I'm a Survivor I'm not gon' give up....

So today was my first "real" balls to the wall crossfit class, that didn't almost happen. I woke up at about 8:00 and noticed Daddy-O had shut the door which is the international sign for we are letting mommy sleep in (love that man!) so I dozed for a few minutes. I woke up again at 8:20 with thoughts of my CrossFit class. I went through the 500 reasons not to go...Firecracker is sick and wants her momma, I need to work today, I want to start my Fall clear out of my house, there are many more. Then I went through the reasons I need to go, It's CrossFit YO!, I will feel amazing afterward and it's CrossFit Yo! I got on facebook and checked out the WOD to see what I was in for. I was feeling very shy and scared to go. I don't like not being totally prepared and I felt very vulnerable. I had all but told myself I wasn't going, I even told Daddy-O I wasn't going. If I sucked it up and found the courage I could go to the 11 o'clock class. Then I continued to debate it until Daddy-O said "Just Go"...okay okay. So at 8:43 I put on my big girl panties and grabbed a protein shake, water and jumped in my car.

I sped way too fast to get there and I am thankful to God for keeping me safe and ticket free and hitting every green light!! When I arrived I had about 5 min until class started and was happy to see a small amount of cars in the lot. Small class yay!! I walked in, went into the gym saw a bunch of people I didn't know and no CrossFit Charlie and promptly turned around and walked out. What, say WHAT. Yes I did. Then I heard some ruckus and walked back to find Charlie...oh thank God (again) so I asked about the clean & jerks because I really was unclear and he explained it. So instead of walking clean out of the box I went back. But they had started...I stood there having no idea what to do. Finally plucked the courage to ask wth was going on.

Whew that wasn't so bad, so right when I found a place to get start on my warm-up I looked up and there was Kristen from class...My hero. I was no longer alone, see...just stick to it and the best will happen. I went over what we were doing and was thrilled to have a familiar face and someone else with a big ? over their head as well. We did our warm-up and then started the WOD...here are the deets.

Clean & Jerk 5X5

10 sets for time

10 box jumps 24/20

10 pull-ups

Time 17:11

Scaled 12" box, thick heavy green band for PU

So we started with 5 sets of 5 Clean and jerks. I felt okay about these because we just did cleans and the jerk part I watched on you tube this morning. I was cool with it. I can't tell you how many I did because I can't count my workouts for shit. I grabbed a 15lb bar being the wuss I am but found it was a bit like a pvc pipe and ended up adding 20# to it to make it 35. These were good, I love me some barbell work! As for the other workout, I didn't really grasp the severity of what we were doing. I scaled this workout to as easy as I could make it and still thought my ass is not going to finish. I was dying. It was all mental because when I hit that last set I blazed through it. During it however there was nothing but self loathing. Biggest lesson I learned today, I am my own worst enemy and I am not as mentally tough as I think...at least in the realm of CrossFit. 

After the workout was over I felt damn good about myself, for showing up, for fighting through even scaled all to shit, and for finishing...because there was a moment I was going to quit. Then I realized I only had 2 sets left and Kristen was on her last set and wasn't dead. There was also a minute when I felt like an ass because I was all grins and smiles and other people were just finishing and I just wanted to say, look I am only done because I scaled down so much. I should have finished last. In this class...yep I should have been last. That is how I know when I have truly pushed myself. But to be honest I was scared to finish last...not sure why, I will get back to you on that. I am sure it was a pride thing but I didn't feel full of pride, I just felt happy I survived without quitting. I did feel better again after Kristen mentioned we just did 100 pull ups...what, crap you are right. That is when I felt bad ass. Even with a heavy band helping me pull up I did a total of 100 pull ups...before 10 am. I also got these...

So apparently after you kill yourself with the strength portion of the day and the WOD there is the "Cherry" or the cherry on top workout...yeah I know. I want to thank Kristen again for getting me to do this because I was about to duck and run and she was like let's see what this is. It was sit ups max rep for 2 minutes. *fist pump* I can rock some sit ups. As I did these I decided to shoot for a goal of 50...I got 49. Afterward we were all talking and hanging out and I started to feel it coming...the hurl. I didn't eat breakfast, I choked down a protein shake just before I got there and at this moment I was feeling that. I started feeling shaky  weak and on the verge of getting sick so I jetted. I rested for a moment and headed to Target to grab some stuff. I also grabbed a coffee with whole milk to just try to get rid of the shakes. It worked and I was able to get my necessities and more duct tape band aids. While I was doing this with my chalk covered pants and ripped palm I felt bad ass again. I sat and watched two girls who probably lifted a hair dryer that morning go on about wanting skinny lattes (with whip cream haha) and debate what was the "healthiest" drink on the menu. Yeah I grabbed a tall pumpkin latte with whip cream. Sugar, fat and coffee...it is what it is, I have 1 day left and there isn't a healthy coffee, it is coffee. 

So now I am sitting down to work after scarfing down a huge bowl of vegetable beef soup with some cheese for extra protein. My arms are working pretty decently for the most part. My hands aren't too bad and all in all I feel great. So happy I decided to suck it up and go. I also get why you read some of the stuff you do on Pinterest about CrossFit, like the whole my warm up is your workout. Before most people got up I cranked out a killer workout, survived it, enjoyed it and am going on with the rest of my day. While leaving Target I pass through the parking lot of a globo gym and I noticed that the people walking in and out of there look like zombies. Do you blame them? 

Prep & Landing

So we got some deets on the Nutrition challenge at CrossFit Regeneration and I am gearing up and getting ready. We don't get full details on the food part and everything until Monday which is kind of a bummer because we usually shop on Sundays but I can work with it. I can't imagine there being a huge change in what I eat since I am so food challenged just probably more cleaning up than anything.

I do like to plan and prep as you have read 100 times on here but for now I will prep like I always do and go from there. Don't get me wrong I will be making some good changes as I have been letting some less than stellar foods creep back into my life (ahem sugar) and generally haven't been veggie focused. A good clean up is definitely in order.

I am also trying to exercise some demons before I get started. One of which is getting some foods out of my way so I won't be all MUST HAVE *insert food*. Tonight we are having walking tacos, as per my son's request, but can I get an Amen!?! Love walking tacos and while the beans and chips aren't on my every day list (well and the piles of cheese and sour cream) it is something that we do have for dinner. My kids love it, it isn't awful and is a different take on chili. It won't however be showing up during my challenge. If the fam fam wants it I will make it for them and a challenge legal version for me (i.e. paleo chili haha). So my last supper so to speak is Walking Tacos (minus the walking we are eating at home).

Enough about food...let's get into the details. So challenge stuff...

