There are times in our lives when we make a commitment to change something about ourselves because we have simply had enough. We are tired of living the same way day in and day out, without ever reaching the potential that God has in store for us. That change may be physical, emotional, mental, relational, or a combination of several. Whatever the reason, you decided that you were finally worth the effort. Days go by, weeks go by, and then for the first time in your life...months go by. It's the first time you haven't quit on yourself. You gain a new sense of self-confidence as each day passes without you falling off the bandwagon. Your former self would have quit a long time ago, because you keep telling yourself "you always eventually quit, so you might as well give up now". Your former self would take the easy way out, yet endure the pain of letting yourself down again.
Never stop trying again. Never. This has now become your new motto, and it keeps you going when things seem tough. It keeps you going when you slip up and have something not on your new lifestyle menu, or you choose sleep over that 5:30am workout. Just when you feel that you're on the upswing of this new journey, you are reminded once again that there are things you still can't do. There's still something that you really wish you could do, but you haven't conquered that yet. For many of you, that might be running your first mile, or doing your first perfect-form push-up. For others of you, it might be loosing 50lbs and being able to hold your bodyweight over your head. For me, it was an 18" metal box that has taunted me ever since I was able to complete 12" box jumps without much effort.
18 inches...I am 3.3 times taller than 18 inches, yet it still seemed so tall. Every Saturday when the big CFX workout happens and the crew comes out in full force, it was becoming harder and harder to not be self conscious about still having to use the 12 inch box. It's probably the only thing I've been self conscious about while at our box. For some reason I swear it would taunt me just saying "this is one thing you CAN'T do, you just can't jump this high". So, I would listen to the stupid piece of metal and only jump 12" each time, while feeling like I could do twice as many as required and still not be winded yet. I allowed myself to give in to the intimidation.
Last week, that 18" piece of metal finally lost. Skill work for the morning was snatches and tall box jumps. I knew this was finally my time to get over my fear of not jumping high enough. Yes, I'm short....but dang-it, if girls like Carly (one of the sweetest and strongest CFX girls I know, and just as short as me) can jump on 24" boxes then surely I can manage 18"! Right? Right? Well, I wasn't sure, so I leaned on my coach for guidance and finally conquered something that was trying to get the best of me. I first used 2 PVC pipes [which we use for stretching] to propel me up onto the box. Then I did running leaps towards the box. Then I finally made it, freaking myself out so much that I quickly jumped down :). I had to do it again just to make sure it was not a fluke, and sure enough, I can now do 18" box jumps with a smile. Another step forward was moving from a green band on the pull-up bars to blue. When I started CrossFit I couldn't even do black-banded pull-ups. I had absolutely NO strength. To know that I am only 2 bands away from having an unassisted pull-up is crazy.
The only reason I was finally able to get that 18" box jump is because I refused to let intimidation win, and I leaned on those who I knew believed in myself more than I did at the time. My coach told me he knew I could do it. Even though I am sure he tells that to everyone, I knew in my heart that he really DID believe I could do it. That's when I had to just do what he told me. When things feel hard and it doesn't seem like you can do it......just do what they say. Tell the negative voices in your head to shut up, and listen to the words of someone who is trying to help you change your life. You are worth so much more than the intimidation brought on by your own "18 inches", whatever that may be. If you want it bad enough, you will find a way to get past those 18 inches. It hurts, and it's scary, but the changes you can make in your life will rock your world!
I know I say it over and over again, but I am so glad I found CrossfitX and the rest of the CrossFit community. They truly want to see you reach your full potential, no matter what level you are at. Whatever that source of encouragement is for you, find it and never let go. The pain of discipline hurts....but it NEVER hurts more than the pain of regret. Give the gift of chance to yourself. Your journey is waiting for you.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Checking in: Day 21 of 45
Some days it seems like 21 days went quickly, while other days we think "are we DONE yet??". The Paleo Challenge has been a huge change of pace in the Hanson home, but one we are still glad that we decided to participate. I have seen huge changes in Jon, especially in the way his clothes fit. Just a month ago, he got a pair of jeans out that were too tight to wear. Now they are baggy on him. He's doing great! I've felt more changes than I have "seen". My performance at CrossfitX has seen tremendous improvements since going strict Paleo. I have more stamina than I used to, and I am ready to go for extra rounds at the end of the workout when I usually would be laying on the floor after a WOD.
