She Says: Ode to Granola and Yogurt
The perfect food? Maybe not, but it is something I think could eat every single day and be happy. I tried a new granola today and it has confirmed my love.
Let me back up. After spinning initiation today I decided to give it a second try today. I’ve heard it can be so hard and challenging and I was a little disappointed when I woke up this morning completely pain free. Today I went to a 1 hour class motivated to work harder and hopefully get some serious soreness going on. The teacher was really nice, but it was definitely a slower paced class than yesterday. We didn’t do nearly as much up and down, which I think really raised my heart rate in my first class. I think I’ll go to spin again, but I will use it for when I am unmotivated to workout on my own and really need a class with others in it to get me going.
Alright, so after the gym Mark and I went to the supermarket. I spied with my granola obsessed eye some sale granola: Bear Naked Vanilla Almond Crunch.
(Picture from Bear Naked)
I knew I wanted it, so I went for it! Usually I am more reserved in the granola department!!! I took it home and made the most delicious bowl of yogurt in granola: plain fat free Greek Yogurt + Bear Naked Vanilla Almond Crunch + Bethany’s Spiced Blueberry Preserves.
I
AM
OBSESSED!!!!
There are more from after I stirred it all up, but I’ll save those for when I eat this another day. 
Have a good night! Don’t forget to congratulate Chandra and Lacey on their marathon finishes this weekend!
October 18th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I’ve taken many really hard spin classes but never been sore from it. For some reason, spin just isn’t something that made me sore but I definitely got intense workouts from it. Just base it on how much fun you have and how much you’re sweating! It takes time to find your favorite teachers/classes but soon you will have it all down! I miss spin!
October 18th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
I don’t think it’s ever going to be something I love like yoga or running. Other forms of exercise (elliptical, etc.), I do because it’s good for me and I’m supposed to. I think spin fits in the “it’s good for me” category for me personally.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I agree, I LOVE granola and yogurt. It’s absolutely delicious.
I am yet to take a spinning class but my school is opening a new gym soon and I’m excited to try it out.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
I LOVE Bear Naked. I am addicted to their Fruit and Nut, Banana Nut, and Triple Berry Crunch granolas. Oh, and Heavenly Chocolate when I can find it. Pretty much all of them are awesome, actually. I think they have a free sample promo on their website–you should check it out!
October 18th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
In my opinion, spin totally depends on the instructor. I get my heart rate up to the 170s and average in the 160s and burn between 400-500 calories a class (and I’m a healthy weight at 5′2″!). But I only go to the classes on the days/times these instructors are teaching. Also, keeping the resistance up gets your heart rate higher. I would suggest going to various classes and times to see which instructors you like best.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
[...] then I found almost the same combination on Hangry Pants just a few minutes [...]
October 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I just made a similar combination tonight and LOVED it!
October 18th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
That granola is my new obsession as well. I have two bags in my house currently and will be using my Bear Naked coupon to buy more.
October 19th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Yay! I am so glad that my preserves are still making appearances! I think that flavor is very fitting for this time of year. REPRESENT!
October 19th, 2009 at 12:42 am
That granola is CRAZY good. Whoever thought to put whole almonds in it was freakin’ genius.
October 19th, 2009 at 1:05 am
I am addicted to granola and yogurt! I eat it for breakfast every morning, unless I’m going out to eat (which is also a fave with me). Every Saturday I make a batch to last me the week. In the summer, it’s just about the only cooking I do because of the heat! I’d be a very unhappy girl without my granola and I could easily it for every meal of the day (and sometimes on lazy weekends, I do!)
October 19th, 2009 at 3:56 am
I love anything with vanilla in it. The granola sounds fab!
October 19th, 2009 at 5:36 am
They had Bear Naked bars after my half marathon last week – and I am obsessed with them!!!
October 19th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Mmmmm wish I had some right now! It really is one of the worlds most perfect combinations. I haven’t tried that flavor yet, but I think Bare Naked was one of the first granolas I loved!
October 19th, 2009 at 6:56 am
That granola sounds great! Granola and yogurt is the best!