• Monday is weigh in day, we will have our weight and body fat taken. (gulp)
• We get the papers with all of the details including a point system
• Complete "Cindy" at beginning and end
• 2 winners - best body fat improvement, best adherence to the list. 
• Prizes! ...prizes!

This is the real deal folks, I am pretty excited. I am not however, excited about the weighing in and body fat analysis. I know I am overweight, people know I am overweight...but a scale is...ugh. The last time I had my boy fat percentage taken I was 19.25%.... I went out for 7 mile runs for the fun of it. I spent 2-3 days a week in testosterone valley at the gym...because I loved it. I know that is not happening this time, I am expecting to be in the 30s...I pray I am at least in the 30s...more and I might croak right there. I have a lot of junk in the trunk...I am just happy the fat tire has been deflated!!!

The second thing I am seriously anxious about is Cindy. We have never met...I have no doubt she doesn't like me because so far the longest workout I have done is 10 min. Cindy likes more of your time...20 min. I know this is what my CrossFit future looks like but let me be a baby for a moment. Crossfit Charlie gave the option of completing the beginner workout as a substitute for Cindy but since we are completing Cindy at the beginning and end I can only improve right? I mean I am not going to qualify for the 2013 games with it, beginning or end, but might as well start big. Even if I only do 5 sets in 20 minutes and Cindy hands me my own a**, at least I tried. 

So I have 3 more days of freedom. I know I eat relatively healthy but I also have the freedom to eat as I please. We also know that when you are on lock down your brain goes crazy and I want to do this challenge with no slip ups, no cheats. I am sure there will be a detox phase, I am sure I will get on here and B**ch but I also know at the end of 30 days I will feel amazing. I will, in all honesty, look amazing. I have also fallen pretty far off of anything like a regular exercise routine (crossfit being the exception). I do go to class 2 times per week but then I kind of don't do anything else the remaining 5 days of the week. I did throw in a run last week but this is ridiculous. This challenge will not only give me more energy for this it will get me motivated again. 

I also want to give a mention, this past weekend there was a CrossFit competition locally, Kentuckiana's Fittest. Crossfit Charlie and his wife Kari competed. I so wanted to go but the plague was upon me and after a busy day of kid activities I was tanked. Anyway they both finished 10th in the men and women's categories. So in our area there are only 9 women & 9 men fitter than them. Wow! I am glad they did so awesome and am sorry I wasn't there to get my loud cheers in. Good job guys!!

So stay tuned, more ramblings coming!!

Gearing up for a challenge and Cleaning.

Well hi all, I am back from the land of the nearly dead and vomiting. After all of my mental fighting, cold talk and such I got a beat down. A quick, swift and miserable flu which came to a head on Monday leaving me without food, liquids and with fever, chills and aches. My poor husband had it too, we were the plague couple! Blecht...but enough about that let's move on.

So CrossFit Regeneration is having a nutrition challenge for October...I am so geeked about this I can't stand it. You know I love a challenge and I love anything involving optimal nutrition. So this week I am gearing up for this challenge that starts October 1. I am going to tackle this like a Whole30 but I am going to keep a couple of cheeses and greek yogurt in my diet. I am also going to try really hard to keep it all on here for you to see. I am going to keep an old fashion pen and paper food journal (maybe smash it) but then try to wrap my day up here. There may even be pictures ;)

Speaking of CF I actually missed Monday's class...I know right? I was that sick. Up until I had to make like tokyo drift and flee carpool to my mother in laws house to hurl, I actually was trying to psyche myself up to go. But a 15 min vom-fest from the motion of the car was the end all to that idea. I emailed CrossFit Charlie and was told the wod was double unders...bad one to miss. I will have to get a quick tutorial and then get me a jump rope.

Tonight we learned cleans. I love cleans, they weren't as easy as I thought. I really need to work on my olympic weight lifting. They were so cool. I feel like a spartan every time I get a hold of a bar! ha. We also learned box jumps and dude I could actually jump pretty high. I ended up scaling down for the WOD because we would get assigned a ridiculous number of burpees if we slammed our chins into the box during a jump and um yeah...I didn't want that. The slamming or the burpee.


Tonight's WOD

8 min AMRAP

5 hang cleans

7 box jumps

9 sit ups

6 reps (2 sit ups short of 7...phewy)

Hear me now, I am so going to find a 35-45lb bar on craigslist or at the Goodwill to practice form with. I work with my broom and it is a trusty companion but I need some weight...I could just have my kids hang on while I practice haha. I want a bar. 

I was grateful for tonight's workout. It was a doozey, I was a sweaty mess when we finished but it was a bearable one and that is what I needed. I have felt better but weak for 2 days and I started to fizzle early in this workout. I was super nervous about tonight as well. I have said this a couple of times  about being nervous and I am sure you wonder why I get this way. It comes down to me worrying about not being able to do a workout. Me getting there and there is just...nothing happening. I am not sure why this scares me. I am not in elite shape so I am going to falter, I think my issue is I know I can do it and I have been in great shape before and it is the dealing with the shape I am in now. It is extremely vain and I love my doses of humility but there it is. 

I also got some WOD acupuncture tonight. I have these great tops from Ruffles with Love they are super cute shirts with powerful and motivating sayings. Tonight I wore my "All Day, Everyday...No excuses" one. They all have this really adorable bow on the back, it is a brooch pin bow...not sit up friendly. I crushed mine on the first sit up and the pin stuck me for the remaining 8 sit ups. Yes I kept going, I took it off when I was done. 

See those scratches...dang pin!! Those are not freckles or black heads on my back lol they are dirt from where I just laid on the floor post workout gasping for air. It is mat dust!

I love my Ruffles with Love shirts but I will leave the bows at home from now on!! You should check these shirts out though, she has lots of fun CrossFit sayings! You should check out her shop here.

So back to the nutrition challenge coming up. Tonight's post WOD nosh wasn't something to be proud of. There are a handful of non-paleo foods I eat, not on a regular basis, but more than rare occasion. One being tortilla chips. Unlike Leonard, I have no reaction to corn. I can eat tortilla chips, corn on the cob whatever. I don't eat a lot of it because it is a grain and I just don't. Since I didn't really plan today and in general I have been a laxidazical fool, I had, ahem Moe's for dinner. It was kids eat free, Daddy-O grabbed them some grub and I had him grab me a wheat free burrito (sometimes I am so grateful for allergies). It was disappointing and I am guessing I had a whopping...ounce of chicken on it and a good 2 cups of rice. Jeeze. I ate it with some Trader Joes chips. I ended up supplementing with a protein shake to make sure I don't have a long recovery again. 