Tuesday night was the moment when I realized just how important nutrition is to my body. You can have a trainer, or anyone for that matter, tell you over and over how much performance improvement you will see when you put your nutrition in check....but until you FEEL it yourself I don't think the light bulb will come on. I finally felt that this week. Tuesdays and Thursdays I workout at CFX in the morning, and then do my own workout (mostly cardio) at night. We have a small room at the apartment office that has a few machines, including a treadmill. For those of you who know me, or have known me since I started at CFX 13 months ago, I am *not* a runner. If you asked me which part of the law enforcement PAT is most intimidating, I will have to say the run/sprint. In order to achieve the minimum-passing score on the 1.5mi run, I have to complete it in under 14:32. I have a wonderful friend, Susie, who helped me get over the mental aspect of running the 1.5mi without stopping. But my time was always around 15 or 16 minutes and I felt like I was going to pass out when it was over. Tuesday night was a turning point for me. I told myself that I was not going to stop, and kept hearing my trainer, Travis, telling me "you can do anything for 1 minute" and just kept repeating that as each minute passed. I set the speed to 8.0 and just ran, faster than I have ever ran before, and I didn't stop. I completed that 1.5mi in 11:15! Of course, this was on a treadmill so once I got the rhythm down it was just a matter of not stopping. I am anxious to try the track again when it's not raining. I only wish I had my phone with me to take a picture, because that meant so much. I still view myself as the "fat girl" many days. It's like the syndrome that size 0 models have who think they are fat. I believe I will fight that image the rest of my life, but feeling the difference that Crossfit and Paleo has made is what I needed to keep pushing.
WWU opened a position for campus police this last week, and yes, the application is already submitted :). City of Bellingham also opened the applications for entry level officer, for which I will submit the application this week. Things are moving fast, and only God knows what will happen. But I know that if I continue to come to class, and I continue to take the advice (and implement it!) that my trainers give me, I will one day realize the dream I have for me and our family. I'm nervous as can be, but so tremendously thankful to everyone at CFX, they truly are family to me.
________________________
I don't have a menu plan this week, as I am simplifying things for the next 7 days. Our meals will be pretty simple, and perhaps a little boring, but I'm going to start trying to figure out Zone while still eating Paleo. It's intimidating, but I think I can do it. I've got lots to research and plan if I am going to take it on, but apparently it should kick-start things even quicker.
I'm not sure who all even reads our blog anymore, but I am hoping that somewhere out there, someone will take a chance on themselves because they deserve it. Have a good week!
Tuesday night was the moment when I realized just how important nutrition is to my body. You can have a trainer, or anyone for that matter, tell you over and over how much performance improvement you will see when you put your nutrition in check....but until you FEEL it yourself I don't think the light bulb will come on. I finally felt that this week. Tuesdays and Thursdays I workout at CFX in the morning, and then do my own workout (mostly cardio) at night. We have a small room at the apartment office that has a few machines, including a treadmill. For those of you who know me, or have known me since I started at CFX 13 months ago, I am *not* a runner. If you asked me which part of the law enforcement PAT is most intimidating, I will have to say the run/sprint. In order to achieve the minimum-passing score on the 1.5mi run, I have to complete it in under 14:32. I have a wonderful friend, Susie, who helped me get over the mental aspect of running the 1.5mi without stopping. But my time was always around 15 or 16 minutes and I felt like I was going to pass out when it was over. Tuesday night was a turning point for me. I told myself that I was not going to stop, and kept hearing my trainer, Travis, telling me "you can do anything for 1 minute" and just kept repeating that as each minute passed. I set the speed to 8.0 and just ran, faster than I have ever ran before, and I didn't stop. I completed that 1.5mi in 11:15! Of course, this was on a treadmill so once I got the rhythm down it was just a matter of not stopping. I am anxious to try the track again when it's not raining. I only wish I had my phone with me to take a picture, because that meant so much. I still view myself as the "fat girl" many days. It's like the syndrome that size 0 models have who think they are fat. I believe I will fight that image the rest of my life, but feeling the difference that Crossfit and Paleo has made is what I needed to keep pushing.
WWU opened a position for campus police this last week, and yes, the application is already submitted :). City of Bellingham also opened the applications for entry level officer, for which I will submit the application this week. Things are moving fast, and only God knows what will happen. But I know that if I continue to come to class, and I continue to take the advice (and implement it!) that my trainers give me, I will one day realize the dream I have for me and our family. I'm nervous as can be, but so tremendously thankful to everyone at CFX, they truly are family to me.
