Morning!
You guys – I don’t think I’ve been warm once in the past five days!! Is anyone else feeling the chill? It’s cold outside, at work, in my house…Spring – I need yoouuuuuuu!!!
I suppose starting my day off with a chilly breakfast doesn’t help, however, I am powerless to resist the call of Oats in a ‘Loupe! 
It’s true – I was so crazy over yesterday’s breakfast, that I used the other half of my cantaloupe for today’s. 
Let me break it down for you! Start with one half of a cantaloupe that’s been seeded. I kind of make a cone out of the middle to make sure there’s enough room for all the filling.
Mix up your overnight oats: 1/4 cup old fashioned oats, 1/2 Tablespoon chia seeds, 1 AE Fat-Free Raspberry Yogurt and 1/2 smashed banana.
Top with the other half of your banana, and you’re good as gold.
I’m telling you – this is it! Several of you commented that you’d like to try it with honeydew melon – I think that’d be great! HD melon happens to make my throat itch, so I’ll be sticking to cantaloupe!
Creamy and chewy from the yogurt and oats, tropical and sweet from the banana and cantaloupe. I foresee this breakfast making an appearance quite often this summer. 
Plus, I absolutely hate cutting up cantaloupe so this is a really great way for me to still enjoy it!
So I have to tell you guys – last night I tried YOGA! Yes, it’s true, pigs were flying everywhere. 
I think I’ve tried yoga twice in my life. The first time left me completely bored, the second time I think I quit out of frustration because I am literally the most inflexible human on the planet.
Last night, wanting to supplement my run and perhaps having a change of heart, I headed to YogaDownload.com.
YogaDownload.com has everything from meditation/relaxation yoga classes to prenatal yoga classes, all available to download right to your computer. You can pay for sessions 30 minutes and up, but there are a ZILLION 20 minute classes that you can download for FREE! I chose the Yoga for Weight Loss – Beginner track, which was free, 20 minutes long and came with a pdf which clearly explained each pose in the class.
Maybe my head wasn’t in the right place the last two times I tried yoga, because I sincerely loved this. Truly, truly loved it! The accompanying pose guide was so easy to follow and the teacher clearly explained how your body positioning should be, etc. I placed my laptop next to me and followed right along. I got lost a couple times, but it’s easy to get back on track.
The best part? I’m sore today. Really sore! My biceps and shoulders were worked and I’m even feeling it in my love handles?!
Anyways, I’ll admit that I’ve been very skeptic about yoga in the past. Thinking it wouldn’t get my heart pumping, not sure how challenging it would be, etc. Let me tell you – my 20 minute beginner session was BOTH! I’m excited to try out more classes!! Do you practice yoga? What kinds of benefits have you seen? The other thing I liked was that the class ended with a series of relaxation poses. Very soothing – I could have fallen asleep!
Ok – enough yogi talk! This afternoon the girls at work and I are going out to lunch at a restaurant called Proof. I’ve never been and am having a hard time deciding between the Vegetable Falafel, Moroccan Chicken or Salmon/Risotto…
What would you choose?!
With that – I’m out! Have a FAB FRIDAY!!
Salmon risotto!! Salmon is the best fish there is, and risottos are always nice
I like the look of that yoga download thing – I’m definetly going to check that out
Enjoy your lunch!
Love risotto so I must go with the salmon and risotto! Yum! Have a great weekend.
Of course, I’m going to suggest the Moroccan chicken!
I would go for the salmon! Sounds great!
I just ate there yesterday–try to resist the awesome cookies. I couldn’t. The Morrocan chicken is out of this world good, but beware the flatbreads are a lot of food. I had the chicken cous cous yesterday, which was a little more lunch sized.
You will love Proof, the food there is fantastic.
I enjoy a yoga show on Oxygen called Inhale. The host is….interesting. I really like it. At first it was hard, but I’ve gotten pretty proficient at most of the poses. I will most def check out the yoga downloads too!
Salmon!!! All the way!!
So glad you liked yoga! I love it and I can’t even touch my toes, so that is saying something
I’m going against the grain and saying “try the falafel”. I always say that when going to a restaurant, try something you don’t normally make at home and, I don’t know about you, but it’s been YEARS since I made falafel patties at home! I also supplement my runs and circuit workouts with one yoga session a week. I like Shiva Rea’s DVD’s.
I’ve had both the salmon and the chicken at Proof. They’re both amazing!!!!! I might prefer the chicken over the salmon though. But you can’t go wrong with either!
So if I were choosing for myself off the menu, I’d try a lamb burger…but from your choices, I’d pick the risotto! Definitely an all-time favorite, and I’ve never had salmon risotto before…
Oh yay Proof! My fave dish there is the Vegetable Falafel, hands down. I’ve had the Salmon Risotto – yummers – but too heavy for a lunch meal.
I heart yoga very much!!
I could never pass up falafel!
I felt the exact same way about yoga as you did, Kristin. i used to think it was slow and I wasn’t into the whole “chanty” scene, and didn’t think it was a workout…until I tried Bob Harper’s Yoga DVD and it totally kicked my butt! I now do it religiously at least once a week and my ENTIRE body has felt an overall strenght in a year that I NEVER-EVER-IN-A-BILLION-YEARS would have expected FROM YOGA! Once you get into power or vinyasa yoga: you will SWEAT! It’s a total core workout:) (Jillian just put out a yoga DVD too, which is pretty sweet!) Can’t wait to give these downloads a try!
ps-Tried your French Dip recipe this week and loooovvveeeddd it:)
I freaking love yoga. Don’t talk crap. Blasphemy.