I am trying to get the craptastic food desires out of me now. Not that I really have any food cravings but you know you always want something when you can't have it. My main issue is getting the lazy out. Sometimes I get super lazy, honestly it is just exhaustion. Kind of like how you feel when you have been working for 6 months straight with no vacation...I feel that way at times because being a mom I don't get time off...not even when I have the flu. So I am letting myself be lazy this week. Some take out here...easy dinner there. Paleo can be easy but mostly isn't. So I am allowing foods I wouldn't typically eat or make. Kind of a kitchen vacation. Which should be exciting for you because I always come back with some spectacular things when I have had a cooking and dishes break. Dishes...that should be a WOD...a entire day's worth of dishes for time, no scaling! ha. 

Well stay tuned, I am going to try to get my pre-challenge grocery list for you and some other prep stuff. Regardless starting October 1 I will dole out my daily chomps for all to see. They will be measuring us pre-challenge but I may do some measuring of my own. The challenge is going to be based on body fat percentage but I want to watch my other measurements...aka inches. 31 days of kicking my ass...I am ready. We have a brilliant chili dinner every Halloween and I may celebrate with  some awesome chili and a stellar costume ;)

Speaking of measurements...I didn't really look at myself or take pics or measurements at the beginning of this CrossFit class ( I know what the heck kind of blogger am I?) but let me tell you. I have lost 9 lbs over all and I can see definition I haven't seen since I started dating my husband. Also I have issues with my belly. This is why you never see the sports bra shorts pictures from me. My second pregnancy tore my tum tum up.  I also accumulated a fat tire I had never had...I had like this natural muffin top, no tight pants needed. I had to wear spanx just to smooth it out and while I have been working out running and eating better it wasn't budging and actually got worse as I lost weight above it.. I had resigned myself to a future tummy tuck because it wouldn't budge. It is gone, like vamoosh. I still have my front belly chub and lack of tone but even it is getting better but the side flab, fat tire, muffin top...gone. I actually wore a belt yesterday because I needed to keep my pants from falling as I walk they are so big and I had no fat tire to do that for me anymore. I am super happy about this and this is from only 2 classes a week for 4 weeks (just finished 4th week) We get to start going on Saturdays at 9 or 11. I am shooting for 9, I love to start my days early. So can you imagine what 3 days a week will do. Also keep in mind I have yet to have a WOD longer than 10 min...Go Me, Go CrossFit!! 

And becuase I love CrossFit videos...a hang clean!

Sunday Football eats and more!

So today is a day of food...lots of cooking, planning and shopping. While I thawed some meats this morning Daddy-O fired up the smoker to smoke us a nice pork butt to nosh on for the week. I have a thing for smoked meats...yum.

Seasoned up for the smoker!

But First, Today started with waffles. Yummy chocolate waffles...I have a picture of them but no recipe, I need to tweak it a bit and will post later. They were made with coconut flour and were ultra fluffy. When I get it all worked out I will post it.

Yummy (yes that is powdered sugar you see, kids got theirs with snow)

I had a bite of the waffles but didn't eat them for breakfast, instead I opted for liver for breakfast. I know, I know, Daddy-O laughed at me the entire time I was eating them. When he went to the butcher I had him get me a half pound of chicken livers for me to try again. I ate a few batches of fried ones when I was pregnant trying to raise my iron. You always hear how good organ meats are for you and I am trying. I can chow on some marrow like it is buttah but the others I am still squeamish. So I am starting small and easy, chicken livers. I had intended on wrapping them in bacon and grilling them, but bacon never lasts in this house so...here is what I did.

Spicey Fried Chicken Livers

1/2 lb chicken livers
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chipotle powder
Lemon
Oil for frying (coconut or ghee)

Wash and pat dry livers. Cut in half, set aside. In a shallow bowl or dish blend flour and spices. You can tweak it for more or less or add any flavors you like. I added more chipotle because it lends a smokey flavor but also mucho heat. Heat your oil, when it is ready place your livers in the dish and toss to coat. Cook evenly spaced with plenty of room to breathe until golden brown and cooked through.

Warning!!! I am not sure if this is common or something we did wrong but these babies were popping like mini bombs. We have a screen to cover out skillet but watch out. It made for some good laughs with me and Daddy-O however.

I gave an extra dash of salt at the end and then squeezed some lemon juice to lighten them, it really took the bitter liver flavor down a notch so I recommend it.

My last bit of cooking for the day is a version of an old family recipe and a great football or tailgate food. I googled these one day because my mom once thought the name was derogatory. She was right, they are called Guinea Grinders and the name is a remark made toward Italians...think Malfoy and Mudblood. You can google these and get some background but what I found says it is a popular state fair food. Not sure how it became a family staple but then again my Grandmother was an amazing cook and our tiny hometown family recipes go from these to Lebanese dishes. You can also google these under Ginny grinders which I guess is the more PC version of the name.

Now grinders are typically a sandwich and while these are usually served with french bread and cream cheese in my family, they are just as tasty alone. I will be serving these with...toothpicks haha.

So here is what I made today.

Guinea (Ginny) grinders
2 lbs sausage or ground beef ( I used 1 lb of italian sausage & 1lb of beef)
1/2 tbsp fennel seed
1/2 tbsp crushed red peppers (you can use a whole tbsp but I cooled them down for the kids)
1 green pepper chopped
1/2 onion chopped
tomato or pizza sauce ( I used 15 ounces)

Mix meat, fennel and crushed red pepper together. Roll into balls. I roll into about ping pong size if it is for us but I make them bite sized for parties, they tend to last a whole 10 min instead of 5 ;). Brown on all sides in a cast iron skillet and place in crock pot. Add sauce, pepper and onion and cook on low for 8-10 hours or over night.

Eww touching raw meat ugh

Fry em up good so they don't fall apart in the slow cooker

This won't look like enough sauce, but it is be patient

Perfection!! I could eat my weight in these. 

The longer these things cook the better. So if you are going to tailgate in the morning you can make them the night before. I also highly recommend that if you are taking these to tailgate or a party you make a double batch. I do not exaggerate when I say they are gone in 5 min. Every time we take them to a party Daddy-O makes me put some aside at home for him because they go so fast. They are that good. I do recommend that if you are serving non-paleo peeps or you are a wheat eater serve it with the italian bread and cream cheese. Just cube up some bread for sopping up some sauce and cream cheese to cut the heat. I will still eat these with a nug of cream cheese if I am not being ultra strict because it is good stuff!!


After my cook-a-thon this morning I left for some errands and came back to Daddy-O cooking hot sauce. We grow jalapenos ever summer and he makes the best pickled jalapenos EVER! He picked our last harvest of peppers and chopped some for his famous peppers and took the rest for his sauce. Look how pretty!!!