________________________
I don't have a menu plan this week, as I am simplifying things for the next 7 days. Our meals will be pretty simple, and perhaps a little boring, but I'm going to start trying to figure out Zone while still eating Paleo. It's intimidating, but I think I can do it. I've got lots to research and plan if I am going to take it on, but apparently it should kick-start things even quicker.
I'm not sure who all even reads our blog anymore, but I am hoping that somewhere out there, someone will take a chance on themselves because they deserve it. Have a good week!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Ham & Egg Cups
These have become a weekly staple in our house because they are so easy, and so tasty!
Ham & Egg Cups
- 1/2C mushrooms, finely chopped
- 1/2C shallots, finely chopped
- 12 large eggs
- 12 ham slices
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Saute shallots and mushrooms in skillet
3. Coat muffin pan with olive oil (I use coconut oil). Place ham slices in the muffin pan cups. You may want to cut a sliver in the ham slice to allow it to fold over itself when placed in the muffin pan.
4. Spoon the shallots and mushroom mixture into each ham cup.
5. Crack an individual egg into each ham cup.
6. Cook for 15 minutes or until the ham edges are crisp.
We have eaten on these for up to 4 days and they still taste great. If you eat them right out of the oven, it has the texture of a poached egg. Once they are refrigerated, and you reheat them in the microwave though, the egg becomes more cooked. I've also made them with bell pepper and onions in them and always put black pepper on the top for taste. This isn't the best picture, but this is how I had one the other day for a mid-day snack:
Ham & Egg Cups
- 1/2C mushrooms, finely chopped
- 1/2C shallots, finely chopped
- 12 large eggs
- 12 ham slices
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Saute shallots and mushrooms in skillet
3. Coat muffin pan with olive oil (I use coconut oil). Place ham slices in the muffin pan cups. You may want to cut a sliver in the ham slice to allow it to fold over itself when placed in the muffin pan.
4. Spoon the shallots and mushroom mixture into each ham cup.
5. Crack an individual egg into each ham cup.
6. Cook for 15 minutes or until the ham edges are crisp.
We have eaten on these for up to 4 days and they still taste great. If you eat them right out of the oven, it has the texture of a poached egg. Once they are refrigerated, and you reheat them in the microwave though, the egg becomes more cooked. I've also made them with bell pepper and onions in them and always put black pepper on the top for taste. This isn't the best picture, but this is how I had one the other day for a mid-day snack:
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Day 12, more recipes!
What a busy week this has been! I don't quite have my new weekly menu up yet, but we have tried many new dishes this week that were a success. I will share some more recipes below. Tonight we had dinner at my in-laws house and we brought our own food to eat, dessert included. I was very proud of us both for making good choices because, trust me, it would have been SO much easier to let someone else cook for me and eat the blackberry pie that they had for dessert. Walking away from dinner tonight knowing that I just filled up on healthy food and didn't touch anything bad was a great feeling. Not to mention I was stuffed! I have made quite a few things the last 24 hours: a dozen ham & egg cups, a turkey loaf, a sweet potato casserole, kale chips, sweet potato spears, hamburger patties, and sauteed apples. Here's a few recipes...as requested!
All the recipes I have been using are from Paleo Comfort Foods, which you need to go out and buy, NOW! It's fantastic, so easy to use, and my favorite part is that there is a picture of every recipe, so you know what it is supposed to look like!
__________________________________
Sweet Potato Spears (substitute for french fries, feed THESE to your kids instead!)
- 4 medium-sized sweet potatoes, cut into spears
- 1/4C extra virgin olive oil
- 2tsp cumin
- 1/2tsp salt
- 1/2tsp pepper
1. Preheat oven to 400, cover 2 cookie sheets with foil
2. Toss sweet potatoes with olive oil, cumin, salt and pepper
3. Place on baking sheets, do not crowd the pieces
4. Cook for 30-40 minutes, turning twice
______________________________________________
We had all 3 of these today and they were fantastic. For lunch we had hamburger patties, sweet potato spears and turkey bacon. I finally was able to make the turkey bacon crispy, so I was excited!! The sweet potato casserole will feed us for about 3 days. It is so sweet it almost tastes like dessert, so it's really enjoyable on lunch breaks at work when I usually would cave and eat some candy or drink a Diet Coke. Sweet potatoes have helped me kick a lot of cravings actually. I think Jon gets tired of them though, so I try to find other things to use as a substitute. If you're interested, here's some workouts this week...it was a great week at CFX!
