NSB....what does it mean? ...So excited for REGIONALS!

Stole this from my girl Mandy Rose. Love it. Love her! miss you!

 I like to call people out...not to be confused with...I like it when people call me out. I don't like that much at all, BUT I APPRECIATE IT ONCE IT'S OVER. It's how I have been able to grow. Anyway. I would never do this to hurt someone or to seem malicious and quite honestly I ONLY do it to people I know have a strong desire to get or have more. (this is not criticizing as spoken above)

You all remember Jo right? Jo is one of the people that I love to call out. Why you ask? because she underestimates what she is capable of.


It kind of infuriates me. So here is what brought up NSB. This week I called Jo out on a dead lift weight. I kind of chastised her for going so light when I knew she had gone 25# heavier not 2 weeks before with the same sequence. I got on her and she took it in stride. SO yesterday I went into the gym- and we had text each other earlier that day about a movement in the WOD and she made it VERY clear she was going to go a certain weight (rx) and she did-not caring that it might take her longer-not caring about what other people thought-she had to prove to herself that the desire to do more, get more, give more, was stronger than her desire to scale when she didn't need to. When she wrote her score on the whiteboard at the end of the WOD-she wrote out to the side.. NSB-then she directed me to the board and said "no sand bagging".

So there you have it. NSB- so simple- yet so profound. She made a public statement that she decided not to sand bag that day. So here is what prompts my rant. What are you sandbagging? This doesn't apply to JUST your workouts or your eating. Are you selling yourself short? In any aspect of your life? If so why?

I was recently presented with an opportunity at work that I made the decision to decline. There were many reasons but the thing that kept coming up the most was am I selling myself short? Can I truly make this work and not change the quality of my life that I have worked so hard for? My fear was that I was letting something pass me by that could help me to grow. When I weighed the pros and the cons I just could not accept it. I have spent years of my life being a "pleaser" if you will. A yes girl. It's taken a long time for me to go after what life I truly desire to have. And part of that "thing" I have wanted SO badly was the ability to say no and not feel guilty - going with my gut is what I like to call it. I am doing things outside of work that make me so extremely happy and I want to be able to continue doing those things. I have worked hard to get to this position in my life. And sacrificing my happiness and doing the things I really love to do is just not in the cards. (I think for some reason I needed to get those feelings out in print-whew kind of relates right?)

So here's the deal. STOP FREAKING SANDBAGGING! How in the hell do you ever expect to achieve GREATNESS if you never push yourself? If you never try? I thought about a great analogy for this. Ice Bath. When you first approach an ice bath..oh Lord...it's scary it's awful it might even hurt...but once you get in, breathe a bit (I recommend doing this with coffee in hand AND a sweatshirt on) the fear subsides, the pain subsides and the overall outcome is something you may have really needed. And the next time you ice bath, less fear- less pain-and again the end result - AWESOME! And so on and so forth until you hit greatness! quit sandbagging-start pushing-get to something GREAT- End rant.

AHHHH REGIONALS ARE FINALLY HERE!! Stole this pic from my sis Amy! Setup in progress at the Olympic Oval.

I know some of you have grown tired and bored of this subject. I have been anticipating this for quite sometime. After experiencing this last year with my sister Kat as an athlete competing (very emotional for me-even cried once) I am very much looking forward to giving my time-and enjoying watching all the athletes. This is where amazing things happen. People push themselves beyond where they may have ever pushed before. It will be a different experience this year but I am sure it is one that wont disappoint! I am not shy about how much I love the community of CrossFit. It has changed me and my life in ways I never dreamt were possible and I am so honored and excited to be part of it. So good luck to all the Athletes participating! Can wait to see great things!

One more really important thing. My little Grandbaby..she is perfect isn't she- my son and his wife had the super important ultra sound today and of course...she is perfect. SO EXCITED!

