Catherine Hart

The Crossfit Way

2011-10-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

As I emerge into my new life, the view all around me has changed. New streets, new bodies, new bed, new music, new clothes, new smells...

And after a long phase of inconsistent workouts while experiencing the growing pains of so much change, I am reminded of the one thing that is consistent in my life no matter what: MY BODY.

Our bodies are the only home we truly have.
It is the only place we really live.
It is all we really have.

I am reminded of how good it feels to take care of this home where I live.
Thank you Crossfit for reminding me of how powerful my only home is.

Lift.
Heavy.
Things.

and you will grow.

Letting Go

2011-05-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

At the summit of Enchanted Rock

Life just never ceases to amazing me and with every moment of awe I experience I am forced to ground myself in the present moment.

I just experienced the unexpected end to my marriage.
This is my first real experience with grief.

It's terrible and it's beautiful.

I have nothing but love for my husband and I will only ever have love for him as we begin to navigate our new lives.

But I am reminded through this experience that the heart is a muscle too. And just like my biceps & quads that I intentionally rip on a regular basis to make them stronger, so does the heart grow stronger when it has been hurt. With each rip to the heart, our capacity to love grows that much bigger.

And I feel my love growing stronger everyday.

And I'm emerging a much stronger version of myself.
And it makes me very thankful for the grief I've experienced.

On Joy and Sorrow: by Kahlil Gibran

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits, alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Amazing Paleo Success Update!

2011-04-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hi friends,
First let me apologize for the delay in the launch of my new and improved blog. I am experiencing an unexpected family situation that has taken me off track for the time being. I haven't forgot about you guys and the new blog is still on track to launch, but I must tend to my family situation for the moment.

In the meantime, I have an very exciting paleo success story. My amazing mother and father decided to jump on the paleo train with me a few months back. My dad has lost an amazing 22 lbs and just sent me this email after his annual check-up:

"Doc said the labs I had done were awesome -- my prostrate indicator dropped a lot (it has to be steadily increasing for cancer to be present), so, no need for a follow up ... AND my cholesterol actually dropped from 218 to 167, with my good cholesterol spiking up within that reduced total -- Dr. Borookhim said, "You should provide your 'Paleo Daughter' a gift for her divine guidance", as this was one of the more dramatic turnarounds he had seen for someone of my age"

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU DAD!!!!

And yet another story to convince me that the Paleo way of eating really does the body good!

Stay tuned...I promise I'm still working behind the scenes :)

Get ready....

2011-03-10T15:14:00.000-08:00

Stay tuned for updates on 8 week Paleo Challenge results and brand new blog!
Coming soon early next week.
Thanks so much for your patience.
Oh, and by the way, I have a sketchbook touring around with this cool project.
Check it out!

And to any of my amazing food-loggers out there, got any after photos or blog links for us?
Keep up the great work everyone!

Now That's Paleo

2011-02-26T15:32:00.000-08:00

Bison I love you
Ate the shit out of your heart
Thank you for dying

I recently took part in my very first bison share from Thunderheart, a great source for local grass fed bison. 12 of us will be taking 20lbs each, which means it's time to clear out my freezer. My thoughts drift frequently to my bison as I have never been in the position where I specifically know about my animal before he's killed. While I haven't yet received my 20lbs worth, I did get to meet my sacrificed bison via his organs at an organ potluck. We ate his kidneys, tongue, heart, liver, spleen, and tail. This was certainly a new experience for me & while I enjoyed getting to do this, I'm glad these are not included in my 20lbs :)
On Our Menu:
Kidneys- saute'd in butter with lime
Oxtail braised with beets in mead
Tongue tenderized with pepper corns, bay leaf & garlic, fried in olive oil with aioli.
Heart Stew
Liver & onions
Spleen served sashimi-style (splashimi) with a rosemary balsamic drizzle
Yummy?

Speaking of Paleo....
There is a little over 1 week left in my 8 week before & after paleo challenge. Stay tuned for some after pictures & experiences of eating the paleo diet about 80% of the time. I bet there will be some great success stories.

See how we are eating at our community food log!

Why do you Crossfit?

2011-02-11T10:26:00.000-08:00

My friend Anna over at 5Maples is a very smart lady. I could not say this better myself, so I give you the words of my dear friend who hits the nail on the head. She inspires me every day.

"the crossfit ladies ALWAYS talk about why we crossfit. the community, the support, the "physical attributes," etc. only recently have i started to really hone in on why i do it and what drives my workouts: it makes me feel powerful. that bleeds into every single part of my life and my outlook, optimism, confidence,my ability to help myself, meet my goals, feel successful and ultimately help others. i joined crossfit because i kept driving by and seeing women do pullups. i've always wanted to be able to do pullups and thought to myself there is no reason that they can learn how to do pullups and i can't. that is something that i remind myself of often, because it's hard to look at something that you can't imagine being able to do and then go and persevere and do it.

there are all of these little tidbits that i've encountered: telling my airrosti practitioner that I hoped that childbirth was not much more painful than Airrosti. his response: a lot of people compare it to that. and a lot of people don't come back bc they can't deal with it. my response: i get through the pain with the same mentality that i use to get through a tough wod. ( i guess i could go into greater detail about that, but we all probably have our own little spiel about facing and dealing with pain..)
yesterday coach erin was giving me the hard sell about resting my injury. and she said something to the effect that it's very hard for athletes to rest when hurt bc what you are constantly doing is training yourself to work hard despite pain, so it's very counter intuitive to give into it. that really hit home for me bc i am super whiny about not being able to do stuff.

there's something, a correlation, between having a fit body and a fit mind. and i don't just mean "fit" like you're good at hiking. i mean fit like you're constantly striving to go harder, faster, pick up more weight. pull your own body weight. many times. there is something very powerful in that that changed something for me: it changed the way that i saw my own ability in contrast to others. seeing other women do pullups, never having been able to do one before in my life, even though i have been "fit," and then making up my mind, working over a course of months, and then finally achieving that; it changed me. it made me realize that i had a misconception that a certain kind of success, kind of ambition was for others and not me. taking charge of my body and my strength and slowly but surely growing my strength and in turn my confidence has made me believe that i can do anything that anyone else can do, and certainly anything that i set my mind to."

thank you Anna!

PS. These are the bacon wrapped dates from the picture above that Anna made for New Years. Pure heaven. Best Paleo Desert Ever.

Speaking of food...check out what else my friends and I eat at our Community Food Log.

This is true

2011-02-03T07:23:00.000-08:00

reblogged from 5Maples (who reblogged from Oly Moss)

Cumin Chicken Guacamole Salad

2011-01-31T17:51:00.002-08:00

This recipe can be a quick one. Whip it up, mix it up style.I had some leftover chicken I made the night before.
Simple pan fried chicken breasts lathered in:

3 tbs olive oil
1 tbs cumin
1 tbs coriander
1tsp chili powder
squeeze of lemon juice (if available)
sometimes I throw in garlic powder

Sliced up 1 zucchini with 1/2 cup red cabbage & sauteed in 1/2 tbs coconut oil.

Pile them together and put at least 2 tbs guacamole on top. I usually make my own by smooshing an entire avocado with garlic & a squeeze of lemon. This time I was in a hurry and had some Wholly Guacamole in the fridge.

The key is to really toss it all together. I have the pyramid picture just for show, but really it's worth tossing and letting the guacamole cover everything like salad dressing.

Tweak the spices as necessary.

I'd also like to give a special congratulations to all my food loggers. You are each doing a wonderful job at staying accountable & allowing for a conversation to develop amongst all of us. Keep up the great work and I encourage anyone to join us. Even if you are not quite sure...go for it! We can help each other a long the way.

Check out how we are eating: Catherine & Friends' Food Log

Food Log Update

2011-01-20T10:14:00.000-08:00

Illustration by Liz Adams

Welcome Ali, Carrie, M Ward, Meghan, Jessica, and Natasha to the Food Log! I think of all of you every time I might be tempted to say..."it would just be this one little bite"

There has been a lot of discussion about battling sugar cravings. It's important to remember that your body is transitioning from burning sugar for energy to burning fat for energy. This is why you may experience a case of the crankies or long for something sweet. Your body is confused by not finding it's usual source of energy. But remember, don't cheat yourself out of this transition because once it happens, it's powerful for weight loss and increased energy levels. And the sugar cravings will subside, and your taste buds adjust. Sometimes when I really need something sweet, I just go for a piece of fruit and it satisfies the craving. If you are trying to be sensible and not eat an entire bag of grapes in one sitting (it can be done...very easily actually), try and drink a large glass of water. Water actually fills you up and has a strange power to curb hunger.

What do you guys do when hit with a case of the cranky sugar cravings?

For great tips on how to get organized so that staying paleo is easy breezy check out the method behind Mel's madness.

Check out our progress: Catherine & Friends' Food Log I'm proud of you guys!

World Domination

2011-01-16T08:54:00.000-08:00

I have been blessed throughout my life to be around spheres of movers, shakers, crazy artists, and "outside the box" thinkers. When there is a real buzz amongst a group of motivated people with a great idea, they often express their desire to take over the world. Hey, I say this all the time! But the reality is, most of us don't really want to be in charge of the world. So what do we really mean when we feel such excitement that we express our desire for world domination?

When I say it, what I really mean is: I want my true passion to be all that I live, and by doing so I want to empower others to do the same.

I also really like Chris Guillebeau's (author of The Art of Non-Conformity and great blog) definition of World Domination:

"When you reach the convergence between getting what you really want while also helping others in a unique way. I call this "world domination," where you live a life of adventure and focus on leaving a legacy that makes a radical difference for other people. There's no need to settle or accept anything less."

I write about this for one reason:
Ask yourself, what in your life makes you feel SO MUCH PASSION that it makes you declare you want to take over the world?
Is there something you can do in 2011 that will allow you to live more fully in that passion?

On another note, I'm so happy to have some friends join the public food log!
You guys RULE!!! Keep up the great work and great results will come. Way to commit to your health!

Catherine & Friends' Food Log

2011-01-13T16:43:00.001-08:00

Drawing by Sarah Tillman from page 111 of The People of Paper (McSweeney’s Books, 2005)

Catherine & Friends' Food Log

Community Accountability

2011-01-11T10:19:00.000-08:00

My readers are AWESOME! I have gotten a wonderful response since posting my food log & before pictures that I'm feeling pretty darn inspired. Many of you have shared that going public with my journey has inspired you, but the real truth is--IT'S YOU GUYS that keep me going. The inspiration I draw from this community of people who want to make a difference in their lives makes smart choices a whole lot easier.