** WORKOUTS **
Monday
- Strength work: find a new 3 rep max on back squat...120lbs!
- WOD: 4 minute row for calories (51), rest 4 minutes
4 minute AMRAP: 10 box jumps, 10 pull-ups (3 rounds + 10 box jumps)
4 minute rest
4 minute AMRAP: 90 jump ropes, 10 knees to chest on pull-up bar (2 rounds + 5 K2C)
Tuesday
- Strength work: find new 3 rep max on press....only got to 75lbs
- WOD: 5 sets of 2 minute rounds. Within 2 minutes: row 250m and push press (75lbs) the remainder of the time. I ended up doing 53 push presses total
- Tuesday night: ran 2 miles
Wednesday
- This is my off day
Thursday
- Strength work: find new 3RM on deadlift....135lbs!
- WOD: 3 rounds for time: 500m row
15 push-ups
25 kettlebell swings (35lbs)
[12:29]
Friday
- Strength work: find new 3RM on front squat...105lbs!
All the recipes I have been using are from Paleo Comfort Foods, which you need to go out and buy, NOW! It's fantastic, so easy to use, and my favorite part is that there is a picture of every recipe, so you know what it is supposed to look like!
Sweet Potato Casserole:
- 2 lbs sweet potatoes
- 1/4 C coconut milk
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1tsp vanilla
- 1tbsp coconut oil or grass-fed butter
- 2tsp cinnamon
- 1tsp nutmeg
- 1tsp lemon zest [left this out, didn't have any lemons]
- salt and pepper to taste [left this out too]
- 1/2C chopped pecans
*Extra ingredient I added - 1/3C shredded unsweetened coconut
1. Peel sweet potatoes and cut into equal cubes. Place in pot, cover with water, boil until soft (about 10min)
2. Preheat oven to 350
3. Drain potatoes and return to pot. Using hand mixer, mix in coconut milk
4. Add eggs, vanilla, oil, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon zest
5. Place mixture into a 9x9" dish [I use an 8x8 and it's perfect]
6. Sprinkle chopped pecans [and coconut] on to
7. Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown on top
__________________________________________
Sauteed Apples
- 3 apples, cored and sliced (used Pink Lady apples)
- 1tbsp grass-fed butter
- 2tsp cinnamon
- 1/2C chopped pecans
1. Bring frying pan to medium-high heat
2. Toast pecans for 3-4 minutes and then add butter
3. Add the apples and cinnamon
4. Saute for 5-7 minutes
I swear this tasted like apple pie without the filling, it was wonderful! I have also created a version of this from Easy Paleo's website that involves using coconut milk in the mixture. It tastes about the same, but I think I like this recipe a bit more because of the nuts. You could substitute nuts for raisins if you would like.
__________________________________
Sweet Potato Spears (substitute for french fries, feed THESE to your kids instead!)
- 4 medium-sized sweet potatoes, cut into spears
- 1/4C extra virgin olive oil
- 2tsp cumin
- 1/2tsp salt
- 1/2tsp pepper
1. Preheat oven to 400, cover 2 cookie sheets with foil
2. Toss sweet potatoes with olive oil, cumin, salt and pepper
3. Place on baking sheets, do not crowd the pieces
4. Cook for 30-40 minutes, turning twice
______________________________________________
We had all 3 of these today and they were fantastic. For lunch we had hamburger patties, sweet potato spears and turkey bacon. I finally was able to make the turkey bacon crispy, so I was excited!! The sweet potato casserole will feed us for about 3 days. It is so sweet it almost tastes like dessert, so it's really enjoyable on lunch breaks at work when I usually would cave and eat some candy or drink a Diet Coke. Sweet potatoes have helped me kick a lot of cravings actually. I think Jon gets tired of them though, so I try to find other things to use as a substitute. If you're interested, here's some workouts this week...it was a great week at CFX!
** WORKOUTS **
Monday
- Strength work: find a new 3 rep max on back squat...120lbs!
- WOD: 4 minute row for calories (51), rest 4 minutes
4 minute AMRAP: 10 box jumps, 10 pull-ups (3 rounds + 10 box jumps)
4 minute rest
4 minute AMRAP: 90 jump ropes, 10 knees to chest on pull-up bar (2 rounds + 5 K2C)
Tuesday
- Strength work: find new 3 rep max on press....only got to 75lbs
- WOD: 5 sets of 2 minute rounds. Within 2 minutes: row 250m and push press (75lbs) the remainder of the time. I ended up doing 53 push presses total
- Tuesday night: ran 2 miles
Wednesday
- This is my off day
Thursday
- Strength work: find new 3RM on deadlift....135lbs!
