Coffee Oatmeal and Morning Workouts

on March 3, 2009

Good morning! After a day off, I’m totally ready to tackle my work week. I feel much better!

As mentioned yesterday, one of my current fitness goals is to tone up, especially my arms and abs, which I always neglect due to my passion for running. So many of you have recommend Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred that I’ve ordered a copy. It should get here very soon!

I’m trying to get into the habit of doing a strength training workout in the morning. Today, I did:

90 bicycle crunches
3 30-second planks
20 light squats
20 push-ups

Whew! I normally vegetate on the couch for the first hour of my morning. 🙂

Breakfast featured one of my favorite variations of oatmeal!

My coffee oatmeal contained:

1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup brewed hazelnut coffee
1 sliced banana
Toppings: coconut, strawberry, and 4 Maltesers

The Maltesers literally melllllted into the oatmeal. Yum!

Off to work I go! See you for lunch.

Do you have any fun vacations planned? I’m going to Charlotte, North Carolina in a few weeks, and I’m going to Virginia to see my best friend in May.

{ 61 comments }

Mrs. LC March 3, 2009, 4:55 am
Let me know what you think of Charlotte! We are so strongly considering NC next year, it’s crazy!
Erika March 3, 2009, 5:09 am
The 30 day shred sounds awesome!! let us know how it is once you try it!! your oatmeal made me smile! i just finished a scrumptious bowl myself…old fashioned oats, mashed in banana, homemade almond butter, pecans and sliced almonds yyuuummm!!
Megan March 3, 2009, 5:29 am
you go on with your bad self, exercising in the morning! I can rarely bring myself to do it, but once I do, it sets the best tone for the day!

i WISH i was going on vacation, but college seems to be getting in my way 🙂
Ryan (chasing daylight) March 3, 2009, 5:42 am
Wow, the oatmeal looks beautiful all arranged like that! 😀

Yay for vacations! I’m going on a cruise next week to Key West and Cozumel and I absolutely cannot wait!
Mrs. LC March 3, 2009, 5:49 am
Are you guys thinking of NC next year or when? And are you just looking at Charlotte? It would be so cool if we both ended up there. 🙂
Sarah W. March 3, 2009, 5:53 am
Where in VA will you be in May? I live in northern va (Fairfax, Centreville) and would love to meet ya 😉
VeggieGirl March 3, 2009, 5:55 am
AMAZING OATS HOLY YUM!!!!

I’ll be in Las Vegas and NYC this summer 🙂
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point March 3, 2009, 5:55 am
LC – I emailed you 🙂

Sarah W – I’ll be in Winchester for the Apple Blossom fesitival – do you go to that??
Mica March 3, 2009, 5:56 am
Wahhh, you’re going to Virginia?! (I’m from Richmond originally.)

I have no fun Spring trip plans, just sitting around getting my work done. Boo!

I’m excited to see how “30-Day Shred” works out for you. I’ve heard great things about it. I bet you’ll get super toned and tight!
Petite Noonie March 3, 2009, 5:58 am
Good for you for trying to strengthen up. That alone will probably help you knock a bit of time from your running. Having your whole body be strong is one of the best things a runner can do!! Helps to stabilize your whole body.
Erica March 3, 2009, 5:58 am
Breakfast looks amazzzzzzzzing! Great am workout too. I love Charlotte, I lived there for a summer. Only vacation we have planned right now is Hilton Head in the summer. We have tons of weddings too- so lots of mini weekend trips!
bb March 3, 2009, 6:09 am
I’m a big fan of breakfast that includes candy…looks so good!

I’m off to Mexico in May, West Virginia in June for a mini and Chicago in August to see my Cubbies play! Very excited!
Tyler March 3, 2009, 6:10 am
yum!! coffee in oatmeal sounds great!
jenngirl March 3, 2009, 6:26 am
Mmm candy on top of oatmeal sounds divineee!

I’m going on a cruise in the Caribbean with the fam in 2 WEEKS!!
girlrunningaround March 3, 2009, 6:33 am
I’ll be in your neck of the woods Friday through Monday to run my frist Half Marathon!!!
emilydh211 March 3, 2009, 6:40 am
That breakfast looks sooo good. especially with the little chocolates in the middle!

I absolutely LOVE charlotte, it is a very fun city. I live really close to charlotte, we should arrange a blogger meet up!

