night of restless sleep. It was probably the looming start of classes, or maybe an offset vacation body clock, but I blame the cup of coffee I had yesterday!! I slept great all week long and I have my first cup in 5 days and my insomnia is back!!
When my alarm went off at 5:26, I considered going back to bed, but despite the tossing and turning, I was wide awake (blame the adrenaline for that one) so I got up and went to the gym. It was a great workout and I’m very glad I went. It was a very “in the moment” gym session – I thought at one point that I was so happy being there right then. There’s an older man who bikes beside me sometimes and he calls me “Soccer Girl” because he thinks my body type is like a soccer player 🙂 He and I chatted for a while. I did 30 minutes on the Stepmill followed by 20 on the Stat bike and 10 of lifting + stretching. I had to end with a down dog!
The husband was going join me to keep his body clock in the early morning stages, but he chose sleep instead, which is always nice because it means he can get the oats started while I’m getting dressed 🙂
Today’s combo was my favorite kind: Pumpkin Butterscotch!
The mix:
- 1/3 cup oats, 1% milk, water, 1/2 medium banana, pinch salt
- 1 tbsp raisins
- 1/3 cup pumpkin
- Coconut butter flakes
- Toasted walnuts
- Butterscotch chips
- Spoonful Barney Butter
Should keep me going for hours!
Plus Coconut Chai Tea with some milk. The husband made French press coffee – it was quite good, but I’m going to hold off for a while on the coffee.
Kelsey and I are carpooling again this semester – it’s so nice to have company and chit chat through the commute 🙂
Off to work my brain!
justjen says
Good luck back at school!
Barbara says
Sounds like a great start to a new week!
Jenny says
haha I love random nice people at the gym!
Delicious oatmeal combo, Good luck getting back in the groove of things! 🙂
Meghann says
Good luck on your first day back!!
Victoria says
Good luck with your first day of classes!
Charlie Hills says
Ah, nothing like getting back into the daily rou… wait a minute, did you say pumpkin butterscotch!?
Beadie says
Enjoy your first day back in class!
K says
Yum – butterscotch!!
GOOD LUCK TODAY!!
VeggieGirl says
Pumpkin-Butterscotch?!??!?!?!?! My goodness, that looks too luscious for words.
BEST OF LUCK TODAY!!!!!!!
Marisa says
Hope your first day back goes well!
Love the oats:)
Sarah (Tales of Expansion) says
Ahhhhh, I need to get my hands on some butterscotch chips …
Good luck today!
MaryB says
Wow SparkPeople linked to one of my favorite bloggers…YOU!
You encourage me to make oatmeal for breakfast everyday – yes the old fashioned way!
I’ve said this before, but it’s worth saying again…thank you for all you do for ‘us’!
Marlow says
Oh man! That bowl of oats looks good!!
Meg says
My sleeping has been horrible lately too!
Those oats are absolutely fantastic. Nothing beats butterscotch and pumpkin together!
melissa says
I have problems with insomnia too due to coffee. I have been able to cut back gradually by mixing decaf with caf, then go to decaf only, then abstain. It is hard — I love the taste of coffee!!
Good luck on your first day back!
JENNA says
I love coffee so much it would so hard not to have a morning cup for me!! tea is a great alternative though!!
have a great day back at school.
melissa says
Oops, hadn’t read your previous post about the coffee carafe before writing the above. Well, I guess stopping coffee cold turkey works just as well! At least it will be easier not to be tempted in the morning. 🙂
Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter) says
Great bowl of oats to fuel your first day back. I think it’s smart to stick with tea, especially if you’ve been sleeping better without the coffee. Rest is so important for our bodies.
Soccer Girl – what a great compliment! Sending good thoughts your way today Kath!
Andrea [bella eats] says
Good luck with getting back into the routine! That oats combo looks so good…I really need to get some coconut butter. 🙂
Janna says
2 questions
1) How do you do 30 mins on the stepmill!? I can barely do 20! What level do you do it on?
2) Do you always only use 1/3 cup of oats when you make them?
Jasmine says
pumpkin butterscotch oats look incredible!
MKM says
This is probably a really dumb question, but what is a ‘down dog’? Thanks!
Danielle says
Have a great day back at school!
And your oats look great!
Allison K says
I LOVE French Pressed coffee. It’s seriously the best way to enjoy it.
