Bad Blogger Update

I'm so sorry I've left you guys hanging for the past few posts! I had an emotional and tired day yesterday and just had to pick some things to not do. I do love you all very much and it won't happen again!

Here's what my life has looked like

A long power walk yesterday morning that ended at walgreens and sale on nuts and dried fruit= dream come true

I also got another bag of cherries

Salad with vegan burger, spinach and tomatoes topped with dijon. A brown rice wrap with avocado and chili-lime white bean dip for lunch yesterday.

Burt's Bees new tinted lip balm... great color and texture, love it!

Post yoga class breakfast for dinner. French toast made with torn up pita and coconut extract mixed with the eggs (so good!) Topped with almond butter and fruit spread, frozen peaches and strawberries on the side.

A few to many of these amazing new cookie find for dessert. Organic dark chocolate oreos, crack ... heaven

Throwing away an entire newly open chobani tub that said it expired April 7... clearly a lie, just rude.

a 3 mile run and 30 minutes of lifting followed by

Last night: oats, lemon tea, vanilla protein powder, chia seeds, two scoops yogurt ( I had another tub)

Topped with strawberries

In my almost gone MaraNatha almond butter jar =(.

These were amazing, I highly recommend making oats with tea for flavoring! For hot oats just put the tea bag in while cooking them, for overnight use the tea as your liquid or part of your liquid.

whew that was long! I will give you a project new nutrition update tonight!

Peace!

Caitlin

Tell me about your Sunday!

What's your favorite way to flavor oats?

Breakfast Heaven

Oh My Yum.

This was really good. Really Good.

Cinnamon Stuffed Chocolate- Banana Bake with Blueberry "Sauce"

Ingredients

2 tbsp Pancake mix ( I used Bob's Red Mill Buckwheat)

1/2 large banana

a ton of cinnamon

3 tbsp egg whites

2 tbsp milk of choice

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

a pinch of salt

1 Stevia packets

About 2/3 cup frozen blueberries

How To

Pre-heat oven to 320. Mix all ingredients except the blueberries together. Honestly, I just mix them directly in the ramekin. But if you mix them in a bowl, transfer the mixture to a ramekin. Bake for 15 minutes.

While baking put the frozen blueberries in a microwave safe bowl. You want to se frozen so the ice can make the "sauce" MIcrowave on high for about 30 seconds or until they are fairly mushy. *Optional, stir in another stevia packet to the blueberries*.

Poor blueberries over the bake and mmmmm your way through breakfast.

I also topped mine with coconut butter... highly recommended.

Note- If you have crazy busy mornings like myself, this can be mixed in advance and put in the fridge. I mix it right before I go to the gym and pop it in the oven when for when I'm in the shower.

Besides delicious breakfast bakes my morning also had a great interval bike workout. I've been doing two interval bikes a week instead of one because I haven't been doing running intervals on Monday like I used to, I'm worried about my IT band and though I would like to get faster, it's more important to not get hurt.

Plus *BRAG ALERT* my plank time!

=D

Peace!

Caitlin

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Don't Judge

My Monday was unfortunately ( or fortunately) fairly dull. Just class, homework, food and some baking. Good thing my eats were delish!

For lunch I made a spring chickpea salad with dijon avocado dip and topped with superfruit vin. I'm updating my recipe page and this will be on it! Had with a side of Mary's Gone Crackers.

I got this awesome poster in the mail today!!

I put it on the wall at the foot of my bed so it can motivate me right when I wake up =).

I snacked on about three stalks of celery and a gigantic scoop of almond butter.

For dinner I was CRAVING tofu, I've only had it twice in three weeks!! I got this kind over the weekend, I like it because you don't have to press it! I tossed about 1/2 of the block in EVOO, white wine vin, honey, black pepper and italian seasoning.

This is officially known as the "don't judge me salad"

Spinach

broccoli

microwaved sweet potato chunks

baked tofu

raisins

tomato sauce

green olives

It was REALLY good

Free time means baking! I made a loaf of Elise's pumpkin bread with a few modifications. I used coconut butter instead of oil, oats instead of flour, less stevia plus I added pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon.