- WOD: 3 rounds for time: 500m row
15 push-ups
25 kettlebell swings (35lbs)
[12:29]
Friday
- Strength work: find new 3RM on front squat...105lbs!
- WOD: 10min. AMRAP: 5 burpee pull-ups
10 KB swings (35lbs)
20 dumbell walking lunges
[4 rounds + 5 KB swings]
Saturday
- WOD: 4x10m burpee broad jumps
7 rounds: 5 KB Press (26lbs)
10 KB front squat (35lbs)
15 KB swings (35lbs)
4x10m burpee broad jumps
[21:09]
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Week 2: Menu Plan
Week 2 is upon us and here's what we have going for the menu. I won't list the lunch items because it will always be leftovers from dinner the night before. That has been working out well, and I'm getting used to cooking in larger quantities to make that happen:
Sunday
B: Egg & Ham cups
D: Steak & Kale chips
Monday
B: Egg muffins
D: Grilled Chicken; Sauteed green beans
Tuesday
B: Hard boiled eggs & fruit
D: Taco Salads
Wednesday
B: Egg muffins
D: Tilapia and Broccoli
- Will cook Polska Kilbasa sausage and Kale chips for lunch tomorrow also
Thursday
B: Sausage & eggs
D: Chili
Friday
B: Morning Glory muffins & hard boiled eggs
D: Shrimp Skillet
We were very pleasantly surprised when we went grocery shopping this weekend and did not spend any more than we usually would have when buying "junk". I am searching the ads each week to make sure we get the good deals on items we eat a lot of (apples, ground turkey, chicken, kale) and that seems to be helping. Used to I would think it was a waste of time to shop at several different stores for what I need, but I have found a great deal of savings in doing that. If I plan well then it works out fine. We usually have to make a mid-week grocery run for tomatoes since those don't seem to keep very long in our apartment.
We are a week into the challenge and so far, Jon is down 6lbs and I am down 4lbs....I'll take it! But more important than the weight loss is that our energy levels are more stable, my lovely female hormone levels are stable (woohoo!) and we are enjoying doing this together as a couple. The only problem I have been having is a headache that will not go away, but I have realized it is probably my eyes adjusting. I had LASIK 4 months ago and they still change from time to time from clear to a bit blurry. This week has been very blurry, so I am 99% sure that is the cause of the headache.
Well, we are excited for a new week and are ready to try some new recipes out! If you see a specific item that you would like the recipe for, let me know. Otherwise we will probably post our favorites again at the end of the week.
Sunday
B: Egg & Ham cups
D: Steak & Kale chips
Monday
B: Egg muffins
D: Grilled Chicken; Sauteed green beans
Tuesday
B: Hard boiled eggs & fruit
D: Taco Salads
Wednesday
B: Egg muffins
D: Tilapia and Broccoli
- Will cook Polska Kilbasa sausage and Kale chips for lunch tomorrow also
Thursday
B: Sausage & eggs
D: Chili
Friday
B: Morning Glory muffins & hard boiled eggs
D: Shrimp Skillet
We were very pleasantly surprised when we went grocery shopping this weekend and did not spend any more than we usually would have when buying "junk". I am searching the ads each week to make sure we get the good deals on items we eat a lot of (apples, ground turkey, chicken, kale) and that seems to be helping. Used to I would think it was a waste of time to shop at several different stores for what I need, but I have found a great deal of savings in doing that. If I plan well then it works out fine. We usually have to make a mid-week grocery run for tomatoes since those don't seem to keep very long in our apartment.
We are a week into the challenge and so far, Jon is down 6lbs and I am down 4lbs....I'll take it! But more important than the weight loss is that our energy levels are more stable, my lovely female hormone levels are stable (woohoo!) and we are enjoying doing this together as a couple. The only problem I have been having is a headache that will not go away, but I have realized it is probably my eyes adjusting. I had LASIK 4 months ago and they still change from time to time from clear to a bit blurry. This week has been very blurry, so I am 99% sure that is the cause of the headache.
Well, we are excited for a new week and are ready to try some new recipes out! If you see a specific item that you would like the recipe for, let me know. Otherwise we will probably post our favorites again at the end of the week.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Day 1-5 Recipes!
