Good morning, bloggies! 
I skipped the 5:30 Body Pump class this morning, but I did some yoga instead. So, I’m really slacking with the Yoga Challenge this year. 
I feel like I have no time, but anyone can fit 20 minutes of yoga into their day, right? I guess I just need to make time for it?
This morning, I did a 20-minute Gentle Hatha Flow session from Yoga Download. It was a nice class to awaken by body from sleep and start my day off on the right foot. The class had a little bit of everything– stretching, strengthening, and balance. My hamstrings and hips were SO tight this morning, so it felt really good to stretch them out. This session was perfect for a yoga newbie; I highly recommend it as a starting point.
How is the Yoga Challenge going for you?
Breakfast
For breakfast, I brought back an old friend: oat bran! 
When I first started CNC, I used to eat oat bran all of the time (I love reading old posts), but somehow, it got left out of the usual breakfast rotation. Oat bran is so creamy, delicious, and satisfying– I’m so glad that it’s back!
In the mix:
- 1/2 cup oat bran
- 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- Cinnamon
- Raisins
- 2 scoops of Nuttzo
Welcome back, oat bran!
In my iced coffee, I added some hazelnut milk. Unlike hemp or almond milk, the hazelnut milk blended right into my iced coffee– no weird chunkiness. (I’m still on the fence about the whole soy thing, so I’m trying some new milks in my life.)
I was a happy gal after this breakfast!
Question of the Day
What’s your opinion of cell phones at the gym?
P.S. You can win some oat bran over on Trading Up Downtown! 
{ 120 comments… read them below or add one }
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I REALLY dislike cell phones at the gym. I think it’s so rude! You can’t wait an hour to talk?!?!
If you can, could you explain Body Pump? You mention different tracks and numbers of classes, and I don’t really understand what it is! I know it’s a weight lifting class, but what makes it so different and fun?
I can’t stand cell phones at the gym or anywhere else for that matter. We didn’t need them this bad 10 years ago so leave them at home. You’re not that important!
I don’t mind cell phones at the gym, unless people are being obnoxious with them. Although I do think it’s a little weird that people feel they have to have them when they are working out! Soy milk and rice milk are good, but not obtrusive in their taste. It seems like hazelnut milk would have a very strong taste – does it?
I think using cell phones at the gym is disrespectful to the other people working out. That said, I can tune them out if I must. The thing that drives me really crazy is cell phones in the change room.
They’re annoying if someone’s talking on them! I use my iPhone as an iPod, but I turn the ringer off and never answer a call. I hate hearing someone jabbing while I’m working out.
I don’t like it when people talk on the phone in the gym. But, I have answered it myself because my headphones are bluetooth and I use my phone for music.
I love oat bran! Cell phones at the gym don’t really bother me too much as long as the person isn’t too loud. I’m pretty much in my own world anyway!
There are few things worse than staying motivated on a machine while someone is chatting away on their phone while on a machine! It is so dangerous, too!
I don’t understand people who talk on their cellphone while they’re working out! If you’re on call that’s one thing.. but if you’re just moseying along on the treadmill having a loud personal conversation on your cellphone you’re probably not getting much of a workout are you? Probably should have just met the person on the end for coffee instead of going to the gym!
Ohhhh cell phones in the gym. I think it’s ridiculous! Like why are you even here? (Maybe it’s because I have a hard time breathing and walking at the same time and I’m jealous of their coordination skills?
But no, cell phones should be banned from all gyms in my opinion.
My favorite breakfast right now is 1/4 c. oat bran with 1/4 c. quick oats and a little agave nectar, topped with a little almond butter. Sometimes topped with some Pacific oat milk for extra oat-y goodness. Usually it makes so much I can’t eat the whole thing, so I’ll bring a little with me to work for a mid-morning snack. Oddly enough, if I load up on oatmeal in the morning I crave less sweets and carbs in the afternoon and evening.
Most of the time I have my headphones on, so I guess it doesn’t bug me, but in general, if I didn’t have music on, I think it would drive me nuts.
Your bowl of Oat Bran looks huge! Is it really a big bowl or just the perspective in the picture. It looks great, and a lot bigger than my little package of oatmeal I have every morning.
When I’m at the gym, I don’t even notice what other people are doing, so if they are on the phone, i don’t mind. I’m totally in my own zone, so nothing really bothers me.