I had a piece with PB2 and fruit spread along with some dark chocolate chips. It is so moist and delicious! I may go back for a little more!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Coconut Cookies

Ingredients

Makes about 10 cookies

2/3 cup garbanzo bean flour

1/3 cup rolled oats

3 tbsp egg whites

1 pinch salt

1 tbsp ground flax

2 tsp honey

2 tsp stevia

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup pumpkin

1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Chocolate chips (a handful)

How To

Pre-heat oven to 325. Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl, taste and adjust honey and sugar content as desired (they aren't that sweet). Drop onto a parchment paper coated baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

**I'm pretty sure you could just leave the egg out of this if you want it vegan, the pumpkin should hold them together**

First Breakfast Bake

I just realized this did not publish... see you in a few hours for dinner!

Unfortunately I am back to rushing this morning so I will just share my awesome breakfast recipe with you!

Coconut-Vanilla Oatmeal Bake

Ingredients

1/2 cup oatmeal

2 tbsp milk

splash of water

scoop of vanilla protein powder

1 egg

1/8 tsp baking powder

2 large strawberries chopped

1/2 tsp coconut extract

How To

Preheat oven to 320. Combine all ingredients in single serving ramekin. Bake for 20 minutes. Top as desired!

I picked coconut butter and some un-pictured vanilla-almond granola. This was delicious! I am on the breakfast bake wagon for sure! I actually made the mix before I went to the gym this morning and popped it in the toaster oven right before I got in the shower, perfect timing!

Gotta Run!

Peace!

Caitlin

WOO!

Morning, morning, morning! My morning so far has been

Pita with PB2

Bike workout (10 minute warm up, 40 minute intervals)

30 kettlebell swings and 25 burpies

hold plank for 2.5 minutes

WOO good workout!

Mar 15

10 am

34° F

Precip:

10%

11 am

39° F

Precip:

10%

12 pm

44° F

Precip:

10%

1 pm

48° F

Precip:

10%

2 pm

51° F

Precip:

10%

3 pm

51° F

Precip:

10%

4 pm

49° F

Precip:

10%

5 pm

48° F

Precip:

10%

Forcast for today, WOO!

Overnight oats, WOO!

Along with my toy , I got something else in the mail yesterday.

Two sample packets from a give-away! Thanks Kaitlin!

I used one packets, scoops of greek and a splash of milk last night.

This morning I mixed in some coconut extract, cherry chocolate granola, a banana, a drizzle of honey and cinnamon. Amazing mixture! WOO!

**Project New Nutrition Update**

So after 5 days of a ton of cookies and candy with some health mixed in, I feel like my sweet tooth is satisfied. I woke up craving nutrients! I am very happy about this! I'm not saying I will cut sweets by any means but hopefully I'll be able to start transitioning to getting extra calories from whole foods through larger portions and more snacks.

Off to get the day started!

Peace!

Caitlin

What's making you go WOO today?

P.S as I was writing I added more granola and a little scoop of peanut butter to y oats because they were delicious but not doing the job!

Project New Nutrition

Hi all! I am feeling SO much better, my room is 98% set up! Also this afternoon...

I ran an unplanned 3.17 miles in 30 minutes. I was a beautiful spring day and I needed a break from unpacking. This was really fast for me and it felt great!

I had this x3 plus a second of the cookies my friend made and a dipped a few pretzels in cream cheese which I have been craving forever and let myself buy today at walmart (big mental step for me!)

Alright so I've been thinking about how to approach my current problem ever since this post. First I will start by talking about my recent eats.

My body is under weight and under nourished. My brain has been deprived of many things I love for almost a year and I have become fearful. For the past few days I have been working on re-feeding my metabolism and taking power away from fear foods by eating them whenever they look good.

This will not be the case forever. However right now I am not worried about it because I am trying to gain weight. I can already feel that I will not always want the more unhealthy foods and soon enough I will be able to have them in moderation with mostly healthy foods and not feel bad about it.

It is scary for me so I've decided to start a new series called "Project New Nutrition" to remind myself why good nutrition is important, hold myself accountable and keep track of my goals!