My commitment was further strengthened when the always amazing Melicious posted her before pictures over at The Clothes Make the Girl. YOU GO GIRL!

Then, fellow crossfitter and recent paleo eater, Courtney Wise over at IGA Meals made the suggestion that I invite all of you to participate.

So here goes...
CALLING ALL PALEO EATERS: This includes anyone who has been eating paleo for a while, anyone who wants to try for the first time, anyone who has fallen off the wagon & needs help getting back on, & anyone starting the Whole30 or any other paleo challenge.

Anyone who would like to send a "before picture" to help hold yourself accountable please send to catherinewhart@yahoo.com and I will post on this blog. And I will proudly post your after photos too!

Further, anyone who wants to share their food log or to start one for the first time, I will add a tab to mine so you can go public too. It will look a little something like this:
PLEASE don't be shy. There is nothing like a community to hold you accountable to ensure success.

Who's in with me?

Catherine's Food Log

I AM CROSSFIT: Benchmark Workout & Reaching Goals

2011-01-08T10:37:00.000-08:00

that face helps me get my chin over the bar :)

today's photo brought to you by an iphone from far away...you can almost make out my puffed out cheeks!

Well friends, after 1 week of paleo eating to prepare for this Saturday, my I AM CROSSFIT 2011 Challenge is officially underway. The benchmark workout was this morning to kick off the challenge and I reached my goal!

If you remember, I decided to do this workout at the Elite Level and my goal was to complete at least one round.

Quick Reminder of the workout:
3 rounds:
400m run
15 pull-ups
7 hang cleans @ 95lbs

Well, not only did I complete one round, but I got through almost 2 complete rounds (minus last 2 hang cleans.) So instead of my brain noise buzzing with, "Oh boy, what have I done?"...I'm now buzzing with, "I did it, I did it!"

So I enter this challenge as an Elite Crossfitter.

Why was I able to reach this goal? Why was I able to knock out 30 unassisted pull-ups and 13 hang cleans at a weight 30lbs higher than I have ever attempted with only 2 weeks of prep?

1) I wrote down my goal and set an intention.
2) I have an enormous support group holding me accountable (my readers included!)
3) I decided to.
4) I believed I could.

I also know that the last week of cleaning up my diet and ensuring I got 9 hours of sleep before the workout set me up for success as well. And continuing to eat this way for the next 8 weeks (you might notice a few cheats on my birthday) will set me up for even more success when I attempt this workout again on March 5th.

So what are my fitness goals during the next 8 weeks? Because I know it helps, I gotta write them down.

1) To lose at least 5% body fat.
2) To reveal my abs again.
3) To do at least 50% of my workouts at the Elite level.
4) To finish the benchmark workout (all 3 rounds!) on March 5th, 2011.

3, 2, 1.....GO!!

And if you are just joining me, I am sharing my food log publicly and I encourage you to check it out. I will also be getting feedback from my coaches on how to tweak my food to ensure success on my goals. I will make notes on my food log about these tweaks as I learn & implement them.

Check it out: Catherine's Food Log

The Paleo Diet: And so it begins

2011-01-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

This is where I am starting.
Not terrible, but not my best.
I certainly have added a layer of body fat that I am positive will blast away with Paleo eating. While it is slightly embarrassing to post these, it's worth it to me to show you a true before and after. Follow my food logs these next 2 months and watch the Paleo diet work. Share this with anyone who may need some inspiration and ask me any questions along the way!

Here's to reaching our goals in 2011!

Catherine's Food Logs

The Paleo Diet IS the Solution

2011-01-02T10:28:00.001-08:00

Okay friends, I am going public with my food log.

Here's the deal: I believe in the paleo/primal way of eating 100%. I know it works. I know it makes me look good, feel good, sleep well, perform better, think clearer, & smile more. I have no doubt that this way of eating is the solution to weight loss, fat burning, and the reversal of Type II diabetes, countless autoimmune diseases, depression, and more.

When I gain weight, sleep terribly, or feel like crap, I know why.
It's because I stopped eating paleo.
When I start to lose body fat, sleep well, & feel great I know why.
It's because I'm eating paleo.

It's pretty profound.
With the overabundance of weight loss & diet information out there, it's next to impossible to sort through the conflicting information. I'm going public with my food logs & pictures of my progress for the next 2 months to show that there is a very simple solution.

Eat only meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, nuts, and seeds. And try to eat the highest quality versions of those foods (i.e organic, grass-fed).

Done, it's that simple.

If you cut out grains, dairy, and sugar you will feel like a new person.
And you will be.

I know that many of my readers already eat this way, but I am going public with the transformation the paleo way of eating allows to help anyone out there who is still struggling, not convinced, totally lost, needs inspiration, or needs to be reminded that this is actually quite easy. With the way our culture currently understands meals, cutting out grains, dairy, and sugar seems overwhelming. But after a few simple shifts, a whole world with TONS of delicious options is available to you. I promise.

Please share this with someone who you know it might help.
I want the Paleo way of eating to experience a tipping point into the mainstream.
I want this obesity crisis to come to an end.
I want books like Robb Wolf's The Paleo Solution and Mark Sisson's The Primal Blueprint Cookbook to be on everyone's shelf.

Anyone who knows me can tell you that it's rare for me to rally behind one specific cause. I am the queen of seeing all sides and I think that all things have their place in this world.

But I can't get away from how much this way of eating makes sense to me at on deeper instinctual level.
It's not a matter of whether or not this is the right diet for you. It's about whether or not you decide to do it.

And you will notice I will not be perfect. I will most likely fall in the 90% Paleo range during the next 2 months. And it will still have a dramatic impact on my body composition and way of life.

So here goes:
Catherine's Food Logs

Please share and please ask me questions.
I'm so excited to kick off the New year with a renewed sense of passion for getting fit & healthy!
WHO IS IN WITH ME????

2011 Goals

2010-12-31T16:55:00.001-08:00

Who's in with me?
I'm sending big love to each and every one of you...even if I don't know you are reading this...
Happy New Year My Friends.

95 is the new 65

2010-12-23T13:27:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's time for me to FOCUS!

I keep thinking to myself, "Oh boy, what have I done?" Turns out I have committed myself to something totally ridiculous. The I AM CROSSFIT workout is right around the corner & this will be the third year I've participated.

The Workout:
3 Rounds:
400m Run
15 pull-ups
7 hang cleans

The past 2 years I have done the pull-ups with the assistance of the band & the hang cleans at the intermediate level of 65 lbs.
Hang Cleans are one of my very favorite moves with the barbell.

Let's take a look:

I can't quite explain the satisfying sensation I get with this move, but it's empowering to say the least.
Here's the deal: 65 lbs is getting too easy. They don't challenge me.
BUT the only other option is to move up to the elite level and do 95lbs! This would normally be totally appropriate for someone who has been crossfitting for almost 3 years. But we all know I've been slacking a bit & I'm in a "rebuilding my strength" phase. But no matter how I cut it, I'm cheating myself out of serious strength improvements if I stay at 65lbs.

I have no choice.

BUT this is a 30lb jump!
That's not a small increment!

So I tried one in my backyard....I did it....BUT it was the sloppiest & ugliest hang clean known to man. SO it's looks like I have to figure this out before the workout on January 7, 2011. That only 2 weeks. AND I can't forget that the hang cleans are coupled with the pull-ups...in other words, my arms will be TOAST.

How am I going to prepare?

5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Pull-ups
75 lb hang clean
during the next couple of days

5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Pull-ups
85 lb hang cleans
next week

5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Pull-ups
95 lb Hang cleans
the following week

REST

Then 3...2...1... GO!

Again I hear myself say, "Oh boy, what have I done?"
But this is what I have to start doing to become an elite crossfitter...there is no reason for me not to. My goal is to at least complete the first 7 hang cleans. If I pull that off I will consider myself successful.

I'll post updates!

Perfect just the way I am

2010-12-17T15:06:00.001-08:00

After I dropped from a size 13 to a size 4 in 2008, I've done a pretty decent job at maintaining. Maybe it was the letter I wrote to myself and my dear friends The Maintenance Cheerleaders. But these past 2 months I've started to put on some weight & have watched some body fat accumulate around my thighs & belly.

It's official: I'm the heaviest I have been since my major body shift in 2008.

Now, I'm no stranger to body fluctuations. Even while maintaining my leanest figure I had lots of peaks and valleys. Of course, in the context of the last 3 years, these are minor fluctuations. But while I'm in the midst of these peaks and valleys (gain, lose, gain, lose, etc), they can seem larger than life and certainly dominate my thoughts. Let's take a closer look:
When I'm sliding down the side of that mountain headed toward the valley of ultimate leanness, life feels amazing with endless possibilities. But when I start hiking back up and gravity seems to pull stronger as I pack it on....I long to be sliding down the other side.

Even me, with a very realistic perspective and great love for myself, can feel like life is not as good when my belly giggles. I can feel it all day, slightly chipping away at my happiness.

So I am trying a very radical and new approach. Drum roll please.....
I am deciding that I am perfect just the way I am & that no matter where I happen to fall on my body fat chart, life is equally amazing and enjoyable.

I know, I know...we've heard this a million times before. It's not a new concept and it's pretty obvious that feeling perfect just the way we are is a healthy choice we all want to be able to make. And to be honest, I thought I was doing a darn good job at this. But I'm just now realizing how much I've been cheating myself out of full & total enjoyment of every single day when I decide that life will be better when I get off the fat peak and down to the lean valley.

Do I prefer it when I am lean? YES
Do I like the way that I look better when I am lean? YES
Am I planning on working my butt off the next 2 months to lean out and rebuild my strength? You better believe it.

BUT, what I am not going to do is decide that life will be better when I get there. I will no longer delay my happiness. I have just as much access to inner contentment & happiness today as any day in my future. I will never stop setting goals and I will never stop striving for greatness. But I will never delay happiness along the way.

Now it's time to go kick some butt and shed some fat!

Costa Rica

2010-12-15T05:48:00.000-08:00

I'm back from a week of rest, relaxation, & adventure in the beautiful country of Costa Rica. My dear friend Julie gave me the invaluable gift of de-stressing & royally spoiled me with her generosity, knowledge of Costa Rica, and true friendship. Not only is she a kick-ass friend, but she is a kick-ass artist whose creativity & talent make her one amazing wedding photographer. Know anyone who is toying with the idea of a destination wedding? Well, I recommend Costa Rica & I've got the woman for you. Check out her work here.