Don't let this fool you it is hot stuff!! I am convinced our jalapenos and habaneros cross pollinated because the jalapenos are nuclear. It isn't a hot sauce you can shake from a bottle more like a Thai chili sauce without the Thai flavors. Thick, hot and dang tasty. He is magic with some hot peppers. He makes a mean habanero jelly too, yes fraught with sugar but we use it for parties...most of the time ;).

On my final note I would not have a good post if I didn't show you some smoked pork magic. I bought Daddy-O (me) a smoker for his birthday last year and every time he uses it it gets better and better. I used to hate BBQ and smoked meats even chicken but for whatever reason I am a fiend now. We ate this hunk of yumminess with some Mashed Faux-tatoes and some of that killer hot sauce. Mmmmm

Smokey Pork...wish you were here ;) YUM!

Well hope you had a good Sunday and GO PATS!

1 Corinthians 6 19-20

Fighting a Cold

Don't you think it is funny that people say they are "fighting" a cold. Most of the time they all look like they had a late night bar brawl and the cold won. Today I kept thinking about that because we should fight our colds. Why let them take us over. I have been gearing up to fight this one I am getting. I hate being sick...say it with me HATE!! Loathe, detest, pick one. I am an anal beast about my lifestyle because I hate it so much. I turn into a whiney bee cha cha of whom no one wants to be around, not even me. Plus I hate laying there...I wold rather be up doing stuff. On top of that I have 2 kids, my hubby, my house and my job that all need me...I just don't have the time to be sick.

So how do I fight a cold? I start with my immune system. I try to keep it healthy by eating whole foods, limiting...even eliminating sugar, ingesting probiotics either with fermented foods or supplements, daily vitamin C, lots of veggies and protein. I also keep beef bones in my freezer so at a moments notice I can whip up a batch of bone broth.

So some of my favorite side kicks {yes I am the Healthinator and I need a side kick} are...

Now, I am not sure if I will continue to take this supplement because see that "new improved flavor" (it was good before) that means they added Sugar and lots of it. Plus a bunch of other junk. I compared an old packet I keep in my purse and the new box...disappointed. I am not a person to waste so I will finish this box and find an alternative. 

Bone Broth

This mineral rich, gelatin packed meat jelly is great for fighting a cold and preventing them. I make it with beef or chicken bones and like to add garlic for some extra umpf. Thaw out with this when you have the shivers and you start to feel human again. 

When I first heard of this I thought it was ultra gimmicky. But last year after catching every single solitary virus or cold that thought about crossing my path I took action and tried it. After taking it for a month I didn't get a single sniffle the rest of cold season. It works. I just took the tablets but there are a few options. 

(photo credit here)

Yes rest, even if it is sitting down playing online, working, or watching tv. Get rest. Your body need to put it's focus on fighting that cold not other tasks. If you can actually try to sleep a bit. Exercise is so debatable. You hear it depends on where your infection is (i.e. head or chest) my rule of thumb is if I feel bad or tired I am not working out. If I just have a head cold and otherwise feel energetic I go for it. But if I feel run down, tired or moody I skip. 

There are a million other things I could put in here but this is what works for me in preventing or shortening the time I am sick. Whole foods are always a must. I am also a big advocate of OJ. We are fortunate to have a produce market right down the street that fresh squeezes it and keeps it cold, never pasteurizes it. While the whole fruit is better for you when it comes to OJ we are so there. Also try to keep your water intake high to flush out your system and keep everything moving. If you need some warm goodness in lieu of cold water go for unsweetened green tea. 

I hope none of you get sick but the season is upon us. If you notice you are having a bad season and catching everything review your diet and maybe add in some supplements. Remember they are supplements so don't cheat and go for them first, eat food first. Also look at what is in season food wise. God knew what he was doing when he gave food seasons. If you notice the first foods of Spring all have detoxing properties to clear our systems after a winter of heavy and rich foods. So pay attention, I always think it is so cool that oranges and citrus fruit actually have their season in winter...during cold season. 

Lastly on my list is attitude. I have been fighting a cold for 3 days telling myself I am not getting sick and trying to stay up beat. Even at CrossFit the other night I just went with it stayed happy and tried to ignore how bad I was starting to feel. There are countless studies out there about how attitude shortens healing time. So stay happy. Feeling sick and with the blues? Call your best happy friend, let your kids be silly for you. I always feel my worst at night and I am convinced that it is because my kids are in bed. They aren't trying to let me feel bad ever. The 2 days I was home with salmonella before going to the hospital they were drawing me pictures bringing me popsicles singing you name it. I woke up one time and my son had crept in and was stroking my hair telling me to feel better. Kids are great, but if you don' have kids call friends or your spouse. Hell if all else fails watch Napoleon Dynamite. 

So be well and fight the good fight this cold season!! Find what works with you and use it, don't let an illness get you down. 

Beefy Groko Salad

I love Mexican food. Well I love ethnic food in general but Mexican is my favorite. I knew I had found the perfect man when I was dating my husband because he could eat Mexican as often and I could and not get sick if it. I also love that it is pretty easy to convert to primal/paleo. It is also a go to for dining out because it is easy for me to avoid allergens with some plain Fajitas minus all of my allergy crap.

So today I am not feeling 100% but I am craving meat and my Mexican loving husband is off so I wanted to make something good for lunch and taco salad came to mind. I made this last week and almost made myself sick on it. Mind you, this isn't going to get the super foods of the year award or anything but it is a good way to get in some solid protein, veggies and feel like you are eating junk food. This is a primal recipe because I use sour cream (or greek yogurt) as sort of a dressing and then I add some shredded cheese.

Beefy Groko Salad

1 lb ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
Lettuce of your choosing (I use iceburg because it is my non-reactive lettuce)
Shredded cheese
Sour cream
Salsa
Black olives
Jalapenos (plus some juice)
taco seasoning (I make my own, see below)

Brown beef and onion together in a pan, seasoning with salt and pepper

Meanwhile, chop lettuce and place in a bowl. (sorry didn't get a pic of this)

add 2 Tbsp of taco seasoning to beef

When beef is cooked through, remove from heat and let sit while you assemble. 

round up your toppings...

Now to assemble. Put as much lettuce as you want in your bowl. I make a huge salad so I use a mixing bowl so about 2 cups of lettuce. Then top with beef, I put a heafty amount of that on because I want it beefy. Then I take about 2 tbsp of sour cream, 1/4 cup of salsa, 1/4 cup shredded cheese, olives, jalapenos, and about a tablespoon of jalapeno juice for some tang. 

It will look all pretty like this...

