Up dog, down dog. Don’t you feel better now? Because I sure do!
Finally bit the bullet and went to hot yoga today (not crazy-cardio hot yoga but relaxing hot yoga). With marathon training in full swing, I NEED yoga in my life! My legs have been aching more, and my back is begging for release. Yoga calms my body, and it quiets my mind.
Thus… I’ve committed myself to a little personal yoga challenge (to practice regularly). I’m not going to make it this grand blog challenge because honestly… it’s too much pressure that way. Plus, I don’t want to be a bad group leader if I fall off the wagon. 
Life is complicated. Yoga is simple.
Yoga was at an odd hour (12:30) so I ate lunch a little early.
The star of the show was a whole wheat hoagie with Moroccan hummus and sprouts.
Plus melon + olives. I’ve been craving olives like nobody’s business lately. Salt replacements, maybe?
Post-yoga snack was a classic Green Monster (1 cup almond milk, 2 cups raw spinach, 1/2 a banana). Yes, these really taste good. I promise.
And for dinner, I had to Google “how to boil eggs.” I Twittered for some advice about the process and was immediately inundated with all these tips and tricks. I just threw caution to the wind and it all worked out: boil water, add eggs, remove after 15 minutes or so. Drop in ice water and then peel. Tada!
Finished product:
I had a spinach salad with polenta crotons, kidney beans, roasted zucchini, tomatoes, and two hard boiled eggs.
Polenta crotons are easy, too. Buy the pre-made tubes (in the refrigerated section usually), slice, and roast at 375 for twenty minutes or so. Can’t screw it up!
With toast on the side:
And for dessert, the Hus and I went to a Charlotte blogger meet-up at TCBY for some Fro-Yo in Emily and Casey’s honor. They are moving to DC, and everyone is very sad to see them go!
My cup of chocolate, vanilla, and candy toppings.
Yoforia is still much, much better – just my opinion!
Are you challenging yourself to reach a new healthy goal right now? Do you prefer to announce all your goals to your friends and family or keep it quiet?
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I’m challenging myself to run a marathon right now and all my friends and family know! I think it helps that they are supportive
Some mini challenges are to foam roll more and do strength more.
Also, with marathon training I also took hot yoga tonight! I just started taking yoga again last week, and I can already tell the difference in my body. It is so necessary to have those deep stretches while running a lot! I also foam roll now, and I find that is helping with my IT band and shins sooo much.
I definitely have workout goals in mind, I just hate to announce them before pen’s been put to paper. That being said, there’s one I really want to finalize…
I’m eating polenta right now! I made homemade polenta (super easy) and ratatouille. YUM.
The colors in that salad are beautiful.
The only goal I have is to maintain my weight while toning and strengthening my body. I LOVE seeing new muscles in my arms, legs and shoulders.
I think its fabulous you are doing the yoga challenge just for yourself but not putting pressure on yourself about it. I do love yoga and the simplicity of it. Sounds perfect for you right now.
Looks like a great blogger meetup. So many fabulous ladies.
I’m not huge on announcing my goals. I know for many, that helps with accountability, but for me… I tend to put way too much pressure on myself… to I prefer to keep my goals to myself.
I’m focusing on running without overdoing it – dealing with some pulled tendons in my right heel. I did a yoga challenge on the blog earlier in the summer. It worked well because I had a lot of free time and was confident I could stick to the plan but now…I’m just trying to maintain a good balance in all areas of my life since I’m about to get married.
spin your eggs on the countertop!! If they stay in one spot, they are done. If they wobble all over the place, they are still liquid inside. Delicious looking salad!
fun tip!
Did you go to Y2?!
TCBY < Yoforia < The new place here in cville!
If you’re doing something you really enjoy and find fulfillment in, you should never feel pressure to do it. That defeats the purpose!
Don’t blame you for not posting your ‘yoga goals.’
I need more yoga in my life too. I wish there was a studio near me. I can’t really afford to go and especially can’t afford to drive far away but I love studio yoga so much. Sigh… Good luck with your challenge!!
Polenta croutons sound SO good!!!
those eggs look perfectly done! i have been eating a lot of eggs lately (trying to boost my protein) and have been using this method-put eggs in cold water, bring to boil, cover and remove from heat for 10 minutes, put in ice bath for 5 minutes. i think i got this method from cooks illustrated (an awesome magazine if you haven’t tried it!)
Laurie
I have to agree with you about the yoga. I am training for a 1/2 marathon and am also feeling soar, but have a hard time committing to yoga. Maybe I will try pushing myself too!
That pic of your dog on your yoga mat is priceless!!
I talk to my husband about things I am working on for myself. I don’t really set goals, because I don’t want to get let down by not achieving them. Your dinner looks tasty and it looks like you had a great end to your night! Enjoy the rest of your evening.