A few cool things about Costa Rica:
1) All their beef is 100% grass-fed. So much so that I hardly saw fences to contain the cows...watch out for them crossing the street.
2) There are no street names. None. So your address is essentially directions to your house. Kinda awesome.
3) Costa Rica was voted the happiest country in the world. After being there for a week, I don't think it's about the amazing landscape, killer beaches, or perfect weather. It seems as if Costa Ricans really live from the BE, DO, HAVE model...with a very small emphasis on have. Inner contentment first.

A few cool things I did in Costa Rica:

I moved my body

This was a homemade barbell we found at a construction site made out of concrete...great view for some push-presses.

I met some new creatures

*not pictures are the tons of monkeys I met

I may have enjoyed a few beverages of the non-paleo variety

But I made sure to re-hydrate with the very paleo kind of beverageand I ended each day with a sense of peace & fulfillment that this life is truly beautiful.

1, 2, 3, NARF

2010-12-05T14:26:00.000-08:00

Numbers weave themselves in and out of my drawings, as they have always woven in and out of my thoughts. I am drawn to them not only as a symbol of quantity but also as shapes. Counting incessantly was a major part of my obsessive rituals in middle school. The number 8 was the one that showed up the most, maybe for it's satisfying shape that could be made from two circles or from a rotated infinity symbol. Or maybe it was the soothing rhythm to its counting that came from years of dancing. Or maybe because it's a character in on of my favorite jokes:

What did the zero say to the eight?
"Nice belt"

Whatever the reason, numbers have always played a role in the way I think. Their various associations affect our psychology all the time without us knowing it. How many of us see the price $1.99 and feel like we just spent a buck. My brain gives weight to that 1 and I don't take the feeling in of the full 2 bucks. I work in retail and I still let my brain get tricked in that way :)

I was reminded during my Crossfit workout last week how numbers can affect my view on things. Us Crossfitters know that no matter what the workout, we are counting our reps in some way or another. This is one of the reasons I love Crossfitting so much-my brain gets to count the whole time!

Meet NARF.
In other words, FRAN backwards.
Anyone not familiar with Crossfit there are 3 things to mention about the workout FRAN:

1) The workout consists of the following:

21 Thrusters (65lbs)
21 Pull-ups
15 Thrusters
15 Pull-ups
9 Thrusters
9 Pull-ups

2)This is known as a benchmark workout, meaning its done across all crossfit communities and its often used to quickly gauge your fitness level. You will often here crossfitters say, "What's your FRAN time?"

3) It's one of the hardest workout in the universe. And it should only take 5 minutes (I take about 20 minutes).

So when I walked in on Wednesday morning to find out I have to do the hardest workout in the universe but I have to do the rep scheme BACKWARDS, my brain went sideways.

The only saving grace during FRAN is that your reps go DOWN as you go through it. You rely on your self talk that goes a little something like this,

"Okay, you just did 21 reps of each. If you can do that, 15 is going to be no problem. Just 3 rounds of 5 and then you are done. Okay, now you just have to tackle that last 9. No problem, all your hard work is out of the way. Remember when you did 21 in a row? 9 is nothing. A quick set of 5 and then that last 4 is a really small and manageable amount. Almost there!"

But now the reps get longer and longer. 9, 15, 21
It's so mean! My brain had no self talk to help me!

"Okay, you know how that set of 9 felt really super hard, well you have hardly scratched the surface. You have to bang out 3 sets of 5 to get that next 15 and you will barely be halfway through this workout. Holy crap, I still have 21 reps of each. Mother F*&$er!"

Funniest part? It's the exact same workout. You do the exact same amount of work. Only thing that changes is the way you talk to yourself about it. Hmmmmmm, what other areas of my life could I change the way I think about things to feel more like a 21, 15, 9 sort of thing rather than an uphill battle of 9, 15, 21?

Be Do Have

2010-11-19T05:35:00.000-08:00

A full week of Crossfit classes and going strong. Exercising patience while I rebuild my strength is crucial. I'm feeling sore in the best way possible, which makes my body feel awake & alive.

A few days ago, my friend Chris invited me as a guest to her Landmark Education Seminar. She has been telling me about the difference this program has made in transforming her life and she invited me to get a slice of what it was all about. During the course of the three hour evening, I was exposed to some great tools for shifting your perspective towards a more empowered life. The one that stuck to my ribs the most was the idea of living in the order of BE, DO, HAVE rather than the very common approach of HAVE, DO, BE.

When you operate from a Have, Do, Be perspective your thinking goes a little something like this:

If I have more money, I could do what I want, and therefore be happier.
or
If I had a better education, I could do a higher paying position in this company, and therefore be more confident.
or
I had had bigger boobs, I could do nicer outfits, and then be more content with the way I look.

Notice that the happiness, the contentment, & the confidence all come at the end of this equation...they are the end result.

What is wrong with this picture? For one, the happiness, contentment, and confidence will be impossible to sustain because you build it from the outside in.

What happens if you shift this perspective and start with your way of being?
Be, Do, Have

Meaning, decide to BE happy, content, or confident FIRST, then live that way in all that you DO, and therefore you will actually HAVE the life that you want. That's living your life from the inside out. Be who you want to be and let the world shift around that truth.

This is a concept that I thought I already understood, but there are ways we can subtly slip into Have, Do, Be ways of thinking. For example, I am currently working on shifting my perspective from " I need to get my studio up & running, so that I can make my body of work, and therefore be an artist" to "I AM an artist and I live the life of an artist no matter what I am doing and that is allowing my life to shift towards only having to make art" See the difference? The best part about this concept is that you can start right this second and it doesn't cost a dime. And even just being very present to this idea for the last few days has me noticing how loud our society screams for us to HAVE in order for us to BE. phew.

What I also love is that I am involved in the Sketchbook Project and the theme that I chose for mine was Inside Out. A little voice in the back of my head knew that was the real work I was about to embark on.

Don't let the world make you feel like you have to live from the outside in, tell it to f*#% off and start living from the inside out!

Bouncing Back

2010-11-15T08:17:00.000-08:00

I started a new Crossfit class this morning and boy do I feel out of shape. While I have gotten some workouts in here and there, really for all intents and purposes, I have officially taken a month off from Crossfitting. First time ever since I started.

I have gotten out of my rhythm and somewhat embarrassed by my MIA status at my gym. A few days ago I said to a friend of mine, "I think I will just take the rest of this month off, start fresh in December...cause you know...it has just been so long and it's going to be hard."

She looked at me like she can't even believe she has to point out the obvious, but ever so gently reminds me that, "It's only going to be even longer and even harder if you wait." Um, duh. I know I know. Now I am just being an idiot.

This is the first time I've experienced this kind of slump since I started almost 3 years ago! So I am learning quite a bit about this crazy process of taking care of yourself in a whole new way.

Some crucial things I have realized:

1) During the workout this morning I was having to face how weak I felt. But what it made me realize was, I got strong because I consistently worked my ass off. Seems obvious right? But the feeling was profound. For example, sit-ups have always been a strength of mine. I don't fatigue on them as easily and I can knock them out pretty fast. I started to take for granted that I had a strong core and started to think of myself as someone who was naturally athletic. I totally forgot I had a strong core because I was consistently working to make it strong. This morning I had to do 2 rounds of 50 sit-ups each. I can remember a day when I would walk into the gym, see that on the board and think, "easy!" Today, I fatigued. I couldn't believe that after 25 sit-ups, they started to feel hard and I was going slow. WOW. I am not someone who simply has a strong core. I worked for it, I am capable of that kind of work, and I will create that again. I just have to work.

2) I got to a place where I forgot WHY I eat clean. Because my life has been so jam packed, my sleep has been terrible, and I haven't been moving, I can definitely say I have not been feeling my best. So when I let those little treats creep in & give myself permission for "comfort food", I wasn't getting smacked in the face with how bad it was making me feel. I was already off. There was a point when I was eating so clean and was so immersed in a culture of healthy eaters, I could hardly wrap my mind around why anyone would continue to eat bad food. So it has been eye opening and a nice reminder of what it feels like to not eat great food and to not even know it's making you feel bad. If you truly can't process it's making you feel bad, it's hard to change your choices. After my workout this morning, all I wanted was the highest quality food I could think of. And feeling that feeling was a wake-up call that I haven't had that great feeling of craving the good eats. Does that make sense? I can remember now what it feels like to not know what treats your body well and how easily you can get swept up in bad eating. This was a perspective I needed to remember.

3) And the old cliche remains true: It's never too late. You just have to get started again. Don't use the fact that too much time has passed as an excuse. Gotten off track? Everyday is a great day to back back on it.

Just do the work.

Best Casserole Ever!

2010-11-06T09:19:00.001-07:00

Thanks to my amazingly brilliant friend Erika, I have a new recipe that just improved the quality of my life.

It's so easy.
It can be made from almost anything.
It can be eaten as breakfast, lunch or dinner.
It's freakin' delicious!!!

The recipe originated from the good people over at Mark's Daily Apple.
The original recipe is made of shrimp, sausage, and summer squash.

Erika switched it up by replacing the shrimp with chicken and I was hooked on my first bite. I made mine last night with sausage, bacon, zucchini, & sweet potatoes and it was just as heavenly.

This is like paleo paradise. It's the super simple solution to a catch all casserole that can incorporate any combo of protein and veggies. Perfect to bake in the beginning of a busy week, or just as perfect for the end of the week leftover mash-up. I don't think you can fail with this one guys.

Here is what you do:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2) Cook bacon & sausage together (you can add more protein, use shrimp instead...whatever suits you. I do, however, recommend you include the bacon no matter what because it's the rendered bacon fat that really takes the flavor up a notch)
3) Add a finely chopped onion when the fat starts to render
4) Saute until bacon is slightly crispy & the onion is soft
5) Add sliced squash, zucchini, or veggie of your choice
6) Turn heat to HIGH briefly to help ensure veggies get cooked in bacon fat and not their own water
7) season if you wish but not much more than a little salt & pepper is necessary
8) remove from heat, beat 2 eggs and pour over mixture.
9) mix it up, throw it in a casserole dish, bake for 30 minutes.

Top with salsa, tomato sauce, Cholula, Tabasco, or nothing.
ENJOY!

Catherine Hart, 185 S. Mountain Ave, Montclair NJ 07042

2010-11-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

This is officially the longest hiatus I have ever taken from blogging. While I have been away from this public arena of sharing, I've been working my tail off, digging deep, transitioning, and I'm starting to feel a more authentic me emerging. I have been nurturing my inner artist, and I hope to share my growth in this blog.

I want to share a story.

