I’ll let you in on a little secret point out something completely obvious: I’m a creature of habit. I love tradition and sameness. It’s the other reason I have oatmeal and yogurt every morning, the first reason being it’s so good. I find making any sort of decision a burden and constantly second guess myself. Like yesterday, I asked myself “why do you want to run 10 miles in the pseudo-cold with no tv to watch?” What did it matter? The thing was that I did want to run it. Sometimes I wish I were on some sort of training plan or something to use as an excuse. Well that’s my confession of the day. So tell me, are you a creature of habit, too?
Well regardless I jumped in some running shorts and grabbed pre-run fuel.
1 Lightlife Breakfast Sausage Link
I’ve decided that I love fake meat. This stuff is my new obsession. I could never give up real meat for it, because I think they’re two very separate things. But that doesn’t stop me from loving them both. Do Tofurky’s go half off after Thanksgiving? Because if so I am buying out the freezer.
For my run I made a playlist with a ton of energetic playlists of mine and my Christmas tunes. It was a bit spastic between Lady Gaga and Bing Crosby, but kept me going for the whole 10.1 miles at 8:00 pace. I suppose in a way everytime I passed my house(all 8 times before stopping) I was deciding to keep going, but I tried to block out the fact that home was right there and kept going like I was far from the finish line. After showering we sat down to Sunday lunch.
Caramel Mustard Tofu, Acorn Squash With Full Fat Voskos, Brussel Sprouts Orange Zevia
On the one hand, I decided not to have the chicken that was roasted for dinner. On the other hand, hearing about Food Inc. has taught me that paying for most supermarket chicken is like paying for corn and fat and I’ve chosen a lifestyle that’s removed that as a food option. Thankfully I brought home enough tofu to feed a vegetarian army and cracked open the caramel mustard dip I brought for Thanksgiving. ‘Twas delightful. The acorn squash with yogurt was sooooo nice and creamy. And brussels are just one of my favorite vegetables ever! So overall it was a saved meal.
It’s definitely a habit of mine to want to finish all my homework for the next day as soon as possible. So I had no trouble sticking around long enough to finish translating Latin, and then plan on having The Aeneid read in the car. My throat was also feeling a bit sore, so I made a very “adult” decision:
Elan's Vanilla Frozen Yogurt And Giovanni's White Chocolate Cranberry Gelato
This totally soothed my throat. And it was a very adult(and tasty) decision to throw the frozen yogurt in there, too, if you ask me. What would I do without probiotics? For one I’m guessing my morning routine would not be so… routine. On the way down we made a pit-stop at Whole Foods. The Silk Nog, which I specifically requested we have at home so I could steal it for my dorm, I forgot in the fridge. Good going, self. Also, I kind of got jealous of the chicken at lunch and wanted some of my own since it was 1/2 off this week. After that, we got back to campus right before it was dark and unloaded everything(which wasn’t that much since I’m only back for 2 days). Eventually, my taste buds made this amazing decision for me.
Banana Oatmeal With Cookie Dough Peanut Butter And Kashi Dark Chocolate Cookie
Seriously, I think I should patent and charge royalties on this bowl–it was that good. I was sent a sample of chocolate chip cookie dough peanut butter. Funnily enough, I already had a full jar which I’ve almost gone through so I am well acquainted with the flavor. Still I hadn’t made a review in the new format so I had this bowl to “remind me” of how it was and give a good and honest review. Here’s another confession: when I add a whole wheat cookie on top, I usually only do about 3/4 the regular amount of oats. How many whole grains does a fella need?
There are certainly some decisions I’m happy to make as an adult(or whatever I am). Like the decision that I have some awesome food/leftovers and could eat in my dorm in my PJ’s listening to yet more Christmas music and translating Greek.
Deli Roasted Chicken, Veggie Melange, Microwaved Sweet Potato
I was definitely practicing for Thanksgiving with this one. The deli man gave me a bit too much meat but not enough to separate into two meals so I just let myself go at it. I love my sweet potatoes; why do people mash these up? Then you miss all the crispy crisp skin 
I watched a bit of the American Music Awards but wasn’t too enthralled. It felt a little all over the place and while my love of music genres is wide it’s not quite that big to be entertained by it all. I thought Kelly Clarkson’s performance was really good, though. She’s just an awesome person with a very healthy attitude and by far the best thing to come from American Idol. Eventually I made something I haven’t had in a while.
