Bulk Food Adventures: Quick Oats

Right now I'm working to put on additional muscle mass, so I'm consuming more calories than my body would need to maintain it's current state. This means that I'm going through groceries much faster than when I was leaning for the competitions last season. However, bulking and eating clean doesn't always have to be expensive. One of the reasons I've been looking into more self-sustaining options is not only because it's something I enjoy, but because it also helps to cut costs.

Other than my hens, another logical step was to start buying foods in bulk that I consume often. So, last week I picked up a 50lb bag of quick oats from our local Amish store. After crunching some numbers I discovered I can save about $.25/lb or more from buying oats in this quantity!

Mike and I each eat 1 - 1 1/2 cups of oatmeal a day on most days so I'm buying oats fairly regularly. A fifty pound bag was $27 and my storage solution was free because I collected a few extra empty protein containers from a friend. I'm now set for months!

DIY Chicken Brooder

The chicks are currently living in a DIY chicken brooder, made from a plastic storage bin with shavings for bedding. The lid for this container was MIA so I made a protective cover with foam board and chicken wire in order to keep our cats out. We have it sitting up high (also to keep the cats out).

The temperature is at 90 degrees right now and I'll be raising the heat lamp slowly out of the box to reduce the temperature by 5 degrees every week as their feathers come in. The chicks are eating and drinking, pooping a ton, and seem to be quite happy. Last night they must have slept well because we didn't hear a peep, literally.

Fit Snack: Plain Greek Yogurt and Blueberries

One of my favorite fit snacks is Fage Total 0% Greek Yogurt with blueberries!

Pictured is 6oz of Fage Total 0% (the 100 calorie single serving size) and 1/3 cup of fresh blueberries*

Macros -
Calories: 127
Carbs: 14g
Protein: 18.4g
Fat: .16g (from blueberries)


Then of course I added a little granola because I love my carbs.

*I may have been a professional photographer for several years (family portraits mainly) but I am NOT a food photographer (yet)

So it begins (in more ways than one)!

This blog basically started because of these 4 ladies. I've blogged in the past for various reasons - frugal living/couponing, sharing thoughts on Army life, promoting my professional photography - but never stayed consistent with any of the blogs. When I started my fitness journey in 2013, close friends said I should blog my transformation because they found it so inspirational. Again, I never quite got around to it (I blame trying to manage two little boys, the numerous businesses I've started, or all that time I spend at the gym).

Then yesterday a miracle happened. My wonderful (very patient and tolerant) husband of six years agreed to letting me buy 4 baby chickens after a spur of the moment trip to Rural King after church. I begged, the kids begged, the baby chicks peeped... we left the store, talked in the car, went to the gym, then drove back to Rural King a few hours later and brought home four cuties.

This morning I was taking a shower and thinking (all of my good ideas start this way because as a mom of two boys my showers are pretty much the only-scream free time I get). Anyways, I thought, "well shoot I've now embarked on another interesting journey again, this time I should really document it." Also I was thrilled we made it through the first night (I'm paranoid already), the chicks slept well and the cats didn't eat them. This chicken raising thing is already a success in my books.

So here they are!

Meatball

Noodle

Bulldozer

Hulk