 

Well that's about it. I am out. I won't be posting Sunday for food prep so maybe go back through some of my posts and see if there is something there for you. I am going to be doing 12 hour days pretty much at Regionals. I will be taking photos so when I do post next week-I am hoping to share some great things!

 

FINISH OUT THE WEEK STRONG!! AND NO SANDBAGGING!!

This girl and her grill...Love Thursdays...Teach your kids a little cemetery respect..



What would I do without my grill??? Turkey, chicken, pineapple and BEETS!

I think you all know by now that I am NOT shy about grilling some stuff. When I say stuff I mean FOOD. This week- super simple. I picked up in addition to my Bountiful Baskets-a turkey steak- trying this for the first time as well as just boring chicken breast. I have something going on with getting my fats right so I always go super lean to figure it out. No recipes to share really. I just seasoned them both up and threw them along with my pineapple and some beets onto the grill. Food prep made easy!

Love coaching on Thursdays!! It's Open gym but I have been trying to bring an extra WOD with me so people have a variety of things to choose from. This week I was ecstatic with how many people did "Me and My Barbell"...it starts and finishes with a 400 M run WITH the barbell...even when I told people to watch for the metal signs- still had a couple of goofs get a dinger!

Troy and Austin loving their barbell

Amy Hyatt making it look effortless

 


Saturday and today were probably 2 of the hardest WOD days I have had in a while. My own fault. But Saturday the fundraiser WOD and then today the Heroes WOD MURPH!! I finally rx'd Murph for the first time. Took me longer but I don't think I minded much. Both mile runs felt really great to me today. Strange..I know. So glad that I got up and went. But then again- I always am!

PARENTS OF YOUNG KIDS...I have to vent just for one very quick moment. I went to the cemetery today to spend a little time at my brothers resting place. Here's the deal. It was great at first. It was relatively quiet. Then a large family with a large number of young kids came and plopped lawn chairs down around a headstone. That part was fine, what I was MOST disturbed by was that the kids were just running around- over other peoples headstones, making a ton of noise. I resisted the urge to hush them. It's hard enough for me to go there and when I do I want to be able to enjoy my thoughts and memories so start when your children are young teaching them some cemetery etiquette. When we were young there is NO WAY in HELL that we would have ever gotten away with that. My Dad and Mom would have put us in check in a heartbeat. Teach your children to be respectful and almost reverent if you will at a cemetery. Sorry. Just a old lady venting.  

FOOD STUFF!!! SO HAPPY!! FINALLY PLANTED SOME HERBS!! It's not much -more pots will follow. This is my basil and oregano -not sure if they should be in the same pot..but I can move one if need be.

 
 

 

 
 
 
 Bountiful Baskets!
 
The add on mexi pack was great last week. The fruit side was a little light but that's always fine with me. Veggie side was GREAT-gave my corn and 1 bag of carrots away.
 
 
 
 

 

 As always got everything cut up an put away except for the butternut haven't decided what I am going to do with that yet.
 
 

So menu is quick and easy, turkey, chicken breast- lots of veggies, arugula, spinach and a quick and easy cucumber salad. All I do for the salad is cut up my cucumbers- slice my tomatoes somewhat small-chop up parsley and throw some olive oil, lemon and vinegar on it and toss it.
 
 

 Opted to throw my pineapples on the grill. These are awesome save for a sweet tooth. I put NOTHING on them.
I also made some sweet potato chips. If you LOVE chips and miss them sometimes like I do (although I might have eaten my body weight in tortilla chips this weekend...) I like to do these from time to time. Super easy- Slice them really thin-I like to use a small pan and just do a few batches. Melt some coconut oil and fry them up. I have had some trial and error with this for sure. I like to do half cooked well and half crispy and then I just sprinkle a little sea salt and cracked black pepper over them they are delightful!!

 
 

This week is going to be CRAZZY fun. 2 day work week then volunteering at the CrossFit Regionals which will be at the Olympic oval. So excited for this opportunity to again be a part of this amazing experience. I will be sure to take some awesome photos..when I am not getting mobbed...