October 19th, 2009 at 7:12 am
I go to spin class to change things up a bit. I can really like it if there is an instructor that does a bunch of different drills and changes things up so we aren’t just sitting there. Seems every time I find an instructor I really like, they end up moving away. I don’t enjoy it like running, but I suppose it is good to do some different things. and a good option if it is pouring rain outside…
October 19th, 2009 at 9:14 am
I’ve never tried spin. I really want to give it a go someday though.
And if I ever manage to find that granola I’m snatching it right up.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:30 am
My new obsession is the Nature’s Path Pumpkin Flax granola. Seriously amazing. I’ve also made my own vanilla almond and cherry chocolate granolas. It’s super simple to just put aside an hour to do and well worth it
October 19th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Spinning can be really hard, but you’re right about needing a good instructor. I only ever go back to the classes where I have a good instructor. There are a few things you can do to work harder than the class when it’s slow. Stand up and pedal on your own for a few minutes if the teacher is not doing it. You can also do intervals of one minute where you pedal really hard and then back down a bit. Pump up the resistance and pedal much more slowly than the class, but push really hard to keep up.
It’s a great class. The more you take it the more you’ll love it!
October 19th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Spinning can be tough, but I think it’s all about the instructor and the music… that totally makes the class
October 19th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Music and teachers make or break a spin class. You should find one you like and go to their class every time. I took me a while to find my classes, but it was worth it! I spin 3 days a week, burn a tons of calories, and I never really get “sore”. I can feel my legs getting stronger, I feel the burn during class, but they are never sore the next day. The sorest part of the class is your bum from the seat!
October 19th, 2009 at 10:58 am
soreness has no bearing on how hard or effective a workout was!
October 19th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Yogurt and granola truly is the best combo. But you gotta eat it with some nut butter! I actually had that last night for dinner
I’ve always wanted to try Bear Naked but it’s too dang expensive
October 19th, 2009 at 11:27 am
I almost never eat granola. It’s a little calorie dense and therefore still freaks me out a little! It’s really good though, with that I agree
October 19th, 2009 at 11:44 am
After needing a change from running one year (about 6 years back) I took on spinning. I did about 2-3 times a week (the other days running) and I loved the sweat, the music and dark room. I found that it really makes a difference if you like your instructor and their style of class (as well as their taste in music). Also, you have to turn up the resistance to really challenge yourself. Since no one is really checking on you, it is pretty easy to get away with an easy class if you don’t crank up the resistance. That’s what made a difference for me at least! Oh- I should mention I lost about 15 years when I switched from running to spinning — I think my body had gotten to used to running and this was the challenge it needed.
I did get bored with spinning for several years (and I hurt my back)– so I went back to running and racing (which I do love more)—but I just got the spinning bug again a few weeks ago when my legs seemed “stale” and it is a nice change up!
Good luck!
October 19th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
I love that granola! The mango almond flavor is really good too!
October 19th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
barenaked is the mother of all granolas — have you ever tried the banana nut? swoooon.
October 19th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
No, but sounds good!
October 19th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Wait, did you mean 15 lbs?
As I just finished training for a half and barely escaped a really bad hip injury, I was in need of something else to. Thanks for the tips!
October 19th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Diana, I agree, which is why I usually make my own – all the extra sugar is gross! This brand has 120 cals, 2.5 g. fat per 1/4 cup.
October 19th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
On sale at Stop & Shop!
October 19th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Yes, but sometimes don’t you just want the soreness?
October 19th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
That granola is a little too good if you know what I mean! They sell it at Costco for super cheap!
October 19th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
I have never gotten anything good after a half marathon!
October 19th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
In double boiler or pot:
2 C sugar
4 T cocoa (heaping T)
1 tsp vanilla
stick of margerine
1/2 C milk
Mix & cook for 15 minutes after margerine has melted.
Remove from heat.
Add 3/4 C peanut butter
3 C quaker Oats (instant or regular)
Mix and drop on cookie sheet
Guess who’s recipe?
October 19th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Have you tried Bear Naked’s Fruit n Nut?? It’s amazing!
October 20th, 2009 at 7:48 am
My new favorite ‘parfait’ is adding cottage cheese, fruit, cinnamon, and a spoonful of sugar-free cherry pie filling. And then of course granola on the top..or a crumbled cookie