Successful Paleo Recipes

Sunday night I cooked Paleo Meatloaf and Mashed Curry Cauliflower. Both big hits in my book, so I thought I would share.

Paleo Meatloaf

1 diced red onion

2 lbs of grass fed ground beef (I used Itialian seasoned ground Turkey meat)
1 cup almond meal
2 eggs
1 can tomato paste
1 tbsp crushed garlic
1/2 tbsp sea salt
2 tbsp dried basil
cracked black pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients by hand in a large mixing bowl. Place meat mixture into a large glass baking pan and form into a loaf. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until meat is no longer pink in the middle.


Mashed Curry Cauliflower

Bioled the cauliflower until tender. Drain really well. Place the cauliflower in a blender with a little bit of coconut milk, Curry powder (I used just enough to turn the color yellow, but I like curry. add to your liking), pepper and blend til smooth consistency.

Doomsday Clock to move Thursday - Which way will it go?

The minute hand of the Doomsday Clock is set to move this Thursday. Which way will the hand move?

I never really knew this clock existed. Now I'm intrigued which way it will move. Are all beauty queens dreams coming true and we are moving towards World Peace, or are all these terrorist attacks causing more and more war around the World?

This clock has only been changed 18 times since 1947. Furthest time away was 7 minutes and closest was 2 minutes. This occurred in 1953 when the clock was changed to two minutes to midnight after the United States and the Soviet Union each tested thermonuclear devices within nine months of one another. We are currently at 5 minutes; which was changed from 7 minutes to 5 minutes in Jan 07, the clocks last move.

This event will take place at 9 a.m. Central on Jan. 14. (You can watch the live Web feed at http://www.turnbacktheclock.org/.)

3 Month Paleo Challenge has Begun

Bayou City CrossFit has begun their 3 month Paleo challenge on Jan. 9th.

It was one of the coldest days in Houston that Saturday morning. I kept hitting my snooze button and checking my phone for a text message that the WOD would be postponed due to freezing temperatures. But in true CrossFit style we would have none of that. That’s a sign of weakness. Deal with what you’re given. We show up, we have a brief discussion on what the challenge is about what to expect what hopefully we should gain out of this. The inspiration and the carrot in front of us – one year free of CrossFit. Hell yeah I’m in.

We did not weigh for this challenge as weight is not something we should be concerned about. They took my picture in my sports bra, which was hard for me. Even though most people at the compound have seen me in a bathing suit; it’s weird to walk around in a sports bra. So they took a front view and side view picture. They also measured by stomach, hips, left thigh and left arm. My measurements are at home but I will post in comments tomorrow. I figured if I put this out here to the readers I have to be more dedicated. I wouldn’t want to let you down. It gives me more creditability. The benchmark WOD:

"Helen"

400m Run

21 KB Swings

12 Pullups

3rds

Did I mention it was freezing in Houston that morning? Start off with the run and you can't breathe the air is so cold, and then you have to come in and pick a metal kettlebell. Soooo cold. Then go to a metal pull-up bar. That first round i really thought my finger tips were going to fall off from frost bite. It was pretty painful. As my body temperature raised things got better. I ran round 2 and 3 with my hands in my sleeves and my body heat inside my shirt helped with my hands staying warmer. It was tough in that freezing weather but we all got through it.

The last time I did “Helen” was in August of 09. I finished in 26min something and used a band. This time I was faster without a band. (I will post my time in comments when I look at my log book) There is still definite room for improvement.

Wish me luck and we will come back to this in 3 months. April 9, 2010.

Seeing Results.. feels good

Last night we did “Karen”. (That’s what he said)

“Karen” was my introduction into CrossFit, back in October 2008. On my first day to CrossFit, I went in not really knowing anything about CrossFit and intimidated by the photos on the website. My friend and workout buddy, Natalie, was determined to try this new place out. I was up for something new, the boot camp we were attending was starting to get cold and dark anyways. WOD was “Karen”. That meant nothing to us. 150 Wall Balls also meant nothing to us. We did our introductions. Bayou City CrossFit was fairly new back then and Natalie and I were the only ones in the class. So we learned about CrossFit, did some basic steps type of things, learned some of the terminology and so forth. Vic then ask what are exercise routine currently was and we mentioned that we attend a boot camp and have a personal trainer once a week among other things we randomly throw at ourselves, while training for sprint tris and half marathons. He was like well you should be find, lets do today’s WOD. This really wasn’t what I was looking for on the first day, but no wasn’t what he was hearing and 3-2-1-Go we were off. I can’t believe I ever went back after that.

