breaking news: my oats are back

My oats are back and I couldn’t be happier!  Exaggeration?  Yeah, right.  Well, first off, I was very indecisive this morning, so I took my dilemma to snapchat {@emvalerioti}, “Oats or Eggs for my b-fast?”  The polls came rolling in and you all said oats!  I probably would have made oats anyway.  Does anyone else do this?  You think you are indecisive on something, then ask around or flip a coin and you are unhappy with the result and go the other direction?  I do this constantly.  Eh, that’s okay because it brings me to a decision doesn’t it?  Anyway… this morning I made an old staple: Apples & Cinnamon Oats.

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my personal sauna

The flooding is gone and the mosquitos, humidity and heat are here!  Confession: I love the heat and the humidity.  Call me crazy, but I am in my element.  I have been taking advantage of the weather for my workouts for sure.  Even if it is high noon or 3pm, I will get my booty outside.  The sun, heat and humidity doesn’t bother me, I just make sure I am hydrated.  The mosquitos on the other hand…those things can just evaporate.  Anyway…be sure to hydrate and eat a good breakfast like…

applesauce oats

Here was my breakfast from the other day.  It consisted of 1/3 cup of liquid egg whites, raw almonds and Applesauce Oats.  

Ingredients

♦ 1/3 c oats (can be old-fashioned or quick; I use a combo of both)

♦ 1/3 c unsweetened applesauce

♦ cinnamon to taste 

Just mix all ingredients together and microwave for 1:30-2 minutes.  Top with more cinnamon if desired and enjoy!  

Here is my breakfast from the other morning.

cheat days don’t make you fat

Yes.  I see you glorious plate of homemade Mary’s Mountain Cookies… Yes.  You did overcome my will power tonight.  Yes.  I am talking to cookies.  So I had an off day today–a “cheat day” if you please.  I am human after all.  A human living in a society filled with yummy goodies and sweets that seem to be at the center of every social event.  Even if that event is a Saturday night at home with the roommates and a friend brings over famously good treats.  This cheat day of mine involved a bite of each type of treat (plus a brownie and cookie quarter), 2 processed protein bars, and milk chocolate (with almonds if that makes it better?)  My cheat day won’t make me “fat,” however unhealthy these items are.  I won’t wake up tomorrow with my 7 pounds of fat back on my body.  It will make me stronger, though.  

the little things

I have been taking more time to reflect and enjoy the little moments in life.  You know, part of my resolutions and all that.  It is only day five of the new year, but my newly improved positive outlook on life, I can already tell, will make this year one of my best yet!  Only day five and I already feel happier, more in control of my own life and plans for my future.  I have goals, I have dreams, I am inspired! 

home sweet texas

I took my last final Friday morning.  After a grueling week of being held up in the library and stressing, it was so nice to finally be finished!  Now all that was left was packing and waking up at 3:30 am Saturday morning to catch my flight.  All that was standing between me and Texas was the dreaded packing… oh, how I despise packing… 

almond butter & banana oatmeal

Almond Butter and Banana Oatmeal

Ingredients

♦ 1 ripe banana

♦ 1/3 cup old-fashioned oats

♦ 1 tbsp natural almond butter

♦ ½ dried fig

Mash half a banana into the oats and heat for 1.5-2 minutes.  Stir up the oats and top with the other half of banana, almond butter, and dried fig.  I like to mix the almond butter into the oats after the heat melts the almond butter a bit.  It is delicious!  

E N J O Y

season switch up

I absolutely love summer and everything about it, right down to the +100° and humid Texas weather.  Summer just makes me crave healthy and fresh foods like infused water (above: cucumber, ginger & lime), raw produce, and salads.  Can you say light and fit foods?  Yummy!  I am such a visual eater, and that aids in “eating the rainbow” to reap all the health benefits from a variety of fruits and veggies.

back to nature

I have not felt myself lately.  I have felt bogged down, stressed out, and really anxious.  I often seem to spread myself too thin, trying to accomplish many tasks in a small amount of time in order to feel successful and make sure I do not let others down.  During one of my recent chaotic clouds though, I made myself pause for a moment to ask, “Aren’t I on summer break?”  One of my biggest fears in life is not having enough time, but if I am trying to cram too many experiences in a brief period of time, won’t I miss something?

kick-start circuit series: rotation one

Good morning!  Today I am going to start my Strength Circuit Series!  These are my various workouts I do first thing in the morning right after I wake up.  They are not meant to be super crazy cardio or extreme weight lifting circuits, just something to wake me up and kick-start my body and metabolism.  There are five rotations I go through, one per day.  When I have completed all five (five days), I will just begin again on rotation one the following day.  I work based off of rotations, rather than designate Monday to one circuit, another to Tuesday and so on, because this allows me to listen to my body.