Then you get crazy and mix it all up and the salsa, sour cream and jalapeno juice makes a nice dressing. It is like a nice taco in a bowl minus the shells. 

This is a filling salad. The iceburg lettuce lends a nice traditional flavor but I am sure any lettuce will be just as tasty. If you aren't into the heat you can leave off the jalapeno juice and the salsa and sour cream will still make a nice dressing. This would probably work great with chicken too. Enjoy!

Home made taco seasoning. 

Okay so sorry if this is going to be a horrible recipe but I cook like McGyver and I don't measure anything {this is why I don't bake} but here is what I use in my home made taco seasoning. I don't buy pre-made because they ALL have gluten or some soy derivative and Pinterest is overflowing with recipes. Also I am so spoiled by Penzeys I want flavor!! If you want an exact recipe you can go here.. Better yet follow me on Pinterest and you can find it on my The Eats board. 

Chili Powder

Cumin

Garlic Pawder

Onion Powder

Oregano

Coriander

Chipotle Powder

I start with approx 2 Tbsp chili powder and build from there. The list is in order from greatest to least amount. So if I had to guess it would be 2 tbsp Chili powder, 1 tbsp cumin, 1 tsp garlic and onion powder, 1/2 tsp oregano and coriander, then a few shakes of chipotle powder. 

Most recipes call for salt but I salt my beef while cooking so I don't want to overdo it. 

Taxadermy

Welp, tonight was  CrossFit Wednesday...killer. I was so excited about today and my workout. Even though I was still feeling the after effects of being wheated. I even added some protein with a shake trying to get the right balance for energy. In fact I had energy all day until 5:30. :D So tonight's workout was fun as usual but a little more than we have done rounds wise. We had...

5 Rounds for Time

7 wall balls

7 push ups( I loathe)

7 pull ups (we aren't talking either)

Time 9:33

For as geeked as I was to be there my workout didn't reflect it. I was finished before I started. I mean I just didn't have it in me tonight. I was so tired and was having a hard time breathing {I am finally accepting that I am coming down with something}, but I didn't quit and I did it. Every damn day, no excuses right? Tonight felt a bit like gym class where you have been running suicides and you want to climb in a hole and die because you are so tired. That was me but it wasn't because of the workout necessarily it was because of the way I felt and the mind game I was playing with myself. 

I love CrossFit (in case you didn't get that) I want to live it, I do most of the time. I spend an hour each night reading and watching You Tube videos to learn everything I can. I do handstands all over my house as well as practice forms with my broom, I am obsessed to say the least. After only 3 weeks I feel amazing, I am seeing tone and I am loosing weight like crazy even though I can see the muscle I am building. Tonight ole grumpy Glenda got to me apparently. I was in a foul-ish mood when I got there but cheered up when I started talking to me CF peeps and went with it. I was excited about my hot pink tape, which didn't work {does anyone remember tuff skin spray from high school?}, I was happy to practice kipping pull ups but when it was time for business I was a total head case. Whoa is me I can't do this today, I am so tired, not push ups...meh meh blah blah. So while I finished in less than 10 min I struggled. I took long breaks trying to catch my wheezey breath. I didn't even push myself on the push ups and I have been excited for wall balls but didn't care for them today. I was taxed to say the least. I was a whiney and probably a tad hormonal beechaa chaa...internally of course,outside I was nice to everyone around me. 

I was happy to get to talk to Mrs CrossFit Charlie, Kari, after class about recovery nutrition and getting these muscles to be happy. Great info coming out of that. Wondering if I should apologize about my gabbiness...should have warned her, haha. I left feeling good but exhausted. She said if I want to go to sleep at 9 go to sleep, so I think I will. Mo better fun post later 46 peeps!!!

Oh and I actually brought my camera today but forgot to give it to CF Charlie, ugh...he had some from last week. Rock out and enjoy!

3, 2, 1, GO 100m sprints. I am the only goof wearing a hat

scaled kipping pull ups...in my mind I felt like Julie Foucher...nice dose of reality. Man I have long arms ugh but I have yet to smack my face with the bands. 

The Fast and the Furious

Okay that is a really lame title but my wit is on strike tonight. No fun titles, this was the best I could do HA.

So let's just get to all of the fun stuff I want to rant about. Starting with the most important...CrossFit. Tonight's class did not disappoint again. I showed up tonight even though I had been nauseated and feeling way under the weather since about 8 am. I kept trying to eat and rest and talk myself feeling better but nothing was working. I couldn't decide if it was an allergy thing of a flu thing. I almost didn't go to CrossFit tonight, I felt THAT bad and since there is a high hurl factor post workout I didn't need to literally blow chunks in front of my class. But...I am an addict and I just didn't want to miss. So I went there after eating a small snack hoping to calm my grouchy belly, bad choice. I was trying to chill on the couch and not hurl when it happened...allergic reaction, feeling of dying, shaking, anxiety...the big one. I swear I need to get an epi pin. So I forewarned everyone that if I keeled over it was from something I ate. To take my mind off of it I starting trying to think of what we might do and my fun kipping last week and started getting psyched like the deranged crossfit maniac I am. It worked. See every time I get 5 min from CrossFit Regeneration my heart starts pumping and I start filling up with adrenaline. I don't need a Tokyo drift just a box. So by the time we got in and started going on about the day's agenda I was feeling better than I had felt all day and my allergy thing was subsiding.

Hello...I am Jaimelee and I am a CrossFit addict

and a maniac

and probably a little over zealous

and I remind myself of this guy...

So anyway...back on track we go. Got in the box, full of adrenalin, no longer the feeling of impending doom and today we are working on handstand push ups...doesn't CrossFit Charlie rock. As we worked on our handstands, scaling them and kipping we all kept commenting how much fun we were having. After that we worked on knees to elbows...or knees to boobies in my case because they weren't going any higher. So the WOD deets for tonight...

15-12-9

Handstand Push-ups

Knees to elbows (boobies)

Time 5:32

This was a ball buster workout. After feeling like Batman post pull ups last week I jumped back on the humble bus tonight. I had a decent time but my knees never got to my elbows and I was seriously scaling my handstand push ups...I so very much want to kip a HS push up...so tonight I felt human again. To add to the hefty dose of humanity I wanted to practice 5 pull ups post WOD, thinking I still had plenty of arms left but I didn't. I ripped a hole over a mostly healed one. The best part about tonight was my conversation with Anna. She is my fellow class mate and we are on the same crazy train with CrossFit. She is really fun and is an athlete. 

