Swap Out
My gym membership expired! Aaaah! I decided not to renew yet since the next couple of weeks it will be sketchy for me to get there. Hope they have another great deal when I renew – last year I joined for only $99!
In the meantime, I’ll have to settle with my basement equipment and videos. Today, I did some strength moves – push ups, wall squats (hard), lunges, planks (ridiculous), sit-ups and burpees (super ridiculous and impossible). Then, a little yoga from yogadownload.com.
I miss the gym already. 
Breakfast was NOT the usual for once! I took a walk on the wild side and tried out some oats again. If you’ve been reading this blog from the beginning, God bless you for sticking around this long, you know I’m not an oatmeal lover. I’ve tried it quite a few times. I know it’s good for me. I want to like it. But, I usually don’t. Until today!
- 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup skim milk
- 1/3 cup water
- dash salt
- 2 tsp. powdered egg whites
- 1/2 very ripe banana
- 2 tbsp. PB2
- 1/8 cup. unsweetened dried cherries
I loved it! One of the reasons why I don’t like oats is consistency, but cooking them stovetop gives it a much better texture than my previous attempts with the microwave. Another thing that always bothered me about oats is they would never keep me full very long. The addition of the powdered egg whites, PB2 and skim milk bumped up the protein- staying power and kept me full for about 3 hours. A record in my oat trying days! This may become my new “usual”!
And, as always….
I was in need of fruits and veggies, so I took a trip to a nearby orchard that offers lots of organic produce and even organic dry goods and meats!
I got a great stash for $36 – not too bad for this bounty…
Aren’t the colors just beautiful! I was excited to find Sucanat for a good price, too…
I had to try it out right away with another batch of Clean Eating’s Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. This time, I swapped out the almond butter for natural peanut butter. They smelled divine, but I practiced restraint and held off until dessert.
Lunch was leftover Mediterranean Pasta Salad over mixed greens…
The brown rice pasta held up great, so it’s definitely okay to make this in advance. Don’t forget ….rinse in cold water after draining! Are you sick of me harping about that, yet?? 
Snack was gorgeous farm raspberries…
Even though the heat is pressing on, I felt like making a comfort food dinner. It was inspired by a recipe for Salisbury Steaks with Rich Brown Gravy from one of my cookbooks – The Most Decadent Diet Ever by Devin Alexander. I swapped out the ground beef for ground turkey breast, used fresh onion and herbs and chicken broth in place of the beef broth. It was hearty and very tasty…
Served with a side of sauteed spinach and baked potato wedges…
I resist no longer…
Worth the wait 
Have a great day, everyone!
Are you an oatmeal fan? What is your favorite oatmeal combo?
Questions? Email me! aloserforlife@gmail.com
32 comments
I love oatmeal, but sometimes I am not hungry enough to finish a bowl in the morning. I love a banana mashed in, topped with peanut butter and coconut butter.
I really really want to like oatmeal, but the truth is I hate it warm. I do, however, really like overnight oats, but only if there is a smashed up banana in it. I top it with peanut butter, maybe some slivered almonds, and maybe too many dark chocolate chips
Dinner looks amazing and reminds me it’s been too long since I’ve had Salisbury steak.
I love farmer’s markets! Real ones. I have 2 here, they sell a very, very small amount of stuff they actually grow themselves. They are sort of disappointing.
I only like oatmeal in cookies! with chocolate… haha
That salad looks SO good – I love a pasta salad. And those raspberries?! Must get some tonight (if I make it to the store… i’m already trying to find excuses to not go)..
I’m sorry about the gym membership – hope an inexpensive opportunity comes up soon!
I LOVE oatmeal, but never, ever ever in the microwave !I like rolled oats on the stove ,or as in overnight oats in the fridge. I also ADORE steel cut oats. I find a little peanut butte or nuts added to these keeps me going for a long time
Guess I must be lucky because I love oatmeal. It’s my winter breakfast of choice. I also use it a LOT as a flour substitute in recipes. Margie , who blogs at My Healthy Living Through Weight Control has a recipe for crock pot oatmeal that looks pretty good. Here’s the link to that post.
http://myhealthylivingthruweightcontrol.blogspot.com/2009/09/bang-bang-shot-down-by-mr-scale.html
Loved the farmer’s market pics. I would love to travel all around the US visiting a farmer’s market in every state!!
Marisa Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Thanks for sharing that, Sharon!
