Some days simply getting to the gym is a victory. Nevermind trying to bust out a kick-butt workout, any workout will feel like an accomplishment (though I personally think you should feel proud of any workout)!
That was my attitude this morning. Just get to the gym and sweat a little bit. Nothin’ crazy.
I really wanted to go to power yoga, but the studio where I just purchased a package of classes only offers classes after 5 p.m. today and I like my evenings at home!
Since the Best Body Boot Camp program I am following called for a “cardio workout of your choice” today, I decided to keep my cardio nice and light and grabbed a few magazines and zoned out on the elliptical for 50 minutes.
I can’t remember the last time I did the elliptical for 50 minutes straight. While I normally would die of boredom, my magazines kept me entertained and my body was happy to enjoy a less intense workout. My hamstrings are quite sore, so low-impact cardio was a great option for me this morning.
Breakfast
Today’s breakfast was cold and creamy!
Earlier this week I cooked up a big batch of steel cut oats to have on hand throughout the week. (I’ve been loving a small bowl of oatmeal with a scoop of peanut butter and a handful of fresh berries for an afternoon pick-me-up. Gotta love healthy snacks!)
This morning I topped a cup of strawberry banana Greek yogurt with steel cut oats and chia seeds. I stirred everything up before letting it sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes so the chia seeds could thicken everything up a bit.
They were not-so-overnight oats, but they were chewy and thick enough for my liking within 30 minutes.
No need to wait all night! 
Of Possible Interest
- 8 Healthy Recipes for Passover (FitSugar.com)
- How to Rewire Your Brain and Control Food Cravings (HuffingtonPost.com)
- Snacking Tips for Peak Performance (Fitbie.MSN.com)
- Ginger Glazed Baby Carrots Recipe (BreakfasttoBed.com)
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I totally hear you on wanting weeknights at home! I would totally do more yoga if I could find a studio that offered it on a regular basis before work. I’m a morning exercise girl through and through!
I hear ya! Sometimes I make myself go to the gym just for 30 mins to sweat it out and call that a victory!
After 3 miles yesterday (at 4:30 in the afternoon, while the car said it was 84 degrees – ugh, Florida!) I am exhausted today and am really looking forward to a less intense workout today.
Did you know… Per Runner’s World – “Every five-degree rise in temperature above 60° F can slow your pace up to 20 to 30 seconds per mile”. Didn’t know that until after my afternoon run.
i’ve heard that before and DEFINITELY believe it! the heat really takes it out of you!
There are definitely times where I cannot spend more then 20 minutes on any piece of cardio equipment!
To help ease my boredom, I change up the resistance, incline, and/or speed often!
I also just downloaded the I Heart Radio music app and listen to a station called “Spin Cycle” which is great remixes of songs I already love!
Those oats look so good! And I completely agree about some days just making it to the gym is a victory! And there is no way I could do the elliptical for 50 minutes… I think I must be ADD. I have to at least switch around machines or do intervals!
i think i was still asleep for half the time i was on it today. 🙂
Hahaha that probably helped pass the time!
I do not like going to te gym at night. If I don’t go first thing in the morning, I usually can’t get motivated to go later.
My gym only offers yoga at night, so I do try to go to that once a week. It’s hard though!
Making a big batch of oats at the beginning of the week to last the entire week is such a good idea. I love food prep for the week. I really need to start doing that. It would make things easier 🙂
Amen sistah! Some days it is a huge feat in itself to get to the gym, let alone pump out any form of a workout…but like you said- we should be proud of any workout! Hope you have a great day!
FAUX-vernight oats are the best! They’re a weekend staple for me. Rather than being “committed” to overnight oats on Saturdays/Sundays, I leave it open in case I want to make use of the extra time on my hands and make a cooked breakfast…ironically enough, I almost always still go for the not-so-overnight oats!
That’s a great idea to make a big batch of oatmeal to have on hand for snacks! Last night I was thinking that oatmeal sounded like a good snack, but I didn’t feel like going through the process of making them at the time – would have been perfect if I already had some made!
Those must have been some good magazines, I would have stared at the clock for 49 mins 🙂
It must be in the air today. I made it to the gym for a 6 a.m. class, but for the most part stuck with the low-impact version. I looked like the chick in the back of every workout video that’s doing the beginner version. Whatever! At least I was there!
I have never tried chia seeds. I see them on blogs all of the time. I know they have some great health benefits but I have always been curious about the taste. Maybe I will have to give them a try 🙂
I am so with you today. I knew I couldn’t go to the gym tonight after work with my hubs because I have a meeting at 7, so I had to get up and go at 6 AM. I didn’t want to be tehre at all. I ended up doing the 30-minute circuit at planet fitness, which I think is great for days when you don’t feel like thinking about what to do and want to mix it up. It’s also SHORT!
Good magazines are key in order to not go bonkers on a cardio machine for that long. 😉 Unless I’m running … then I’d get nauseous trying to read!
I agree, I can’t workout at night! It’s just not going to happen! I feel so much better when I just get my workout out of the way in the morning! Anything is better than nothing, and sometimes a good old rest day is exactly what the body needs 🙂
I SO hear you on having days where you’re just happy you were able to go through the motions. I’m a speed and agility coach, so I spend my whole day sprinting…and then I still have to do my OWN workout. Sometimes we all think, “You gotta be kidding me!”