When I was young, I loved the feeling of a pen on paper. As soon as the tip of my pen hit the paper & I began to make a line, I felt relaxation come over me. I felt at home. But I had no visual language. What was I going to turn that line into?

So I decided to write my name and address. It was safe, I could form lots of letters, and it didn't really say anything about me one way or the other.

So I wrote it over and over and over.
Hundreds of thousands of times.
All over any paper surface I could find.
All over my Mom's papers on her desk
All over my friend's houses.
It was the joke that everyone knew when I had been there...I left a trail of my name and address.
For years.

And somehow, I began to slowly let go.
I started by drawing some shapes that felt safe over and over again.
Then I started combining some of the shapes.

And finally I went to art school and I had to learn how to surrender.
I had to trust the line, where it wanted to go, and let it tell it's story.

Every time I approach a blank page I have to actively surrender. Sometimes my brain fights it, and that shows up as part of the story in many of my drawings.

This makes me think of us humans and how complex we can be. What are we holding onto that we need to let go of? What are we stuck repeating that no longer serves us? What layers of ourselves do we have to surrender to?

I am learning I have a whole other layer I have to surrender to.
And with that comes freedom.

I hope my awesome loyal readers are still here. I love you all!

My Art on The East Side

2010-10-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hi friends! Please forgive the lack of posts and my serious MIA status. Remember that computer system I was learning? Well now I'm implementing it which requires lots of late nights, so I'm off my regular routine. But I have some good updates coming, some new fitness challenges I'm in, and some fun places where my art and workouts meet. Stay tuned!

I also wanted to let all the Austinites know that my drawings are hanging up at EastSide ShowRoom, one of my FAVORITE restaurant/bars in Austin. Go grab a drink or make it a date night and enjoy their fresh and delicious local food while getting a chance to see my work.

Check it out:
http://eastsideshowroom.com/
100 EAST 6TH ST
AUSTIN TX 78702

OPEN EVERYDAY 5PM TO 2AM
KITCHEN OPEN UNTIL 11PM SUN-WED & UNTIL MIDNIGHT THURS-SAT

One Week Challenge: Update!

2010-09-23T04:19:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to let everyone know that I won't be able to post tonight because I will be spending the night with my Aunt and Uncle who are in town. I'm excited for some down time with my family to decompress & not think about computer data. I'm off to one more full day of training and I will post how my day goes on Friday. Thanks!

DAY THREE: Wednesday!

2010-09-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

Just getting back to my room. BEYOND tired. So much data consumption. You know those ruled school notebooks they sell at Walgreens or the grocery store? I just filled an ENTIRE notebook (minus 3 pages to be exact) with notes on how to run this computer system. Notes that I have been taking since 7:30am.

So I only have the energy, before I completely pass out with all my lights on (which to be honest I will probably do anyway) to report that:

I had a great day
I ate pretty clean and made some great choices, while also having some wonderful conversations about nutrition & why I eat what I eat.
I push-upped, squatted, and stretched.
I managed to laugh a lot with my coworkers
And I doodled in my notebook.

Feeling really good.
but oh, so tired.
what a week to try this challenge.
seriously. it's intense.

This is as far as I got. And it's okay if you want to make fun of me for the incredibly phallic nature of some of my shapes. I'm used to it. Its not intentional :)

And no color made it's way onto this one...cuz I'm sleepy. But for those of you who have asked (and I can't tell you how much it means to me that you care) I use pen & ink, watercolor, gouache, and pencil-both graphite and colored.

That's all I got. Part of treating myself kindly means getting good sleep.
So I am out for the night :)

DAY TWO: Tuesday!

2010-09-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

It's day two of my one week challenge.

Wow I certainly underestimated how 9 hours of computer training would totally wear me out. I am just settling in after a company dinner and I am pooped!

My grade for the day: B-

Workout: I started the day with something I have never really done before...at least not on my own. I was so tired when my alarm went off that I couldn't wrap my mind around moving fast yet. I wanted to stretch. So I decided to do some yoga sun salutations in honor of my parents' yoga practice. And I have to say, it was the perfect pace for me and unexpectedly lovely. Then I moved into 20 sit-ups, 10 push ups, 20 lunges for only two rounds. I'll take it. I got moving.

Food: I held strong on my clean eating for the grand majority of the day.
I should just give myself the hugest pat on the back for squeezing out any clean eating at all considering what I was up against:

My provided breakfast options:
Luckily the hotel had a bowl of hard boiled eggs so I ate 3 of those, an apple, and a handful of almonds. Oh yeah, and delicious black coffee!

My provided snacks in the computer room:
YIKES! I stuck with my turkey jerky, fruit, and almonds! Phew, I would have been in trouble had I not prepared!

For lunch we had sandwiches delivered w/ a few small salads. I grabbed a turkey sandwich and a salad, tossed the bun, and put the turkey on top of the salad. I finally decided to get over people thinking I was weird. Ultimately no one cares the way your think they do and I end up feeling better in the end. In fact, I had a few co-worker's saying they wanted to sit next to me because I'm known as the girl with the snacks :)

Finally, a big Italian dinner out. I order the Chicken Cacciatore because it was described as grilled chicken over tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers and topped with tomato sauce. Sounds great! But it came with an enormous side of spaghetti and I succeeded in resisting it all together:See! I ate around it completely. Which can be hard when you are tired in a social situation.

But did have a beer, and a few bites of a big cake being shared. This is where my A became the B-. It happened because the flow & energy of a social work situation can become emotionally bigger than a personal challenge. At least for a sensitive person like me. I'm just being honest. The beer I had was brewed locally..,like around the corner...and stories were being shared and, well, I wanted to connect and be a part of it. I don't know if this is right or wrong or what...but just life I guess. What do you guys think? Plus, as an artist I was a huge sucker for the label.Anyway, worth it because at least for now I can say it was delicious and I might not ever find that beer again. And the social bonding was something I kind of treasure...these coworkers of mine are special allies that I only get to see once or twice a year. Tonight, I'll take the B+

And speaking of being a sucker for art, this is as far as I got tonight. Not complete, but a very real start. I'm pooped. Good night!

DAY ONE: Monday-My travel day

2010-09-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

I'm finally settling into bed at the La Quinta Hotel. When I first moved to Austin my husband and I used to laugh at the La Quinta signs everywhere that said, "La Quinta-that's Spanish for Free High Speed Internet." Well, now I'm enjoying that La Quinta, as I will be every night to hold myself accountable on my one week challenge! My alarm is set for 6am for my first workout tomorrow morning before I meet my team in the lobby at 7:30am.

I filled my back up with some healthy protein, fat, and carbohydrates to keep me running smooth in case I'm only offered sugar bombs on this trip.

Healthy Travel Fats:Almonds & almond butter, coconut flakes, Larabar (also has carbs from the dates but cashew and coconut are my favorite), & some mixed nuts and seeds.

Healthy Travel Proteins:Protein is always the hardest for travel because it almost always needs refrigeration. I stick with either beef or turkey jerky (this turkey jerky is the ultimate because it is both sugar and gluten free) and tuna packets. You can always get chicken packets if you are worried about the smell in close quarters like an airplane.

Healthy Travel Carbohydrates: Usually the best travel carbs are the ones that have the highest sugar spikes (i.e. bananas & carrots). But remember these are worlds healthier than any fast food you can grab while traveling. I tried to get creative by adding Kale Chips (which I recommend making yourself if you can because they tend to be way over priced. Melicious has a simple and perfect recipe here) and a package of tiny sweet peppers.

After chewing away at my turkey jerky & almonds on the plane, I met my team to plan the week at PF Chang's. To my surprise they have added a Gluten Free section to their menu which allowed me to order steamed salmon over tomatoes, mushrooms, ginger, and asparagus. Perfect!

And thank goodness I got a drawing done on the plane because I have just enough energy for this post and that's about it.I think it's a flying manatee sweet potato.

(sorry only cell phone pics this week)

Now I will plan my first workout of the trip as I fall asleep.

Good night! Stay tuned for tomorrow's check in.

One Week Challenge

2010-09-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's time for my own personal one week challenge. I have only made it to about 5 workouts this whole month and I am about to miss another week of crossfit classes for an out of town business trip. I know the structure of these business trips well...unhealthy food is presented in abundance OR we don't get to eat nearly enough, followed by social drinking with coworkers. I also know that because I have not been on a solid workout routine this month, it will be even harder for me to crossfit on my own in the hotel. So, to not let this business trip derail me, I am announcing my own self imposed mini personal challenge. It is so important that I eat clean and move my body while on this trip so that I'm not terrified to return to the gym when I get home. I also have an art show that I have to install when I return from my trip and there are a few more small drawings I would like to add to the show.

I can often get into the mode of thinking that, "once things settle down I can get back into my routine" But you know what? I'm a busy girl! I like being involved and active & I haven't really designed a life for myself that shows signs of things settling down. Rather than waiting for things to settle enough to get back into a routine, it's about finding a way to organize yourself so that you create that routine no matter what. I almost always let my business trips get me off track, so it's the perfect time to focus on keeping my routine. If I can eat good food, get in some workouts, and get some drawing in during my business trip, I can stay on track in any situation.

My one week challenge:
1) Pack enough of my own food so that I'm never in a situation where I have to eat something that won't make me feel good.
2) Don't allow any social pressure to make me feel as if I need to partake in food or drinks that won't make me feel good.
3) I'm opting out of the social drinking all together because it will affect my ability to get up early enough and move my body.
4) Every morning do some form of exercise. If the hotel has a gym I can design some crossfit style workouts or I can just go for a run outside.
5) Make at least one small drawing each night before I fall asleep.
6) Post each night of my trip (M-F): what I ate, what exercise I did, and a picture of my drawing. How is that for accountability!

This challenge is one of those things where it's both difficult & easy at the same time. If I really commit to it, and hold myself accountable, it should be quite easy to pull off and make the whole trip much better. But I do know these trips and if I don't prepare it's easy to come home feeling worn out & ready for a cleanse!

Tomorrow I shop for my travel food and Monday I'm off!

Feeling your feelings

2010-09-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hi friends. Long time no chat. It's that time of year again where my work load goes through the roof and my body gets tired tired tired. This year in particular I set some lofty work goals for myself and it has required me to bust butt. My sleep has been on the bare minimum end of the spectrum and I haven't been to the gym in almost 2 weeks. That's the longest I have been away from the gym since I started Crossfitting. Oh man, those push-ups are going to be hard.

