TOA: Hey Crystal. How has skating been going for you this week?
Crystal: Hi Lauren! Skating is going well! I competed last weekend and was happy with my skate. How did your exercise go this week?
TOA: As well as it could, I suppose. I hated it immensely, but I felt great once I finished! Earlier this week, I ordered some new running shoes and running clothes. The shoes showed up today, and I was able to wear them for the first time today. More importantly, I ran two whole miles!
The first time I did the strength exercises, it was the worst and I hated you for making me do them. However, the second time (after my two-mile run) it was so much easier. I whipped through the sets, no problem.
Crystal: Congratulations on running the full two miles! New work out clothes and running shoes are always a good motivator! I’m happy you stuck with the exercises even if I did give you a good reason to hate me. You’ll thank me later! Was there anything in particular that you struggled with?
TOA: Not really. The first time I did the strength exercises, every squat and push-up (even a modified one!) felt impossible. I would go down barely an inch and feel like I was going to collapse. For the next three days, I was incredibly sore. (Luckily, I couldn’t do my exercises for those days anyway because it was pouring rain.) I feel like I built up an incredible amount of strength already just between the first and second time. Next week, should I follow the same routine, or are you going to make it….(I’m cringing right now)…harder?
Crystal: Let’s keep it the same another week, though if you feel ambitious, you could try unmodified push-ups…even just one! How many days did you run this past week?
TOA: Only twice because of the rain. Should I try for three this time?
Crystal: Yes, try for three! Hopefully the weather will cooperate! It is supposed to be in the 80s and sunny here in Colorado.
TOA: Lucky you! We’re experiencing the upper 60s. Now, let me ask YOU some questions! Do you have a favorite oatmeal recipe?
Crystal: Picking just one is hard! I made your new bananas foster recipe today and that was fantastic! I love baked oatmeal, especially strawberry banana. My all-time favorite oatmeal recipe is your pumpkin pie baked oatmeal. I love how it makes my whole townhouse smell like Thanksgiving!
TOA: Mmm, yes. I like how the Peanut Butter Cookie Baked Oatmeal makes my apartment smell like peanut butter cookies. What made you interested in oatmeal?
Crystal: That’s another favorite! When I was in elementary school, I actually hated oatmeal! My sister always ate dinosaur egg instant oatmeal and it really grossed me out. When I moved to Colorado and started cooking for myself, I looked for a healthy, whole grain breakfast and gave oatmeal another try. When I discovered that there were more options than just dinosaur eggs, I grew to love it! It is filling enough to give me lots of energy to skate, but never upsets my stomach.
TOA: That’s why I tried (and fell in love with) it, too—it was easy on my stomach.
Thanks, Crystal! I’ll talk to you again next week.
Crystal: Good luck with your exercise this week! I’m excited to see how it goes!
imagine this topped with peanut butter? Oh my goodness.
of the time of this post, it’s my fifth most popular recipe!
**You can also find hundreds of other oatmeal recipes (as well as tons of other meatless recipes) on my Pinterest account! You can also like The Oatmeal Artist on Facebook. Thanks!