After our WOD we talked shop, nutrition shop that is. CrossFit Charlie gave us homework to try to eat as clean as possible for a week. I feel like a cheater haha...like I have a choice. Regardless it was some good stuff. I want to read more about the Zone because I have read it has the best times to eat which blocks for performance. I need mucho research for nutrition in regards to recovery and such. I might just have to hit up Mrs. CrossFit Charlie. I know the what, it is the timing I need. So many options out there haha. I want a quick recovery. 

Anyway here is my first assignment...Dinner.

Oven roasted 5 spice chicken with baby bok choy sauteed in coconut aminos 

and topped with some ROOSTA sauce. 

Here is tonight's white board...

if you squint you can read that :p

Speaking of white boards have you seen the new CrossFit whiteboard ads? Genuis!!

Well that is all for now peeps, I am going to down me some bone broth and watch some FOOTBALL!!!

My favorite season

I love Fall, there about 100 reasons from the cooler weather to the festivals but I love all of it. I got married in the fall, I mean I just love it. One thing that Fall also brings is the longing for warm snuggley comfort food. Food that warms your heart and soul. I mentioned in a previous post how I don't eat salad after Summer and it is because my body totally transitions to fall and winter noshing.

While it is still in the low 80s high 70s here the shorter days and hint of Fall in the air have made me start craving things like pumpkin, apples, cider and coffee. I don't however want to chuck it all in and just eat with reckless abandon and this year is different because there are so many foods off of my list. No scones, pumpkin bread or pie, expensive coffee drinks or pastries...hmmm all of that extra weight is starting to make sense. I do plan on making some great paleo versions of my old favorites and have already tried an amazing pumpkin muffin recipe. I am also excited because I have been wanting some hearty stick to your ribs hunter style stews but it is just too dang hot here. Bring on the cold!!

I wanted to share with two things I had today to satisfy my fall cravings.

These are apples sprinkled with apple pie spice. All of the benefits of this amazing enzyme rich fruit and the flavor of pie without the sugar and wheat!

Paleo-ish mocha. I mixed hot cocoa mix (not paleo) with coconut milk & coffee. 

Now my mocha was made with Penzeys' hot cocoa mix, it does have sugar in it, but the reason we bought it before was because you taste the cocoa not the sugar as it isn't very sweet. I will make this in the future when I get my next bag of plain cocoa without sugar, but I really wanted a mocha so the tsp I used isn't going to kill me. 

I have been reading up a lot on paleo treats lately. It is the time of parties and dinner and I need to make sure I bring versions of treats that I can eat and are actually tasty. I will be playing a lot here soon so I am sure I will post some nummies on here. 

Quick Protein - Broccoli Beef

I told you this was coming. Today while I struggle to use my arms I decided I need to eat lunch. The thought of making lunch made me almost not eat because my body is just a mess today. But alas I need to eat, especially protein, if I am to heal right?

So here goes...

I made this with roast beef, broccoli, tomatoes, and coconut aminos. Added some rooster sauce and a side of kimchi and called it lunch. It was good and took about 10 min total including cutting my veggies. 

Rips & Kips

So tonight was a fun night at CrossFit Regineration, but then every time I am there it is fun. Today was like play time however! Don't get me wrong I felt the urge to yak post WOD but it was what we learned and what we did that had me excited...pull ups.I love pull ups and have always thought they were cool. I actually used to be able to do 10 unassisted but not anymore. Tonight we didn't go through a slow process of a pull up we went from 0 to kipping a pull up. Let's all say it together...rock out.

I don't know why I love kipping, maybe it reminds me of gymnastics or maybe it is because everyone looks super stellar doing it. Regardless I was completely geeked when I realized we were going to be doing our pull ups that way. The first time I saw kipping pull ups I remember thinking, now that is genius right there. Using whole body power to get up.

I need to digress a moment, I love that while this is a beginners class, CrossFit Charlie only treats us as such for a moment. I remember thinking it would probably be weeks before we did our first official WOD, no he had us killing ourselves the first day. He teaches us but doesn't baby us. It is perfect and even moreso today learning a skill I have been itching to do.

I did scale my pull ups with a rather heavy band that gave a lot of support but man when I got my groove I felt like freaking Batman flying through my pull ups. I did them so quick that I have spent the night thinking I a missed a round and am happy I interacted with my classmates every sprint so I knew I did 4 rounds.

Here is tonight's workout...

4 rounds for time (10 time cap)

100m sprint

7 pull ups (scaled)

25 squats

Time 8:47

A couple of things. I need to work on my sprints. I jog and I need to stop, I just feel like I weigh a ton running and I want to change that. Second I friggin love kipping pull ups. Last squats hurt when you are already sore. Also...rippers are real lol.

Ouch!

Actually I didn't even feel them, I looked down to see if I needed more chalk and was like whoa I ripped my hands. After making sure I wasn't excessively swinging (hence causing the rippers) I just got on with it. The best part about tonight's workout was that I never thought. I didn't think about anything not even my kipping form, nothing my mind was clear and I think that really contributed to my success. I know it did because there was a moment when I started whining internally about my burning aching thighs during squats and I stopped and took a break. Realized I was killing it wiped my mind clear and got to it. 

We also had a chat about sickness, wellness and fitness...interesting stuff. I had to take a photo of this because this is what I want. 

fitness = super wellness (sorry my arms were shakey)

I totally walked out of my house without my camera which sucks because I would have loved to have photos of this workout but alas it wouldn't be real if I didn't have ones of me truly struggling! So next time I will have it with me. And for my non-CrossFit peeps...kipping pull ups. 

Mr Zulu, Prepare to engage thrusters...

I can not believe it has taken me this long to correlate CrossFit Thrusters and Star Trek...really what kind of geek am I?

I will be honest Thrusters have been one move I have been excited to learn.After all it is part of Fran and was all over the games and looks like a challenge, and me, I like challenges. So when Crossfit Charlie said we were doing thrusters I had a huge grin on my face. As we worked on position I started to feel a little insecure. I am crazy about form, I always have been in any fitness class and these felt awkward for me. Actually I had an internal :O face when I realized I wasn't very flexible in this move. After getting jacked in my head about it, it was time to start the WOD. I kind of panicked and even asked if I could practice the thrusters a couple of times with the weighted bar since we had just used our trusty PVC pipe. The form felt more natural with a weighted bar I will say but I was still dealing with a high level of insecurity with it.

So yesterday's WOD (sorry I am a day late) was -

3 rounds for time of

200 m run

10 thrusters

10 sit ups

Final time 9:47

Welcome to the world of ass kicking workouts. This one stood by the clock and handed me my own ass. Before the workout I grabbed a 35 lb bar but felt bad and decided to offer it up to anyone else wanting that weight in exchange for the 45. There are only a few lighter bars and I feel bad hogging a lighter one every workout. Thrusters on full was NOT happening with the 45 lb bar. They were brutal, unforgiving and wonderful. I have always thought it was kind of silly how crossfit athletes drop their bars...they aren't dropping them they are saying "Get the hell away from me I hate you". 