Without going into too much detail I also have a loved one that is in a lot of pain at the moment. So I've had a lot of sadness in my body while trying to work this hard. Combine that with the adrenaline of actually meeting some of my work goals and I have been a walking tired mess w/ tons of intense feelings that I've had little time to actually feel. I was putting the feelings on hold and storing them. What if I started to feel them & they were so intense I couldn't work? So instead of feeling them, like for real, they have just been hanging out in my upper back causing me to hunch over.

BUT, yesterday I learned something totally amazing and beautiful about feelings. And I actually already knew this, but this experience caused me to really internalize the idea. I had to make a work delivery which gave me a solid 30 minutes in my car. I decided to turn off my music and to feel my feelings, like for real. I decided to not be afraid of feeling my sadness and invite it to come rushing it. I felt it start to crawl out of the cave of my back, unite with my heart and rush all the way down to my toes. I could hardly press the accelerator my foot was so full of emotion.

Now, if I were to rewind to the old me years ago I would be: blasting tunes, smoking cigarettes, and going to the drive-thru to get french fries to shove in my face in between cigarettes. Distraction distraction!

Not this time.

I let it flood me all the way.

I let the shape of my face soften & release the smile it so naturally holds.

I also repeated these words in my mind:
"I do not invite my OCD to work on finding a good feeling"
"I do not invite thoughts to attach a story to this sadness"

Those words kept my mind clear so I could just feel.

I let myself be heavy and full.

And then I showed up at work & had to dive right into intense people interaction. And something very unexpected happened. I felt lighter. I felt rested. I felt centered. I felt happy. I had an employee ask me if I had gotten a tan. I had another tell me I seemed like I finally got a full night sleep. And yet another tell me I had a different energy about me.

What's fascinating to me is how hard we work as humans to avoid "bad" feelings. I'm the queen of it. But none of us can go through life without them and avoiding them will not make them go away. They must be felt before they will leave your body. And they will wait for you, potentially wreaking havoc on your body along the way.

I want to start doing a better job at honoring my feelings.

The sadness I let into my being was beautiful.
Letting it in did not take me down. Instead it lifted me up.

It is such a simple concept that most of us can intuitively understand, but why do we work our butts off to avoid our feelings?

Isn't that what reminds us we are alive which is such an amazing blessing?

I am feeling very grateful today.

Are you avoiding any feelings that need to be felt?

Permission Slip

2010-08-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

I am re-postig this from The Whitehot Truth because I couldn't say it better & because it made my day to find this in my inbox this morning:

Your permission slip from the universe:

You have permission to:
: not finish reading books that you're not really enjoying. Don't force it, close it.
: walk out of movies that suck (and hey, if you leave in the first twenty minutes, you can get your money back.)
: let it go to voicemail (especially during dinner, or snuggling, or watching So You Think You Can Dance?)
: give birthday gifts anytime of the year (which means you can be late or early and you can give yourself time to find just the right gift.)
: talk shit about WalMart (even if they do have the economic power of a small country.)
: cut the obligations cords that are driven by guilt.***
: pursue your own agenda.
: own next to nothing, live on a mattress, read and write and make love all day with no other responsibilities***
: return crappy products to their crappy manufacturers (because you can vote with your dollars.)
: leave your current business model so you can go do something bigger than you***
: tell your kids when you think that something an authority figure told them is bullshit (you need to be in solidarity with your child, not the so-called grown ups.)
: quit your job, even if you just started two weeks ago, or just got a raise, or are seemingly indispensable.
: get yourself off even, if you have a partner.
: have some secrets.
: cut out the elements of your business that you don't totally LOVE. The parts that 90% of the time make you say, "WHY am I doing this? I don't WANT to do this."
: give away/recycle/get rid of stuff, stuff, stuff sentimental stuff that special people gave you (your home is for you, not them); stuff that doesn't make you feel good even, if you spent a lot of money on it; stuff that has intense memories attached to it; stuff!
: say no to "free" stuff, like swag bags at fancy events and novelty erasers and pom-pom pens from the bank. (Because the only thing in life that's free is love.)

you have permission to
: fail, and fail again.
: to succeed, wildly, more than your neighbours, more than your folks, more than you thought was possible.
: be rich and "spiritual"
: be broke AND generous
: leave work early, get some ice cream, and sit in the hot tub at the gym***
: charge what you're worth***
: focus more on creating your soul job and less on finding a ho' job.***
: sleep! sleep in, nap, sleep.
: earn a living knitting for charity.***
: relax. To let go of the growing to-do list in your head. To release the need to get it "just right."***
: to dance.
: go bra-less or underwear free.
: give it all to charity.
: check your email whenever the hell you want.
: start now, without the degree, without the funding, without knowing exactly where you're going.
: sell your house to afford a big trip to India (a friend of mine did just that, no regrets.)
: walk away.
: fall in love.
: eat dessert first.

You have permission to
: not ever feel the need for permission

The Puff Update

2010-08-08T10:35:00.001-07:00

As you guys might remember I often experience a big case of unidentified & unwelcome bloating. In June I declared the beginning of an investigation to find the cause. While some mystery still remains, I've identified 2 culprits that I have noticeable sensitivity with. I thought I'd share since many of you have connected with me about having the same issue.

And the winners are?
Salt & Stress

SALT: I actually consume very little salt because I don't eat processed foods, which is why I didn't consider sodium when I began my investigation. But I do love flavor & often use spice mixes with salt as the main ingredient. I made an amazingly delicious batch of chicken fajitas with my favorite fajita seasoning from Penzey's spices. For 2 days I ate the chicken for breakfast, lunch, & dinner because it was so good! With each helping I added lots of salsa & cholula sauce. I thought with the added veggies on the side, and all the water I was drinking, I should be feeling lean & mean. But instead, I felt uncomfortably bloated. Salt is the only thing I can think of in this equation. The Penzey's fajita spice, which I was not shy with, has quite a bit of salt & I'm added more sodium with my generous helpings of cholula & salsa. Salt is sneaky and works it's way in to so many foods. And our bodies retain water to dilute it in order to protect our tissues from the irritating effect salt can have. Again, still a smaller amount of sodium than most processed foods, but because I don't eat much salt, I'm assuming this is a big dose for my body. So salt is on my bloat radar now!

STRESS: It's no secret stress hormones can cause your belly to bloat. Like most of us, I have a packed schedule and I'm trying to do many things at once. My list of goals is very ambitious & I've forgotten to schedule the time to do absolutely nothing. IT'S SO IMPORTANT! I really need to have real time where I can check in with myself and just be. Otherwise, my emotions get backlogged and I can literally feel them collecting in my stomach. It's why I wake up feeling much leaner when I get to sleep in and wake up naturally. And I certainly noticed how much my puffy feeling went down when I got to relax with my family in LA, which I mentioned in this post. So from now on when I create my to-do lists, I will make sure to include time to just be :)

I call upon my maintenance cheerleading team to help me tackle the Double S's!

Eggs in a Bell Pepper Ring

2010-07-31T19:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this is just fun.

I don't think I even need to post a recipe here, the pic should say it all. Yep, it's an egg inside a bell pepper ring! I eat the same thing for breakfast every single day. 2-3 eggs pretty much every morning. Only factors that vary are which veggies get thrown in the scramble & whether my eggs have chicken apple sausage breakfast links on the side or bacon. Otherwise, same old same old. Don't get me wrong, I love this breakfast. But because I'm a creative person, it's fun to throw in a twist every now and again.

And the possibilities are endless!

Just a few ideas:
1) fresh arugula all over the top
2) bacon whisked into the egg before it is poured in the ring
3) use this as a topping to any delicious meat patty
4) avocado slices on top!!!

Any ideas?

2 1/2 years of Crossfit

2010-07-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

Me in November 2007

This morning I had the absolute honor of a workout being named after me. Thank You Crossfit Central!

"CATHERINE H"
21 Push jerks (85lbs)
50 squats
15 Push jerks
50 squats
9 push jerks
50 squats

Here is what's awesome about this work-out: The 21-15-9 rep scheme has always been my favorite because it's such a satisfying mental count. AND I love push-jerks. So I'm happy to say, I love my workout :)

In class this morning, my awesome coach Big Mike, spoke about how I had been Crossfitting for 2 1/2 years & how he's seen me become an entirely new person. He mentioned my success story & it got me thinking on my the drive home from the gym. I realized something awesome: I no longer think of myself as before & after. I certainly did for a long time, but I can officially say that I no longer view myself as the AFTER ME. I am simply ME. Crossfitting and eating right are so wholeheartedly incorporated into who I am today, I can't imagine my life without it.

I love my coaches.
I love my gym.
I love my class & fellow crossfitters.
I love the extended internet community of like minded people helping me stay strong every day.

I thank you all for being there.

I am no longer the girl that lost 30 lbs, but I am just a fit individual working on living the life that I want. I couldn't have gotten to this point where fitness is so incorporated into who I am today without all your support.
THANK YOU!!!!

Getting back into the swing of things

2010-07-25T18:46:00.000-07:00

I'm back from Vegas, my gym is open again after the the break for the Crossfit Games, and I can feel the Back to School season creeping in. It's amazing how only 10 days away from home can make one's to-do list seem especially daunting. But I just have to start. It really doesn't matter where I start, all that matters is that I simply start! Once I get over the hump of starting & moving through the list, the more pressing items always reveal themselves and from there I can start prioritizing.

But one thing I did not hesitate to start was dialing back into my diet. Phew!

In Vegas I was disciplined for the first 2 days and then I got tired. Once I was exhausted, the sound of Vegas drowned out the cheering from my maintenance team and I just let my commitment to my routine go. I felt bloated beyond belief. Lots of buffets, lots of desserts, lots of drinks, and lots of rounds of all of the above! Then my annoying brain chatter kicked in saying, "holly crap I feel bloated... All I can feel is this roll...I went to far....bloat bloat puff puff" It's the kind of brain chatter that is not helpful & the Maintenance Cheerleaders DO NOT approve.

But after my work conference I had an awesome drive to LA with my brother, a visit with my grandmother, and a wonderful weekend hanging with my amazing family. And soon that nagging voice about how bloated I felt started to subside...

I got re-centered & reconnected. I even got to go to my Dad's studio, sink my hands into some clay and sculpt - which I haven't done since art school. When I had my hands in that clay along with the company of my family, my brain never even thought about discussing the bloat. Now that's something the Maintenance Cheerleaders approve of.

And I really believe that it would have taken me a lot longer to shed the bloated overeating feelings if I did not get a good soak of love and relaxation. If I went right back to work, I bet I would still have the brain chatter and the bloat to go with it. This is exactly why the Maintenance cheerleaders say NO to stress!