Well that's it. That's really all I have. Well..except for this. I saw it and first I fell in love with it..then I laughed my ass off!! Everyone have a great week-eat clean..train dirty...Tomorrow is Tuesday already!!

 

What seems at times impossible..is so very possible when you get rid of self doubt

Going to be as brief as possible today. I want to start with a funny.

Let me preface this by saying. I love my family and I love the sense of humor we all have. I think laughter is the spice of LIFE. And I have been known to just laugh continuously for what seems to be no reason. My poor other half. At times he is so confused. But it's awesome that for the most part he gets it. Case and point...Today..I have been feeling a little off. I go through these things at times. I am at work,  as you that follow me know..I get a little flustered at work from time to time with people and their .....well just people. This morning though...I get this from my son. It's as if he knew his Momma needed a good laugh..and oh boy...did this ever do the trick. The caption on the photo is funny-but what is even more comical...is what he wrote...and I quote "MAN...THE RESEMBLANCE HERE KIND OF SCARES ME..." turned my day around. HILARIOUS!!!! Sorry Matty it was too post worthy!!! And thanks son!

So, funny is over...to my heading. Yesterday I had a little breakthrough. I can't tell you the times over the past few months that I have wished for more. To be stronger or faster or more fit or less crazy...you name it..at some point I might have wished for more(this is NOT specific to me and working out- this is to my life in general). It's kind of who I am. Sometimes when wods come up with movements I struggle with- I let self doubt creep in and take over. So this week I vowed it would be different. I wanted to go from almost crying in a wod last week to start feeling like if I can push through the pain, if I can believe in my strengths more than I do my weakness, if I can change my attitude, that wodding might be better for me this week. And I will be damned if I didn't have a breakthrough. I went from feeling frustrated and vulnerable to feeling strong and invincible-ish. I am not going into details but I have had an epiphany if you will. It's kind of true-if you believe it you can achieve it. Today. I believed that I was going to do an overhead squat that normally I probably wouldn't ever even try. I am trashed to be honest. The wods this week have really challenged me (yes I know it's barely Wed) and then Oly class last night- I am just really sore but..here's the deal. I am accepting that I may not be the fastest, strongest, skinniest (lets be honest who REALLY wants to the skinniest anymore? GROSS) cutest, most witty, most humble, craziest...and on and on. And what is happening is that I am doubting who I am less and focusing on what I am just a little more. I am NOT an elite athlete. I am middle of the pack at best on a good day. I will never stop wanting or pushing for more. But in the midst of that-I am starting to believe that if I think it's possible. It's very likely that it is. Might not be today or tomorrow. It may take years..but it's possible.

That's it. That my impossible to possible rant. I know it seems all wod related- it is and it's not. This is relative to life. I just use my wodding as way to compare. It comes easier to me.

A FEW FOOD THINGS.

So one thing I failed to mention about the shrimp salad. I used spicy brown mustard instead of Dijon. Dijon is a little grainy for me. AND PLEASE....please read the label of any product you are buying in a bottle or a can. I bring this up because you would be surprised what they try and sneak in cans. For example. While looking for enchilada sauce for the Chicken enchilada lasagna I must have picked up 4 - 5 cans and read the label. They had things like soy, sugar and some items I was like WHAT THE???? Just be cognizant and aware of these things if you choose to buy canned and bottled products. I used Las Palmas brand enchilada sauce which seemed to have all pretty safe ingredients.

That's pretty much it for midweek. SUPER SUPER excited for next weekend and REGIONALS!! WHOOT WHOOT. My assignment is on the "scoring team"...no pressure there right? Going to be 3 days of fun. Excited to be a part of it.  This little one below was random...but it made me smile!! FINISH OUT THE WEEK STRONG!!! We are almost there!!

Simple and quick food stuff...Loving the Regionals!

Going to TRY and be brief - as if that EVER really happens!!