I also finished dead last in this workout. When I say dead last I mean like the entire group was done by a good minute before me and they were all there cheering me on to completion. Surprising to me, I didn't care and actually relished the last place finish. I knew it was hard, I was grinning from getting the ass kicking work out I knew would come with CrossFit and I knew that in the moment I was ready to quit I didn't. I kept on. 

But all whining aside, I love me a thruster, out of everything we have done so far it takes the cake for difficulty. It also grew the respect I already have for the elite CF athletes because they make them look like cake with their smooth transition from front squat to push press. They are anything but cake. I also have to bow down to my friend Leah because Lord know what her thruster PR is but I know it isn't 45lbs and anything over that bar gets my worship.

So since I am going on about these mean little devils I guess I should show you what I am talking about. (not you Leah you already know ;) ) Here is a video of Jason Khalipa making it look easy. 

Before this class started I was doing some easy modified workouts at home one if which involved kettlebell thrusters which I loved...I was using a 10lb kettlebell, no wonder I loved it. Ha!

I won't lie I am really sore today, I was going to throw in a Tabata of push ups and sit ups but decided against it since squatting down to sit is a bit tricky tonight. I am super excited to see what we have on the docket for tomorrow, which I hear may be pull ups. I am going to take my camera in to try to beg and plead for someone to take photos of me getting my WOD on so hopefully I will soon. In the meanwhile...WOD on!

Cavegirls like Lattes too!

I love Pumpkin Spice Latte's but the real deal ones are not even close to paleo and packed with sugar from well sugar and the milk as well. This morning as the news was crooning about 9/11 and the breeze outside was cool and screaming fall my mind went to warm cinnamon apples and pumpkins. Since I can drink a cup of coffee without hashing out into some crazy reaction I decided to spruce mine up this morning, and since I had an open can of pumpkin...meant to be. 

So I found this recipe here but it is hardly legal for me these days but I had some good stuff on hand to convert it to Cavegirl coffee...Here you go!

Paleo Pumpkin Latte

Brewed coffee

1/4 cup coconut cream (not milk must be cream)

1 Tbsp pumpkin pure

1 tsp maple syrup

cinnamon

vanilla extract

Take you mug and add cream, puree & syrup. Stir to combine. Add a dash of cinnamon and a splash of vanilla and stir. Add coffee to fill your cup, give it one last swirl, sit back and enjoy. 

Now these are all rough estimates, so play around with it adding what you like until it has the taste you like. 1/4 cup of the cream is what makes it creamy and latte-y. Coconut cream already has some sweetness to it so I recommend trying it before upping the maple syrup. 

(photo credit from Lemondrop Foodie)

Five Minute Pepper Steak

Some days there just isn't enough time. No mater how much you plan and prepare it feels like time is water in your hands. Here is a super quick recipe that can be made in the morning before you head to work or at lunch time when you are pressed for time.

5 min Pepper Steak

1 green bell pepper (chopped)

1/4 onion (chopped)

handful of cherry tomatoes

Deli Roast beef or leftover roast beef (chopped)

salt

pepper

garlic poweder

coconut aminos

Rooster sauce

In a skillet (preferable cast iron) add peppers, tomatoes and beef. Stir fry for about 3-4 min. Add remaining ingredients to taste and stir to combine. Cook for additional minute or until it looks good to you. I like my veggies still a bit crunchy. 

Lunch is the trickiest meal of the day for me. By the time I get home from picking up Firecracker I am starving and I feed her first because she is starving. It is really easy for me to blow it all on lunch so I try to keep quick grab things like emergency protein or this. I mix this up a lot using different meats like ham or turkey. It is kind of like my own personal Mongolian grill. The key here is to pile it with veggies. Use anything you like in stir fry. Today it is pepper steak tomorrow it might be broccoli beef. Use what you like and enjoy!

Football Food for Cave Peeps...Grilled Wings

I am super excited about Football season officially starting. There is so much I love about Football. The game, the food, the weather, the clothing, my Pats, Tom Brady, Clay Matthews...what c'mon you know you are checking them out too. I also love the new gloves everyone is using like these...

GO PATS!

Football is also something my hubby and I bond over. We love it...Football and Grimm, these are the only two things we agree about TV wise, so it is even more exciting we can get into it together. This season I am more excited than I had been in the past. I have been essentially consumed by children for the last 5 years and now they are older I feel like I can take more time for myself and get back in watching it more.

Before we had kids Daddy-o and I would go watch football or make some really gnarly junk food to watch the games. That was typically our Saturday College game fare or Sunday night football dinner. We started to introduce the Sunday football or home tailgating to the kids with mucho success. Naturally today I was in the mood for football food! It is perfect tailgating weather here! If I wasn't so tanked from my show yesterday I would have my entire back patio looking like we are tailgating complete with TV. Alas I am tired so it was more scaled down so I combed my new Practical Paleo which had great ideas and thought about paleo versions of our old favorites and finally decided to make one of my favorite wings recipes. 

I found this recipe in Everyday food 2 years ago and have made this often since then. It is naturally paleo so I didn't have to make any modifications. The recipe calls for mixing everything, coating the wings, then baking. I personally like to make it more of a marinade and let it sit, it makes for some tasty wings and when we serve these to guests there are never any left over. This s a very mild wing recipe so it is perfect for kids and my kids will chow on these things! We rarely have leftovers either haha. This also work great on chicken breasts and even whole chickens. It is just a perfect combo for tasty moist chicken. 

Emeril's oven-roasted (or sometimes grilled) chicken wings

4# chicken wings (if buying the whole wing you can remove the wingtip)

1/4 cup lemon juice (2 lemons)

1 Tbsp ground pepper

1 Tbsp garlic powder

1 Tbsp onion powder

2 tsp salt

2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (I half this just in case)

1/4 cup (half stick) butter melted ( recommend Kerigold or Ghee here. I personally like Kerigold on these but ghee is just as tasty)

In a large bowl mix all ingredients except chicken wings. Blend well. In a large gallon freezer bag or covered bowl add wings and pour over marinade. Your butter will solidify, this is why a bag works best. If you pour the marinade over, seal the bag then massage it really well the butter will cover evenly as your hands keep it warm. Once it looks like it is covered well put in the fridge. 

 Well coated!

You can cook these immediately instead of marinating but I like to let them sit in the stuff for at least a couple of hours if not all day. Once they are good and flavored either turn your oven to 500 or pop on your grill. If cooking in the oven cook for 20 min or until done. I would love to give you more info on the grill but Daddy-o takes care of that. Just cook until done about 20-30 min. We have a gas grill and I know he cooks them on medium. 