Plus....like I've said before...is it possible to feel bad when hanging out with the most darling nephew in the universe?

Traveling Crossfitter: VEGAS!

2010-07-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm in Vegas @ a work conference. It's sort of the perfect place to gather when people come from all over the country. You really cut out the jet lag factor when no one ever knows whether it's day or night in the first place. While it's certainly been fantastic to unite with some of the really cool people I work with, it's a lot harder to get in the clean eating & working out on this type of schedule in this kind of environment. But with a long day of meetings ahead, a bunch of us realized we needed to make sure our legs got good & stretched to survive the day. What better way to do that than a 3 mile walk around the crazy Vegas strip at 5:30 in the morning! We figured the potential for extraordinary people watching was enough motivation to get us out of bed.

Here is small sampling of what we encountered:

2 separate groups of people that said, "Evening ladies" as they walked past us.

A man in a Hawaiian shirt almost get run over by a cab because he insisted on kicking a bottle cap from the middle of the road back onto the sidewalk.

A crying woman with smudgy mascara raccoon eyes talking to a cop wearing a shirt that said, "What part of meow don't you understand?"

A man in a shirt that said, I LOVE TO FART

Gotta love Vegas!

A letter to myself (and to you)

2010-07-07T08:14:00.001-07:00

This letter has been in the works for a long time and I'm not sure yet if I've gotten it right. But I thought it would still be beneficial to share the work in progress.

Here's the background: I've mentioned a few times that MAINTAINING my weight loss and healthy eating is turning out to be harder than losing it in the first place. If you were to take a picture of me everyday over the last year and put them side by side, I would look like I've done a pretty darn good job of maintaining my weight loss (and I have!). You might notice small fluctuations here and there, definitely there are leaner times and puffier time (i.e. right now!), but overall I've really succeeded at maintaining my new figure. However, the emotional and mental back and forth is much louder and more pronounced than the small body fluctuations.

There is so much adrenaline and excitement when you are noticing progress that it positively fuels great choices. There is also so much support and TONS of material on helping you get there. But I've noticed there is very few exciting feelings involved in maintenance. Where is the EXCITEMENT & supportive cheering squads for boring maintenance? What the AWESOME goal you are striving to reach when you just need to stay where you are? I know tons of people that are stuck in this phase right now and it's driving them a little bonkers.

I saw Kirstie Ally and Oprah sitting together as I was flipping through the channels and it really hit me. These are 2 individuals who achieved dramatic weight loss and then put it all back on. I'm sure the pressure of the public eye helped provide major fuel to loose the weight. But even with all the money in the world, they still lost control when all they had to do was maintain.

There is way less emphasis on maintaining then then there is on losing. So I'm taking this on!! I am officially going to be the Maintenance Cheerleader!!! So here is the first draft of the letter to inspire healthy maintenance:

Dear Catherine (insert your name here),

First of all, YOU RULE!!! The fact that you are wanting to make sure this healthy lifestyle is in fact a lifestyle and not a phase is totally awesome! The maintenance cheerleaders are jumping up and down for you right now. And they are so proud of you, because they know this is hard stuff!

You know that balance is important and healthy for a realistic life. You know that a happy and healthy place to live is within the 80/20 balance (meaning 80% clean eating/20% not as clean). Sometimes you are in a 90/10 balance and you feel the best in that zone-strong & fit with tons of energy. Sometimes you are pushing it towards 70/30 and you feel puffier and a little more sluggish. When you are in 70/30 for too long, there are some negative emotions that creep in like regret & frustration. Usually the frustration catapults you back into your 90/10 zone (if not an obsessive 100/0 zone) & you get to milk a little adrenaline from the thrust....but then you start creeping toward 80/20 sooner than you wanted to...sooner than the puffiness from your 70/30 stint has burnt off....now you are in 80/20 but you are feeling the frustration as if you were in 70/30........

STOP!!!!!!!!

Step back and evaluate. What is the reality of the above situation? The reality of the above situation is there is a whole lot of mental stress over what is actually a nice 80/20 balance. Stop micromanaging it. It's working...your body keeps leveling itself out. To stress about the nuances of this is actually quite contrary to a healthy lifestyle. Mental stress can do tons of damage to your health including making you puffy. So stop it. Let it go completely and trust your body. In fact, get addicted to he excitement that you don't have to feel any stress. Phew, what a relief!!

Now that we have established we are eliminating stress, carry these tools with you on your exciting Maintenance JOURNEY!

1) Every time you make a healthy choice, you better feel those maintenance cheerleaders going crazy with support. In fact, they are so fired up about your awesome choice, they choreographed this dance just for you. Watch it and burn it in your brain. Play this in your head every time you make an awesome choice. AND play this in your head every time you decide to DROP STRESS! Choosing life and health never gets old, no matter how long you've been at it. Do you feel the excitement?!!
These guys are your permanent team-members from now on!

2) When you are stuck on making poor food choices for a longer stint than just the balancing treat, this is one of the most important maintenance tools.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH. In fact, try it right now, I'll wait...
Okay awesome, take another and try breathing in as much air as you possibly can deep into your body. Release.
AWESOME, okay do it again and now really connect to all the muscles and organs in your body. Ask them how they are feeling and what type of fuel they would like. Do a REAL check in with your present self. Okay, NOW make your food choice.

3) Don't pre-decide failure. Meaning, say you are going out on the town & you know there will be alcohol and some not so healthy eats around. It's easy to say you might have a drink or two and that's it, but deep down inside you've already decided you are completely throwing your diet out the window for the evening. Once you make that decision, that is what you are going to do. And especially if you are speaking differently on the surface, you will be racked with guilt the next day. So before you go out, check in and be honest about any decisions your have already made. Realize you don't have to pre-decide ANYTHING. Go with each moment, take your deep breaths. And while you certainly may indulge in some delicious treats, you will indulge WAY less if you take each decision moment by moment. If you check in with yourself and you realize you really are going to throw your diet out the window for the night and you simply can't reverse this decison, then go with it and make your language match your decision because this will eliminate stress. And don't you want those maintenance cheerleaders flipping for you when you decide to not be stressed!!

The Maintenance Cheerleaders will always be here for you.
And pat yourself on the back because you are doing the hard work.

All our love,
The MC's

How do you want to feel?

2010-06-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

I'm back! I wanted to make sure that my last post was up long enough to get all my orders in. Thanks to everyone who ordered a necklace and it's been a huge pleasure to work on them. I always love to create, but making these has been especially fun because I know the recipients & it makes it all the more fun to infuse them with good energy! Thank you all for allowing me to do something that I love and they are almost ready!

In my never ending curiosity about our life's work as humans, I've been reading an excellent ebook called The Fire Starter Sessions. One of the best things I've taken away from this program is the question, 'How do you want to feel?" Well, duh, of course we all want to feel good, right? But more specifically, what does feeling good feel like? It seems so simple, but the truth is, every time I've set my goals I think about what I want to do and who I want to be. But really, none of those things matter if I don't like the way that I feel. Asking myself this question has opened me up to the idea that, if I focus on how I want to feel, the what I want to be will follow more naturally. I mean, it really seems obvious, but what a great question to ask yourself.

The first thing I did was grab the closest piece of paper & write down the things I know I want to feel in my life. While I could probably write a few pages on how I want to feel, these were the very first words I wrote without hesitation. I think they are a very honest start:
I'm learning that this is a much better jumping off point. For example, I get to be the boss at my job. I really like being the leader and I think I'm good at it. When writing down the list of things I know I want to be in my life's work, I always include being a leader. However, I could not simply be a leader in any ol' situation. I only want to be a leader if my position allows me to feel aligned with my values.

How do you want to feel?

Crossfit Central Necklaces

2010-06-09T11:47:00.000-07:00

You asked for them and I'm ready!

The Crossfit Games are right around the corner and I'm so proud to train @ an affiliate that's sending so many strong competitors. As part of an effort to support the amazing Crossfit Central crew, I'm officially making necklaces with the Crossfit Central logo encased in glass. My necklaces usually start @ $60 but I'm making a special price for the CC crew & offering them at $35 each.

A few notes:
1) You can get just the Double CC's logo:
2) You can get just the SICFIT logo
3) You can get both logos
4) You can get the necklace in classic black & white or choose from the following colors:

5) All necklaces come with a sterling silver mid-length chain.
6) I'm 100% available to accomodate any deviations from this theme (i.e. longer chain, 2 colors of glass, borders, specific words or names) However, they may be subject to slight price increase.
7) Have a really different jewelry request? Let me know & we will make it happen!

If you would like to order one, post to comments or email me @ catherinewhart@yahoo.com. Men, I can make chokers, bracelets, cufflinks, you name it! If you are headed to the games make sure to get your original glass piece before you fly out to Cali!

Get Moving!

2010-06-06T07:55:00.000-07:00

I'm going through old magazines & papers I've saved over the years in my never ending quest to purge unecesaary objects from my space. A bunch of "Get in shape" magazines are the first to go straight to the recycling bin. Has anyone ever gotten truly fit and changed their life from a magazine workout?

Ultimately I wasn't buying the magazine for it's workout tips. Instead, I was buying the feeling that I was finally going to get fit. Every single time I bought a fitness magazine, I already knew what a crunch was & what a lunge was. And despite fancy headlines that lead you to believe they have the latest and greatest, they NEVER offer anything new. Same moves, different illustrator, different heading. But I still bought that feeling over & over again.

Did I ever do the workout? NO, of course not!

First of all, let's take a closer look:Look how pathetic and sad this figure looks. Does this inspire you to get moving?

It's clear to me now that this type of exercise is so uninspired because there is no connection to the real world applications of being fit. You can not truly isolate & work only one muscle at a time. We have over 600 muscles in the human body that work as an integrated system. Plus, what real world experience ever calls upon just one muscle? What happens when you are chasing your 30 lb kid while trying to vacum and pick up the toys? How is your body actually moving through space when you are moving furniture into a new house or working in your garden?

The woman in this drawing looks like a student in a math class where the teacher makes you learn a formula and never tells you what you were calculating. The only formulas I remember from math are those where the teacher explained it's real world application.

For me, being fit is about keeping up with my future kids at the park, it's about not having to ask the guys to help me with the heavy boxes at work, it's about muscling heavy glass around and manipulating objects in space, it's about having the stamina on the dance floor, & it's about taking care of myself to have a long life with my family.