Oatmeal’s definitely in my breakfast rotation! I actually like the consistency of microwaved oats. I usually just add a tbsp. of natural peanut butter and a sprinkle of granola for crunch.
I add soy nut butter to give my oatmeal staying power.
Love the farmers market finds – I enjoy going so much!
I agree burpees are super ridiculous and impossible!!
Raspberries look beautiful! I eat Oatmeal about 5-7 breakfasts a week. My favorite is 1 cup oats, 1 T. nut butter and 1 small banana.
I like oatmeal, but I wouldn’t be able to have it everyday. My favorite combo would have to be oats with banana and walnuts! Yummy!
Awe you will make it without the gym. Since I got on my journey to better health I have not stepped foot in a gym. I have done all my workouts on my own from home. I save tons of money and I’m in great shape now
As far as oatmeal I am a fan, although I don’t eat it too often cause I like having eggs for breakfast. But my fav is steel cut with raisins, a tablespoon of sunflower seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, a splash of milk, and a little honey.
I’m tempted to raid your fruits and veggies stash… and the pasta salad. Looks great!
Wait a sec. Egg whites come in powder form, too? I’m always the last to find out things. humpf.
Marisa Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
I found them in the baking aisle. Most often used for Royal Icing, but I thought I’d give it a whirl in some oats. Royal Icing is way better though
I do like oatmeal. I haven’t been too adventurous with flavors, but my staple is some cinnemon and raisins. Or some vanilla extract and dried cranberries. I’ve also used banana which is tasty.
At first I was like “why is Marisa’s salisbury steak so pasty!” Glad to read it was turkey!
I love savory oats – done on the stove top because I have the same texture issue as you – with cheddar cheese, turkey sausage, Tabasco
and a fried egg beater on top. You should try it!
Marisa Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
LOL! Pasty steak is BAD!
I use to devour oatmeal all the time! Now… not so much. I rarely ever eat it.
Hey,
I actually like oatmeal but very rarely have it because I usually get hypoglycemic when I eat it. Don’t know why, but I always had the feeling. And now I even have it on paper thanks to a routine blood test at my work where I was hypoglycemic just 2 hours after eating a bowl of oatmeal!!!
I absolutely love that cookbook by Devin Aleksander, especially the Brownie Bites!
I do love oatmeal, cooking stove top is the BEST way for oats! My favorite is making a pb&J oatwich- I slice 1/2 a banana into the oats while they are cooking and then when the oats are done I slice the rest of the banana on top and then add a tablespoon of nut butter and a tablespoon of jelly…mix and devour
Keeps me full for hours!
Jen
http://jenslosinit.blogspot.com/
Stove top oats rock! You know how I love my oats. Custard style with either a banana cooked in or pumpkin cooked in would by my favorite. It’s so hard to choose
I’m not an oatmeal fan. It’s just not my favorite thing to eat. But I do go through phases where I try to eat it and somewhat like it. For the most part I just avoid it and try other options.
I agree burpees are ridiculous but not impossible. Keep at it, it took a good 6 months before I didn’t feel like I was going to die. You can do it
Hi there! I just discovered your blog today and I love it. Healthy eating tips, in a way that is both delicious and doable, is right up my ally. Great blog – I plan on returning. Oh – and that oatmeal looks soooo yummy!
Marisa Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Thanks, Jocelyn! Welcome to the blog!
I’m definitely not an oatmeal eater. My brother’s favorite story is one day walking to school (back when we walked) and my friends asked where I was and he laughs and says “crying in her oatmeal!!” My mom wouldn’t let me up til I ate it – she said eat it or wear it I said I’ll wear it!! Still don’t eat it, although I know it’s supposed to be good for me!
Marisa Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Haha! I can relate – I had similar “sit til you eat “stories!
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I love the farmer’s markets. The produce lasts so much longer because it is so fresh.
I eat hot oatmeal in the winter months but not in the summer. I will mix uncooked oatmeal with yogurt and fruit in the summer for a nice overnight oats in a bowl for brekkie.
I could seriously eat oatmeal every single meal and be happy!
sweet (with fruits galore)
savory (cheese and some veggie sausage)
or DRY!!
I love oatmeal – although the hot weather has stopped me from craving it for breakfast. I like sweet oatmeal with banana, flaxseed, chia seeds, cinnamon, and almond butter. Another good addition is a sliced apple with cinnamon microwaved for a couple minutes in place of the banana.
Savory oatmeal is amazing too. Many people are grossed out but as long as you do it right (no sweet seasonings) it turns out great.