Product Review and Updates Too!

Haven't blogged since the excitement of my kipping pull up.  I have not forgot about my loyal (3) readers out there!!

First things first: Product Review!

For those of you who know me, you know I have a major sweet tooth!  And I mean MAJOR!  In my mind a serving size of ice cream is the entire pint.  God bless you individuals who can take a scoop and put it back.  I envy your self control!  I have been looking for good replacements that will satisfy my sweet tooth without sending me into a diabetic coma!  Although, I HAVE had my blood glucose levels checked and know for sure I do not have diabetes, which is contrary to all of the sweets I ate leading up to this point in life.  I had myself convinced a few years ago I had diabetes because I was tired and had dry skin.  Just looking for excuses, but I digress.

Let me bring it back to the subject- Less sweet sweets!  I have tried a few things like coconut bliss 'ice cream', which I enjoy, and also making some smoothies with coconut milk, banana, almond butter, and honey, which is also good.  There just isn't really a good replacement for a candy bar or a gooey caramel or something. BUT, I found a new (to me) line of products called 'Hail Merry'.  I grabbed some of their Caramel Sea Salt Macaroons at Earth Fare Monday, and OH BOY!  Let me just list the healthy things first before I get into how scrumptious they are! 

Ingredients: organic shredded coconut, organic maple syrup, natural raw almond flour, organic extra virgin coconut oil, organic palm sugar, organic Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, sea salt.

Only 140 Calories for 2!!! 7grams of sugar, 10 grams of fat, AND 2 grams of protien and fiber!  I COULD be wrong, but this seems to be both paleo AND it's certified Non GMO, Kosher, Vegan, and has Raw Oil!!!! (I'm not a vegan, so it really only maters to me if I'm sharing!).

THEY ARE SOOOOOOO GOOD! Not too far off the consistency of a traditional macaroon. They are just sweet enough, but not too overly sweet.  Just the thing to keep you/me away (hopefully) from the salted chocolate covered caramels that are left over from my Halloween party! 

I have checked out the rest of their products on their website: www.hailmerry.com 

I'm very excited to try the miracle tarts!  They also have a lot of recipes a LOT of which are Paleo or have Paleo options!  Like this one that I WILL be trying out and possibly making for Thanksgiving- Paleo Holiday Spice Muffin!  I'll let you all know how it goes and if I try anymore of their products!

Updates Too!

Haven't really been able to do many kipping pull ups since my last one :( BUT I CAN do a handstand push up (with three ab mats : (   )  I have felt really burnt out and tired lately.  I don't know if it is the weather or allergies or what, but I'm pooped!  I need to force some energy in myself and get back to building all over strength AND skill!  I have a little over a month to get ready for the Winter Rendezvous!  I'm nervous!  I need to stay after every day and practice SOMETHING!

-In uplifting (literally) news.  I found a belt!  Sooo...my saggy diaper pants problem is temporarily remidied until I buy new pants and find a tailor!

ALSO....I GOT THESE!!!! I don't care what you think...I LOVE them!  SO :P   But they do run a bit big...IF you can find them go down a size!

Until next time...stay strong like the fierce zebra!

4 Months Already?!?

Ladies and gentlemen...I've done it! I got a pull up...now yes, it is a kipping pull up , but a body weight pull up none the less!
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I have no idea how to link that video to here...but that might work??? This was the very first goal I wrote down on our goal board in June and it feel damn good to get to cross it off!  You may say it's not a 'real' pull up and I wouldn't have passed the presidential physical fitness test, but whatever.  It is a big accomplishment for me, and I am very proud!  I also got a 78lb snatch PR (personal record)!  Which I am starting to go to Olympic weight lifting classes, so hopefully I'll smash that soon :)

This all came after watching our awesome Crossfit Clay United team at CrossFit Naptown bracket buster competition.  I am always so amazed at those competitions are leave feeling really excited to hopefully be at that level some day!  Our team looked GOOD and so many people from Clay United showed up to support the team!  From big things like competitions to little things like me getting a pull up, it really is about being a supportive community.  People can say all sorts of horrible things about CrossFit, but that support and encouragement are something I haven't really found with other programs.  Maybe all of the support and encouragement I've been getting lately has driven me to sign up for my first CrossFit competition: 2013 Winter Rendezvous at Hoosier CrossFit (in that evil Bloomington). It is a partner competition and a LOT of people from Clay United are doing it!  My partner is GREAT and I'm hoping I don't let her down.  I've got two months to train some weaknesses and then just do the best I can come the competition. Hopefully I can post about more firsts and PR's within these months leading to the competition!  Maybe I'll get a rope climb!!! Who knows?!!? I feel very encouraged and like I'm on a roll, but I'm right now looking forward to a relaxing weekend of rest and recovery :)

