Fitbook Giveaway Winner

Comment #5 was the winner of my Fitbook giveaway!

Brandi {1 of 2} said...

My tell 5 were Elaine, Tiffany, Brandi, Heather, IrisAnn. My aunt Joyce has heart disease.

February 23, 2011 1:37 AM 

Brandi, email me at katdoesdiets@gmail.com by March 2nd with your name and address. Congrats!

Coach's Oats Has Ruined Me

Coach's Oats sent me samples of their oats to review...I fell in love. All was well and good, then...I ran out.


Now it wasn't shocking to me that I fell in love with Coach's Oats. I'm a self proclaimed oatmeal freak. In fact oats have been a cornerstone of my healthy-living-weight-loss-be-the-best-me-I-can-be journey from the beginning. I have gone from instant oatmeal, to quick cook, to old fashioned, to Coach's Oats. My journey has been one of constant learning and adjustment, but what I've found for myself is that if my eating were a building, the four cornerstones of the foundation would be: oats; fruits and veggies; protein and protein and some more protein; and what I call healthy indulgences (foods I consider healthy but watch the portions) like dark chocolate, nuts, coffee with half and half, etc. So, of course I fell in love with Coach's Oats. I love me some oatmeal.


What did shock me however was last week when I ran out of Coach's Oats (note to self: don't do that again) and tried my regular old fashioned oats again, well, I'll let the tweet speak for itself:

@katdoesdietsKerri

Ran out of Coach's Oats yesterday, decided I'd just have regular oatmeal this morning...blech, was it always this mushy? LOL.

23 Feb via web Favorite Reply Delete

The response I received was that yes, in fact, yes it was. Who knew?! 

So, yes, Coach's Oats has ruined me for all other oats apparently. 


Meh, I'm OK with that.


Have you ever tried a new or healthier version of a food and had it ruin you?

Sunday Quote

All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you.
Wayne Dyer

Tracking Blog

I am going to start tracking better on my tracking blog Adventures in Tracking again. I haven't been weighing, but I feel like I've gained in the month of February. I've had good weeks and bad weeks, but overall I need to get real here. My jeans are tight, I'm going in the wrong direction. Time to adjust. I enjoyed tracking on my tracking blog and my favorite part was that it made me really think about what I was putting in my face.

I may not track daily (it can get time consuming taking pics and posting daily) but I will try to post several times a week.

Speaking of tracking....have you entered my fitbook giveaway?!

Social Media Validation

Do you ever get caught up in social media validation? By that I mean, looking at how many RT's and @'s you get on Twitter...or how many comments people leave on your blog...maybe how many emails you get from blog readers or bloggy friends. Not just looking at these things, but looking at them as if they're some measure of you...as a person.


This last week I've realized that I have been. I've found myself thinking: hmm, no one has talked to me on twitter today, weird, and wow, that blog post only got 1 comment, wonder why? or maybe hmm, my blog views are down a little, what am I doing wrong? and my favorite why did those bloggers unfollow me on twitter? did I offend?


Now, I do look at my blog as more than just an online journal, so I do pay attention to views and comments and metrics like that, but here's the thing: when did all of that cross over into feeling I need these things to feel OK? Because it has!


The last week I've found myself feeling bad because certain metrics, certain stats were faltering. Bad about myself! Just when I feel like I'm doing well, making all around progress, wham, that wrecking ball of insecurity comes smashing in.


Just when I think I'm making progress in not seeking validation outside of myself, boom, I realize somewhere else I'm seeking that validation. Tell me I'm OK Twitter, tell me I'm good enough facebook, gmail don't look at me like I'm the fat lonely girl again.


Sometimes I wonder if that insecure teenager inside will ever feel good about herself?! Will that little girl inside ever stop crying out for someone to love her?


It's hard for me to separate my blog from myself. It is such a personal thing, I put a lot of tough stuff out there, but at the same time: it's not ME. Just because less people, or more people read it, that's no reflection of who I am or am not. 


Yes, I want my blog to be successful, yes I have my reasons for this, but none of this should be connected to my confidence. To my self esteem. To how I feel on any given day.


I'm sort of laughing at myself right now, it's amazing that I was letting myself get wrapped up in this silliness this week. 


Yes I love my blog, but NO it is not me. It is not who I am. Just because 5,000,003 people read it or 3 people read it that doesn't reflect on who I am and shouldn't affect how I feel about myself either! I'm OK whether I have 2 twitter followers or 2,000. I'm still me. I'm still the me that has lost the 50 lbs, the me that ran a marathon, the me that is learning to take better care of herself every day.


