I finally got to use the plump blueberries I found the other day at W.F. this morning in my oats! I can’t tell you how excited I am to have them back….except these were a little pricey and I thought they were on sale but found out at the cash register they were more than I thought 🙁 Oh well…they’re a superfood! I made steel cut oats with peanut butter, blueberries and skim milk (and a splash of maple syrup). I also had english breakfast tea with cane sugar in it (really trying to get away from splenda now–you guys need to hold me accountable for it!).
I have school this morning of course but then I’m coming home to cook…I picked a fun recipe for this week out of “Eat, Drink and Be Healthy” and can’t wait to try it!
Around 330 calories…for the first time in a long time I didn’t measure anything out….spooned some pb out of the container, threw in a splash of milk and a handful of blueberries….although I think I added too much milk though because it turned out a little soupier than usual! haha!
VeggieGirl
February 4, 2008 at 1:23 pmJenna, you took the words right out of my mouth – I too found GORGEOUS blueberries at W.F. the other day, and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying them (since I have deeply missed my berries!!). I’ve even been able to find decent strawberries at W.F., as well!!
Have fun in class today – looking forward to seeing which recipe you picked out!! :0)
katie
February 4, 2008 at 1:26 pmhey there jenna! we both live in orlando and just so you know… blueberries are on sale at public for $1.5 each! and they are SO good. i’m addicted to them, too!
katie
February 4, 2008 at 1:27 pmi meant publix, of course 🙂
Lisa
February 4, 2008 at 1:48 pmDid you put your blueberries in after you cooked the oatmeal or during? I put some blueberries in mine yesterday morning as the oatmeal was cooking but just didn’t seem to turn out that great. I guess it’s preference!
ibex
February 4, 2008 at 1:48 pmjenna! I followed your lead, no measuring today…it feels good, thanks for your encouragement 🙂
hk
Kelly
February 4, 2008 at 1:50 pmGood morning everyone! I’m just looking for some advice on this…
I have mentioned before that I’m trying to put on a little bit of weight. I know several others are as well. I don’t consider myself a binger by any means (if I’m full I stop eating) but the past couple of nights I’ll make myself a big ice cream cone with Dreyer’s cookies and cream ice cream. It’s so yummy that I want another one so I make ANOTHER one. I’m satisfied after the second one and quite a happy camper. I’m worried that this is not a good thing to be doing and I’m just thinking of putting the ice cream in the trash so that I don’t do this. I can always go out for ice cream if I really want it. On the other hand I tell myself it’s okay because I’m trying to put on weight and instead of one cone I’m having two.
Does anyone have any advice in this area? Would you throw out the ice cream or keep it? I know this sounds so silly but it just got me thinking. I’m trying to live a healthy lifestyle and two big ice cream cones a night isn’t it (but they are oh so good) 🙂 Thanks everyone!
Marnie
February 4, 2008 at 2:01 pmKelly,
honestly I don’t think two is that big of a deal- when I go out for ice cream, they make it twice the size as a serving on a container- so i think it depends how big you are making your cones.
Are you a personal trainer? I know there is a kelly on kath’s board that is.
Andrea
February 4, 2008 at 2:04 pmjenna – i think your no measuring idea is so liberating! it’s great to listen to your body and not be as obsessed with exact calories… i’m trying to do this too this week! thanks for your inspiration 🙂
VTvegetarian
February 4, 2008 at 2:37 pmJenna,
I was wondering when you get the chance, could you post exactley how you make your steel cut oats (what brand you use, how to make them the night before and then out to reheat them in morning, how to make them THAT morning). You eat them a lot and I eat instant all the time. I would love to stop eating instant and start eating steel cut oats!!! Anyway, putting that in the FAQ section would be great because I have seen alot of other people ask about your oats! Thanks!!!
blueberrybabe
February 4, 2008 at 2:50 pmjenna i second the steel cut oats question! it seems like a million people have asked it so you can save yourself some energy and just post it in FAQ! I always make my oatmeal with all milk (no water) so if you can post how to make it that way that would be great too. Also brand names woul be helpful bc when I went to buy steel cut I had a hard time finding…. thanks and have a good day!
blueberrybabe
February 4, 2008 at 3:04 pmanother cooking question- the other day when some people responded to my post about learning how to cook it semmed like every person gave a different time to add garlic to the pan (in a stir fry or meat or vegetable cooking situation). some people said oil and garlic should be the first in the pan and other said add it last and some in the middle! now i am confused. i have heard that garlic can burn and make the whole dish taste bad so which is it? thanks!
Phoebe
February 4, 2008 at 3:08 pmResponse to Kelly — my 2 cents is that I would keep the ice cream. I’ve had to gain weight in the past and I did things like that. I know people say “increase healthy fats and servings of whole grains” or whatever but it’s easier and takes up less room to eat more dessert! Assuming you already eat a healthy diet, having 2 servings of dessert is not that big a deal and I think that trying to rigidly control yourself by throwing the ice cream out would be unpleasant. Also, even if you are doing this “every night” right now, I’m sure you won’t be doing it every night forever, so in the big scheme of things, it is not too unhealthy. So, my totally non-expert advice is to enjoy your ice cream while you feel like eating it and not to worry about it.