It is 15 months later and I still love CrossFit and look forward to my training there. The great community that we have at Bayou City helps with that, but also because I have gotten stronger from 15 months of CrossFit then anything I have tried before.

My time for “Karen” back in October 2008 was 16:21 and I’m sure that was probably with 8lb ball. January 6, 2010 time 9:50 with Rx’d 12lb ball.

New Challenge

I am one of those that always needs something new to motivate me, needs direction and support. I need someone to say Kim do this or not to eat that. I can't just come up with a routine on my own.

I came across a great blog today, Oh She Glows, and she has recently started a Whittle My Middle challenge. I am a few days behind schedule; she started January 1st, but I'm going to jump in on this. Who can't use some ab work! And, actually running a few days behind Angela works out well for me this month, since I will be on a cruise for a week and this way I will already have my ab workouts with me.

Hope y'all join me and post how you're coming along and how your abs are feeling.

If you need to start out slow, Angela did the first challenge back in November and the workouts are still posted. These started with less time and that way you are able to work your way up to longer times in your planks. Start with that and then maybe do this challenge next time.

Here's to great abs and good luck.

Paleo Stuffed Zuchini

Sorry, I forgot where I got this recipe from or I would give you props.

This was very easy to make and for the most part quick. It took me the longest to take the sausage out of the casing. Other then then that very easy to make. This has great flavor, I did use a link of jalepeno sausage and a link of garlic sausage so that might have helped with the flavor.

3-4 Medium Zuchini

1 lb Sausage

1/2 cup Coconut Milk

1/4 cup Almond Flour

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning

1/4 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut off the stem of the zuchini. Cut zuchini in half lengthwise. Take a small spoon and scoop out the inside of the zuchini (save the "guts" in a bowl) to make little hollow boats.

Put all the zuchini boats in a casserole dish

Remove sausage from casings and cook over medium heat. Add in zuchini guts and cook until soft.

Add in spices, coconut milk and almond flour

Spoon mixture into the boats until they are all filled

Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes until zuchini is soft.

ENJOY!!

Toast to Fitness?

As many of us our enjoying the Holiday Season with all its parties and socializing, I wanted to share this ad that was posted in the Jan/Feb 2010 Womens Health Magazine.

People who booze more also exercise more, finds a survey in the American Journal of Health Promotion. Compared with abstainers, those who throw back more than 46 drinks a month exercise an extra 20 minutes a week. Drinkers may think exercise compensates for the calorie uptick – but those 20 minutes won’t make a dent if you drink big. Here’s how much more you have to move to work off happy hour:

Will Smith has just kicked me in the butt!

Great line from "The Pursuit of Happiness" - Don’t ever let someone tell you, you can’t do something. You have to dream, you have to protect it. People can't do things themselves; they want to tell you, you can't do it. You want something, go get it. PERIOD!

Mattison posted a great video of Will Smith’s interviews. This is a great motivating video for me. Visit Mattison's blog for the video.

When I listened to these interviews, where it hits me hard is my diet. I know what I want to be eating and what I should be eating. But I let life influence bad habits. This is especially true over the Holidays, drinking and all the sugary goodies. I need to realize that I can enjoy a party without indulging in all the foods that are just going to make me feel guilty later. So really how much did I enjoy the party if all I have is guilt afterwards. If I stuck to my diet, or my way of eating, I would enjoy the party and have no guilt afterwards. That’s a true success.

There is where we have to be strong, and stand up for ourselves. No one else is walking in our shoes, looking in the mirror back at us with such criticism. No one else knows how we feel in our own clothes or how we feel after a workout. We only know, and we have to stand up for ourselves. We are that important. I love to socialize and hang with friends. It is my favorite way to spend my extra time. But you can do that and still live the life you want. Write down in your log books: what you want out of life, who you want to be, how you want to be seen by others. Then do it. PERIOD!

GO TEAM KATIE!

Congratulations to BCCF Angel, Katie Russell, for 2nd place at this past weekend All Cities Open in Dallas, TX.

Katie you inspire all of us and you push us each and everyday. You're a great coach and athlete. We love working out beside you and being driven by you.