I always think its strange when people bring their phones up to the track and talk on them while they are walking…I’m not sure why, I guess cause I’ve never thought to do that.
How did you like the hazelnut milk? I just saw some CHOCOLATE Hazelnut milk this weekend – can you say nutella in a carton? But I didn’t buy it since I’m still stocked with almond milk.
It always drives me nuts when people have their cell phones with them at the gym!! Until yesterday… I found myself having to tote my cell around because I was on call, and I didn’t like having it follow me around! Gym time for me means disconnecting!
NO cell phones should be used at the gym while ON a machine. gosh that annoys me.
i bring my phone to the gym all the time. but it’s on silence. and i don’t talk on it. i guess i bring it just in case there is an emergency.
Not really a fan of cells at the gym, one I used to belong to had a no cell phone policy.
Oat bran hot cereal, I don’t think I have had that before, but it looks good. I think I’ll try some.
not a fan of cell phone talkers at the gym. maybe i’m evil, but i really don’t want to hear about your personal life or work. i like to be “in the zone” during my workouts & don’t particularly enjoy the distractions. i actually used the elliptical next to a woman who sang out loud to her ipod almost the entire time! it was quite a show!
Cell phones in general are annoying
, so that means yes, they are annoying at the gym. I understand if you’re expecting an important call from work/family, but turn the phone to vibrate, and then step outside when you take the call (no one wants to hear your conversation).
The hazelnut milk looks yummy!
I hate when people go to the gym are barely walking on the treadmill and are just chatting REALLY LOUDLY away on their phone. AHHHHH!!
http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf
for the pug lovers out there….
I hate it when I am next to someone talking very loudly on a cellphone. I also cannot tolerate people are on one side of you on a machine and yell talk to a friend of theirs that is on the other side of you! Get off the machines and go get some coffee and talk for crying out loud! How rude!
I brought my cell phone to the gym when I used to go and now bring it to yoga but I leave it “silent” in my purse. I figure that no one needs me that badly during the 60-90 minutes I’m there and I’ll see what’s going on right after I’m done.
People with cell phones at the gym are acceptable as long as they’re not being completely obnoxious and loud. Or when they pause the treadmill and just stand on it and say “oh no, I have time to talk” while there are obviously people waiting for you to get off of it… can you tell I’m bitter because that happened to me once?
@Food Makes Fun Fuel:
I second this opinion!
Have you ever tried yoga at the Baptiste Center? They have studio in Porter Sq and one in Brookline. Your first week is unlimited free classes then you can pay by the class if you like it. I’m hooked and it’s worth every penny since the classes are an hour and a half, it’s HOT yoga, and it’s a serious workout! You sweat like crazy and get very strong since you’re constantly moving, doing planks and even crunches. I’m getting new muscles in my arms, my posture is improving, and it takes away so much stress. Sorry to sound like a commercial–I just never thought I’d be someone who loves yoga and practices regularly–also never knew it could be like a real workout.
Tina, props for doing yoga AT ALL! Your life is so jam-packed; don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t kick the crap out of every challenge (I know you will, though, because that can-do attitude is likely what got you to where you are today!).
Hmmm cell phones at the gym??? They really don’t bother me, because the music on my mp3 player usually has me totally engrossed in doing my own thing, I don’t even notice other people. If someone were hogging a piece of equipment simply to talk on the phone like someone mentioned above, though, THEN I’d be annoyed!
I’m kind of shocked by the strong opinions on cell phones at the gym. If there’s a rule, then of course it shouldn’t be flouted, but in the absence of such a rule I don’t see why cell phones can’t be responsible used. While it may be hard to get a good workout while talking on the phone, I figure that’s not my problem or decision — everyone works out in his or her own way. I do think that keeping a ringer/audio alert turned on is unnecessarily rude since they are often loud and/or irritatingly pitched, but a silent alert is no bother to anyone. I’m not bothered by the person beside me having a conversation at a reasonable volume. After all, it’s not a library—there would be no reason to protest if the two people beside me were having a normal-volume conversation with each other. Those people who do talk overly loudly (to others or into their phones) can politely be asked to take it down a notch. If I really want focused “me” time I can wear headphones or earplugs, or work out at home. So, I guess the message to all you cell phone users is, “Pick the treadmill beside me.”
(Incidentally, I don’t use my phone while working out, but primarily because I have about zero coordination.)