I’m starting Insanity once the weather turns cold. I’m nervous and excited! I usually tell people that are close to me to keep me accountable. The pressure will help me to stick to it!
I’m surprised in all those recipes, boiled eggs were not a part of them!
I’m doing yoga twice a week or so to help out with my repetitive running-related injuries. I think it has helped, but it’s hard to be consistent, so I can agree that it was good for you not to turn this into a challenge.
I am afraid to “announce” anything.
It only fails myself.
What is polenta exactly anyways? Love eggs – my yolks are usually a paler yellow though?…does that mean their “older” I wonder…?
Boiling eggs is a tricky business. Especially if you really care about what shape the whites are in after you peel them (the “older” the egg, the cleaner the peel- or so says my mom!).
I tend to tell folks about my running goals- to keep me on track- but my yoga goals are my own
I am very bad at doing it regularly, but love it when I do!
Great job on the eggs! I can definitely tell from the photo that they are perfectly cooked. Looks like a tasty dish.
I recently said I would do the Philly Sprint Tri next year. I want to but am really nervous about hitting that goal. Maybe I needed to say it to actually do it.
Why am I making such a weird face?! bahahaha
i’ve never tried a TCBY that was do-it-yourself… I always thought their fro yo was good, but not as good as others i’ve tried
The eggs look a bit under cooked ~ salmonella can still be there. If you bring the water to a boil (with eggs in the water and covered) then turn off the flame/heat and let them set for 20 minutes they will be fully cooked and then proceed with the ice/water, etc. will be a perfectly cooked egg every time. The food looks yummy!
Our favorite “Fro-Yo” here in Nor Cal is Big Spoon ~ serve yourself lots flavors and toppings, weigh and pay. The big family challenge is who can get the lightest weight. I am usually 5 oz. or under, but it disappears too fast but better for the waistline.
Glad you boiled your eggs okay
I am loving yoga lately, my body is thanking me after marathon training this summer adding some balance and simplicity into my life. plus I have a lot of other stuff going on.
i saw your harris teeter hummus, I LOVE harry teets
It depends on the goal. Sometimes I need the support of others, but sometimes I want it to be “personal”!
Some times a plain ole GM is the best kind!!
I haven’t had one like that in such a long time. Maybe breakfast tomorrow 
Right now I am training for a 5K so most of my friends know that I’m doing that but I understand about the pressure sometimes. I do really like the accountability of letting people know my goals though!
I am starting to run again… I used to be a runner, then had 2 big injuries… so I am starting slow – I’m doing a couch to 5k of sorts…
TWO dachshunds in one post! I love Maggie’s yoga moves, and then I see Clyde at fro yo!!
Basil always stretches, and I call it his downward dog… I can never get a good photo tho…
So sad I missed the meetup tonight, looks like you had fun…I’m on vacay! Let me know when the next one is!
I love the phrase you used “Life is complicated. Yoga is simple” I definitely want to do some yoga tonight now
I think I generally just keep my goals quite quiet but definitely do tell the odd person (normally just my cousin aka my best friend). My healthy goal at the moment is to try and let people help me. So if I’m cooking dinner for my flatmates or my friends and they offer to help, I have to say yes.
I’m doing a little yoga challenge right now, as well. I announced it on my blog, to a few friends, and to my husband. I’m always afraid of announcing goals to too many people in case I don’t follow through.
It was great seeing you again!!
I agree I need to do more yoga, I go through periods where I do it everyday and then life happens and I go weeks, without doing any. Maybe one day I will be able to practice everyday.
Aaaactually, aren’t you supposed to put the eggs in a single layer, cover them in cold water and bring the water to a boil with the eggs in? I like it that you don’t set the goal in stone… it IS a lot of pressure to announce something on your blog. It looks like Maggie’s doing Cobra pose in that first photo
Love me some hot yoga, good stuff! Need to get back to a class myself.
I usually make grand announcements of new health goals…it’s both good and bad. Good that knowing others are in the know about it makes me keep pushing, bad because it seems once people do know it’s when I hate it all the more, LOL.
I challenge myself to work on a new yoga pose every month! And I’m struggling to keep up with my running goals. I’m pretty much near the point where I’m ready to admit that I don’t like running. But I’m not quite there yet.
I think I let people know what I’m doing, but I shy away from huge announcements. I want to be held accountable, but I also know life gets in the way. Plans change. And I’m probably already stressed enough by not reaching my original goal that I don’t need the stress of feeling guilty.