Jason and Christy take 1st in RX

Team Cam and and Amanda

First just want to say congrats to all the athletes from CF22 that competed in the ThrowDown Friday night at SL CrossFit. And although something kind of strange happened it further solidified what class and integrity all of our athletes have! I will leave it at that. Congrats to Christy and Jason for taking 1st in the RX division. So much fun to watch you all compete. So nice to relax (kind of) from the sidelines and cheer on all 4 of our teams. 

Liz and Amanda...2 strong ass chicks!

Team Matt and Liz

Team Ray and Marci

 So for food business. I was totally stalking PaleOMG's blog this week. Last week a salad recipe caught my eye that I so wanted to try. I will put the links for the recipes at the bottom of this blog before I sign off. I love shrimp salad. My Momma makes this macaroni salad that we literally have grown up on and I thought MAYBE this salad could fill that little void. Especially with summer coming that salad was a staple at all of our family gatherings-its crazy that we all have changed our eating so much. This recipe absolutely did not disappoint. It's delicious. And although I was leery about the apple. I love this! So excited. I think you could add bacon to this too. Anyway. Super delicious. I followed the recipe to the T. I may have been very generous on the vinegar. I bought extra shrimp because my intent was to make bacon wrapped guac and shrimp stuff jalapenos but when I went to go start my grill HOLY STORM! That is going to have to wait. I will be making this for Memorial Day BBQ on Sunday next week. I think all my non Paleo friends won't even realize its Paleo.

 


The other recipe she had that sparked my interest is a Chicken Enchilada Lasagne. I am sad to say that I did not follow the recipe and maybe I should have. I am really trying to keep my weekday eating as clean as possible and this recipe called for a gluten free pasta and cheese. Both of which I omitted. There were a couple of things I could have done differently because this turned out a little soupy. BUT lesson learn. I used chicken thighs and in place of noodles I used zucchini and again..omitted the cheese.

It has amazing flavor and honestly I could have just eaten the chicken right out of the pan without any of the other ingredients. I think after setting overnight in the fridge it won't be as bad. I am kind of light on the food business today. When I make a casserole size dinner-ish meal I end up eating most of the week-this is a strange combo I know-I have some burgers to pair with the salad... I still have some cabbage and lettuce and broccoli from last weeks basket so I will be using that as well. In case you are looking for a place that sells grass fed beef. I found some at Target today. You can get that 3 pack at Costco but if you are looking for something smaller you can get single packages there. They also have grassfed uncured hot dogs....I personally won't be eating them...just sharing..


LAST BUT NOT LEAST!!! REGIONALSie- Spencer Hendel is out as well as Kristen Clever. I finally got my volunteer assignment for the SouthWest Regionals that will be here. I am going to be on the "scoring" team. Its going to be a bummer to not be able to watch the whole thing but I feel like this is my time to give back! I got to enjoy watcing my sis Kat compete last year.

I hope everyone has a GREAT week. As always...EAT CLEAN...TRAIN DIRTY!!!
Links for the recipes are as follows:

http://paleomg.com/simple-shrimp-salad/
http://paleomg.com/chicken-enchilada-lasagna/
 

Pushing through a plateau.....Learning to love salad again??

Dear Plateau...how did I get here?

Well it's happened I think. I have no science to back it up just a feeling in my gut. This week has been a little bit of a downer for me but damnit somehow I am managing to get through it. I think that I have been pushing and pushing and right now, this is where I am, sitting on a little bit of a plateau. I have looked back. Have I rested enough? Yes I think I get more rest than most. My eating has been up and down but I think I am still managing a good 80/20 and that's where I want to be. Am I getting enough sleep? eh for the most part yes. So it seems to make zero sense to struggle. Bless my sister Liz for just being so nice and continuing to just quietly push me when I was being so freaking dramatic and melting down yesterday(except for the part where she reminded me I put the bar down and I had to do burpees) but she also said something to me that I am going to share-hope she doesn't mind. "here is what I have learned of late, it's impossible to crush every WOD. Some WODS are going to crush you-it keeps us humble and willing to learn" ENOUGH SAID!!

