I am feeling much better this morning! When my alarm went off I did a whole body check on my status, visualized myself exercising and confirmed I felt well enough to go (and actually wanted to go!)
At the gym I did 30 minutes of the Stepmill (on a lighter setting: 10) and 15 minutes on a reclining stat bike. I realized my heart rate was comparable to the upright bikes, so I might start doing this one more because it was much more comfortable and had arm rests! I ended with some stretching.
All I wanted for breakfast was yogurt (craving probiotics maybe?) and assembled this bowl:
The mix:
- ~3/4 cup TJ’s greek
- ~1 cup Optimum Slim
- 1/2 large banana
- 1 tbsp flax
- Spoonful Naturally More
- Drizzle honey
Mmmm!
Plus a cuppa tea!
Benefits Of Tea: Part I
I have a bunch of great information on the different components of tea and their health benefits leftover from my Lipton trip. One component I did not know about is L-theanine, an amino acid that is found almost exclusively in tea and is thought to be fundamental for the positive effects of tea on mood. Here is information and research by the Lipton Institute Of Tea:
The early research on L-theanine may explain the unique effects felt by tea drinkers that are so different to other hot beverages. L-theanine is a natural component found almost exclusively in tea and research has shown that just 50 mg of L-theanine (found in 2-3 cups of tea) naturally stimulates alpha brain waves, which are associated with a relaxed yet alert state of mind.
Emerging science also suggests that L-theanine may play a role in attention and may have other beneficial effects, for example on sleep, immunity and blood pressure.
A normal cup of tea contains around 15-17 mg L-theanine per serving, and green, oolong and black tea all have similar levels. Animal research indicates that L-theanine is readily absorbed from the gut with blood L-theanine levels peaking about one hour after ingestion and returning to baseline levels within 24 hours.
L-theanine + Caffeine
Emerging science suggests an interaction of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance. Haskell et al 40 showed that 250 mg L-theanine significantly interacted with 150 mg caffeine and enhanced the effects of caffeine on a number of cognitive tasks, as well as improved some aspects of mood.
And a vitamin
Weekly Bite Giveaway!
Registered Dietitian Estela of Weekly Bite will be giving away a FREE Nutrition Consultation on her blog today! I know many of you would love to get some personal nutrition advice 🙂 Here are all the details:
Who’s it for?
This is for anyone and everyone… Whether your goal is weight loss, overall wellness, medical nutrition therapy, or you would just like to consult with a dietitian.
How does the Consultation Work?
Detailed paperwork is emailed to you where you document your weight history, exercise regimen, medical history, and what your goal/expectation is for the visit. A three-day food journal will be emailed to you as well. This gives Estela a good idea of what your daily eating habits are like. A typical “face to face” consultation takes anywhere from 60-90 minutes. This can be done over the phone, or via web email. If done via web, a complimentary follow-up is included. If you live in the DC Metropolitan area, you have the option of a face-to-face consultation.
Go directly to Weekly Bite’s Blog and comment on the “Give Away Post”. The winner will be selected via random generator. The winner will be announced on the blog at 4pm EST.
Off to a long day of classes, including a test, in the rain. Guf.
Happy Humpday!
Ansley says
Glad you’re feeling better – maybe you just react strangely to Jet-Lag…
Oh, and I’ve been meaning to ask – When you stopped eating Splenda and other artificial sweetners, did it help your digestion, or body in general? I’m constantly bloated, and I’m beginning to think it’s the Zucrino, Assugrin, Splenda…
Melissa says
Glad your feeling much better!!
Question for you: Back in the day when you were trying to lose weight was it normal to be still hungry at some times? Even when you met your calorie goals? I feel like if I only eat the amount that I need to in order to lose weight, that I’m still hungry. BUT if I eat in order to not be hungry then I’m going to be eating the calories I would need to maintain my weight, not lose weight. I’m just trying to figure out how much body should be feeling when it comes to hunger and didn’t know if you had any personal advice/tips…
Maybe I’ll win that consultation Estela is giving away!! 😀
Have a great day Kath!!
Making Love In The Kitchen says
Yes! More probiotics. BioK is an easy way to get high doses down without having to take pills.