Ask and you shall receive! Here are a few of the recipes I used this week. All of them are from "Paleo Comfort Foods" by Julie & Charles Mayfield. I have never seen a cookbook so pretty :) and I absolutely loved everything we had this week. Thank you to Julie & Charles for helping us make this Paleo Challenge a success so far!
Turkey Loafing (a spin on meatloaf)
2 medium sweet onions, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 tsp kosher salt (we use sea salt)
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 c chicken stock
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 large eggs
4lbs ground turkey
1 c Cave Ketchup (this is Paleo ketchup, but you can use regular ketchup if you are not doing Paleo. However, I highly recommend it so you are not eating the sugar that is in normal ketchup)
1. Preheat oven to 325
2. Saute onions, red pepper, and all spices with coconut oil over medium heat until onions become translucent. Remove from heat, stir in tomato paste, stock and Worcestershire sauce.
3. In large bowl, crack eggs over your turkey and fold in the onion mix once it is cooled.
4. Place in casserole dish, no greasing required
5. Pour your Cave Ketchup over the top and bake for 90min. You want the internal temp at 160 degrees to know that it is cooked all the way through.
This recipe made a HUGE casserole dish of turkey loaf. We ate on it for 2 days, it was FABULOUS!
___________________________________
Mashed Cauliflower (instead of mashed potatoes)
1 head fresh cauliflower
1 c chicken stock
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1. Cut your cauliflower head into small chunks of the florets and stems.
2. Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and allow to cook for 20 minutes. You may need to add more stock if it dries up too quickly.
4. Pour cauliflower and all ingredients into the bowl of a food processor, or keep in pan and use a hand mixer or hand masher. Mix/mash until you reach the desired consistency.
I found that this recipe was wonderful, but I utilized the additional tips they gave of using chives and/or crumbled up bacon bits for additional flavor. This is a good alternative to mashed potatoes, and an easy way to get your family used to the taste of cauliflower.
_________________________________
Morning Glory Muffins
2 1/2 c almond flour (I make my own with raw almonds in the Bullet, saves money)
1 tbsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups carrots grated
1 large apple, peeled, cored and grated
1 c shredded coconut
1 c raisins
3 large eggs
2 tbsp honey (optional, and we did not use it)
1/2 c coconut or avocado oil
1tsp vanilla
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Combine almond flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt into large bowl. Add carrot, apple, coconut and raisins. Combine well.
3. In separate bowl, whisk eggs, [honey], oil and vanilla together.
4. Pour this mixture over dry ingredients and mix well. The batter will be very thick.
5. Spoon into standard muffin cups.
6. Bake for 30 minutes (we baked them for almost 40).
This was my favorite thing of the week aside from the turkey loaf. I felt like I was cheating they were so yummy! Kaylee even enjoyed it, which made me smile :)
___________________________________
There were several other recipes we used this week but these were some of our favorites. We will use a couple of the same ones next week, along with new ones. Enjoy!
Turkey Loafing (a spin on meatloaf)
2 medium sweet onions, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 tsp kosher salt (we use sea salt)
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 c chicken stock
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 large eggs
4lbs ground turkey
1 c Cave Ketchup (this is Paleo ketchup, but you can use regular ketchup if you are not doing Paleo. However, I highly recommend it so you are not eating the sugar that is in normal ketchup)
1. Preheat oven to 325
2. Saute onions, red pepper, and all spices with coconut oil over medium heat until onions become translucent. Remove from heat, stir in tomato paste, stock and Worcestershire sauce.
3. In large bowl, crack eggs over your turkey and fold in the onion mix once it is cooled.
4. Place in casserole dish, no greasing required
5. Pour your Cave Ketchup over the top and bake for 90min. You want the internal temp at 160 degrees to know that it is cooked all the way through.
This recipe made a HUGE casserole dish of turkey loaf. We ate on it for 2 days, it was FABULOUS!
___________________________________
Mashed Cauliflower (instead of mashed potatoes)
1 head fresh cauliflower
1 c chicken stock
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1. Cut your cauliflower head into small chunks of the florets and stems.
2. Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and allow to cook for 20 minutes. You may need to add more stock if it dries up too quickly.
4. Pour cauliflower and all ingredients into the bowl of a food processor, or keep in pan and use a hand mixer or hand masher. Mix/mash until you reach the desired consistency.
I found that this recipe was wonderful, but I utilized the additional tips they gave of using chives and/or crumbled up bacon bits for additional flavor. This is a good alternative to mashed potatoes, and an easy way to get your family used to the taste of cauliflower.
