Good morning everyone! I hope you’re all having a good weekend! Mine is going well, although I have to say my throat is not so happy – still not showing much improvement although I did get it checked and at least it’s not strep! Just have to ride it out I guess… obnoxious.
You know what makes up for it though? This AMAZING Chocolate Protein Oatbran I’ve been eating since spring break a few weeks ago! I made it every single day while I was there and I’m FINALLY sharing the recipe today! First though, let’s take a look at last week’s workouts and then what I have coming up for this week. As you all remember, I started Best Body Boot Camp at the beginning of last week and so far so good! My only complaint – my legs are SO SORE! Haha it makes running harder (as does my throat) so I ended up skipping out on a LOT of running/cardio this week.
Sunday – Workout A (strength) plus 20 minutes of steady state cardio
Monday – Cardio intervals (on the BBC plan)
Tuesday – Workout B (strength) plus 20 minutes of steady state cardio
Wednesday – Cardio intervals (on the BBC plan) REST DAY (my throat needed it)
Thursday – Rest Day (maybe a yoga class or zumba…) ZUMBA! + 15 min elliptical
Friday – 5-6 mile run Workout C + 10 min elliptical + 15 min incline walking
Saturday – Workout C (circuit style workout) “REST DAY”
As you can see, I still managed to get 5 official workouts in, including all three strength workouts for boot camp. I put “rest day” on Saturday in quotation marks because I spent 4 hours Friday and 6 hours Saturday on my feet walking around tying to find a dress for an event I’m going to. No luck, but I was exhausted and my feet hurt. Hence the bonus rest day on Saturday. When I got home I only had about 2.5 hours until I needed to leave and meet up with Lindsay to watch the Michigan game, so I took those hours to lay down. Throat + shopping + unexpectedly waking up at 4am three days in a row was not conducive to a workout. Haha it was conducive to watching Once Upon a Time/attempting to nap.
Here is what I have coming up for this week:
Sunday – Workout A (strength) plus 20 minutes of steady state cardio
Monday – Cardio intervals (on the BBC plan)
Tuesday – Workout B (strength) plus 20 minutes of steady state cardio
Wednesday – Cardio intervals (on the BBC plan)
Thursday – ZUMBA!
Friday – REST DAY
Saturday – Muddy Monk 10K!
Saturday is the Muddy Monk Double Down 10K/20K, which I’m nervous about since I haven’t actually been running too much recently, but I know it will be fun which is the whole point. It’s a 10K course and while you’re running you can choose to either stop at 10K or do the loop a second time for 20K. Obviously I’m only doing 10… but it’s a fun concept plus I LOVE trail races so it should be fun.
Now, what I know you were all waiting for – the recipe!
Chocolate Protein Oat Bran
Ingredients
1/3-1/2 Cup Oat Bran
1/2 cup milk (I use almond milk)
1 cup water (+ more if necessary)
1 tsp psyllium husk (optional)
1 T cocoa powder
1 scoop protein powder (can also use 3 egg whites or 1 whole egg)
1 packet stevia (2 if using psyllium husk)
Directions
Heat oat bran, milk and water on stove until it’s partially cooked (still plenty of liquid left). Mix in stevia, cocoa powder and psyllium husk. If using the psyllium husk, after a minute or so it will significantly thicken your oat bran. I often add a bit more water at this point so there is enough to help mix in the protein powder, usually about 1/4 cup. Add in protein powder and mix until at your desired thickness. Top with PB/AB and fruit, and serve!
If using the psyllium husk, it does give it a bit more of a “weird” taste, which is why I add an extra packet of stevia. Why do I add psyllium husk? Well, personally, it helps with my digestion, plus I like the bonus volume. You could also use flax or chia seeds instead if that’s what you have, since those are great sources of Omega 3s. Mess with mix-ins and toppings – this is a pretty basic recipe that you can do anything with!
Do you workout much when you have a sore throat/cough? How do you handle it?
Ever have chocolate for breakfast? What flavor oat bran would you invent if you could make any flavor?
I must give that chocolate oat bran recipe a try. I am volunteering at the Muddy Monk Race on Saturday!