Note to self: get over it.


Do you ever find yourself seeking validation, approval even, from social media realms? Do you think social media can be another version of the cool kids table?

My Running Playlist

What's on your workout playlist?

My running playlist is kind of corny. Sort of a mix of utter randomness and pre-teen pop? 

Ya, something like that.

It's a happy playlist.

Hey, whatever gets me through the run right?

So, for your amusement...entertainment...curiosity...whatever, I thought I'd share my running playlist:

Love Story (Pop Mix) Taylor Swift

How Do You Sleep? Jesse McCartney

Unwritten Natasha Bedingfield

Pocketful of Sunshine Natasha Bedingfield

Since U Been Gone Kelly Clarkson

Circus Britney Spears

Miss Independent Kelly Clarkson

Just Dance Lady GaGa

When I Grow Up Pussycat Dolls

My Hallelujah Song Julianne Hough (my favorite song)

The Climb Miley Cyrus

Ray of Light Madonna

Don't Stop the Music Rihanna

Hot N Cold Katy Perry

Washed By the Water Needtobreathe

Stay Sugarland

Red High Heels Kelly Pickler

Live Your Life T.I.

Feel That Fire Dierks Bentley

Song of the South Alabama

Objection Shakira

So What Pink

Cowboy Take Me Away Dixie Chicks

Hips Don't Lie Shakira

Before He Cheats Carrie Underwood

Don't Cha Pussycat Dolls

Sandstorm Darude

Superwoman Alicia Keys

Hollaback Girl Gwen Stefani

Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison

Happy Ayiesha Woods

The Lucky One Faith Hill

So Beautiful Superchick

Hello Sugarland

Mississippi Girl Faith Hill

Rock What You Got Superchick

California Gurls Katy Perry

Battlefield Jordin Sparks

I Gotta Feeling Black Eyed Peas

What a Feeling (Flashdance) Irene Cara

Bad Romance Lady Gaga

Sweet Home Alabama Lynyrd Skynyrd

If Today Was Your Last Day Nickelback

That's Not My Name The Ting Tings

You Found Me The Fray

Halo Beyonce

Jane Eyre Unabridged

Yes, it's long. I started it when I was marathon training. I listened to all of Jane Eyre during that time (it's looong). It's a random, occasionally cheesy mix, but it's somehow...me.

While we're talking random, I just love this: Pink at 2010 Grammys. Now that's STRONG. "Have you ever looked fear in the face and said I just don't care?" Love.


Have a great Thursday!

Fitbook Giveaway!

As you probably know, February is Heart Month. Fitbook (my favorite tracking tool) has teamed up with The American Heart Association to encourage women to GO RED.

I participated in spreading the news with their blog your heart out day and was chosen to give away a fitbook here on my blog. Hooray!

*photo courtesy of fitnessandspice.com

Now, to the good part...to be entered to win your own fitbook:

1. Must be a US resident.
2. Leave a comment below telling me: the first names of the women you signed up as part of tell 5 save lives; or tell me if you or someone you know has been affected by heart disease.
3. You can also tweet, blog, or facebook (or all 3) about this giveaway and leave me a comment below that you did, please include a link to this post.
4. Winner will be chosen via random.org from comments on this post Monday February 28, 2011 noon my time (mountain).

Good luck and happy heart month!

Disclaimer: I am hosting this giveaway for fitbook and receive no compensation for this post.

Embracing My Behind

Lately I feel perpetually behind. 


Behind on my writing.


Behind on my workouts.


Behind on my housework.


Behind on my weight loss.


Behind, behind, behind. Seriously, let's not even discuss my gmail inbox.


With all of the things on my plate it seems like there are so many days I'm doing good to just tread water. I feel like I'm in a constant state of trying to catch up. Here's the thing though: in always tending to look forward to the day when I'll be 'caught up'...I am missing today.


Yes, there are a lot of things on my plate right now, but at the same time they were all carefully chosen by me. I am mindful to not be busy just for the sake of busy. I try to watch my priorities and say no when I need to say no. So, why do I feel so overwhelmed lately?


I think the root of my problem here is I still struggle with thinking I need to do all these things perfectly. I'm a recovering perfectionist I guess you could say. I realize full-well that I will never be perfect and shouldn't even expect it of myself, but at the same time those expectations lurk in the back of my mind sometimes.


So, I'm going to embrace my behind...or maybe my behindedness?