Have fun on your first day back to school!
Mel says
Have fun at your first day of school!
Your oats look like a wonderful way to start the day
theoddbod says
good on ya for gettin up and staying up, plus going to the gym!
Jennifer says
props to you for getting up… Mondays are always tough for me, and though I got all my workout clothes on, I decided snuggling up to the bf was way more important =)
ashley (sweet & natural) says
Delicious looking oats. Have a good first day!
seelee live (for the love of peanut butter) says
kath, i must say, you definitley turned me onto pumpkin in my oats—and now i am hooked!!!!
Sara says
I hope you have a great first day back to school!
Heather says
Sorry about the insomnia 🙁 I always get back-to-school jitters and can’t sleep the night before.
Good luck with classes! Love the butterscotch.
Sarah (lovINmytummy) says
Hi Soccer Girl–those oats look awesome!
I bet you were just excited for your first day of school, and that’s why you couldn’t sleep.
Hope you have a great 1 !
Maggie says
Good luck at school! Yummy oats 😉
bobbi says
Have fun today back at school. love the oats.love french press!
sara says
Kath-
I just started reading your blog and all I can say is it is incredibly inspiring. You are an amazingly creative and talented cook, I can’t WAIT to try your recipes! I am going to try the salmon ‘quick’ casserole tonight but substitute shirataki noodles as I tend to go overboard on real pasta 🙂 Good luck with school and thank you for all of your wonderful ideas!!
Ashley says
i swear… your oats should be in a food magazine. it is always the most perfect looking bowl 🙂
Christina says
So after seeing your recent butterscotch oats posts I went out and bought some last night and actually had pumpkin butterscotch oats this morning too! It was a little sweet though, how many do you usually put on?
By the way this is my first comment but I LOVE your blog!!
Missy (Missy Maintains) says
Those oats look so good!!! Sorry about the insomnia. I know how frusterating it can be! It happens to me all the time! That is great that you still got in a nice workout!
http://www.missymaintains.blogspot.com
Lara says
Awww-back to school day! Good luck!
This bowl of oatsl ooks particularly divine!!
HangryPants says
Your gym pal must have been glad you were back! Good luck at school today. 😀
Cassidy says
Godd luick with classes starting. Mine start today too and I could not fall asleep.
Niki F says
I’m a regular reader, but have never commented before. But oh my, I have to say that your Butterscotch Oatmeal looks AMAZING! I’m out of pumpkin this morning, and don’t keep butterscotch chips on hand, but I’d be making that for sure if I did!
And while I’m here, I want to say thanks Kath for the inspiration. You make healthy, balanced eating look so good and appealing. And interesting too. Just looking at what you are eating makes me want to change it up and eat better. Plus I also appreciate your discipline to keep spending down (and bless others) while still eating well. This is how I want and need to live (I’m a stay at home mom to three kids) so it is great to see you doing this.
Keep up the good work, Kath!
junghwa says
looks delicious as always!
Marianne says
Have a great first day back at class.
Maureen says
No coffee?? How will you make it through the day? Haha. Have fun in class. I always liked the first week… no tests or lab reports to worry about. What are you studying this semester?
Hilary says
So great to have someone to carpool with! Good company, good for the wallet and good for the environment! A trifector!
Meredith says
That oatmeal looks delish! And I agree with my sister: it’s so much nicer to commute with a companion!
Sharon says
Awesome morning start!
kateswholeplate says
Hi five for the carpooling! Friendship and saving the environment all in one:D
RK says
That is one great looking bowl of oats! Hope your first day of classes went well.
Sarah says
I have never been a coffee person but have one can of Diet Coke during the day on most days. I wonder if I’d sleep better without this too. I never thought the caffeine in one serving of a caffeinated beverage could make much of a difference….
I’m not even sure what soccer players look life….strong legs I guess?
Shelby says
AMAZING OATS! I’m literarally drooling
Kath says
MaryB, sara + Niki F ,
Thank you all! And you’re welcome 🙂
Janna ,
I just keep steppin’! I do it at a level 12, which is really hard, but I worked my way up.
And yes, I almost always use 1/3 cup oats b/c I almost always add lots of toppings.
MKM ,
It’s a yoga post. You can Google it for a pictorial description.
Christina ,
Usually 5-7?
Kath