Oatmeal Toppings Gets Real

This post is part of a weekly series, Oatmeal Toppings, featuring a few of the best healthy living posts on OatmealinmyBowl.com.

Here are some of the best articles that have been found on Pinterest, read on Facebook, been retweeted on @OatmealBowl and @CaitPlusAte, and read in RSS subscriptions this week.

Honesty is the Best Policy:

• Listening To My Body – Ashley really takes the plunge here and opens up with an honest dialogue about overexercising, undereating, and the “dark side” of those “push past the pain” fitness mantras that, with the increasing popularity of Pinterest, are more present than ever.
• Personal Trainer for a Day – Paige has come up with a great idea for a weekly series, based off all the questions she gets about being a personal trainer. The first edition gives readers an interesting “day in the life” perspective, as well as pros and cons of being a trainer. The timing is especially insightful since she recently left her other job to be a trainer full-time.
• Anorexic to Fit Series – Another extremely honest, brave post from Shannon (this one is actually part three of a series, and contains links to the first two parts). She has come such a long way and for those who have never suffered from an ED, she does a good job of explaining the feelings and thoughts that drive it and make those who suffer feel trapped.
• DIY English Muffins – This isn’t exactly recent, but I stumbled upon it on Twitter after Jill tweeted a photo of her homemade english muffins and shared where she’d found the recipe. I can practically smell the freshly baked bread just from looking at the photos!
• Lack of Motivation Monday: 3 Questions – I’m a sucker for “systems” and this set of three questions from Tamara is just that – an easy way to examine your lack of motivation and make a decision about whether or not you want to work out that day.
• Epic Sunday – Just a beautiful photo and a happy announcement from Amanda!
• 5 Exercises You Should Be Doing – Amanda blogs on FitFluential about five of the best, most efficient moves in the fitness world. This comes in handy for those who may be short on time but want to make sure they get in a workout that will give them the most results.
• What I Wish I Had Known – Kelly delivers a post that mothers can relate to and those who aren’t mothers can either learn from or nod in agreement while remembering their own moms. BONUS: Cute baby photo at the end!
• Balsamic Ketchup – You heard it right! Brianne delivers a grown-up version of ketchup. There’s nothin’ wrong with the old stuff (in my opinion), but there’s also nothing wrong with kicking an old favorite up a notch.
• And Now Comes…10.11.12 – Another exciting announcement from a very important member of the blogging community. Congrats, Katy!

How to Make a Protein Muffin:

Having trouble viewing? http://youtu.be/b_dpnwJaoUI

Lisa is a huge fan of protein muffins (she even makes green versions!) and after proudly displaying her creations on many a blog post, she decided to answer her fans’ questions about them with her first video blog! She does a great job demo-ing the recipe and also provides a text version on the original post.

{Photo: Honesty by SalBJ via Flickr}