Not meaning that I'm going to give myself permission to be a slacker, but that I give myself permission to not always be perfect at everything. Permission to do my best and then just not stress.


My house will not always be perfect, because we kinda sorta insist on living here. My workouts will not always be perfect; there will be days I oversleep and days that simply run away with themselves. And today's post, well it was supposed to be a fitbook giveaway (please come back tomorrow for that!) but I swapped it with what was to post tomorrow, because I didn't have time to finish it.


But that's OK. 


What is not OK is focusing so much on catching up or thinking forward to the ever elusive day that I will be completely caught up (as in perfect) so much that I'm not really enjoying today. This day. Because this is the day I live in. Not tomorrow, not yesterday.


So, yes I'm embracing my behind. It's where I am right now. And that's OK.

What Are Your 3?

I think a lot of times we tend to focus on the negatives of healthy living. We look at the things we have to take away, we look at the hard work that needs done, we look at the daunting amount of weight we have to lose. We look at the can'ts instead of the cans. 

This negative focus only fosters feelings of deprivation and resentment.

For me, it helps to focus on the positive. I try to  look at the things I'm adding in instead of what I'm taking out. I try to focus on the cans instead of the can'ts. Just a little shift in focus can change everything. It can take me from feeling deprived and resentful of my healthy living goals to enjoying the journey.

Instead of thinking of what you can't have or do, how about asking yourself:

1. What are 3 new healthy foods you want to try?
2. What are 3 reasons you want to improve your body/health?
3. What 3 new activities do you want to try this year?
4. What are 3 positive things you notice about yourself when you are making healthy choices?
5. What 3 fitness related goals do you want to take on?
6. What are 3 things you will do when you've reached your healthy living goals?
7. What 3 words do you want people to use to describe you?

So...what are your 3?

Sunday Quote

Ninety-nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses.
George Washington Carver

You Don't Have to Have Deep Pockets

Yes, there are a lot of great books, DVDs, fitness games, etc out there, but if you can't afford to go out and buy them there are always options. 


Of course we can just go out for a walk. We can do things like jumping jacks and push ups. All free. 


As far as information goes, there's information overload online! 


There is always something we can do. And let's face it, something is always better than nothing.


Point being, finances are NOT an excuse to not live healthy. 


Case in point, my latest library haul:

These are all things I've been wanting to read/try lately, but didn't want to shell out the money for (yes, I'm cheap). There are many books/workouts I happily buy. But for things like Zumba, that I'm just not sure about, I'm ecstatic when I find them at the library to try first! Yes folks, that's a Zumba DVD in there. I'm not real big on dance workouts, but this one intrigues me. Sometimes you have to wait a while on a holds list, but if I wind up hating a workout, I'm so much better off being patient.


I also get a lot of workouts on Netflix. They have some on instant play and many more on DVD. I have tried many this way and then decided I didn't like them enough to buy. And a few I fell in love with and couldn't get on Amazon fast enough.


Have you checked out the myriad of fitness/weight loss/healthy living titles at your library or Netflix? What are your healthy living cheap tips?

Jay Robb Coupon Code

Hey guys, just wanted to pass on this discount code for jayrobb.com. Use BLOGKDD119 at checkout for 15% off. You can see my Jay Robb review here.

*FTC Disclaimer: this is not an affiliate link, nor do I make anything on this post, or sales using this code. 

That's Not My Name

This post is inspired by the Ting Tings. Yes, bizarre, I know. My creative process runs a muck often.


You see, I have this song on my running playlist:



In some weird way, it inspires me. OK, maybe I have no idea what the words really say, and I take it to say completely different. Meh, I'm OK with that.


OK, backing up a bit. I was pregnant at age 17 and after having my oldest son, I was lost. I had no idea what to do with my life. Here I was in charge of another human life and not doing such a great job with my own. After attempting to be married to his father for a brief, horrible, time I was on my own.


I decided I needed to put myself through college. If I was going to be able to afford to support us I needed better than a high school education. 


It was a rough time. I worked full or part time and went to school full time. Add to that being a single mom and yes, my life was beyond hectic. And stressed. And tight on money. And lonely...and, and, you get the picture.


I turned to food a lot. I gained weight. A lot. I was ashamed and embarrassed. And people...well, they can be mean.


I remember one day during that time: 


I had a full day of classes and work. My son was at my aunt's house and I was on my way home to get him. I had skipped lunch and I was starving. I swung into the Arby's drive through. As I pulled in the speaker squawkily asked me to please wait. I waited. I'd had a horrible day and a LOT of things on my mind. Not to mention I was driving 45 minutes each way to get to school. Time was not something I had a lot of, but I was starved and had a long ride home, so I waited. And waited. And waited.