Sara F
February 4, 2008 at 3:09 pmJenna-
I’m going to have to join with everyone else in agreeing that not measuring is a really nice way to go. I’m all about healthy eating but its so easy to take things too far (I have done it many times myself). Thanks for the positivity about food, I’m going to keep working on being less aware of my calories and more aware of my body’s signals. Not easy…but worth it.
Now…a question completely unrelated to food ( just to mix it up a bit) Do you have a favorite movie? Have you ever seen the german film Mostly Martha (its about a chef but its also a cute romance….just thought I’d make a recommendation) 🙂
Amy
February 4, 2008 at 3:21 pmoh my gosh, I can’t believe you just referenced Mostly Martha! I watched that in German class back in college and I think I had to write a long essay about it in German. I think a lot of my grade depended upon Mostly Martha. haha I practically forgot about it until now.
katie #2
February 4, 2008 at 3:22 pmYay for a measure-free week!
What I just love about this group is that we all seem to be on the same page and Jenna, our fearless leader, is providing us a great role model. There are no squabbles here. We just all support one another no matter where we are in our own journey.
I must admit, I’m not sure I trust my body to eat in such an unfettered way as Jenna (that’s a compliment, btw!) simply because I am not sure my matabolism will be quite as cooperative as hers seems to be, but nonetheless, her overall approach seems to be aligned with all of her readers. That’s what makes this group so special in my mind.
Let’s stay kind to one another! Many thanks for your leadership and generosity, Jenna!
Trina
February 4, 2008 at 3:24 pmJenna, just caught up from the weekend and wanted to say that I think all of your ideas are great and you have such a great attitude about everything. Thanks for showing us all how to be healthy and for the awesome positivity you have about life!! It really shows through your blog!
arimcg
February 4, 2008 at 3:26 pmI hate measuring!! I got caught up in the whole measuring thing for a while last year, and I just can’t handle being that strict. I’d much rather trust myself to eyeball most things, and I haven’t gained any weight because of the switch (nor did I lose any when I started measuring).
Mandy
February 4, 2008 at 3:30 pmJenna or ladies…
We made the roasted chicken last night… SO good! Thanks for the inspiration!
Okay, I have never made butternut squash before… and I was going to follow your recipe and double it. I don’t have unsalted butter or sea salt, though… I can easily stop and pick them up after work… but was just curious as to if I really needed to? Or can I use regular butter and salt? Didn’t know how much of a difference it made… sorry to ask a silly question.. but want it to taste great!
Thanks 🙂
Laura
February 4, 2008 at 3:38 pmThis may come as a surprise to many readers, but when I stopped measuring and started ‘eyeballing’ my food and listening to my body, I actually LOST weight!
Once I took the focus off of measuring foods and obsessing, I was able to actually live life. As a result, I actually lost a few pounds and have maintained it ever since. What a novel concept! I will never go back to calorie counting again.
Sarah C
February 4, 2008 at 3:48 pmJenna:
I don’t know if you’ve heard about this before, but every Sunday there is a farmers market in down town Orlando (at Lake Eola) from 10am-4pm. My roommate and I went today…It was GREAT! They have tons of fresh local and organic produce (for soooo cheap! I got a pound of cherries for ONE DOLLAR!!), craft stands, live music, and yummy food!! Plus lots of free samples! We have already decided to make it a regular Sunday excursion…you should definitely check it out sometime!
Keep the icecream! It’s good, and there is no need to waste perfectly good cookies and cream!
katie #2
February 4, 2008 at 3:55 pmI know, Laura! The looser I am with regard to food, the lighter I feel physically and emotionally! I think it has something to do with trust in myself! Sort of along the lines of Jenna’s post last evening based on Shape magazine’s editor’s observation that children just intuitively listen to their body’s needs. Somehow we got mixed up in this concept that we need to measure and regulate! And, it only made us more anxious, more obsessed and crazy around food. I know in my experience too, it only lead to more unhappiness with my body. This is the year that I am really going to “get over it.”
Evie
February 4, 2008 at 3:58 pmWhat’s the healthiest way to gain weight?
Both my GYN and my internal medicine doctor want me to gain at least 5 lbs (preferably 7 or 8), so I was just wondering, what’s the healthiest and best way to gain a couple of extra pounds?
Yay for the no measuring thing Jenna! I think it’s great just to pour and eat whatever it is that the body wants and needs…
I was wondering, could the regulars here at the blog introduce and talk abou themselves a little more? that way jenna would know who her readers area and readers can find out who each other.. just to make this community all the more positive and a little more intimate?
I’ll start!
My name is Evie and I’m from Chicago, but currently am away at college. I’m a nursing major and this is my sophomore year of school. I LOVE nursing, but let me tell you, it’s a lot of work! I should be studying how to insert IVs, lol, but I’m on Jenna’s blog right now, hehe.
I am a vegetarian and have been since May of 2007 and I can’t ever think to go back to eating meat (GO VEGGIES!).