Goals before the 1/2 marathon (May 15)

Weights (3 sets of 12)

15 LB biceps curls

20 LB rows

12 LB kickbacks

25 LB deadlifts

**In order to gain muscle, you have to gain weight! I will need to fuel a lot to make these goals!**

3 miles in 25 minutes

6 miles in 60 minutes

What else I will track

Hair and skin health (My hair has been thinning out since July and my skin is very, very dry)

Mentally negative thoughts

Calorie counting and food measuring (two habits I WILL break)

*I will measure things like oatmeal for textures sake and if inventing or following a recipe but not for calories sake**

Allowing myself to eat what I want while balancing with health

I will give updates if valid to the current post and I will give a longer update every Sunday evening!

I will also not be weighing myself. Once I feel that I look healthy and am on a good track for my goals I will be moving to intuitive eating, cutting back on snacks and desserts and not be taking so many random handfuls of things.

For dinner I made amazing tofu! I had some good steps with this in that I just made the whole block so I have some leftovers and couldn't measure out a serving, I just had what looked like a good amount! I also did measure the olive oil in the pan, I just put a lid full which was enough to coat it.

I seasoned the tofu with garlic salt, red pepper flakes and lemon juice... it is SO GOOD I'm thrilled to have leftovers!

Over a spinach with strawberries, mushrooms, raisins, celery and feta and this dressing that I got today

Go buy this now. That is all.

I also had sesame bread with smart balance light, truvia and cinnamon and already got out a dessert!

Brought these back! They were my favorite when I was younger!

Peace!

Caitlin

How was your weekend?

What was your favorite dessert when you were a kid? Strawberry shortcake!

Happy Ending for a Sad Event

**Did you see my post from last night? If not please go read it. Thanks!**

This afternoon some snackage indluded

Kashi and banana

Pretzels with almond butter and jelly

plus some licorice jelly beans, Saltines, cantaloups and a string cheese

It's our last night of vacation =(. Very very sad but we decided to make it a fun one!

New dress to go out! 30 minutes later...

Downtown St. Petersburg!

We went to an awesome place called Central Organics

Loved the casual, open air vibe

I started with my first ever wheat grass shot for fun...

It actually wasn't too bad! it smelled like a lawn mower but was sweeter than expected. Can't say that I would take it in a larger amount but the shot was fine for sure!

I got the "very veggie" wrap. Cream cheese, FLA avocado, and a but load of veggies in a spinach wrap. Came with a ridiculously fresh side salad with honey mustard dressing.

Shared sweet potato strips! Oven baked... so good!

I killed my wrap, most of the salad, and finished that last few bites of PerMa's hummus wrap. We ate 99.9% of the sweet potatoes together.

One last time =). SImple butter pecan... delicious. I also made away with a good amount of salt water taffy and some dark chocolate coconut patties to bring back to school!

Tonight and tomorrow morning will be packing and tomorrow is traveling! I may not see you until the night so have a great Saturday!

Peace!

Caitlin

Have you ever tried wheatgrass?

Not just coconut?

Some foods I love

Eggs

Coconut

Cheese

Foods many people love

The ones above plus...

Bacon

Burgers

Dark meat

Pork Chops

What do all of these have in common? The are full of the "bad", artery clogging, heart attack inducing, LDL cholesterol raising saturated fat (given coconut is a different kind, which as food bloggers we all know is good for you!). However due to the fact that my favorite part of the egg is the yolk (which has the fat) I was thrilled when a came across an article in this magazine

New Views on Saturated Fat

"A meta-analysis of 21 studies... published in the March 2010 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found no significant link between saturated fat and increased risk of heart disease."

WHAT??

Apparently this was the theory for so long because people who have diets high in saturated fat have a tendency to also have diets high in sugar, refined carbs and trans fat, which ARE tied to heart disease.

So the bottom line is, eat you eggs with whole grain toast =). Which is exactly what I did!

2 eggs (with yolk) scrambled with spinach and yellow pepper, whole wheat toast with the last of hummus (we need to use food) and jelly, sugar snap peas.

Something will be had for dessert and a snack (and a few more) will come soon enough!)

Peace!

Caitlin

What is your favorite food with saturated fat? Somebody say something other than coconut =P.