Hope your having a great day, awesome workout already!
Betsy March 3, 2009, 6:53 am
We’re going to Jekyll Island, GA on Friday! We’re going to a concert in FL while we’re down there, but I don’t think it’ll be in your neck of the woods unfortunately.
Matt March 3, 2009, 7:02 am
My next vacation is going home for spring break!
Dori March 3, 2009, 7:17 am
The oatmeal looks amazing, it makes me really wish I could have it. Good luck with the Jillian Michaels, I am curious to hear how it goes.
Amanda March 3, 2009, 7:19 am
YAYY you will LOVE 30 Day Shred! I have found that it completely eliminates any need to do other strength training (other than yoga, if that counts). Days when I can squeeze in the dvd and a short run = a full body workout! Have a great day!
ksgoodeats March 3, 2009, 7:25 am
That bowl of oats is absolutely stunning! Almost too pretty to eat..almost! What a great workout 🙂
Victoria March 3, 2009, 7:26 am
A vacation sounds glorious right about now, but unfortunately no, we aren’t really going anywhere this year, or probably next year. However, a group of my friends are coming to visit in 2 weeks and we’re going dancing! It’s like a 48 hour vacation with them. 🙂
thecleanveggie March 3, 2009, 7:26 am
oh goodness
your bowl of oats sound AMAZING!!!
im going to need to add coffee to my oats sometime.
seesaraheat March 3, 2009, 7:26 am
Hooray for Vacay! I’m going to New York at the end of this month 🙂 I just hope it’s not FREEZING by then!
Meg March 3, 2009, 7:39 am
Love the candies on top of your oats.

I am headed to Jacksonville this weekend to see my nephew for his birthday!

This summer, I am going to Colorado.
Holly March 3, 2009, 7:47 am
So glad you’re back to 117% :o)

Heading to FL this weekend to chill with the boyfriends granparents and try and get a tan on my pale north eastern self! Then moving back to NYC at the end of the month. Woo!
Bec March 3, 2009, 7:51 am
Chocolate in your oats! sounds delicious
Stephanie March 3, 2009, 7:53 am
Malteasers! Yum! British chocolate IS far better than its American counterpart… you’re right. I love Malteasers and Buttons and Smarties and all the Cadbury stuff … Crunchie, Flake, etc. So luck you married a British boy! 🙂 My grandma and dad are British so I grew up on all that. So good.

Your oatmeal looked delicious and so pretty, too!
Kicking couture March 3, 2009, 7:53 am
Im from england, i love malteasers!

I love to mix chopped strawberries into my oatmeal while its cooking so it gives a strawberry flavour and its pink!! haha
eatingbender March 3, 2009, 8:03 am
I’m excited to hear what you think of the 30 Day Shred. I am currently working to tone up my arms and abs, too, because I always focus solely on my legs.

Love the coffee oatmeal – and it’s so cool that Robyn is your friend from college! I am pumped about this interview!

Have a great day, Caitlin. Fun vacations planned = going home for spring break :o) Are you going to meet up with Kath when you go to Charlotte?
talesofexpansion March 3, 2009, 8:10 am
coffee oats sound so good, esp with those malteasers on top.

no vacations EVER … though i will also be in charlotte one weekend in april for a wedding!
RunToFinish March 3, 2009, 8:16 am
I’m headed to San Diego in May, wohoo. Hopefully later this year will be our big trip maybe honduras…but I’d like do some more traveling if it works out!
Missy March 3, 2009, 8:25 am
The oats are so pretty today! I am thinking about getting the 30 Day Shred too! I want to see how you like it! My parents want to take me to Key West in a month so no complaints here!
Brandi March 3, 2009, 8:48 am
i want those maltesers! 🙂

Winchester, huh? I wish I lived closer north! That’s about 3.5 hours from me! My father in law had his open heart surgery in the massive hospital there.

We’re hoping to go to Honduras this summer to work at an orphanage – still planning out the details, though.
Courtney (The Hungry Yogini) March 3, 2009, 8:48 am
Chocolate in oats. Yum.
tfh March 3, 2009, 8:49 am
Ooh, 90 bicycle crunches? Nice job! Hooray for fun vacations. I’m so ready for my trip to southern VA at the end of the month.
AshleyT March 3, 2009, 8:49 am
I started the 30 Day Shred last night. Level 1 is easy. The workout goes very quick and you don’t need a big space either which is always a plus living in a small NYC apt.

Your vacation sounds great! My boyfriend just booked Puerto Rico for a week as a birthday/2 year anniversary present. I’m so excited!
redheadedjournal March 3, 2009, 8:59 am
I bet those chocolaty things are even more amazing melted!
Danielle March 3, 2009, 9:00 am
I’m going to outerbanks in NC in may and I can not wait!!!
That oatmeal looks so tasty!
peanutbutterandjuli March 3, 2009, 9:02 am
Maltesers in oatmeal? BRILLIANT!