Umm… the other day, my pilates instructor interrupted class to answer an “emergency” call. It didn’t sound like an emergency to me, but whatever, I just don’t think that talking on the phone at the gym is appropriate!
Hazelnut milk sounds awesome! I might have to try that when my Almond milk runs out… I gave up soy milk and switched over to almond milk a few years ago, and I’ve never looked back! I wish they would start offering almond milk as an option at Starbucks! I’d be all over that.
Loud talking on cell phones drives me CRAZY at the gym– I have to turn up the volume on my headphones to try to block them out! But I don’t mind emailing or texting on a cell phone…
I don’t go to the gym (I like home workouts best), but you have to wonder how much of a workout someone is getting if they’re constantly on their phone? I think the time at the gym should be devoted to your body, not your social life.
As for yoga … I’ve finished my 11th day of yoga today! Some days I’ll get a few flows in, and other days just one, but it feels great. I did a gentle Hatha this morning, too and I loved it. A great way to wake up the body!
K
I get extremely irritated when people blab endlessly on their cell phones at the gym, at restaurants, or on the bus. To me, it’s the most obnoxious behavior in modern society. Granted, I’m biased because I hate cell phones to begin with. I do not like this trend of everyone being in constant contact with one another, it’s just too much!
I’ve never tried oat bran, oddly enough. Your endorsement of it is getting me curious though…
Hm.. hazelnut milk? I may have to try that
It doesn’t really bother me if someone is talking on their phone at the gym because I usually have my headphones in and am in my own little world anyways. But, if they were super loud and right next to you, I could see how that could get annoying
I am not okay with cell phones at the gym. It’s alright if it’s a quick text or phone call, and fine if it’s in the locker room, but I hate it when people have loud conversations when they are on a machine. Just get your workout in and talk later!
Never heard of hazelnut milk!!! Sounds delicious!!! I do not think people should use cell phones at the gym at all.
I’m not a fan of phones at the gym. First, what’s so important it can’t wait? And really, are you focussing on your workout, engaging with movement and your body if you’re rabbitting away on the phone to somebody? Don’t think so.
Oh yes, hazelnut milk…must try…can only be amazing.
I’d fall off of the elliptical if I tried to text and work out, so I don’t get why people use them! Maybe that’s a personal balance issue though.
To each his own, but if you shouldn’t use the phone…then don’t.
I have never commented on your blog before, but two things got me overly excited and i’ve now lost my ghost reader status!
1. hazelnut milk sounds AMAZING, and i’m incredibly excited to go buy myself some for my coffee! people at work always steal my creamer, so if i bring something that looks too scary for them to try i’m golden!
2. i HATE cell phones at the gym. i think they’re the same as cell phones in the bathroom, inappropriate! and rude!
You should try mixing your rolled oats & oat bran – it’s amazing!
hazelnut milk??? never even seen or heard of it before!! please… a re-cap on the taste and what you use it for!!!!!!
I’ve hated cell phones @ the gym ever since the lady on the elliptical next to me was talking about how she thought her dog had a STD and was naming off boy dogs she thought gave it to her dog. A) Don’t want to hear about that B) Would like her stanky dog to stay away from mine if their paths should ever cross.
If one can’t fit in time during 24 hours to make a call while not at the gym, I think some time management lessions are in place.
Leave them at home! Focus on yourself and working out… ONLY! I find that when I leave my phone in the car I work harder knowing that I don’t have to check it all the time to see if I received a call or text.
I love my iPhone at the gym. I use it to watch tv or listen to music! Also, it’s a great to use your cell phone to avoid the creepy men that hit on you at the gym. If you look like you are texting or doing something on your phone, I find that they tend to not bother you are much
Pumpkin is the greatest breakfast addition I have found-Love it! I have never had oatbran… now I’m curious as I eat oatmeal daily.
cell phones at the gym – dislike. No one is that important, I’m sorry.
What is oat bran like? Is it chewy like oatmeal? Does it have a different taste? I’m curious.
Wow-people get really annoyed! I can’t believe how many people “hate people” who talk on the phone. 99% of the time I have my earphones in listening to music, but geesh, I can’t believe how much people basically want a zero noise policy at the gym. How is it different than two people talking to each other at the gym, and why do so many care about the “effectiveness” of another person’s workout?
No cell phone for me. When I am at the gym it is “me” time, I don’t want any distractions.
Yummy looking b-fast
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