VeggieGirl says
HOORAY FOR FEELING BETTER!! 😀
Brittney says
Glad to hear that you’re feeling better! Good luck on your test 🙂
Jennifer says
Ansley- I found that when I stopped drinking splenda-flavored water, diet sodas, etc. I felt much better. But I use splenda in my green teas- I don’t know how anyone could not as it’s so bitter without it. And then I only use 1-2 packets and drink tea only once or twice a day.
Also, Kath, glad you found out about the reclining stat bike! My heart rate zooms up on that but I come away feeling I have not gotten as good a workout as say, running or the elliptical. Your thoughts?
JENNA says
Thank you so much for the information on tea!! 🙂 I hope you continue to share interesting facts that you leanered in Africa!
Beadie @ What I Ate Yesterday says
Glad you are feeling better!
Good luck today!
I am also interested in the answer to Melissa’s question!
Nate says
Is it just me, or is the pinching crab your favorite emoticon? It’s either dancing/pinching crab or the square, spongebob-esque smiley face. Can you clear this up for me?
Shannon (The Daily Balance) says
Go good to hear you are feeling better! 😉
Rose says
That oatmeal looks delicious. For a second I thought there were pretzels in there!
Thanks for the tea info. I am thinking about drinking a little less coffee – and a little more tea these days.
Is that a little crab at the bottom? It’s cute 🙂
Courtney (The Hungry Yogini) says
Glad you are feeling better! Delicious yogurt bowl. I could eat the screen =)
Sharon says
Glad to hear!
Maggie says
Yay you’re feeling better!! The reclining bike sounds nice. I never did it, but I hate how a normal hurts/is just really uncomfortable.
brandi says
yum to that honey!
K says
Glad you’re feeling better! Love the KERF bowl 🙂
Happy Wednesday!!
Moran says
Thanks for letting us know about the contest!
I am just getting to like tea….and its still hard :S
Sarah (lovINmytummy) says
I’m just finishing my cup of GREEN tea right now. And LIPTON, nonetheless.
I’m working on cutting back on the coffee and cutting out the Splenda, so tea is my new best friend.
Thanks for the link on the nutritionist contest.
Mara @ What's For Dinner? says
SO GLAD you’re feeling better!!!
Thanks for the tea article, it’s really interesting 🙂
Michelle Hisae says
Thanks for all the great tea info! I did a bunch of research on the benefits of taking a green tea extract supplement (instead of having to drink 5+ cups of green tea every day), and there were so many benefits!
If you have a chance, try these two new ones at Trader Joe’s. I just got them, and I love both!
– Mango Black Tea
– Blueberry Green Tea
Ryane says
I am in love with that crab by the way.
Haleigh says
I am glad to hear that you are feeling better! The yogurt bowl looks delicious, I feel like I am been craving yogurt over oatmeal for breakfast since it has started to get warmer. Hope your test goes well!
Tanya says
The scientist in me had to ask – what “emerging science” are you referring to? (Note on the Lipton Tea site – when you click on “our publications” it says it’s for “professional audiences” and you have to register).
Snake says
Ha Noops!
I just got hooked on granola and yogurt. Got some of the Wegmans Super Pre- and Probiotic Yogurt and it is sooooo good. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to finish that size by the best by date (18 April 2009) but went throught 2/3 of it in just 3 days. Soooo good.
Okbi!
-Snake
Anon says
Melissa,
Do you think that possibly you don’t need to lose actual body weight and your body may be telling you that by hunger at a lower calorie level? This seems like the obvious answer but if you are satisfied at maintenance level and hungry at weight-loss intake level, then perhaps you are already at an ideal weight range?
Just a thought, but I’ll be interested to see what others say too.
Kara says
Thanks for the cool info about tea! I’m drinking some right now 🙂
zestycook says
Glad to hear you are on the mend… I am leaving Antigua today 🙁
zest!
Hallie says
I drink tea all day long…but usually it’s herbal. Are there any health benefits to tea-free tea?
Danielle says
I always wondered about the reclining bikes vs. upright ones, I just recently got a heart rate monitor so I was planning on comparing soon but you did the work for me!