Lately I’ve been announcing my goal to run a half-marathon in October like crazy! And, shockingly, it’s actually been working for me so far. But for smaller, more personal goals, I prefer to keep them to myself and keep the pressure off. Also, quite frankly, I would feel kind of silly making a huge deal out of, for example, my current goal to weight train once a week. I mean, really, how much public announcing can I do before I start to sound silly?! It’s a bit different, of course, with a blog rather than in conversation…
Normally, I tend to shy away from posting big things or sharing them…mostly because I think I’m going to fail. I’m actually committing to a huge change in lifestyle and decided to announce it on my blog. I’m hoping it will help me be more accountable.
I definitely have goals. I share with my online friends. Some of my family members just do not get it and have a tendency to try and sabotage me. Of course I am sure it is not intentional. Online friends are the best!
Energy vampires are the worst!
For me, if I don’t announce my goals, they are not real. I know by not announcing them, internally I don’t believe I can/will do it. So shouting it out from the rooftops makes it real for me!
I’ve got two goals right now:
1. Train for my half-marathon–friends and family know this
2. Try my hand at healthy living blogging and seeing what effect (hopefully positive) it has on my habits and my life–currently, only my boyfriend knows about this one (too afraid my family/friends will think me crazy, silly, etc.)
hehe
I’m training for my 2nd marathon and just posted my goals. It was hard because it feels very personal…but I like to read about others’ goals so much, that I decided to do it. So far the blogging community has been very supportive – it’s nice to be able to put goals out there and not feel like they’ll be held over my head.
I love polenta, and am so glad that I’m not the only person who isn’t certain how to hard boil an egg. There are some skills you just don’t learn before you graduate from college.
I have some healthy goals, but nothing specific. I prefer not to put a lot of pressure on myself because I tend to go overboard.
I often keep my goals quiet, when really I should be announcing them to the world!
I feel the same way about yoga! I signed up for a 5 week workshop to ensure that I would go regularly
It completely depends on the goal for me. But I’m really glad I announced my half marathon training because with this heat I might have quit by now otherwise!
Don’t quit! The heat is about to break!
you did so well on the hard boiled eggs! way to go girl
i am with you on the yoga challenge…just do what you need to do and enjoy it!
Your first few paragraphs are EXACTLY a post I intend to make in the near future, although I need to
a) catch my dog in the middle of her down and up dog (she does it regularly when she gets up)
b) start going to yoga!
I love your dog’s yoga pose! Perfect form, bravo.
I’m challenging myself to eat really healthy and to start up running again. It is finally bearable to run in the AZ nights, so back to the pavement I go!
My healthy goal is my marathon – I think EVERYONE knows about that!
You said your legs are aching more – is that running or just walking about?
It’s all this running in shitty shoes!
I love yoga and the way it makes me feel, but sometimes it’s so hard to force myself on doing it.
I’ll try and be more persistent with it.
Yoga is simple. And once you get into a routine of doing it more often it kind of helps life become simple too.
I have so many huge changes right now including expanding my business and going to massage school. It’s a good thing I’m a yoga teacher
I love flavoured hummus and actually some moroccan flavour for my lunch today!
Every time I do yoga in my living room, my dog Sammy joins too! He’s definitely mastered down dog.
OMG…too funny the first pic of your dog. Love it! I agree with not making yoga a pressure/have to do thing. If it’s stressful, it’s not really yoga!
Doggy Yoga pictures = hilarious! And, now I’m also craving a hardboiled egg or two.
Once I’ve thought out a goal, I like to blog and talk about it. I feel like that keeps me accountable. But, if it’s something that I’m just considering, I keep it to myself. Right now, I’m trying to remotivate myself to run — as soon as fall makes an appearance! I’m also trying to get back down to my pre-wedding weight. I like feeling healthy and active; the small amount of weight I’ve gained keeps me from feeling as good as I’d like to.
I heart yoga
It’s so relaxing and great for your body. I tend to keep most of my health and fitness goals quiet because a lot of my friends and some of my family don’t really understand my lifestyle anyway
Mmmmm! Polenta croutons sound fantastic right now
Thanks for sharing! I miss TCBY. I haven’t had it in probably 20 years! 
Hope you have a great day!
It’s funny you mentioned that you want to practice yoga regularly, I have been trying to do that as well. In fact I plan on going this morning at 9:15, hopefully I can get my butt out the door. Good luck on your goal.
Your meet up looked like a lot of fun.
My goal at the moment is to just get back into an exercise routine – I’m in Australia so spring is just starting and let’s just say winter was very lazy.
After a full week at the gym I am actually planning on going to yoga tomorrow to work out some soreness.
Well done on the eggs!
All this yoga talk – I think after my sprained ankle heals
I’ll have to give it a try and see if it can keep me better stretched out for running. The heat just feels so oppressive to me – especially in the summer…
Love the salad with hard boiled eggs and polenta – those sound like a great way to make a salad into a meal.
your dinner looks so tasty! I love polenta it is one of my favorite foods that always gets pushed to the back of my mind.
