I have three answers:
- It makes me infinitely more productive. When I finish my workout before 6:30 a.m., I feel like my day is set into motion and I keep riding the productivity wave all day long. Also, the longer I put off a workout, the less likely I am to actually do it!
- I want to keep a “normal” schedule. When I made the decision to leave my previous job to focus on freelance writing and blogging, I made a commitment to myself that I would still work “normal” hours. During the week, I can almost always be found at my computer from 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an hour break in there for lunch or an afternoon walk with Sadie, assuming I don’t have a meeting or appointment of some kind. (I’m back at my computer again when I type up my dinner post.)
- I like the extra time with Ryan. We always enjoyed heading to the gym together first thing in the morning before I began working from home and I wanted to keep up the tradition when my job changed.
So there ya have it! The madness behind my morning workouts!
Workout
Today’s morning workout was awesome! When I finished it, I couldn’t wait to get home and type it up to share with you guys.
Check out a new circuit workout!
Pin It
I’ve been seriously neglecting core exercises lately and decided to make today’s workout focused and abs and cardio. I began my workout with 15 minutes on the arc trainer before completing the above circuit and cooling down with another 10 minutes on the elliptical while I waited for Ryan to finish his leg workout.
Breakfast
After a quick shower, it was time for breakfast. 
Pin It
I made a batch of vanilla banana protein oatmeal that hit the spot.
Vanilla Banana Protein Oatmeal
Serves 1
Cook time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons steel cut oats
- 1 banana, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon chopped hazelnuts
Instructions:
- Bring 1 3/4 cup water to a boil
- Add steel cut oats and reduce to medium heat
- Allow oats to cook for 20 minutes, or until thick and creamy
- Add banana slices, protein powder and cinnamon to the oats and continue to cook on low for approximately 5 minutes
- Pour oats into a bowl, top with hazelnuts
And then I ate another handful of mixed nuts on the side because the hazelnuts sparked a craving!
Off to be productive! I have a lunchtime meeting for my volunteer work with the Taste of Ocala and hope to check a lot of things off my to do list beforehand.
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
Hi Julie! I am new to the blog and I already love it! I’ve been wanting to step up my strength training and this is exactly what I needed to do that! I too am a morning girl and I love to get up and start my day with a 5-mile run before I head to work, but the early starts are causing early ends to my days. How do you keep up your energy level throughout the day? By 9pm I am exhausted! Looking forward to reading more!
Anne Marie
I just found your jump rope workout before heading to the gym and I am off to try it out right now! I started incorporating jump rope a couple of months ago, and I love how it gets your heart pumping. And I get up at 5AM to work out too so I totally hear you. I wouldn’t change it even if I did work from home. It’s such a great way to start the day!
I LOVE this banana oatmeal recipe! I have a quicker similar version that Ive been hooked on for a few months. A girlfriend of mine (who is also a KD) and I share a GNC card and have fun with their flavored protein powders and the quality of it. I blend a scoop of the banana protein powder with a cup of soy milk in my blender ball and then pour it into a cup of the plain instant oatmeal after I cook it with water in the microwave for a minute. If I have fresh bananas its an extra treat, and if not, it still takes less than 2 minutes and is delicious. Your blog is WONDERFUL and I love your inspiration and dedication!
-Amber
I have been reading your blog for a while now and I love it! I just have a random question: what do you use to make those fun images for your workouts?
Julie, I know it’s probably freaking you out that you get a new comment on a post from years ago, but I found this recipe after searching for protein powder + oatmeal on pinterest and this came up! Funny enough, I regularly read your blog, so I’m surprised I didn’t see this recipe sooner. Anyhow, I was curious if you are able to prevent the protein powder from making the texture of the oatmeal gritty…I always seem to have that problem. Is it gritty for you?