Thanks for all the comments on the “11 Useless Facts” post. Sometimes it’s nice to mix it up with random posts like that and I enjoyed reading about your useless facts. I love it when y’all share things with me and I get to know you a little better! You know I never want this blog to be a one-way flow of information. I learn so much when you share your experiences and questions.

Yesterday was one of those hungry days. I literally ate all day long.

I woke up starving so I decided to make a substantial breakfast and give steel cut oats another go. In the past I have not been a fan of steel cut oatmeal but I think I finally discovered a cooking method that I like and that provided the texture I was looking for. I used Alton Brown’s recipe as a guide.

Here’s how I prepared them…

Butter
1/2 cup oats
1 1/2 cups water
Pinch salt
Cinnamon
1/2 banana, sliced thinly
1 tablespoon ground flax
1/2 cup 1% milk
Golden raisins and dried cranberries

Melt a pat of butter in a saucepan and add oats. Stir to coat in butter and let toast for 2-3 minutes. Add water and a pinch of salt and bring to a simmer. Let cook for 25 minutes uncovered and without stirring.

Stir in cinnamon, banana, flax, milk and dried fruit and continue to simmer for another 10-15 minutes. Towards the end when oats are getting to the desired thickness, stir vigorously to break up the banana and fluff up the oats.

It’s that simple and I finally like steel cut oats now! I topped mine with blueberries, Justin’s Maple Almond Butter and Crofter’s Superfruit Spread.

After breakfast the eating madness began. I was hungry again by 9:45 and found myself eating leftover roasted brussels sprouts. I told myself if I was really hungry then I at least needed to eat some vegetables.

Then I had a soy latte during a meeting.

Then I had a bowl of chicken tortilla soup which I did not take a picture of because you’ve seen so many this week!

Then I had two Biscoff cookies.

I did squeeze a four-mile run in between teaching a lunch yoga class and training a client.

And then I came home and ate peanut butter toast and grapes before heading to the American Cancer Society to participate in a workshop for caregivers.

When we first moved to Charlotte I worked for the American Cancer Society for a few months to help with their breast cancer walk. One of my old co-workers reached out to me recently and asked if I would lead a relaxation and beginner’s yoga session during a “Mind, Body, Spirit” workshop they were hosting for caregivers. Of course I eagerly agreed and it was a wonderful experience. I would love to carve out more time to give back through yoga and participate in more events like last night’s.

I rushed from the workshop over to Vivace to meet some of my most favorite yogis for dinner and drinks. I immediately ordered a glass of wine and attacked the bread basket.

I ordered the fig and prosciutto pizza with arugula and gorgonzola. I have a serious weakness for this combination. It’s just so good. I put a pretty good dent in this pizza on my own.

One of my friends brought us red velvet cupcakes for dessert. The perfect end to my day of ridiculous eating and snacking. I don’t even want to know what my total calorie intake was for the day but I don’t care. I always evaluate if I’m really hungry or just bored/thirsty/etc and I have just been really hungry. I figure my body knows what it needs and if it’s asking for fuel then I need to feed it. That said, I have been focusing on attempting to up my protein intake a bit during this time and not just eat sugar and carbs! (Which are delicious but not sustaining.)

How do you deal with the “extra hungry” days? 

And it’s Friday! I’m off to train a client and teach a yoga class then I’m done for the day and have lots of errands to run and things to get done around the house.

Hope you’re having a good day!