_________________________________
Morning Glory Muffins
2 1/2 c almond flour (I make my own with raw almonds in the Bullet, saves money)
1 tbsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups carrots grated
1 large apple, peeled, cored and grated
1 c shredded coconut
1 c raisins
3 large eggs
2 tbsp honey (optional, and we did not use it)
1/2 c coconut or avocado oil
1tsp vanilla
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Combine almond flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt into large bowl. Add carrot, apple, coconut and raisins. Combine well.
3. In separate bowl, whisk eggs, [honey], oil and vanilla together.
4. Pour this mixture over dry ingredients and mix well. The batter will be very thick.
5. Spoon into standard muffin cups.
6. Bake for 30 minutes (we baked them for almost 40).
This was my favorite thing of the week aside from the turkey loaf. I felt like I was cheating they were so yummy! Kaylee even enjoyed it, which made me smile :)
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There were several other recipes we used this week but these were some of our favorites. We will use a couple of the same ones next week, along with new ones. Enjoy!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Days 2-4
We have almost completed 4 days of the Paleo Challenge, and we're still going strong :). Jon continues to amaze me at his willingness to try these new foods, and his support he provides. I want to say how proud I am of him, and how much I pray each day that he continues on with the Challenge and sees it through. I think he will be very surprised at the results and how different his body feels. We both have seen our appetites reduce significantly, and we are able to experience the true "Full" feeling after eating very little. The quality of our food is so much better than it has ever been and it's wonderful! Tonight we are having Turkey Loaf from Paleo Comfort Foods. OMGosh...I actually had some this morning with eggs and it was AMAZING! Mom would be proud...I'm eating my meatloaf. I actually cooked it last night because it has to bake for 90 minutes. The house smelt wonderful for hours.
When my alarm went off this morning I could tell my body needed more rest, so I took the morning off at CFX. I missed it terribly, but I think I really did need the extra sleep. Tonight I will go do some working out on my own which will be good. It's freezing outside, so my plan to go running is a bust. I refuse to let convenience be an excuse anymore, as it used to rule my entire life. If it was too hard or too inconvenient, I hid away from it and didn't even try. CrossFit has helped me change that mentality to realize that I can find a way to do something, anything, and I can make it be as hard as I want it to be. Workouts can be modified, they can be simple or complex....but they count. Every wallball, every squat, every pull-up, every sit-up, every run, every movement you make your body do will count towards something. If anything, it will prevent it from going backwards in the direction you have always gone. Don't let excuses rule your world anymore.
One of my biggest "excuses" is mommy guilt. I am a full-time working mother who only gets to see her little girl about 1.5 hours each weekday. That's it. It tears me up inside if I let it get to me, I love her more than she will ever know but right now this is the life we have to live. I take advantage of every minute I see her and try to let her know she is my everything whenever I can. But there are some days when I feel so guilty for training at night instead of seeing her. Tuesdays and Thursdays are when I workout both in the morning and evening. I don't get to spend any time with her on these days, but Jon does a fantastic job of taking care of her. She knows I am at the gym (getting "stinky" as she calls it) and she knows I will be back in the morning. I can always count on her huge smile and big hug in the morning after she wakes up. The guilt I have is not from her or from my husband...it is from me. I am preventing myself from giving it my all sometimes.
For those moms out there who are worried about taking time away from your family to change your life - STOP. If you never changed a single thing about your lifestyle right now, how long do you think you would live? How much medication would you have to take the rest of your life if you got diabetes from a sedentary lifestyle? How much would it cost your family to put you in a nursing home when you are old and not mobile enough to take care of yourself? How much would those doctors bills cost each year when your immune system is shot because all you feed your body is junk? What will you miss out on in your children's lives when you die at a young age because you didn't take care of yourself the way you should have? The cost of living a convenient and sedentary lifestyle is so much more expensive than the sacrifice you make for a few short years to correct the problems in your life. The hard work is not forever....there will be a day when I am finally in maintenance mode and do not have to work myself to the bone in order to keep pushing towards these goals. (The problem with that is I am now a self-proclaimed CrossFit junkie and LOVE it, so I probably will still go 6 times a week anyway! but you get the point). Just like when I was working full-time and going to school full-time....there was an end in sight and that is what kept me going. Starting was only half the battle. Take some time to really analyze yourself and what quality of life your are missing out on because you are too afraid, or too unwilling to change. If you need help to make those changes, ASK! My husband continues to amaze me every single day at how supportive he is, and how he is always willing to let me take that extra class, go for a run, etc. if it means it is helping me get better. Why? Because I am a better mother, wife, and person for it. He sees the joy I experience from being a part of the team at CFX and how I have always longed to be a part of something and I have finally found my place in this world of fitness. Living 26 years on the other side of the playground from the athletes was a hard pill to swallow, and I experienced a lot of emotional pain because of it. I'm finding my own spot on that team of athletes and I love every minute of it.