Can’t wait to hear how you like the 30-Day Shred. I love it!

My trip: Las Vegas! (I’ve never been!)
Kath March 3, 2009, 9:12 am
Our house makes a great sightseeing adventure in CLT!
Yasmin March 3, 2009, 9:18 am
Yummo oats! I will have to try adding coffee. Right now I use cinnamon tea. I’m planning on going to Las Vegas at the end of April for my b-day. I have gone every year since my 21st and it never gets old. It’s like my 2nd home.
Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter) March 3, 2009, 9:43 am
Caitlin, 30 Day Shred is great for toning. I recommend starting out with 5 lb dumbbells. I made the mistake of using 8 pounders, and could not bend my arms the following day after trying Level 1. Good luck – I think you’ll like it. Each session is only 20 minutes long.

Loved your coffee oats. 🙂
Maggie March 3, 2009, 9:53 am
i’m going on a cruise to mexico in a few weeks! john mayer, guster, and OAR will be giving concerts on the boat.
trustingmyintuition March 3, 2009, 9:54 am
I’ll have to take a look at 30 day shred. I too neglect my arms and abs. Can’t wait to hear how it is!
Anonymous March 3, 2009, 10:02 am
I am sorry if you have answered this before for someone else … but when you say 1/2 cup of oatmeal, what kind of oats are you using. Do you have to cook or just add boiling water?

Thanks so much!
Your oatmeal always looks so delicious, that I just have to make it the same way!

Jolene
seeleelive (for the love of peanut butter) March 3, 2009, 10:05 am
I am going to stay in SoHo with my sister this weekend in NYC for spring break…right across the street from PB&CO! 🙂
seeleelive (for the love of peanut butter) March 3, 2009, 10:06 am
..and that, to me, is exciting!
Dori March 3, 2009, 10:06 am
I just ordered the 30 day shred too! After reading this 🙂
BOBBI McCORMICK March 3, 2009, 10:06 am
you are going to LOVE the DVD! I am going to San Juan Capastrano in two weeks for a womens retreat, then to Boston in April, and not sure yet what we are doing for the summer:)I would love to go to NC!
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point March 3, 2009, 10:25 am
jolene – make my oatmeal on the stovestop. from what i know about microwaving oats, it taste just as long, and stovetop tastes a lot better!
I use this kind of oatmeal: http://www.quakeroatmeal.com/qo_ourProducts/quakerOats/product.cfm?productid=3 It’s virtually “instant,” but its not 1 minute oats, which I think get really mushy and gross. They only take 5 minutes to cook. I make mine with equal parts oatmeal, milk, and water (1 serving = 1/2 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1/2 cup). And then of course, I add lots of toppings!
inmytummy March 3, 2009, 10:31 am
I’m going to DC next weekend to visit family, NYC in June for my mom’s 60th birthday and the boyfriend and I have been discussing a trip to Cancun in Sept. Whee!

Have you ever had a Crunchie? I spent a semester in London and loved those.
HangryPants March 3, 2009, 10:33 am
The 20 pushups – is that real ones … in a row?
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point March 3, 2009, 10:36 am
inmytummy- i’ve never had a crunchie!!

heather- yes, 20 real ones… in a row! 🙂 they hurt and the last few are hard.
alessa March 3, 2009, 10:46 am
i really need to start getting up a tad earlier in the morning and at least do something! you are motivating me to start doing, even if its just 10 minutes. for some reason, i have so much trouble “working out” in my apartment.
MyRunningJourney March 3, 2009, 10:53 am
You should see great results with 30DS. I’m on day 17 of it and am much more toned already!

Husband and I are going to VA, DC, and DE the first week of April for the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC. I can’t wait!!
Emily March 3, 2009, 11:02 am
chocolate in oatmeal? yes, please!
aron March 3, 2009, 11:03 am
love 30 day shred!!!

my only vacations right now are around my upcoming marathons 🙂 eugene and san diego in may!
Monica March 3, 2009, 12:00 pm
I’m going out to Florida in June! Plus there is the upcoming honeymoon that is TBD.
Leah March 3, 2009, 12:54 pm
I’m going to visit my family in April in Canada!

Those oats look amazing!!! Love the UK touch 😉
Monica Shaw March 3, 2009, 2:40 pm
Hey I like the sound of that AM workout. I might give something similar a try as I’ve been wanting to get into strength training again. Thanks!

Previous post: More Fish! and More Wedding Pictures

Next post: I Run Like a Girl