A car pulled up behind me. A car full of teenagers. I didn't think too much about it. They were loud, their music was loud. Teenagers. After about a minute of waiting the driver loudly flings out of his window, "Come on, just order everything on the menu and get it over with Fatty!"


I wanted to drive away, I wanted to disappear, I wanted him to disappear. Ouch. I wanted to say something back. I wanted. Not. To. Be. Fat.


Finally, they came back and took my order and I went on my way, but I can picture that scene and feel those emotions like it was yesterday. 


This is one incident. There were many others in my life. I'm sure many of you have your own similar stories. They hurt.


That's where the Ting Tings song comes in. I wish I could go back and hug that me, and tell her: Fatty? That's not my name. Useless, ugly, stupid....That's not my name. Big girl, loser, xyz pounds on the scale. That's. Not. My. Name.


I spent many years beating myself up and being carelessly torn down by others. But you know what? That's not my name! I'm pretty great. It may have taken me a while to figure that out, but I know it now. And, no, you're not full of yourself if you like yourself. It's not weird to love yourself. These are things I used to think!


If any of you are there, in that horrible place I was, don't let it take you so long to figure out that you're great. Let me tell you, you're great. Yes, you.


A little wisdom from the Ting Tings. Who knew? ;)

Are You Going to Fitbloggin?

Last year I wanted to go to fitbloggin. Really. Badly. 


However, I couldn't afford it and as a fledgling blogger sponsorship wasn't in the cards. I sat at home and hung on every tweet and every post from the bloggers who attended. 


I promised myself I would go in 2011.


You may have read about my love for Coach's Oats. If not, go read...I'll wait. 


Not only am I head over heels for the product, but the company too. They value bloggers, they get bloggers, they're just an amazing company all the way around. 


So, when they approached me offering to sponsor me to fitbloggin I was ecstatic...to say the least! 


I am so excited to have such an amazing sponsor with a product I am a true fan of, sponsorship or no.


I'M GOING TO FITBLOGGIN! Woooo! (insert happy dance here)


Have you tried Coach's Oats? Will I see you at fitbloggin??


P.S. Happy Valentine's Day! In my excitement I forgot all about it. Oops.

Sunday Quote

Your relationships can only be as healthy as you are.
Neil Clark Warren

BLOG YOUR HEART OUT DAY

Today I am joining bloggers around the globe along with fitbook and the American Heart Association for Blog Your Heart Out Day. A day for us to speak up about the number one killer of women--heart disease.

February is American Heart Month. A few facts from The American Heart Association:

• Heart disease is the number one cause of death among women 20 and older, killing about one woman every minute.
• More women die of heart disease than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.
• 90% of women have one or more risk factors of developing heart disease.
• On average 2200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of 1 death every 39 seconds.

Staggering facts, yes? I had no idea.

The American Heart Association has a great page on getting healthy to fight back at this killer. It discusses things we can do, like losing weight, quitting smoking, exercising, etc. Definitely go check out that link. 

Ladies, I encourage you to join the go red for women movement online at goredforwomen.org and make it your mission to tell 5 other women about the risks of heart disease.

Obviously, it's not just women.


My grandfather died of a massive heart attack at 70. Thing is, many men in his family lived to be in their 90's. Just out of the blue, he was gone. 


Know your risk, talk to your doctor about lipo-protein blood screening, and if you haven't yet: start making healthy choices TODAY. Let's celebrate February by taking care of OUR hearts!

I am not easily defeated!

I had the craziest evening last night, I just had to share my story. 


I was supposed to host the #FitStudio chat on twitter. My internet went down yesterday morning. I wasn't too worried, it does this on occassion.


So, I called the company. Now, we have rural, out in the middle of nowhere, something close to high speed type internet....ya, the joys of rural living. The guy on the phone, who is always the same guy on the phone, said he had a line of people in front of me and he would call me back.


No call. None. So, I decided I would go out to my in-laws because they live about 5 miles away on the family ranch where they can get DSL. Lucky them.


Went out to start my Durango. The driver door was frozen shut. All other doors were locked. The keys? In it.


Frantically, I came in looking for spare keys. Couldn't find. So, I go back out and hammer at the ice on the outside of the car, get most of it broken off. Still won't open.