I'm sorry but a couple of boring leg lifts at a chair 'aint gonna do the trick. After a crossfit workout my body can hum with a harmony and an aliveness that I have never achieved from these isolated movements. It's the same feeling of aliveness I get from playing a game in the park, climbing on things, swinging from things, building things...I mean really USING MY BODY!!!

Do yourself a favor and don't buy these magazines with false promises and misguided motivations. Instead, get up & engage yourself in activities (Crossfit, Yoga, Dancing) that bring awareness to our entire being.

The Bloat: An Investigation Begins

2010-06-03T18:10:00.000-07:00

I get bloated from time to time. Like WAY bloated. Sometimes the culprit is obvious...say, beer or cheese. But other times I'm eating clean as a whistle and out pops a very rounded belly. And actually, it's not even consistent with things like beer or cheese, I might have a few beers and have a perfectly flat stomach the next morning. I wrote about my conundrum to the bosses of nutrition themselves: Robb Wolf and the Whole 9 Crew. I was lucky enough to have my question answered on a pod cast and they reminded me of a very interesting point: when we remove crap from our diet, we become hyper sensitive to even the tiniest amount of that crap. Our systems are clean & running smoothly so when we dump the old junk in our systems we just can't take it like we used to. They pointed out that the Juice Plus I was taking, which I thought was just pure fruits and veggies, was using bran as filler. Could this be the culprit?

Or maybe I'm way sensitive to salt intake? Hormones? Not enough water?

This is not a blog post about conclusions I've come to, this is about the beginning of an investigation. After my experience with nightshades, and how eliminating this food group cured my tendinitis, I'm very interested in what my body does and does not like for optimal wellness. And I'm assuming that when my body gets bloated, something in my system is off. So I am putting on my detective suit and I will get to the bottom of this. My body is sensitive to something, or maybe a combo of things, and it's going to take some dedicated food logging and note taking to figure it out. I just got an amazing new pen and notebook from Muji so I'm ready to nerd out on this :)

To hear the Podcast where the crew answered my question, click here. They were very kind to not post my bloated before and after pictures on Robb's website.....but I have no shame so here they are:

I wasn't kidding!

And yes, I am extremely bloated right now which is the inspiration behind this post. And yes, I'm about 12 lbs heavier than that extremely lean me on the left...that was right after the 8 week challenge. But the bloat picture was during the challenge...so you know by the results from the left I was eating squeaky clean food. I just don't know! I'll keep you updated on my findings and if anyone has had this experience or knows about bloating, post to comments!

I want to share a story

2010-05-31T08:50:00.001-07:00

Right now I have about 5 blog posts that are 3/4 of the way written. Here I sit, reading through each one trying to figure out which post deserves a wrap up and a publish button. But none of these feel right. And thinking about what feels right leads my brain on a tangent that settles my mind right on the blog post that I actually want to write. This is the post, in this moment, that feels right.

Here goes: I have obsessive compulsive disorder. Okay, I know, I've refereed to my obsessiveness before and I'm sure you have all guessed this in some way or another. And you know what, don't we all have our own form of OCD at the end of the day? But I'm talking, diagnosed, medicated, 3 months INPATIENT treatment, paralyzing anxiety, real-deal type OCD. I'm talking about rituals, counting, signs, and thoughts to save loved ones and determine fates.

I'm not going to go into the details in this post, that's not what this post is really about. I'm 100% open to sharing details and I'm 100% available to chat about it if anyone is interested. I'm not going to write about those details because they live in my past. I really only know how my past experience with severe OCD informs my now. And in my present moment, I can honestly say that my battle with OCD was the one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

Through my experience I learned:
1) what real family love is
2) what it actually means to have someone's back
3) that you can't assume what people's reactions are going to be when you decide to expose your true self
4) the undying loyalty of my husband
5) the overwhelming power of our minds
6) that you CAN CHANGE your brain
7) that I am safe

And once I hit the publish button, I'm sure I will think of so many other blessings that experience has given me. And sometimes my OCD comes knocking on my door and really wants to hang out. However, now I have the tools to say, "no thanks, I'm too busy for you." And every once in a while, my OCD doesn't care that it didn't get invited & decides to come through the door anyway. And I have to get stuff accomplished despite it taking up room in my house. But it eventually leaves because it gets bored that I am not entertaining it enough. And every time I do that, I have to smile and remember how blessed I am that I now have those tools.

There is a new show on VH1 called the ODC project. I just watched the first episode where the 6 patients arrive for their intensive treatment. My heart was bursting with empathy for each of them. I remember what it feels like to be smart enough to know your thoughts and behaviors are irrational and crazy, and yet you can't stop them. Maddening! I happy the show seems to represent the wider spectrum of OCD suffering. The constant hand washing always gets the most attention, but there are more subtle forms that are just as debilitating. And we OCD sufferers are damn good at covering it up. So I really hope this show helps anyone out there who suffering alone to come clean and get help. And I can say from first hand experience that you can absolutely change your mind, you can absolutely find freedom from the anxiety, and you can become a stronger, better individual because of it.

And now, with that said, I can let the small ways in which my past experience with OCD weaves it's way through my present come through in some blog posts...making them that much more honest for my readers. Thanks for letting me share.

2010-05-18T12:05:00.001-07:00

I'm 2 years out from shedding the weight I wanted to lose, learning to cook, taking the reigns and getting seriously fit & healthy. I feel awesome about what I've accomplished. But as the new fit and healthy me becomes the normal way of life & no longer motivated by drastic life change and weight loss, a totally new challenge of maintenance has presented itself. And this challenge has so far been the hardest of all.

Enough time has passed that I can clearly identify a pattern I'm in. Long story short: I've been losing and gaining the same 10 pounds now for almost 2 years. And to be totally honest, it's getting annoying. I KICK ASS on every challenge, I'm very disciplined & always see major results. I pat myself on the back, have some celebratory meals and proceed to gain it all back. I know that 10 pounds is certainly not the end of the world...I still feel good about my priorities and perspective. But there are still a few reasons I'm ready to put an end to this pattern:

1) I believe that we sometimes create obsessive patterns in our lives as protection. It may be protection from feelings that are uncomfortable, protection from certain fears we have or a disconnection from what's real inside us. For me, I believe that I'm protecting myself from becoming the greatest me. I'm afraid of success. There was so much satisfaction and glory in finally shedding those pounds that I think I'm subconsciously trying to recreate that. If I keep sabotaging my progress, then I get to keep working on what I already know how to do. If I properly maintained my fit physique, then I would have to work on other goals. And those other goals live in an unknown and scary territory. Of course I could fail, but even scarier I could succeed! It's a whole other blog post on why succeeding and getting what you want it scary....

2) It's not simply that my weight is fluctuating...it's how my energy level and performance (both inside & outside of the gym) is affected. Lots of bad food equals low energy equals less productive equals...you get the picture. One treat here and there won't take you down, but prolonged periods (the kind that make you gain 10 lbs) can take a toll.

3) Okay...I'm a girl...I'll admit it...I like it much better when I don't have love handles.

4) It is just so wholeheartedly unnecessary.

So I embark on my new adventure of maintenance. Okay that's a lie. I embark on my new adventure of re-shedding this 10lbs and then maintaining my fit physique from that point. I will not, however, shed this 10lbs by being an obsessive squeaky clean eater...I've learned the pattern. Instead, I will find just the right balance that is realistic for me to maintain. A balance where my cheats are intentional, I engage in conscious eating, I stop when I full, and I no longer engage in some twisted pleasure of mucking things up just so I have something to fix. It's time to move on. I have bigger goals to go for!

Thought for the day

2010-05-10T06:31:00.000-07:00

My alarm goes off at 6:20am: "I don't want to get up"
I start putting on my workout clothes: "I'm pretty sure I'm not going to go today"
I lace up my sneakers: "I think I will text my coach so he knows I'm not coming"
I drink some caffeine, "I hope this caffeine won't affect me since I am getting back into bed"
I start looking for my keys, "Yeah, today is a good day for a rest day"
I start driving towards the gym, "I'm just driving around the neighborhood to clear my thoughts"
I start jogging with high knees to get warmed up, "I'll just do this warm up to get my blood moving, but then I'm going to get back into bed"
I'm getting ready for our workout that has some dead lifting. "I'm going to load a light bar today...probably only 95lbs"
As I load up the bar to 145lbs, I think "I might lift this about 8 times for every 12 times I'm supposed to lift it"
After lifting it the proper 12 times with much better form than last time I dead lifted, I thought, "okay fine I guess I'll go to the workout."

And here I sit with my breakfast on this peaceful morning so happy that I went. I pushed through a new barrier at the gym this morning and it was a necessary discovery to kick off the week. My body did not need a rest day, it needed to work.

I often talk about the power of positive thinking and the power your mind can have over you. No matter how good one gets at thinking positively and saying things to themselves like, "I can do this" or "I AM good at this", the brain will still weasel it's way in and try and sabotage you. The brain is meant to have thoughts...it will never stop...and sometimes it just wants to be a nagging party pooper. I'm glad that my body knew my brain was full of shit this morning because that workout felt awesome.

Always make your thoughts work for you.
Put in the work to think as positively as you can.
But if your brain just feels like whining, don't indulge it.
Always let your thoughts serve you rather than the other way around.

I'm still working on this myself. It takes maintenance and attention, but I am improving everyday.

I AM a glassblower

2010-05-07T17:28:00.001-07:00

Now that blowing glass is back in my life, I honestly could not be happier. There is no doubt in my mind this is something I'm meant to do. No matter how drained I may be, I can always muster up the energy to blow glass. The smell of the melted beeswax & burning wood mixed with the hum of the glory hole & furnace makes the pace of the world feel exactly right.

Even though I am getting my sea legs back when it comes to technique and muscle memory, I still feel like I am bringing a new confidence to the studio. I have learned the power of the mind over and over again in my CrossFit workouts and it's been delightful to bring that into the glass studio. The thing is, I understand glass. I have been playing with this material since I was 13 years old and when I'm away from the molten magic I still daydream about it. I know what it takes to get the glass to do what you want it to...the subtleties of movement and heat. And yet, I don't always achieve the mastery that I intuitively understand. I realized during my last session that this very often has to do with my confidence and what my mind is telling me my skill level is.

Walking into a glass studio with skilled glassblowers, especially when starting out for the first time, is VERY intimidating. I can still muster up the anxiety I felt walking into Brooklyn's UrbanGlass Studio to take lessons when I was in high school. I can still feel the trembling in my hands when I got to work next to some of the big names during summer workshops. It's one of those fields where most people show up thinking they are the worst one in the room (at least I do!). It's so intimidating having someone see you blow glass for the first time because you know they are trying to assess how good you are. And because you can't blow glass by yourself and studio time is hard to come by, you don't get to practice in private. Every single time you fail, you fail in front of everyone. So over the years I've created lots of techniques to deal with this fear. The technique I've used the most is continually referring to myself as a beginner. I don't want to tell anyone how much experience I have and then screw up.