How do you push through what you think is a plateau? Well, again-I have nothing but my gut and my thoughts to back this up so here it goes. This is what I am doing-NOT QUITTING-I am not a quitter. I get frustrated and stop but I never quit. I don't quit WOD's I have said this before. I stop, I breathe, I strip weight BUT I continue. If you have to make adjustments..you just do it. Yesterday I almost cried during a WOD..ME!! CRYING IN A WOD?? I was frustrated. I am learning something about myself. I want more. And I don't want to make excuses as to why I am not getting to where I want to be. I feel like I have spent a good portion of my life in the middle of the pack. I have done some amazing things since introduced to CrossFit and hitting a plateau is not something I care to do. But it's happening and all I am going to do is what I know how to do. Push through it.
So, sorry if you thought this was going to be some formula with statistics and graphs to help you through what you think might be a plateau...it's just a little common sense...Croni style.

Onto my salad business. I have said it before. I do not find salad satisfying as a meal. I prefer not to eat just salad. I finally think I figured out why. When I started my weight-loss journey. It's all I ate. I ate salad for pretty much lunch and dinner most of the time. This was pre - CrossFit and pre-paleo. I think that somehow I got it in my head that it was "diet" food. And we all know that some salads can be worse for us than a big fat chocolate donut. I still like to use it as a go to meal. When I am eating out and there really isn't a good option -a lean meat or fish with veggies or something. You can order it with everything on the side and pick through what you really want to eat.

BUT...with that being said. Lately I have rekindled my relationship with salad. There are some nights that I am getting home kind of late and I am finding I have to make something QUICK to get my dinner in before 8 or 8:30. Late ...I know.. So I am trying a few new things. The wonder salad from Costco is always in my fridge but for some reason I pushed it into the corner and it froze.
 So in my Bountiful Basket I had lettuce and cabbage and of course-already prepped and cut up. Today- I added 3 cut up asparagus stems, 1/4 of an avocado (only used a 1/4 because I use that as my fat but I used olive oil as well) 1/4 of a red bell pepper diced, 1/4 of a cucumber chopped and one other thing I have been loving in my salad is cilantro-added about 2 T of cilantro - chopped. I browned some turkey burger and added that but it all in a bowl-with a little olive oil, lemon and red wine vinegar (just a bit) and oh la la it was delicious. The salad was huge. Couldn't finish it all. So there you have it. Kind of short and sweet for a Wednesday.

BEFORE I FORGET!!! I am finally getting handy with adding some things to my blog so be watching for changes. If you look in the right column I have added some links to places I like to visit often-I have many more to add just wanted to make sure it worked- so right now I have the link to CF22 durrr...why wouldn't I? CrossFit Lisbeth, Marias blog and PaleOMG. I will continue trying to add little things to make this blog less boring.

Hope everyone is having a great week so far. Stay focused we are halfway there!

Croni...Out!

LOVES ME SOME GREEN!!! ....and.."being a Mother is a thankless job..." WTF??

Going all PINK for my post today.. AND I am posting today because...well because tomorrow is Mothers Day. AND I AM MOTHER! :)



This is my FAVORITE pic of my Momma

First and foremost I would feel like a complete JERK if I didn't post just a little something about my Mom. For those of you that follow my blog. I kind of love my Mom. She is a pretty amazing person. Hardheaded at times and maybe sometimes down right obstinate...(wonder where I get that from?) but honestly at that end of the day (not to sound cliche') If I needed something. My Mom would be there and even when I don't...still there. She is not only an amazing Mother but an unbelievable Grandmother as well. So today and tomorrow Momma, I honor you.  Having 8 kids..and raising them all to be productive people in society is quite the accomplishment. Never NEVER underestimate the POWER of a MOTHER. Which kind of brings me to my next little rant. YES ...yet another RANT.