Greek Yogurt With Cherry Butter And Dried Cherries Topped With Cherry Dark Chocolate And Vanilla Sugar
A gourmet yogurt mess. I forget how good these are. I’ll give you a clue, though: I don’t really make decisions on things like this or my oatmeal concoctions because most I’ve made before and are just resurrections of recipes. If you go back a few weeks, I’m positive you’ll find an identical mess. My current favorite oatmeal “recipe”(like you can’t already tell) is pumpkin oatmeal with butter toffee peanut butter and a vegan pumpkin molasses cookie crumble–genius. I then decided not that I don’t want oatmeal but that I wanted something simpler.
Chocolate Vitatop With Butter Toffee Peanut Butter, Carrot Ginger Muffin Top With Chocolate Sunflower Butter
Much easier I love the butter toffee with the vitatop if you haven’t noticed. And the sunflower butter worked well on the muffin though it’s so thick! It was almost impossible to spread. I do have one HUGE decision coming up: what to place in my next Naturally Nutty order. Clearly I need to plan on buying more at once because I’m almost out of butter toffee and this will be my 4th order from them.
I watched the end of the American Music Awards. Way to go, Taylor Swift, yet again! She’s just a rockstar now; I hope she doesn’t get too big for us country lovers who remember “Tim McGraw”. Did anybody else see Adam Lamberts hyped up preformance? That was pretty much porn. And I blame it for why I got an awful nights sleep. When I got up, I was craving something cookie-esque.
Spooky S'mores Z-Bar
That hit the spot, and also worked as my pre-run fuel. The run I’d rather not mention but I will. I really wanted to tie my distance PR of 15 miles and have that be the long run of the week. I felt like I had the energy and form, but annoying bathroom issues kept coming up. I never have these on the roads, just the treadmill, which makes it all the more frustrating. Instead of pushing myself to God knows what length, I decided 12 was enough to satisfy me and stopped then 1:36:44. After showering, I also decided that my “standard” breakfast of matchy-matchy oatmeal with a flavored yogurt was not what I needed today. What I needed was to shove my soul in a bowl.
Pumpkin Oatmeal With White Chocolate Raspberry Peanut Butter, Strawberry Frosting, And My Mojamix
My soul started with the standard 40gram oat blend, then mixed with 3/4 cup pumpkin(my soul really likes pumpkin), and topped with a double dose of strawberry frosting, a new nut butter I’m sampling for P.B.Loco(how did my soul know to want something it’s never had? intriguing), and my Mojamix(which would make sense since I designed it) which had an unusually high amount of chia seeds this time compared to when I last had it. Will my soul be poured into a bowl more often? Probably, but it will also probably change from time to time so who knows what it will look like.
It feels silly to have had to gone home this weekend for the retirement party, now back to campus for 4 classes between today and tomorrow, only to go back for Thanksgiving tomorrow afternoon. Such is life, I suppose. I’ll reiterate the question of the day: Are you a creature of habit?
I’m the EPITOME of a creature of habit.
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That really is a gourmet yogurt mess!
When it comes to food, I’m really not a creature of habit. I love to eat and try different things. I get bored easily.
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I’m absolutely a creature of habit. I inherited that quality from my Dad, he was in the navy, is a meticulous engineer, and also has diabetes…so his meals must be well timed and well balanced. Living with someone like that for 20 years rubs off on you, I suppose. I’m all for spontaneity in life, however, when it comes to exercise and eating, I’m fairly rigid.
I love fake meat too! While I love the real deal a ton, sometimes a properly prepared piece of seitan hits the spot better than a chicken breast.
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That is some good looking food with some outstanding peanut butter on there! The oatmeal sounds almost too insane….
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I didn’t watch any of the awards last night, but I heard about them this morning!
yes, definitely a creature of habit
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hey, i am just really confused with your blog lately. You always talk about your diet being natural and minimally processed but fake meat is the most processed food you can possibly buy… whats up with that?