I have called hubby 5,000,003 times by now with no answer as to where he is. My only other option to drive is our Dodge truck, which is filled with firewood still from last weekend.


By now it's a little after 6 and the chat starts at 6:30. I am not one to tell someone I'm going to do something and then not do it. I was crushed. I came in the house and laughed. One of those well, crap, what else ya gonna do laughs.


I thumb typed my chat questions and sent them to Sarah at Fit Studio.


At that moment my PHONE decides to slow down. I can't even get uber twitter to move. It's a bit past 6:30 and chatters are, well, chatting! Blargh. I was beginning to think I wouldn't even be able to participate in the chat I was supposed to host!


Then, at that moment, hubby rode in on his white horse...OK, he drove up in our $600 Honda named Andy. With...his company laptop...that has a Verizon internet card!! Woot!


I was able to do the chat, although the connection was just a bit slow...then, then, oh, I almost can't say it...once the chat was over...Hubby hooked up our other wireless router (yes, for some crazy reason we have two) and bing. Up came the internet on my laptop. Yep, it was just our router.


What a night. So...how was your Wednesday night?

Healthy Living Lessons From my Kids

We really can learn a lot from our kids. If left to their own devices, for the most part, kids seem to know what to choose, what to do to be healthy. Granted society has marketed much junk at them, but it's our job as parents to wade through that. I think we all probably know what to choose, deep down. Many of us have just spent years ignoring it. Pushing it down. I really do think we have a lot to learn from those that haven't yet ignored their natural instincts.


From my sweet 5 year old I have learned "Full, but not real full." He says this after every meal. What he means is that he is satisfied, but not stuffed. What a concept, right?


From my awesome 7 year old I have learned that we just "Gotta get outside and play." Winters are hard for this son. He is quite the outdoors-man. The other day it was snowing and there was about a foot of snow on the ground. He donned his big coat, gloves, boots, hat, the whole spiel and tromped out into the elements. You see, it had been below zero for days and although snowing it was the first day it was warm enough to be outside. So he went, he played, he came back in happy.


From my wonderful teen I have learned that sleep is vital. If that boy does not get his sleep, whew, he's cranky. Hmm, he may get that from his mama. When he is well rested, he's my normal jokester kid. He is funny about his sleep, he came in the other day proudly proclaiming, "That is a record! I slept for 12 hours!" He'd been out late, and obviously we don't all need that much sleep, but you get the picture.


Imagine. If we all just followed these 3 things, daily. How much better would we feel? Eat just until we're satisfied, not stuffed. Get outside and play. Get our sleep. It really is that simple.

Every Day Can Be Monday!!

Well, if you're not fond of Mondays that title may not delight you. But it's true, every day can be Monday or be January 1st...a fresh start that is.


I had a bad weekend. OK, bad is kind. Monumentally terrible? Yes, that's a bit closer. I didn't just fall off the wagon, I lit it on fire and rolled it down a rocky cliff side with a river of lava at the bottom...ya, something like that.


I binged. It is hard to admit that, but it is true. I binged pretty much all weekend long. Yesterday too. 


My pants are now tight. Like, tight, tight. I'm glad I'm not weighing because I don't want to see it. It's crazy how much weight I can gain so quickly. Yet it takes forever to take weight off. Sigh. Such is my metabolism. 


I screwed up (understatement). I stumbled (don't we all). Now what?


Well, first, I will not beat myself up, been there, done that, it's no help and no good for me.


Second, back to basics. Today I will: workout at least 30 minutes and track my food.


Third, I will love me. In the past I would have hated me, loathed me, been disgusted with me. Yes, I've sabotaged myself again, yes I've set my progress back. But if someone I love messes up, do I hate them? Do I shame them? If my kids mess up, do I do these things? No, I love them, and guide them through. Why should I be any different with myself? I shouldn't.


I had a really rough weekend emotionally. Food was my medication. I'm not really sure what started all of it, but I do know I've been teetering on the edge of depression again lately. I haven't been doing all of the things I need to do to keep that at bay. When I'm feeling good it's easy to let these things slide, but not a good choice in taking care of me! Realizing I'm sliding back into it is actually progress for me, normally I'm deeply mired in it before I even notice. I think that choosing to deal with my depression via natural means is a good choice for me, but I have to be very on top of it to say the least. Now that I see it I can be proactive and kick it in the tail before it gets a hold.


I really didn't want to write this post, I wanted to write something sunshine and rainbows, but one of the most important things to me with my blog is honesty. Honesty with myself and honesty with you. I like to think of myself as someone who has it together, and when I'm not acting like that someone that has it together...it's really hard for me to admit.