Have you heard this saying...."being a Mother is a thankless job...." I love that I can sit in a break room and just hear sh#t that wasn't meant for me to hear. I heard this on Friday and quite honestly I was appalled. Which is strange...to be honest...I might have actually said this at one point. BUT HONESTLY??? Thankless? kind of a push don't you think? I know for a fact that becoming a Mother might have actually saved me from a very dark life. To know that I had a son that depended on me..I think it drove me to be a better person. There were some times in my life that honestly were not moments that I am proud of. I made many mistakes. The one thing I cherish is that I was able to become a Mother of an amazing son. I look back and often wonder if I deserved it..but I did. It's the one thing that when things seem tough that I can cling to and know that even though I don't really know how it happened, in spite of everything...I am a GREAT Mother. And I hope my Mom knows that she is too!!
So Happy Mothers day to not only my Mother but my amazing sisters and sister in law that are all amazing Mothers as well. I love you all more than I can ever express. I get emotional when I think about it....I love this pic that we captured in Napa last August...7 extremely strong women...look at us...I am so proud that this is MY family.



Moving onto "loves me some green!" Holy CRAP!!! Bountiful Baskets did not disappoint today. The veggies side was over the top amazing-

And the fruit side did not disappoint. And as always..I went right to work getting everything cut and put away.

 

 

I recommend investing in a large amount of freezer bags. I find the GreatValue brand at Walmart to be kind of what I prefer and for 70 bags it's about 3-4.00...seems like a good deal..
So here's the deal. I am looking at my basket and here is how my food prep will look for the week
ARTICHOKES- turkey, artichoke and basil meatballs. I have posted this recipe a couple of times.
http://paleomg.com/turkey-basil-artichoke-meatballs-egg-free-nut-free/
Remember that when I get a basket I plan my menu accordingly.
SOOO since I have a head of cabbage...no brainer- coleslaw. I LOVE this recipe!!!  The recipe calls for Chinese cabbage but because I have regular cabbage I just use that.
http://optimalnutrition1.blogspot.com/2012/09/avocado-coleslaw.html

 

Well that's it folks. Those are my 2 and only gimmees for this week. I can't express enough how really important food prep is. It's so much easier to reach for fruit and veggies that have already been prepped and are ready to go than to have to prep them when you are having a meltdown.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all you wonderful Moms out there....and in closing...if all else fails....SQUAT.....

CRONI......OUT!!!

 

 


 





The POWER of paying it forward....I am rambling but I think the message is there..

In trying to keep consistent with my 2 times a week posting, today my post will be void of anything food related other than I downloaded a new Paleo book to my Kindle. Shares will come at a later date.

The news of late has been devastating. There is some crazy shit going on in this crazy world of ours. And I can only speak for myself but I look at my life..and back on my life, I can't help but be overwhelmed with gratitude for the way I was raised.

Do you not LOVE the matching outfits? My Mom is quite the seamstress!

Do you all think that Kenny and Jo ever in their wildest dreams thought that the group of girls pictured above would ever in a million years..turn into this?

Yes Big Sis Robin is photo shopped in

 

I would like to think that they knew someday we would all be doing something big in or own modest little way. I can honestly say that each one of us takes a huge part in changing the world for the better one person at a time daily. It is due in part to they way we were raised. And believe you me..we were raised on faith, hope and prayers. We didn't have much in the way of monetary things but somehow we were rich in something that caused us to grow to be who we are and as we have grown older having each other is the thing I believe that we all cling to.