Happy 4 Month Anniversary (yesterday) CrossFit!  I'm going to eat a yummy steak and take a nap to celebrate (maybe buy some new leopard print spandex capris ;)  )!

Until next time!  Stay strong! Kipping pull ups count! :P

Enlightenment via Lois C.K.

So I'm sitting here at Jiffy Lube patiently awaiting my oil change (which I was told would be done at least 30min ago...) and I came across that YouTube gem.  I already loved Louis C.K, but now I love him that much more!  For those of you with ADHD (like me),I know it's long! Totally worth it! I know his beef is with cell phones, but I also think the same argument can be made against food.  I think a lot if people, myself included, don't know how to just sit there alone and be alive.  I'm a constant fidgeter, cell phone checker, make sure the food in the fridge is still the same, wondering snacker.  I think this is where a lot of people get themselves into trouble.  You're alone, feeling lonely, nothing to do (or at least that you want to do), and you've got a kitchen full of food "friends". Today in my instance, I was alone in the work room, waiting for the ancient printer to spit out my report eyeballing a tray full of candy.  Ok...maybe more than eyeballing...I may or may not have eaten 6-9 gobstoppers :( All because I couldn't sit in there and just do nothing and there was no one there to judge me.  It's ok to be alone and it's ok to be sad about being alone.  Food is not my friend.  My cell phone is not my friend.  I am really going to challenge myself to just be every once and a while.  Just me...being a human, by myself.  I think/hope it will be a great way to learn more about myself.  BUT, I know it will be tricky, because I love that instant gradification of being around people (or reading about them on Facebook) or even the instant gradification of grabbing a snack (even if I don't need one).  

In other news....I can feel a pull up happening in my near future...expect a post...probably a video...maybe a party :)

Stay strong...put down your phone...and that sleeve of Girl Scout cookies (or gobstoppers)!

If you can't see the video---here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HbYScltf1c

3 Months and Still Going Strong (ish)

This pretty much sums up me the last few days! It's hotter than Hades and HUMID!!! Needless to say I have more than lived up to the name of my blog.  Three month CrossFitiversary, and I'm still a sweaty mess!  Loving CrossFit still!!! Paleo challenge complete...I didn't win :( BUT I lost the most inches, and I'm ok with that!  It really is such a supportive community!  We had a get together on Friday at CrossFit Clay United to hang out and announce the winner of the challenge.  Everyone brought yummy Paleo or Paleoish dishes.  I made prosciutto wrapped Mellon.  Really great the night I made them....super soggy by the time they made it to the party :( Sooo....if you make these yummy little apps, my suggestion is to make them the day of and don't put them in a container with a lid!

Now to survive this week without turning into a puddle! Bench press (probably one of my worst lifts) and deadlifts (doable) first THEN as many rounds as possible in 10min of  5 hand stand push ups (yeah right...in my dreams....I can barely hold a hand stand with my feet propped on the wall) and 20 double unders....which I THINK I may be able to do!!! Some days I'm on and I've got em' other days not so much! I'm sure ill manage to do something awkward and probably get some whip marks! :). I think my new jump rope might help...I painted one of the handles pink....because that totally helps ;)

If the heat doesn't kill me...talk to you soon....stay coooooool!

Droopy Drawers

One month Paleo challenge completed!! BOOM!  Quick reminder...through my CrossFit Clay United, I participated in a 30 day paleolithic diet challenge.  Sooooo lots meat, veggies, some fruits, and no dairy, grains, legumes, and avoiding processed food.  You also got points for doing the CrossFit WOD (Workout of the day), sleeping 8+ hours a night, getting some sun, drinking water, ect. (you get the idea).

Here are some of the parts of the challenge that I felt were particularly challenging:

Eating out- some places do have great options that would align with the paleo diet, but others not so much :(  I found myself ordering  a lot of food "hold the....." or getting tacos at dollar taco night and just dumping all the meats and veggies into a bowl.