So, today is my Monday, my January 1st, my fresh start. Every day, every moment can be. You know?

Sunday Quote

The weakest living creature, by concentrating his powers on a single object, can accomplish something: the strongest, by dispersing his over many, may fail to accomplish anything.
Thomas Carlyle

Mantra

Call it my new mantra, or maybe it's a positive affirmation? Who knows. But I find myself repeating:


Expecting the positive, expecting the positive, expecting the positive...


a lot lately. Just reminding myself.


Do you EXPECT the positive? 

Recent Reads

Thought I'd share what I've been reading lately.

The Great Fitness Experiment. Loved this book. Good information on a lot of different fitness options along with some funny stories, all woven together with a touching account of Charlotte's battles with an eating disorder and over-exercising. Recommend.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. Wow. Really made me think and examine my life. Highly recommend.

The Paleo Solution. Enjoyed. Very informative. If you're curious about Paleo, definitely recommend. While I enjoyed The Paleo Diet by Loren Cordain, I would say this is a better read.

Gold Medal Fitness. This book was just OK for me. I wound up skimming the last half. Not a plan that's for me.

The New Rules of Lifting for Women. Liked this book, but it wasn't much new information to me. I was glad I checked it out from the library instead of buying. If you're new to weights it might be a good read for you.

I tend to devour books. I read a lot. My library is definitely my friend. How about you, read any good books lately?

Excuse Busting

What's your top excuse?


You know, the one you use to make it OK while you eat half a tub of ice cream or a pan of brownies (what, that's just me?). 


Mine is "Oh, I just don't care!"


Nonsense, right? Absolutely. But it's the one I use. Over and over again I have told myself this.


Thing is, I DO care. Obviously. Still, it's my go to excuse when I want to throw everything out the window and be stupid.


So, today I'm sitting down and writing out: Why I DO care. Then, next time I tell myself that I in fact do not care I will take out my journal and read it. Will it help? It's the best idea I have at the moment!


How about you? What's your top excuse?


**2011 journal exercise: Write down your top excuse. Now, write out why it's absolute bunk. Be detailed, be real with yourself.

My New Love

I am an oatmeal freak. Yes, yes I am. I LOVE my oatmeal. Not only is it one of my favorite go-to breakfasts, but I'm known to have it for lunch and dinner on occasion too. Many a no-grain diet has crashed and burned into fiery flames because I love me some oats.


(Yes, that is the hallelujah chorus coming up in the background again.) Recently I was sent some samples of Coach's Oats. And this oatmeal freak...in love!


This is what they look like un-cooked:

What makes these oats different? From their blog:

• Traditional steel cut oats take about 30 minutes to cook on the stove. Coach’s Oats can be made in 3 to 5 minutes on the stove or in the microwave.
• You can bake with Coach’s Oats! Traditional steel cut oats need to be pre-soaked or cooked before baking.
• It only takes 1/3 cup of Coach’s Oats to make 1 cup of oatmeal. You would need ½ cup of rolled oats to make the same amount.
• Steel cut oats (and Coach’s Oats) have a lower glycemic index rating than instant oatmeal.(The GI rating measures the rates carbohydrate foods increase blood glucose levels 2-3 hours after they are eaten. The lower the GI rating, the less of a spike in blood glucose levels you will have and subsequently a more stable energy level).
• To see previous posts on benefits of oatmeal such as mood-boosting benefits, breakfast habits, healthy heart, and exercise tips please click the links.

I have made them:

With a scoop of white chocolate whey protein and a sliced banana.

With a scoop of white chocolate whey protein and some strawberries.

With a scoop of vanilla whey protein and some fresh strawberries and blueberries.

With a scoop of vanilla whey protein and lots of fresh blueberries.

With half a scoop vanilla whey protein, a splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, cinnamon, and sliced apple.

Yes, there is a theme here. I love my oats with whey protein and fruit. Fabulous. I'm also working on some recipes baking with Coach's Oats. I'll keep you posted.


I love these oats, I love the different texture, I love the taste, and I love the nutrition stats! The 1/4 cup (dry) packets I have: 120 calories, 20.25g Carb, 4.5g protein. And yes, I am completely satisfied with the above recipes with just 1/4 a cup of oats, I was surprised!


Have you tried Coach's Oats?


FTC Disclaimer: Yes the oats were sent to me free for review. No, I receive no compensation for gushing my passionate love for them. Opinions and obsessions are 100% my own.