 

Anyway- to paying it forward. I thinK that paying it forward is typically known as you do something good for someone after someone does something good for you. Hows about it we change it up a bit. Why don't we just do something good for someone else for no reason? When is the last time you did something, ANYTHING for someone else? If you are racking your brain right now it has been WAY TOO LONG. When is the last time you actually gave a SHIT about someone beside yourself? Not to toot my own horn but I make a VERY concentrated effort to pay something forward everyday. Each day that I wake up, am able to get ready for work - and do all the things that I love to do. I am blessed. I am not being churchy or snobby right now but ya...inside this tough CRONI exterior I am a pretty nice gal. Even if its as simple as letting a frustrated driver in front of me on the freeway, to pushing someone to do better than what they think they are capable of, to maybe just complimenting someone on something they are wearing...I am doing it. And honestly it's really not that hard. I add this picture without any permissions at all.

 

 

The one thing I have found extreme joy in is coaching. I am not GREAT at it. I am ok at best. I have so much to learn and so much room to grow still but one thing I have learned and what I can relate to is self doubt. Enter Carrie. The pic above. She came in a few weeks ago ready to WOD for her first time after finishing her intro classes. She had no idea what her 1 rep max dead lift was. Long story short. She was willing to stop at 155# and I was not having it. I kept pushing and pushing her. Her form was close to impeccable, and she was so strong. Anyway finally at 200# we thought we had found her max. I watched as with each pull of the bar..her self doubt moved out the way for her confidence to surface. AMAZING to watch. Love it! And not only did her confidence as an athlete increase..my confidence as a coach did as well. So-i heard yesterday Carrie pulled a 225# deadlift. Too good. I think that with this little story you all know what I am getting at right? It doesn't have to be something big, it doesn't have to be life changing, world changing or anything like that. But damnit, if just a bigger handful of people made a concentrated effort to more for others even if the impact were small..there would be an impact right?

 

I choose each day to surround myself with STRONG positive people who push me to be better. And everyday, I feel like I am getting better. Case and point. Love this pic Garrett captured last night. This could be any 5 people from our box. I feel that we are capable of such amazing things. Yet we take and make the time to still not lose who we are. Life doesn't have to be all serious all the time.

I truly believe that there is something to doing something good each day. Even if it's something as small as letting someone get coffee before you in the break room, move your grocery cart over so someone can get by, help someone cross the street, I don't know...just do something, do something nice for someone everyday. Maybe JUST maybe you can impact 1 person in a way you will never know, and you don't have to know. Just try it.
That's it..that's all I have for today. If it makes any sense at all...

Croni out...



 





You had me at HASH...please...rest...and try and make food prep a family affair??

WOWZERS!!! What a week!!

I can't believe first of all its MAY! Crazy..usually at this time I am looking forward to running the Ogden Half Marathon..took a pass this year, this is silly I know-but because it was a lottery and also honestly..I forgot...BUT I am not lacking in getting my run on..HOLY SUNDAY SPRINTS!!! Today was so so TOUGH for me. It's funny...only 5 of us today...I think people do not realize how therapeutic this can be! Here we are at the end....


Please squint to see us perched atop the hill..8 hill runs=DEATH!!!

 I helped my Mr. (yes this is a new label I am trying out -sounds better than boyfriend to me) move all day Saturday. Let me just say. I am one strong chick. I wodded in the morning (3 wods in less than 24 hours..DON'T recommend this) and lugged boxes around all damn day and to be honest- I didn't really start getting tired until I had been in constant movement for about 12 hours. Pretty awesome eh?
Had to share this pic. This car is his baby...I snapped a pic of him snapping a pic of how happy he is that his M FINALLY has a covered home..cheesy I know.

I had a pretty amazing workout week. Learning how really important having a REST day is. I coach on Thursdays now so-I could WOD but I am taking advantage of the opportunity to rest. I recommend EVERYONE work at least ONE full rest day and one active recovery day in every single week. For me active recovery is Sunday Sprints. I know it doesn't sound like recovery but here's the deal. We do it 9:00 AM and honestly- I think my sis Kat said it pretty good today. If she doesn't do something she is so bitchy..I agree..I am too. I have to do SOMETHING and although sprints ARE NOT for the faint of heart...I am finding that because they are in the morning I get pretty good recovery until I WOD on Monday night. Saturday we did the Heroes WOD "The Seven" This wod is very deceiving and this was my 3rd WOD in less than 24 hours. I mention this because I am an old broad. I have no business working out that much...in my opinion no one does really. So this is the end result. After not tearing forever...I tear in the middle of a heroes wod. I was so PISSED. I HATE tearing- it takes you out of the game for too long!