Good! I’ll see you there!
I love adding cocoa powder to my oatmeal or a few chocolate chips to pancakes for breakfast every once in awhile! How could you not love chocolate for breakfast?! 🙂
Hope you feel better SOON!
Thanks, Ash! Can’t WAIT to hear that Hunter is going home, hope you’re doing alright!
I support finding a way to add chocolate to any meal, especially breakfast because it makes a better start to my day! When I am in a hurry and taking a bar – like a kind bar or Luna bar – and a piece a fruit for breakfast, I always try to find a bar with chocolate!
Feel better soon! 🙂
Thanks! And I agree – any way to add chocolate is good in my book!
Depending on how ill I’m feeling, I actually find doing light exercise beneficial to recovering; I find it helps move yucky things along internally, if you get what I mean 😉 In terms of chocolate for breakfast, every once in a while I’ll have a…wait for it… chocolate muffin… double whammy! Sending well wishes your way 🙂
I agree – even just a nice long walk or slow elliptical session can make me feel a little better!
Chocolate is my favorite kind of breakfast! 😉 Do you have any tips on how to get protein powder to blend in/not be chunky in oatmeal? Whenever I try to add it, my oatmeal has a weird texture and is not very appealing…
It might be the type of protein powder you’re using. I know back when I used another powder (some kind of Whey I bought at GNC…) it was super chunky and gross. So far I’ve found that Designer Whey and Sunwarrior mix really well. Other than that, I honestly just dump it in and stir!
It really depends on how ill I am feeling. I try and make sure that I’m not using it as an excuse not to work out, but I also try my best to listen to my body and give it the rest it needs to recuperate.
Good advice!
I eat oatbran everyday! I love it. The texture is more appealing to me than oatmeal. I use chia seeds and egg whites in mine….and then I add berries or banana and top with nut butter.
I’ll have to try chia seeds and egg whites, I’ve only made it plain, or the way I made it in my recipe!
Peanut butter chocolate oat bran 🙂
Haha that’s pretty much what I made, although I tried to find PB2 to mix in but the store was out!
I’ve never tried oat bran before, but you’re making it look extra delicious! 🙂
IT’s really good, and so easy to cook!
Hope you start feeling better! Sore throats are no fun. Way to go on your workouts. I was totally sore from workout A in Best Body Bootcamp. Hope tomorrow is better for that workout. I loved B and C.
Hope you have a great week!
Thanks, Angie! I hope you have a great week too!
I need to add chocolate chips to breakfast foods. And stat. I’ve been seeing it everywhere & it’s making me want it!
omg you must! Totally worth it!
Ohhh if anything has chocolate it’s happening soon. Looks awesome!
I agree!
[…] hungry. I made some oat bran with Designer Whey vanilla protein powder mixed in (basically my Chocolate Protein Oat Bran without the chocolate) and topped it with almond butter and half a mango sliced up. I realized I […]
i’ve always wanted to add protein powder to my oat bran but everytime i try it gets all clumpy and gross…any suggestions? i now have designer whey brand protein and I haven’t tried it out in hot oats….
I actually got the same question above! I had a similar issue when I used some whey brand I bought at GNC (Can’t remember), but I haven’t had any problems with Sunwarrior or Designer Whey. Honestly I just wait until they’re almost cooked (enough water left to absorb the powder, add more if necessary)and I just dump in a scoop and stir.
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I tried this oat bran today, it is sooo good, I felt like I should have had it for dessert. I didn’t add any pb only a few strawberries. I didn’t use psyllium husk either or stevia. I doubled the recipe and used 2 tsp sugar, then divided it into 3. I will be making this again and I’m going to try 1 tsp sugar next time. Thanks for the recipe, I love it!
[…] CHOCOLATE PROTEIN OAT BRAN! Haha I do have to say I’ve occasionally been mixing it up with eggs and a sweet potato (okay, once) but I just love this stuff! […]
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[…] on the agenda. After working out, I headed home, showered, got dressed and then made breakfast: Chocolate Protein Oat Bran! It included the rest of that banana and Sunbutter. I like sunbutter, but not as much as almond […]