You have to start somewhere, I did. I started 55lbs heavier, unable to do modified ANYTHING. I now have several days a month where I actually lift the same weight as the rest of the crowd (known as RX or prescribed weight). You can do this, but you have to be willing to ask for the help you need. For those who are already starting your journey, I am SO very proud of you!!! You've taken the first step to changing your life and you will thank yourself for it when it is over!
I promise to get some recipes up here, it's been hard to find extra time.
When my alarm went off this morning I could tell my body needed more rest, so I took the morning off at CFX. I missed it terribly, but I think I really did need the extra sleep. Tonight I will go do some working out on my own which will be good. It's freezing outside, so my plan to go running is a bust. I refuse to let convenience be an excuse anymore, as it used to rule my entire life. If it was too hard or too inconvenient, I hid away from it and didn't even try. CrossFit has helped me change that mentality to realize that I can find a way to do something, anything, and I can make it be as hard as I want it to be. Workouts can be modified, they can be simple or complex....but they count. Every wallball, every squat, every pull-up, every sit-up, every run, every movement you make your body do will count towards something. If anything, it will prevent it from going backwards in the direction you have always gone. Don't let excuses rule your world anymore.
One of my biggest "excuses" is mommy guilt. I am a full-time working mother who only gets to see her little girl about 1.5 hours each weekday. That's it. It tears me up inside if I let it get to me, I love her more than she will ever know but right now this is the life we have to live. I take advantage of every minute I see her and try to let her know she is my everything whenever I can. But there are some days when I feel so guilty for training at night instead of seeing her. Tuesdays and Thursdays are when I workout both in the morning and evening. I don't get to spend any time with her on these days, but Jon does a fantastic job of taking care of her. She knows I am at the gym (getting "stinky" as she calls it) and she knows I will be back in the morning. I can always count on her huge smile and big hug in the morning after she wakes up. The guilt I have is not from her or from my husband...it is from me. I am preventing myself from giving it my all sometimes.
For those moms out there who are worried about taking time away from your family to change your life - STOP. If you never changed a single thing about your lifestyle right now, how long do you think you would live? How much medication would you have to take the rest of your life if you got diabetes from a sedentary lifestyle? How much would it cost your family to put you in a nursing home when you are old and not mobile enough to take care of yourself? How much would those doctors bills cost each year when your immune system is shot because all you feed your body is junk? What will you miss out on in your children's lives when you die at a young age because you didn't take care of yourself the way you should have? The cost of living a convenient and sedentary lifestyle is so much more expensive than the sacrifice you make for a few short years to correct the problems in your life. The hard work is not forever....there will be a day when I am finally in maintenance mode and do not have to work myself to the bone in order to keep pushing towards these goals. (The problem with that is I am now a self-proclaimed CrossFit junkie and LOVE it, so I probably will still go 6 times a week anyway! but you get the point). Just like when I was working full-time and going to school full-time....there was an end in sight and that is what kept me going. Starting was only half the battle. Take some time to really analyze yourself and what quality of life your are missing out on because you are too afraid, or too unwilling to change. If you need help to make those changes, ASK! My husband continues to amaze me every single day at how supportive he is, and how he is always willing to let me take that extra class, go for a run, etc. if it means it is helping me get better. Why? Because I am a better mother, wife, and person for it. He sees the joy I experience from being a part of the team at CFX and how I have always longed to be a part of something and I have finally found my place in this world of fitness. Living 26 years on the other side of the playground from the athletes was a hard pill to swallow, and I experienced a lot of emotional pain because of it. I'm finding my own spot on that team of athletes and I love every minute of it.
You have to start somewhere, I did. I started 55lbs heavier, unable to do modified ANYTHING. I now have several days a month where I actually lift the same weight as the rest of the crowd (known as RX or prescribed weight). You can do this, but you have to be willing to ask for the help you need. For those who are already starting your journey, I am SO very proud of you!!! You've taken the first step to changing your life and you will thank yourself for it when it is over!
I promise to get some recipes up here, it's been hard to find extra time.
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