Pitch-ins, Cookouts,Parties- You can't expect people understand your lifestyle choices and have options for you (So eat before, or bring something with you).

Quick meals- Unfortunately most of the quick meals to make or bring as a lunch are also very processed!  I found myself making three meals every night for dinner (1 for dinner, 1 for next day breakfast, and 1 for next day lunch).  A good piece of advice I got was to boil a whole carton of eggs for the week so you have a quick snack or component to a meal.  I also stocked up on veggies to bring with me and would cook several chicken breasts at once and add different veggies and seasoning to them to make my food week a little less boring!

ICE CREAM!!!!- Summer is coming to a close and opportunities to get my favorite frozen summer treat are many!  I have a huge sweet tooth and it is tough to just sit there and watch ice cream be consumed around me...I have no tricks for this not sucking...except for the fact that I never feel wonderful after eating ice cream.

Looking forward with Paleo:

I think I'll still continue on a modified paleo diet...maybe 80% of the week eating paleo.  I will allow myself a few cheat meals a week.  And I don't mean a meal that is 5 pints of Jenny's ice cream...maybe occasionally SOME ice cream or cheese or beans...ect. ect. ect.  I definately felt much better eating Paleo...and think I look a bit better too!! I have probably lost around 4lbs, but I'm interested to see what my measurements are tomorrow (I'll let you know).  What I notice the most (and have named my blog for that reason) is my pants!  I don't feel like my legs/butt/waist looks that much thinner, but my pants look like I'm carting around a full diaper...so I'm assuming I have!  I'm going to invest in a belt perhaps and give it another couple of months before I go pants shopping crazy or find a tailor.  I can't go too long without my favorite fun colored J.Crew mini pant!!! I DID however invest in a new pair of jeans which are two sizes smaller than my last pair!! :)  As much as I think eating better has to do with it...my hardcore CrossFit routine completes the circle!  Almost three months in...still loving it all!!! It's challenging, fun, and effective!  I have drank the kool-aid...I'm sold!

Until next time...Stay strong! Get healthy!...good excuse to shop till you drop ;)

Bad Romance

First things first...I missed my second month Crossfitiversary (Aug 10th)!! It's the best relationship I've had in a while, and I FORGOT!  So cheers to you and I CrossFit, may we have many more to come!

But THAT is not my bad romance.  I have a confession to make (I'm no fool!...sorry quick Foo Fighters reference), I have a bad relationship with food.  Not as bad as it used to be, but bad none the less.

I understand eating can be a very social or emotional thing, and that can tend to get people in trouble.  The social part definitely gets me in trouble.  Especially living downtown near some of the best food in the city, I am invited out to dinner all of the time it seems.  I am fortunate/unfortunate in the emotional area.  When I am upset emotionally I have no appetite, but I literally mean NO appetite.  Where I think I struggle the most is the bored or lacking eating.  I'm the type of person who likes to be doing something all of the time (more so before I started working).  A lot of the time when I am bored I will tend to make several grazing trips to the kitchen for usually something sweet (not while I'm doing this 30 day Paleo challenge).  What I mean by 'lacking' eating is- feeling like something in my life is missing or unsatisfied with the general situation I am in.  I think too often I try to replace the empty feeling from something missing (whatever that may be- fulfilling work, purpose, companionship, hobbies, exercise, ect.) with food.  And at these times it's usually a LOT of food.  These are the late night, I have nothing to do, no one is here, stuff your face fests that are always followed by shame and much regret.  And as much as I hate to admit it, sometimes followed by a shameful purge.  This isn't something I've have an issue with in sometime, but I feel like making my mess my message might hopefully help someone else/myself out.  I had convinced myself because it happened so rarely that I didn't have a problem.  Obviously I did (and probably still do).