FOOD!!!!
I have been thinking ALOT about how my life differs from so many that I know. I have pretty much just me to worry about most of the time. I have heard many people mention IF THEY COULD JUST FOOD PREP how much easier it would be to say on track. SO...today I timed myself. OCD'ish I know. But here's the deal. 3 hours. Can you carve out 3 HOURS to food prep on Sunday? AND this included my shopping- AT 2 stores. I don't go to church so ya...I probably have 3 more hours than most but this is what I came up with. Why not make it a family affair?? I am not going to lie. The road to eating healthy isn't an easy or short one. You HAVE to be willing to commit the time and the effort. If not, you will always be fighting a losing battle. So- here were my "staples" I picked up this week. Have you figured out what yours are yet?? I have my blueberries, watermelon (didn't get a basket this week) eggs, rotisserie chicken, salmon-salad -spinach and avocados and asparagus. Interesting thing someone at work told me about asparagus. If you snap it, it will naturally break where it is supposed to. I have yet to prove it wrong. Anyway-back to food prep-maybe you can make this a time the whole family gets involved? Someone cuts, someone bags-I don't know-just throwing ideas out there.

Menu is pretty simple this week and only ONE borrowed recipe and of course from PaleOMG. Breakfast is DONE. I love hash and this one just intrigued me tons. It's absolutely delicious. I made it with 5 eggs just because well I go to work each day so I need breakfast x 5.
http://paleomg.com/easy-delicious-breakfast-hash/
Of course this recipe DID NOT disappoint. I sneaked a little sample its absolutely delicious- 2 things I did a little differently. I didn't use garlic powder-I used crushed garlic and I added a jalapeno as well as about 1t of red pepper flakes-which might I add is my new addiction...

The rest of my menu is easy peezy! Lemon and dill salmon-rosemary, garlic and feta turkey burgers and just again-like last week tons of fresh veggies and some fruit.

LEMON AND DILL SALMON:
I get this at Costco. I love that the skin is removed and I can pre-cut it into servings. I just rub with some olive oil I use 1 and 1/2 lemons and just drench it and then I season ONE SIDE ONLY with fresh dill, a little sea salt, cracked black pepper, red pepper flakes and of COURSE-my greek seasoning. I cook this on the grill on the lowest flame for about 15 minutes. It's a little pink in the center still but I love it like that AND I have to reheat it so this helps to make it not too dried out.

Burgers are super easy as well. I chopped 1/4 yellow onion - about 1T fresh rosemary (I am careful with fresh rosemary because I get heartburn super easy from it) 1T crushed garlic (seems like a lot I know but go big or go home) 2T crumbled feta (can omit if you are doing no dairy) and other seasonings to taste. Cooked on the grill of course!
Something new I decided to try. I had 4 really nice tomatoes I needed to use- wasn't in the mood to stuff them. So I simply sliced them-kind of thick-drizzled a little olive oil over them, added fresh basil, fresh oregano (maybe 1T of each) sea salt and cracked black pepper and grilled them super low for about 20 minutes. They are DELICIOUS!! another great side and super easy.

I love how my fridge looks when food prep has been completed...look closely- the B on the egg carton is for boiled!! HA!

Super excited to start a new week. I have my over the top struggling week behind me and I feel like I have a refreshed sense of focus.

 

In closing- saw this today and could totally relate. How much time are you WASTING  comparing yourselves to others? If I could give ONE piece of advice on this topic it would to STOP. Focus on you and your goals and forget about what the person suffering next to you is or is not doing. Have a great week everyone!! As always- EAT CLEAN...TRAIN DIRTY!