You must work near where I do. Enjoy Proof. Stop next door to support my favorite baristas!
I love Proof! Carly Groben, chef owner, was nominated as the Rising Star Chef of the Year by the James Beard Fondation. I had the vegetable falafel; it was crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Enjoy!!
Love Proof – the falafel is fantastic!
Get outta my head! I tried yoga for the first time yesterday too and gave almost the exact same review. Wasn’t it so difficult?? I’m super sore today too
Something about the salmon risotto sounds good
Salmon risotto or shrimp paella all the way! Here’s a shot of the paella my husband made for Valentine’s Day this year: http://twitpic.com/138naj … IRRESISTIBLE!
Also, I thought you and your followers would enjoy this article about the “First Camera, Then Fork” phenomenon: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/dining/07camera.html?pagewanted=1&hp
Great read!
I’m a yoga addict…as evidenced by my twitter handle @yogagirl.
I’ve been doing yoga for about 9 years now and I can honestly say it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. I’ve lost a ton of weight with yoga alone and my neck/back issues that I have from a car accident in my teens are vastly improved. Those that think yoga is just meditative breathing are wrong. 
It’s one of those things you can make as easy or hard as you want, and nearly everyone can get something out of it. It will totally help your running! Running hindered my yoga because it shortens the muscles vs yoga lengthening them, but they do work well together. Give yoga a shot, for sure! I’m more of a yoga class kind of girl tho. I hate the videos and don’t even get me started on Wii Fit yoga. 
In any case, I hope you stick with it cuz it can be a great workout! I’m literally dripping with sweat in my classes because I push myself as hard as I can. You’ll see the benefits of it sooner than you may think!
Kim
Can’t wait to hear how Proof is! I’m meeting a girlfriend for lunch there next week.
FALAFEL!!!!!!! my fav
love the oats in a ‘lope. so cute and yummy looking
I would try scallops and taboulleh!! Mediterranean food is delish, and usually pretty difficult to re-create in your own kitchen.MMM!
I also did not used to be into yoga at all but then I found an instructor I loved and something just clicked! I’ve been practicing 2-3 times a week since August and I love it! It’s my me time (along with running) and I can just relax and turn off my brain. I think I would go mental without it! I’ve also noticed a lot of strength gains and as a fellow completely-inflexible-to-the-core person, I can promise that regular practice does slowly but surely help!
Yoga is the bomb! I’ve been doing it for years (off and on).
I will check out the website for downloads. I like Rodney Yee dvds.
I tried your baked tofu, asparagus and brown rice last night.
The tofu was very good. I’m having the leftovers for lunch today!
eeek! i was just super excited to see a little shout out to you on Vitamin G. one of my fave blogs, after yours of course!
Yummm I can’t wait to try the oats in a ‘loupe!!!
And I’d go with the salmon/risotto too! Two of my favorite things!
I’ve been cold too! And even on nice warm days it just seems cold in my office & in my house! I end up having to run the furnace one time just to get the temp up to match the outside temp! Crazy! Proof…is that the place where you get a big plate with a little dabble of food on it & a big fat bill when you’re done??? Ha!
1. I’m excited to hear your review of Proof–been wanting to try it forever!
2. I have always felt the same way about yoga. In high school, when you had to do that sit-and-reach thing with the board, I scored “worst girl’s score” of my school.
haha! I tried yoga once and it was embarrassing–in a class of old women who kicked my butt. Your review makes me POSSIBLY change my mind and want to try it again, for free, in the comfort of my own living room. 
3. My bf and I are totally going to try your yogurt in a loupe!!
[...] I just tell you guys that I am still sore from yoga on Thursday?! Isn’t that crazy? Who knew a 20 minute, beginner session could do so much? I [...]
Awesome! I look forward to trying the yoga site.
I too felt the same about yoga. Tried several times – just too boring. Ran across Namaste Yoga on FitTV channel last fall. After practicing with TV for several months, it gave me the courage to join a yoga class. Love it! At my last doctors visit I went from 5’4 3/4″ to 5’5″. I feel taller and it has helped me loose the muffin top around the middle. Keeping doing it – you will be amazed at the results!
[...] kicked my TAIL last night! After dinner I completed the class I downloaded last week, then I tried a new, 20 minute abs/core class – Core Yoga #1. Umm, definitely missed the [...]
I love that you are showcasing yoga as other than just boooooring. I hear so many people ask me when I tell them I do yoga…well what do you do to work out then? I do yoga! (and weights to make it through my yoga class). I do a vinyasa flow and even though I’ve done p90X I still think my Saturday class is the best workout I’ve found and is less jarring on my body. I’ve been doing it for years and I’m STILL sore for three days afterwards.
[...] supposed to remain sunny, but a little cool. I am DYING to go for a run and dive into some more yoga sessions! I’ve tried, I think, 5 different classes, and they’ve all left me with a new (good) [...]