I prefer to keep most of my goals to myself. I feel they are my goals and I want to work hard to accomplish them without anyone judging what I am or am not doing.
I usually tell a few people that are very close to me and I am able to feel good that way.
I have been craving olives like crazy lately too. So much so that ihad to stop myself from buying them because I just keep eating them :/
I’m hoping to run my first 5k this month, right now that’s my number 1 healthy goal. I do announce them to people around me because I think I need that to help keep me accountable!
I definitely have goals but I am not announcing them like I used to because there is a lot of pressure associated with that. I have a few close friends that know and some blog friends too, but nothing “official”
i alternate between telling others my goals and keeping them to myself. i’m weird like that
Every time I try to hard boil and egg it’s a massive fail. Somehow they’re always over- or under-done. It’s a skill I hope to master by the time I’m 40. That, or spinning a basketball on my forefinger. I’m not sure which is more useful.
I know the # on the scale isn’t what it’s all about buit I had a goal # to reach by my 35th b-day (last week). I reached it and now I want to stay there. My next goal is to tighten up my midsection, and continue to exercise 5 days a week. I also want to run a 10k, that is a goal I won’t announce to many people but it’s unlikely I will actually do it but I really want to!!
I usually keep goals to myself (at first), then I’ll share with my husband, then the rest of my family. I usually just need a few days with just me knowing — it lets me figure out if this is the best decision and if I made a good goal.
My family is always very supportive — I usually end up putting too much pressure on myself!
ooh my trick for hard boiled eggs is to boil water, drop room temperature eggs in with a slotted spoon, and boil for 11 minutes EXACTLY. then dump water and rinse in cool. crack and peel
no green yolks! and your salad looks freaking AMAZING holy cow
My healthy living goal is just to get over the fat talk and fat thinking! It’s been a long process for me and while I still struggle with disordered THINKING about eating, I’m getting much better!
I tend to tell my family and friends about goals with a deadline (upcoming half marathon), but don’t broadcast the goals that I would like to keep as a general part of my lifestyle (add more strength training or yoga).
love the puppy on the yoga mat, too cute!
it depends on the goal. if its somthing I really have my heart into then yes, but if I think there is a chance I may not do it then I just keep it to myself
We have an Egg Genie(which at first I thought was a ridiculous appliance) and I love it…it cooks 7 perfect hard boiled eggs that peel perfectly, no need to put them in ice water just let them come to room temperature and refrigerate:)
LOVE the doggie yoga picture!
I like to announce my goals on my blog, twitter and/or facebook. It gives me some accountability. I’m blessed to have friends who will cheer me on (or commiserate if needed).
I just put up my September goals of 1200 flights of stairs and 190 miles of walk/run/biking. I feel like I should be moving right now to get there!
Running my first 10K on October 2nd. Just injured my hip, but thinking I can pull it off anyway. I’ve only told my brother, who is my biggest supporter
Caitlin,
I read an article about you in Glamour magazine last night and saw you on the front page of Amazon this morning!! Whoooo!
I keep it to myself at first, then if I’m making progress I will share with fammily & friends. I don’t want to jinx myself.
I definitely have goals in mind, but I try to keep the big ones to myself..mainly because I don’t want to jinx progress!
I made a summer goal to practice yoga more, but I haven’t been doing it as much lately. I want to get back into it again!
I’m definitely trying to tackle my sweet tooth this month. I have been cutting back on my artificial sugar use. I have been using half packets of Stevia instead of full ones in my oatmeal and green monsters. So far, doing pretty good.
Ooohhh! Thank you for saying Polenta. I just remembered I have some in the fridge. I know what I’m having for dinner!
I definitely need more yoga in my life! My legs and back are SCREAMING for some good stretching!
I tried cooking polenta, but mine just turned into a big mush. It tasted fine, but it wasn’t nicely sliced like yours always seems to do… How do you do it? Do you use a certain brand?
Get the pre-made tubes. They are usually by the tofu!
You have some awesome looking meals in this post! …not that you don’t always have great looking food!! My September goals are to floss everyday (I know, I know I already should be flossing!) and to work out in the am everyday! I always feel so much better after I do!
oh I wish I could have come to the yogurt-Emily-goodbye party! I’m so bummed I didn’t get to meet her before she left NC!
I have been working on doing more yoga too–I just found out I have 2 herniated discs in my neck and the cobra pose really helps with the pain/spasms. I only let a couple people know of my goals–people who are supportive and nonjudgemental. sometimes, esp with running, it seems like such a competition among my friends to see who can run the longest etc. I really want to do the princess half in Feb for my birthday
)
[...] other day, however, I came across Caitlin’s simple, fresh salad that included, of all things, a hard-boiled egg. I closed the page and [...]
[...] you recognize this dog? I was searching for a yoga image and this is what came up! [...]