I think what has helped me the most in the instance of the 'lacking' eating, would be purpose.  Giving purpose to each day by striving to make myself a better person.  Nothing positive has ever come by me sitting around and feeling sorry for myself.  Sure there are some things I want for myself that I can't have right now or have to work really hard to get, but what's stopping me from improving the areas I can.  I can strive every day to be a healthier me , stronger (emotionally and physically)me, a better therapist, a better friend, more spiritual, and more creative.  When you give your life purpose, you are less likely to let negative things occupy the empty spaces (like food, alcohol/drugs, or bad personal relationships).  I don't want to seem like I've got it all figured out (clearly I'm blogging about my triumphs/struggles)!  There is a book I remember seeing on Oprah (yes, I used to watch Oprah...shameful I know) called "Women, Food, and God" by Geneen Roth, that I am thinking about reading (after I finish this month's Paleo magazine of course!).  Hopefully it can provide me some more insight and inspiration to stay on the right path!  I'll write a book review (high school style ;)  when I'm done!

Hope this wasn't a bummer blog, and can provide a little inspiration and make me keep myself accountable since I've put it all out there! Stay strong (mentally, physically, and spiritually).

 Songspiration for today (I think I want to do this every blog!)-

Video-India Arie

Better Version of Me- Fiona Apple

I Don't Want To Be- Gavin DeGraw

New Month New Challenges

Happy August!  Today is not only my first day back at work, but the first day of Crossfit Clay United's Paleo Challenge! One month strict Paleo.  Points are acquired for eating grass fed meats, wild caught fish, cage free hormone free eggs, drinking 1/2 your body weight in oz of water, getting 8+ hours of sleep at night, eating your body weight in grams of protein, going on a 20+min walk, 20-30 min spent in the sun, going to the gym for Crossfit WOD, loosing inches, ect.

If there is one thing I love...it's a good challenge!  Day 1 was great!! I started off the day with my beloved Fresh Market turkey bacon and an organic peach (bacon made the night before in the oven...which is how I will be cooking all my bacon from now on...when you wake up at 5:30am for work...aint nobody got time to make breakfast...or at least not this broad!).  Lunch was an organic grass fed chicken breast in a mango coconut sauce (also from Fresh Market).  Dinner was a bit odd,but great non the less.  I sauteed up half a sweet potato, took a spicy turkey sausage of the the casing and cooked that up and added an egg...soooo kind of a weird scramble of sorts. Odd, but yummy!

I got my Paleo questions answered and here they are (my commentary will be in red)

1. Fruit, vegetables, meats and animal livers are all excellent sources of calcium. If you are concerned about getting even more, I suggest a simple calcium supplement a few times a week.  Animal livers anyone???

2. Jerky and unsalted nuts are the best for the road, I think. Also, you can find Paleo choices at almost any roadside stop McDonalds salad, no cheese no croutons, Texas Roadhouse steak and potatoes, etc). Jerky! DONE! LOVE IT!

3. Corn isn't as bad as soy. If, after you did a Paleo challenge, you ate corn or rice once a week, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. More than that and you may have inflammation from it. Soy is the devil. Soy and other legumes are not only filled with anti-nutrients and estrogen, but they are packed to the gills with a protein called lectins. Lectins want to make you super sick and inflamed and uncool.  I'm going to research this lectin devil a bit more.  Maybe I'll blog about it! :)

4. Don't worry about carbs pre-workout. Not necessary, it turns out. Good post-workout carbs are sweet potatoes, potatoes, roots, tubers, squash, and low-fructose fruits (blueberries, pineapple, etc).  I love all of those things (except...I have no idea what a tuber is...)! Easy!

5. Eat carbs and a little protein in the few hours following a WOD. Fat at that time isn't necessary. I would just try to get some in within an hour of finishing your WOD.  I starting drinking chocolate coconut milk after my WOD.  

6. All vegetables are rock stars. Fruit is good, but I wouldn't eat more than 3 servings a day, and I would stick to the low-fructose fruits. You can find extensive lists online.  I'm on researching those! As noted above blueberries and pineapples (which are two of my favs!)

7. Big Paleo no-no list: NO grains. NO legumes. NO gluten-containing items.  DONE!  Bring it on!!!

I'll keep you posted how things go for this month of strict Paleoness!  More than the hopefully inches lost and the confidence that comes with loosing some inches,  I hope to learn a lot more about Paleo, feel better, stronger and more energized (harder, better, faster, stronger...that that that that won't kill me...ok...you get it).  First challenge will be going to the Indians baseball game and resisting a hot dog and the beer (maybe just the dog...no bun??).  Anyone know any Paleo friendly booze??? I'll research!

Stay strong!