You should consider a real natural approach and not measure every single food item before you eat it… Just eat how your body feels! Do you really think it was necessary to weigh the 3 oz banana? And most of your energy bars are highly processed also!
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Yum. You’ve had some tasty oats the past few days.
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k, im def a creature of habit!!!! I like my schedule and do not do well with change!! Sometimes I wish I wasn’t, though.
Your eats look yum and a response to the above comment… you measure your food if you want! It’s your body.. your blog!
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I am a creature of habit in some ways and not in others. I guess the habits that I really enjoy, I keep, and when I don’t get to do them I get sort of cranky! Mainly cooking, baking, and coffee drinking
You’ve convinced me what to do with the two giant tubs of yogurt in my fridge!
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Yes, I am most definitely a creature of habit. I almost wonder why I started a blog since I’m not one of those creative minds who makes up a new recipe every other day. Not that I’m comparing myself or anything…
The rude comment from above is a little over the top, seems like someone has issues. All your eats (yes, even the fake meat) are so much better than fast food, oreos and potato chips. Plus isn’t posting measurements of food a benefit for those who wish to re-create it?? It is for me!
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Brussels! I swear I bought some, but somehow they disappeared into the abyss of my fridge. And that frozen dessert is what I need. Right now.
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i am such a creature of habit too! and i agree re: ice cream being amazing when your throat hurts. i totally did the same thing last night although my tummy wasn’t too happy with me afterward
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Just found your blog, I love reading blogs of fellow runners!
When I scrolled down to write my own comment, I couldn’t help but notice jeff’s comment. Don’t pay any attention to it. Every one has his or her eating preferences and you know what works best for you. If that means “highly processed” meal alternatives, then so be it. I love the occasional meat alternative as well, and it sure is a heck of a lot better than highly processed, artificial hormone pumped meat (bologna/hot dogs ugh!)
I’ve been eyeing Naturally Nutty for a long time now, I think I need to put in my own order! Maybe as a Christmas present for myslef?
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Nope, I’m definitely NOT a creature of habit….not at all!
That banana oatmeal cookie dough bowl sounds crazy good! You should definitely patent it!
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if i wasn’t a creature of habit (which i am) my dog would make sure i was….
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YES i am such a creature of habit…i acutally get very bad anxiety when I am thrown out of my comfort zone. Dont get me wrong I love to be spontaneous, but I just love knowing how my day is going to play out in the morning, or making a plan way in advance!
I dont think I have ever seen you eat real meat!
just realized that!
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does eating oat bran for 5 consecutive days make me a creature of habit?!
stupid question.
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I’m a big time creature of habit!! I could eat the same thing everyday for a long time! I can’t believe how many miles you can run on the treadmill! major props! I get sooooo bored i’ve never been able to make it passed the 6-mile mark. Your oatmeal bowls look so delicious, i’m must try yogurt with my creations! hope your having a great start to your holiday week!!
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I am a huge creature of habit. I only eat certain brands of food and clothes.
I am really interested in the Naturally Nutty. I am going to be searching for it now
Thanks for the recommendation.
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girl i am a TOTAL creature of habit..i hate changes..
i am dying to try naturally nutty now! i LOVE the spooky clif zbar!
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I am a creature of habit – in an OCD kind of way at times haha.
Those Lightlife Sausages look really good – sometimes fake meat tastes pretty dang awesome.
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I am in love with your eats
delish!
i am most definatly a creature of habbit!
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Definitely a creature of habit here too! I know what I like, and I go with it…haha.
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I’m definitely a creature of habit, especially with meals at home. It’s so much easier to buy a few staples each week at the store! What keeps me from getting bored is I go through phases so I’ll eat, say, cinnamon raisin bread with peanut butter every night as a snack for two weeks in a row, and I’ll LOVE it the whole time and then I discover something else before I get bored of the first thing.
I looooove meat but I have a soft spot for fake meat too. It usually tastes nothing like real meat IMO but I like fake meat as its own entity. It’s the same way that I like one of those Jack in the Box tacos every once in a while, even though it tastes nothing like a real taco. The farmers’ market has a vegetarian taco stand and as much as I love rolled tacos with meat, I crave their fake meat taquitos. It’s a very specific taste and texture.
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