Mmmmm

The recipe recommends blue cheese, ranch or a bbq sauce. They do not need it in our opinion and we have never used any dips. Today I am going to serve these with a bunch of raw veggies dipped in a gluten free dressing from Trader Joes. I have a mix of carrots, celery, broccoli, cherry tomatoes and cauliflower. 

Eat up and enjoy!!

Crossfit Week one...addiction!

Sorry for my absence lately there is so much going on sometimes I get into bed and think dang I didn't post again!! I have had tons of things to post about and think about it it just doesn't happen. But without further adieu...

This week brings a lot of things so this post is going to be a general week post. I have a craft fair in 3 days so the next 2 days will be split between my day job and grinding away at my sewing machine.

So today was day two of my on the ramp class at Crossfit Regeneration. I really wanted to come home and post about my first class but I was exhausted and had 100 hair flowers to make. I will digress to day one for a moment. Monday we congregated together for our first class. The class is a mix of couples, men and women. Everyone is really nice and range from stellar shape to getting back in shape. We spent a few moments before we got down to business and introduced ourselves. Anyone who knows me knows I am a chatty cat. I will talk all day yadayadayada however I was so excited to get working in the box when it was my turn I gave my name, a few insignificant points and that was it. Shortest introduction EVER from this girl. I was seriously so packed with adrenalin I was about to pop. So after introductions we headed into the box and went through correct form on basic moves like Squat, Push-up and Sit-ups. After some practice and form checks we started our WOD.

200m sprint

15,12,9 of

Squats

Push-ups

Sit-ups

200m sprint 

for time

We started outside with an outback sprint. We ran out 100m and back then into the box for our 3 rounds of squats, push-up and sit-ups with the reps listed above and just when you think you are done and your body can't move you get up and go run another outback 200m. 

Things I learned - 

1. I am a squating champ and found the squats easy enough that I actually slowed down thinking I was doing them wrong. 
2. I am amazed I can lift a fork my arms are so weak, a.k.a. I suck at push-ups...even modified.
3. For someone with a weak core I can sit up like mad!
4. I am not the 17 yr old sprinter I once was. 
5. I am all about calling my own bullshit, after realizing I didn't touch my chest 2x on push-ups I started counting over even though no one called a no rep on me. 
6. I am really bad at counting and focusing on working out...I need a ref (can I hire one)
7. In 8 min I did more work than I do in my 30 min runs and my post workout high reflected that. 
8. Adrenalin is way better than coffee. 

I completed the workout in 8:07...my time would have been shorter but I stopped at the wrong line (crap!) so I walked the last 6 seconds. Calling my own shit thank you. I completed this energizing and grueling workout faster than I have ever been able to run a mile. Rock out!!! 

After the workout we had a short lesson on Movement Anantomy (can you say happy geek girl) then we all parted ways and went home to rest up for the next day. 

I wasn't super sore Tuesday but I was a bit stiff so I was thinking an easy run would work the kinks out. Not so much...Hear me now people, REST!

Today I woke up really sore, which I love, and somewhat stiff. I was actually nervous about being able to WOD and since you don't know what you are doing until you get there all I could do was pray for nothing involving push-ups. I had told Fircracker I would take her to the zoo since it just the two of us on Wednesdays so that was 2 hours of walking around and lifting her. By 4pm I was really nervous about class but by 4:30 I had the type of butterflies you get when you are 15 and dating THAT guy. Really? Butterflies?

So finally after waiting all day it was 5:00 and I headed to the box. We had a little meet and greet before class again and met some new participants. Then we went into the box where we checked out the whiteboard for today's happenings. I am glad I have some acting background because I needed it to hide how excited I was to be doing bar work. 

We started our basics training learning how to properly deadlift, press and push press using a pvc pipe. I was super psyched and finally felt like those hours of watching crossfit vids on You Tube paid off haha. After we were all formed out we started our workout. 

7min amrap

7 burpees (really Charlie...burpees?!?)

7 dead lifts

7 push presses

Amrap is where you do the defined number of reps for each exercise completing as many sets as you can in the time defined. But really...burpees? Don't get me wrong I have one of those love hate things with burpees. I love them I do because when you are done you feel like a rock star but I hate them...especially when my arms are on fire already from a workout 2 days ago. But crossfit isn't here to baby you or wipe your ass...it is here to kick it. So suck it up buttercup. 

Things I learned tonight - 

1. I loved this workout and I love push presses. 
2. I need to dress like I am going to be doing handstands, no one wants to see this ghost white belly while I am doing burpees. 
3. I still can't count and focus on form (ref for hire). 
4. Having someone behind you telling you to keep fighting is AWESOME!
5. When I decided to be humble and work hard for CF I meant it...it is easy to feel like Thor while working out but I don't need to parade that. 
6. My knees get really purple!
7. I think I get too focused on perfect form.
8. If I were 10 years younger I would dedicate my life to crossfit
9. Again with the adrenalin
10. I need to make sure I am sufficiently fed for crossfit days. 

I completed today's workout 2 push presses shy of 4 sets. I think that if I hadn't been so concerned with tucking in and adjusting my shirt I would have had 4. Or if I had pushed harder on those presses. Regardless I didn't feel I gave it 100% today. Disappointing but motivating. 

Afterward we got into some basics about crossfitting. Definition of fitness, the hopper and the rationale behind it all. Charlie also encourages us to go home and read up...I wonder if I am the only one staying up until midnight reading and watching crossfit vids haha. 

Overall I will say that crossfit is everything I thought it would be. I am in no way disappointed. The workouts are amazing, Crossfit Regineration is absolutely perfect and I love it as much as I thought I would. I honestly want to sit and read, watch, or do crossfit all day. I am having a hard time focusing on this craft fair because I would rather grab a broom stick and practice form. Crossfit isn't just a workout or the next best thing (although it is best IMHO) it is exercise that challenges you physically and mentally. It is you going in each day not knowing what your day is going to be like there and you are still willing to go give it your all and never quit. It wont just give you physical toughness, it gives you mental strength as well. 

Don't get me wrong...I know we have been doing easy stuff compared with what is to come. I mean I was push pressing with just a bar which I think was 45 lbs...or 35 something. We haven't even touched pull ups or thrusters (Fran anyone?) but I am so ready for those days...where I feel like I want to die rather than do one more burpee but I do them anyway. I want to get into those moments where I think I am completely gassed but then I push on. 

I am only hoping that tomorrow I can keep up in Taekwando and I am praying no push-ups!!