Super mega props on pushing through the motivational slump!
Yum, that oatmeal looks good. I’ve never tried chia seeds, but I hear they help you stay full longer.
I am the same way I like my week nights at home! I am excited that my new job allows me to work out in the AM!
I definitely have those days where getting to the gym is a struggle. I’m trying to switch my workouts to the morning so to make sure I have enough time!
danke for the pingback!! also? 50 minutes on the elliptical used to be something i did everyday-now, I can’t imagine. isn’t it funny how your habits change?
I love to jump on the recumbent bike with whatever book I’m reading for an easy workout. Reading material does make all the difference!
In what section of the grocery store do you find Chia seeds? I have been to a small health food store and also to my local Giant and cannot find them ANYWHERE! Hellllp!
Your breakfast looks like applesauce.
When I completely slacked on working out this past winter the way I got myself to go back to the gym was to *just go* for 30 minutes. Even if I slowly did the elliptical – it was at least breaking a sweat.
I know a lot of people complain about others going slowly on machines but hey, I think something is always better than nothign!
Was laughing my buns off last night watching the New Girl, that show is really funny. I hadn’t watched it till you mentioned it a few posts ago so I gave it a shot last night, hilarious! I was crying from laughing so hard when her BFF was carrying her over the 10K finish line as they were tearing everything down LOL!
The article you linked about Passover just made.my.week! I’ve been stressing about menu planning for Passover! Thank you!
Are those a special type of chia seed? When I buy them they are usually almost black. Are there varieties? Clearly I don’t know much about the chia haha
Thanks for the links – they are great! Also, thanks for the reminder to make a big batch of oats all at once to eat throughout out the week. I keep making one serving at a time but this makes so much more sense.
Yummmmm.
I hate spending my weekday evenings anywhere BUT at home. I had plans last night, I have some tonight, and some tomorrow – and while they’re all fun – a little part of me wants my couch 😉 hahaha
I agree… Every few weeks I catch up with my magazines and some lighter cardio and I love it! I always feel like I go out much stronger the next time after taking it easy for a day!
I do the elliptical for 50 mins (45 + cool down) a couple times a week only because I’ve found a way to fight the boredom – TV! but not just anything on those TVs attached to the machine (I HATE commercials). I bring my iphone and use the netflix app to watch anything I want! Glee is my ultimate favorite because when they break into song every few minutes, I can sprint on the elliptical! I swear by this. If you find a show you really love and get into it, you will love the elliptical and let me tell you it is SO easy to get your cardio done.
I had some hot oats this morning, but I’m in Canada, so it’s pretty much acceptable until…August lol
I couldn’t agree with you more — sometimes it’s nice to have a more ‘relaxing’ workout where you get your sweat on but aren’t killing yourself! I plan to do that tonight, especially because I’m on a cleanse so I can’t really do too much at the gym right now.
I have a similar elliptical workout planned for today too. I plan on watching last nights episode of the biggest loser while I do it!
I have to work out in the morning. Makes my whole day better.
Hi Julie! I just stumbled upon your blog a few weeks ago, and I loooove reading it every day! Your positive attitude and down-to-earth persnality are contagious! I just have a question about your circuit workouts: how do you know when 60 seconds or 30 seconds, etc. are up? Do you set some sort of timer on your phone? I really want to change up my workouts with circuits but I’d be constantly looking at my phone!! Please help!!
my gym has a clock on the wall that has a second hand, so i just follow that. 🙂 i think there are stopwatch apps for phones though!
That’s a ton of chia! You’ll have energy for days!
Hi Julie!
Following in Brita’s footsteps (almost wrote FOODsteps–Freudian slip?), I recently found your blog and have been incredibly inspired by your approach to life! A few blogs have enticed me to start my own, but it wasn’t until I began reading yours that I found the courage to go for it! So THANK YOU a million times and keep up the incredible work!
And I couldn’t agree more re: this post topic. There’s nothing wrong with approaching each workout with the attitude that you’ll just do the best you darn well can on that day, whether it means an easy walk or a full-on sweatfest!
that’s so wonderful to hear! thank you so much, laura lea! 🙂
Julie, did you watch last night’s New Girl? It was a great one 🙂 Jess ran a 6 mile race for charity in 3 hours haha
hahaha! i just laughed out loud at this COMMENT. i have it DVRed and can’t wait to watch tonight!!! 🙂
Good for you for going even when you weren’t in the mood! I need to remember this too- that something is always better than nothing and reading magazines or watching tv while working out is still great!
Haha, that was me today! I sat in a chair for about ten minutes trying to convince myself that I WILL NOT REGRET THIS WORKOUT. I felt good afterwards, for sure!
By the way, those oats look delicious!!
I’ve been slowly realizing not every workout needs to be balls to the walls super intense. So its been nice to scale things back and just be happy that I completed a workout
It’s like you’re in my mind today! Getting to the gym after work will be an accomplishment. But like they say, no one ever says they regretted a workout – no matter how intense it is!
Your chia seeds are a lot lighter than mine….wonder if that makes a difference? Probably not lol