Last year, I had gained the Freshman 15 and went through extensive exercise routine and restricted my calories and I think I went a little overboard because by the summertime I was down to a skeletal 97 lbs!
I’ve been slowly trying to gain some of the needed weight back, but it’s a constant struggle. I do not have an ED, I have no problem with gaining the weight back… I’m just having trouble deciding whether to gain the weight back by eating tons of junk food or by eating tons of good food… it’s difficult for me to create some type of plan! Need some help in that.. currently I weigh 103, but I’m trying to at least go up to 108, but the preferred weight goal is 110.
I stumbled on this blog after reading about it over at Eat Like Me, and I must say, this blog is so refreshing and awesome to read.. I enjoy it very much and like the healthy relationship Jenna has with food… It’s something we should all have!
Well, that’s me in a nutshell, I guess.. any others willing to talk about themselves a little more, that’d be great! Have a great day guys.. I’m off to study IVs and then study some microbiology and nutrition! 🙂
Oh, and I’m 19 years old, too by the way.
ashley
February 4, 2008 at 3:58 pmHey Jenna,
I was just wondering, do I need to take off a day from exercising every week? I workout pretty much every day but I also have a sedentary job so I really don’t like taking a day off. Do you take a day or two off from exercising every week?
Kelly
February 4, 2008 at 3:59 pmMarnie- no I’m not a personal trainer, although one day I’d like to get my pilates teacher certification. That would be a lot of fun! I think I’m going to keep the ice cream. They way I see it is my body wanted another cone so I had one. I listened to my body. This isn’t an EVERY NIGHT thing so it’s okay.
Oh and no I don’t measure my ice cream, but I probably put about 3/4 -1 cup on each cone. Not sure, I’m so not going to go down the path of measuring ice cream. Maybe back in the day but I’m so over that. 😉
Kelly
February 4, 2008 at 4:11 pmHi Evie! Like you I’m working at putting on some weight. How tall are you by the way? A great thread to look at is the one on January 30th called “Slow Morning”. There is some great advice there.
What I’m doing is basically eating more calorically dense foods like PB and eating dessert even if I have the tiny bit of a craving for it. I wouldn’t just eat junk to put the weight on but if you are craving chocolate have a big candy bar rather than a little snack size snickers. Still fill your belly with good wholesome foods but induldge too. I can’t personally say how long it takes to put weight on or how many calories to eat because I’m just taking things one day, one meal at a time. Good luck and happy eating!
Kay
February 4, 2008 at 4:26 pmJenna,
Have you ever had homemade yogurt? There is a recipe in the “French Women Don’t Get Fat” book (the one that does not require a machine) and was wondering.
I know you are a big reader! When you get a chance would you add more books to your favorite list?
VeggieGirl
February 4, 2008 at 4:49 pm**Evie:
I am a 19-year-old vegan :0) My name is a link, which will direct you to my blog (easier way to learn more about me, a “regular reader” of Jenna’s blog).
linds
February 4, 2008 at 5:28 pmThis is my second day off from measuring and I think I have actually eaten less than on an average, measured day both yesterday and now today (but who really knows for sure as I’m not measuring lol). I feel just as (if not more) satisfied 🙂 I just love how supportive the community here is.. the comments are as nice to read as the posts are!
Kelly
February 4, 2008 at 6:44 pmThis not counting and measuring thing is nice! I just made a turkey sandwich and had some whole grain goldfish. Rather than count out a serving I just dumped some on my plate. Seriously, who cares if I have 10 more/less of fish than a serving is. It all evens out in the end. YAY!
Sarah C
February 4, 2008 at 9:40 pmEvie:
Good idea! It’s nice to know where everyone is coming from…sorta put a “face” to the name…
My name is Sarah…I’m 20 and I’m from north FL (practically south GA, so I have a lot of southern in me) but I currently live in central FL. I’m a Junior in college, but will be transfering this summer to a different school to start the Dietetics program to become an RD (super exciting…expcept leaving my boyfriend and friends 🙁 ) I am a certified spin instructor and as of this coming Friday will be a certified Group Exercise instructor (so if anyone need work out tips…I would love to help!) I love Jenna’s blog and food philosophy and probably check this blog way more than I should (usually twice a day, when I should be studying…)
I also really love all of the positive feed back everyone here gives! I think we have a great group here with a lot of diverse knowledge that I find very helpful to read! Keep up the great positive commenting ladies!
Tina
February 5, 2008 at 1:23 amSarah C.~ how did you become a spin instructor? I want to look into it but I have no idea where to begin. I’ve been taking spinning classes for about 2 years now and I would love to be an instructor!
Sarah C
February 5, 2008 at 2:57 amTina
You have to go through a certification class through Madd Dog Athletics then take a follow up test. It’s pretty pricey, about 300 dollars, but you earn your money back quickly and you get paid to work out!! their website is spinning.com and there is a like that says become an instructor. you just put in your location and they tell you where the trainings are near you.
Tina
February 5, 2008 at 3:38 amThanks Sarah C.!