You have really been committed to your training and your diet these past few months and it really shows. Your commitment and dedication is paying off, in CrossFit and your personal life. (Katie is also graduating this weekend with her undergrad in Kinesiology with a minor in Health.)

We wish you the best of luck at sectionals. We will be there to “Watch You Soar”.

Bacon Wrapped Pecan Stuffed Dates

There are a lot of parties and pot-luck lunches coming this Holiday Season. I highly recommend these. Very easy to make and super yummy. I used turkey bacon but I think they would probably be even better with pork bacon. Just slit a pitted date and stick a pecan in the middle and then wrap with bacon. I cut the bacon in half.

Very yummy and very easy to prepare.

Lets make this LEGENDARY!!

A legendary affair it promises to be!


Lets face it, we all have those pleather pants that don't fit or look like sausage casing when you put them on, or the bridesmaid dress that you can't shorten and wear again, or even the really huge winter coat you will never use because WE LIVE IN HOUSTON. Now is the time to eliminate and donate!

It's the 1st Annual Holiday Pack Rat Party benefitting the Fairy Godmother Project and Charities of Houston, hosted by The Kims (Kimberly Russell and Kimberly Walling).

December 12, 2009
Brixx
5110 Washington Ave
Nine O'Clock
The whole point of this party is to wear that forgotten outfit one last time before you cut all ties. Show up in the not-so-flattering pleather pants; the traditional red, blue, or black bridesmaid dress; or the down jacket that looks like it came from Sarah Palin's closet. At the end of the evening, change clothes (we will have a changing room) and donate them to the less fortunate. Hope to see you all there!

Happy Holidays!

Drink Specials: Happy Hour Prices ALL NIGHT LONG!!

Crash of all Crashes

I started back with the Paleo a couple of weeks ago. Things have been going well; I seem to be able to stick to it a little better this time around. I am also keeping it exciting by trying out new recipes each week.


Two weekends ago I did a 25 miles bike ride in the Hill Country. I was on Paleo for about a week and the ride seem to go well. It even seemed easier then I had remembered from a few years back. Thanks to CrossFit the past year I'm sure. I felt fine throughout the ride. This was only a ride not a race so they had several rest stops and at each one I would get a half of a banana or a couple pieces of an orange. At the end Bratwurst and Sauerkraut. Yum. All in all things went well.

Then this past week I participated in the Rock n' Roll San Antonio Half Marathon. Not the same results. This was my 7th half marathon and I have done several other races including 5Ks, 10Ks and sprint triathlons, I would normally wake up and eat my usual english muffin with peanut butter, honey and banana. That always seemed to get me through every event without being hungry during the event or weighing too much on my stomach. However that isn’t Paleo. So before this race I went with a banana and 1/2 apple with Almond Butter on the way out the door at 5am. The race started at 7:30, but with so many people we didn't cross the start line until 8:30. By this time I was already hungry again, but thought nothing of it. Two hours into the run I crashed and I crashed hard. Of course my knees hurt and my feet hurt, this is to be expected. But the feeling I was having was mal-nutrition. I actually felt like my body was being sucked in and it couldn’t find anything to feed off of. (I have plenty on storage; it just wasn’t looking hard enough, haha) My stomach was aching, my chest felt tight and actually hurt, I was dazing in and out and felt kind of dizzy. Like I said this is my 7th one of these, I know I can do them; it’s just a matter of how well. This time I thought I wouldn’t finish. I contemplated just sitting down on a near by curb and wondering if people would look at me all crazy wondering with a runner with her bid still on is just sitting on a curb. I was even thinking if I saw someone drinking a coke I would literally grab it from them and drink it. I kept pushing through and was downing the water at the water stops 2 cups at a time. I did have some carb blocks on me that I could have taken, but at this point my stomach was feeling so weird I thought they would push the feeling of throwing up I already had way over the top and lead me straight to the port-o-potty. (Definitely didn’t want that). I did finish and I got my medal (what it is actually all about to me) and went straight for the food. I ate a banana, some of an apple and a bagel and instantly felt better.

I know I have just started going Paleo again and it takes some time for my body to adjust, but it was really missing those carbs on the long run. I truly understand the meaning of carb-loading now. Next time I know to eat my breakfast but also bring something to eat closer to the start time and maybe some nuts or dried fruit for along the route.

I did finish and I got my medal. However I need more training on nutrition; especially when it comes to long endurance workouts.