Glad to hear you are feeling better!
Sarah says
Glad you are feeling better! Good luck on the test!
Anne says
Hi Kath.
I’ve been doing the Stairmaster at the gym, and I swear, it’s a much tougher workout for me than running! My heart rate soars and I’m sweating buckets by the end – but calorically I’m not sure if it does as much for me as running. What are your thoughts?
Click on my blog if you need a musical lift 😉
Julie says
Yay for feeling better! Lets hope it continues!
Question – when you eat yogurt with toppings, do you mix it up or eat it like oatmeal?
Diana says
Oh YUM! The honey takes this to a whole new level!
Diana
KLM says
I’m ready for our lunch date!!!..
Marissa says
Yay tea!
Mom says
Love the good word on tea!
Biz319 says
Thanks for all the info – I didn’t know any of that. I always get a good workout on the recumbent bike and it is easier to read while working out!
Kailey (SnackFace) says
Yay! So happy you’re feeling better. How do you manage to make yogurt and cereal bowls look 10X more appealing than any I could make? Haha I love it! Good luck with the rain and the test!
laci says
Smple and beautiful breakfast, once again! 🙂
Missy (Missy Maintains) says
Glad you feel better today! Thanks for the info on tea! I better go make myself a cup now!! Love the yogurt breakfast!
Jennifer says
Snake- that yogurt contains fish oil!!! Ewww… do you taste the fish in it???
theoddbod says
you definitely triggered a yogurt craving for mysefl
edamame22 says
As a fellow RD, I have never heard of that amino acid before. Please check in your biochemistry book to confirm.
Kath says
Ansley ,
I didn’t notice any differences in my body, but that doesn’t mean you won’t.
Melissa ,
Interesting question! I think overall the answer is yes. You should feel hunger while you are losing weight. But you should not be in an everlasting state of hunger – it should ebb and flow with your meals. Estela of Weekly Bite did a post on hunger recently that I really liked. She talks about how we should feel hungry before each meal: http://weeklybite.com/blog.html.
I think it’s better to be hungry before a meal, when food will taste especially good, than to be hungry after a meal. If you are still hungry after, that might be a sign you’re eating too little. But we should be hungry before meals.
With weight loss you are consuming less than you need, so I think a small amount of hunger is normal. A large amount of huge probably means you are largely under fueling, which isn’t good. Throughout my weight loss I was hungry at times, but never to the point of being truly uncomfortable. More with the thought that I could eat more. So I guess in that sense it wasn’t true hunger. I think we all can distinguish between needing to eat and wanting to keep eating.
Hope that helps some!
Jennifer ,
If your HR is as high as running or ET, then you’re burning as many calories (assuming the HR’s are accurate.) I think machines are always easier than running because they “help” you along, but sometimes we work different muscles so it doesn’t feel as hard but is just as hard on the body.
Nate ,
Yes, the crab is one of my favorites. Also the piece of cake!
Tanya ,
Send me an email and I’ll send you the brochure. It was pretty technical and cited some studies, but I didn’t include that to save space and just stuck to the bullet points. I realize it’s a tea company doing the research to promote tea.
Hallie ,
Good question! I know herbs have lots of healthy components by themselves, so I can only conclude that steeped in water they do too. I’m not sure of what they are, and since herbs are a mix of plants whereas tea comes from one plant, I’m sure the benefits are varied.
Anne ,
According to HR, the Stepmill is as challenging as running for me! I’m usually in the 150s BPM doing both.
Julie ,
A little of both! I usually eat some of the toppings and mix at the end.
Snake ,
Ha!! Wish we had a Wegmans here… 🙁
K
Kath says
edamame22,
I don’t have my book on me, but if you Google it, you’ll find lots of more info. And scholarly articles from the Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theanine
It’s related to glutamine and IUPAC is 2-Amino-4-(ethylcarbamoyl)butyric acid.
Kath
Emily L says
I love that you post giveaways from around the blog world. I haven’t won anything yet, but it is a fun way to get introduced to other cool and interesting bloggers.
Thanks
Weight Loss says
This article is very useful,thanks