During my Wednesday session, I finally wrapped my mind around how much that hinders me. It means I'm tentative, it means I take the stance of a student and trust my partner's opinion more than my instinct. So I quieted my mind and said to myself, "I AM A GLASSBLOWER and I AM VERY IN TUNE WITH THIS GLASS" and guess what? The glass agreed. My confidence level was the difference between a wonky slanted bottle and a confiddently centered bottle. And of course I will always be a student of glassblowing...that never ends. And I will still make shitty pieces every now and again (or more than every now and again). But the point is, I have to trust that I am not a beginner and I get it. I can make whatever I want to make because I actually do know how...I just need my body to do it!

Applying the lessons I've learned during my crossfit adventures to other aspects of my life is always empowering....and to feel the difference it's making in the glass studio is thrilling. And of course it goes beyond my increased confidence. I also feel stronger, more in my body, and have better endurance to muscle through the heat. We'll see if I still think that when it is 105 degrees :)

Come see my Art!

2010-04-30T22:14:00.000-07:00

I'm showing my work this weekend with 17 other amazing Austin women artists. I could not be more honored to be included amongst this talented group. Come enjoy our work in a beautiful setting this weekend from 11am-6pm both Saturday and Sunday. Great place to get a Mother's Day gift!

Our show is located at the gorgeous Ginko Studios:For more info check out our website: www.handmadeaustinwomen.com
This is a kid friendly event with music, marionettes, sculpture, paintings, crochet, jewelry, clothing, and so much more!

This Just In!

2010-04-29T07:08:00.001-07:00

On my way to the Farmer's Market yesterday I walked past what looked like a brand new cafe. Neatly lined packets of food caught my eye and I found myself walking right in. What I found made my heart sing! Local food, nutritionally balanced, paleo (yes the p-word!), affordable take-out! YES!! I started looking at the menu and absolutely everything was sounding delicious:

House-Smoked Salmon Scramble w/ eggs, Granny Smith Apples, Red Bell Peppers, Sweet Onions;
Paleolithic Chicken w/Citrus Marinade, Sautéed Mushrooms, Lemon Steamed Kale, Roasted Parsnips;
Chimichurri Grilled Flank Steak w/Roasted Parsnips, Carrots, Garlic, Poached Radishes, Braised Fennel.

As I was reading the menu I couldn't believe that some of the items were actually being referred to as Paleo. I said out loud as I read it, "Paleo Breakfast!" The women working there said, "yes, are you familiar with the paleo diet?" and we launched into a wonderful conversation. She explained that the menu is 70% gluten free & that it was there first day open with their fingers crossed it will catch on. So I felt it was my duty to post about this for the many paleo Austinites I know. I promised her I would spread the word amongst a community of people I knew would appreciate it!

Check it out!
Snap Kitchen Menu
Snap Kitchen Locations

Turning my thumb green

2010-04-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm taking the plunge. Growing my own vegetables has been a long time coming, but to be honest I'm scared because I've never been known for my green thumb. While I may be very good at nurturing some things, I can still kill the heartiest of plants. I just don't speak plant. My mother-in-law sent my husband and I a hearty and beautiful plant for our anniversary with a note that said, "This one you CAN'T kill!" Guess what is dead outside my front door? The fact that I have never had anything close to a green thumb has always frustrated me because I LOVE to have plant life around me. And I want my plants to feel loved! And there is nothing like fresh organic vegetables tossed in a big salad. Oh, the romantic visions I've had of growing my own food...but the reality of the dead plants around me has always kept me from doing it. Talk about fear of failure...

Well, thanks to the inspiration and words of wisdom from my friend Beth, I decided to rethink this and realize I am perfectly capable of nurturing plants & growing my own veggies. To ensure success, I've decided to take baby steps & not allow the process to become overwhelming. Beth generously shared her zucchini, cucumber, and tomatoes from her new garden with me. Her suggestion to start with pots really helped me get over the hump of starting. Now I just have to remember to be patient and not expect a harvest without cultivation!

I hope to have lots of updates about my growing garden...and even better I hope to have recipes made with my own fresh ingredients. I'll keep you updated and hope everyone will hold me accountable for making my veggies thrive!

Fast Food Paleo

2010-04-17T05:21:00.001-07:00

If you are not already aware of Terra Burger, you should be! As someone who has driven across the country 6 times, I have a sentimental feeling about the drive-thru fastfood burger & fries on a road trip. My updated diet doesn't really have room for the drive-thru quick fix, but with Terra Burger I can fulfill my drive-thru dreams paleo style! They have all natural & organic beef, you can get it wrapped in lettuce or a gluten free bun, AND they have sweet potato fries that are delicious!

Click here for locations
Click here for the Menu

If you do not live in Austin, ask your local fast food places to have a "protein style" lettuce wrap option on the menu. The more this is in demand, the more they will listen & adjust their menus.

Now if I can just get In-n-Out to come to Austin.....

Braised Red Cabbage

2010-04-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

A new sweet & delicious veggie side-dish has been added to my menu. My first experience with braised red cabbage was at 24 Diner in Austin, TX and it was so good I immediately googled recipes when I got home. What I found was not making me too excited...3 tbs brown sugar, 2 tbs packed dark brown sugar, etc etc. Oh no, was that why it was so good? So I dug a little deeper, combined a few recipes, and I came up with this. It tastes just as sweet & delicious, making my brain churn with killer variations (adding bacon is the first thing I'm going for). I did use butter in this particular recipe, but I will try a version with coconut oil and report on how it turns out. Keep in mind I was really just playing with these ingredients and took a guess at how much I actually used. Play around with the amounts and let me know if you have any tweaks that work. My recommendation: put a heaping pile on top of a big juicy burger!

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves, smashed
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 lb red cabbage, cored and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/3 tsp allspice
1 1/2 tablespoons apple-cider vinegar

1) Over medium heat, cook smashed garlic in melted butter stirring approximately 1 minute.
2) Add the chopped red cabbage, allspice, 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, a little salt & pepper.
3) Cover & allow to cook, while stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender (about 10-15 minutes).
4) Add apple-cider vinegar & cook uncovered for about 3 minutes until the liquid evaporates.
5) If desired, season again with salt and pepper.
6) ENJOY!!

NorCal Pull-ups

2010-04-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

CAUTION: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!I have an exciting new addition to my family: A Pull-up Bar! I have been dreaming of having one of these for a long time and thanks to Atticus I now have one! He did a beautiful job building it and when I jump up on it, I feel a little magic. The arrival of this pull-up bar was definite cause for celebration & an appropriate initiation. So what better way to celebrate doing pull-ups in your own back-yard than adding some tequilla to the mix! As a responsible Crossfitter, I decided to do it right and honor the research of Robb Wolf by following his perscription for a successfull night out on the town. He calls it "better drinking through chemistry" and it begins with the NorCal Margarita (2 shots tequila, juice of one lime, splash of soda water) on an empty stomach, followed by large consumption of protein and fat! So my friend Anna and I whipped up a pitcher of NorCals, got our protein & fat ready to go, and set out to do the following:

Take a shot, 10 pull-ups,
Take a shot, 10 pull-ups
Take a shot, 10 pull-ups
...etc until failure...
Then, go fill up on lots of fat and protein!

This is how it went down: Pitcher of NorCal Margarita ended up being: 6 limes, 12 shots of tequila, 1 whole Lime Topo Chico!We put on our tough attitudes and got ready to take our first shotWe decided we should take 2 instead.Before we kicked off our first round of pull-ups, we needed some chalk for our hands! And while my last attempt at getting creative for the sake of exercise did not go as well as I'd hoped, I think using a crushed up drawing pastel was simply genius!And we are off! Only we quickly changed 10 reps to 8...and then to 5...and then to 0....hmmm...and despite the large number of photos taken of our beautiful pull-ups...so many of them just happened to be in the down position.....wonder why?WAIT! Why are we doing pull-ups when we could easily be stuffing our faces with healthy protein and fat!

And of course, we added a few more NorCals to top it all off.

Final Report:
13 kipping pull-ups, 2 chin-ups, about 9 shots of tequila, tons of food, and one great night sleep later, I amazingly feel awesome! I believe that Robb Wolf is a genius because never in my life have I been able to drink that much tequila and not either throw up or feel like I got hit by a truck the next day. Amazing! And while we certainly got in about 40 less pull-ups than I was planning, I think my pull-up bar was properly celebrated and welcomed into my family with style! If you live in the Austin area, I highly recommend having Atticus build you a pull-up bar: barinyouryard@gmail.com Thanks Anna for a killer evening and here's to our continued effort to learn unbroken kipping pull-ups & to masterfully side-stepping a major hangover! Well Done!

Now my pull-up bar just needs a name......any suggestions?

A new dedication to FORM

2010-03-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

"Form is all we have to help us cope with fundamentally chaotic facts and assaults. Formulating something is a great start. I trust form, trust my feeling or capacity to find the right form for something. Even if that is only by being well organized. That too is form." -Gerhard Richter

I have a secret: I have been blowing glass. To be back in the studio working with my favorite molten medium is so overwhelmingly exciting that I haven't known quite how to post about it yet. A long while back I wrote about my love for blowing glass and its connection to my love for Crossfit. For those of you who don't know, I have often described blowing glass as the love of my life and spent many of my years chasing after this medium & finally majoring in it at California College of the Arts. After moving to Austin and not having access to a glassblowing facility, I let 5 long years go by without my favorite art form. But now I am back in the studio and fired up about the possibilities that lay before me. But before I start executing the large ideas that have piled up inside me and into sketchbooks over the last 5 years, I am keeping it simple and concentrating on form.

Pure, simple, centered form.

I started by making the same drinking glass over and over and over again. Rebuilding my muscle memory and getting back in touch with the minute tweaks that make all the difference. I told myself I would not move on until I had that form down. After that, onto the long neck bottle. I will make it over and over again.

At the gym this morning we worked on our snatch form, breaking it down piece by piece before we put the whole move together. I couldn't help but realize my form needs A LOT of work. In glassblowing if the very first bubble you create is off center, you will be battling it throughout the entire piece. When your initial form suffers, you will not achieve the end result you hoped for. It became clear this morning that if I am going to make the same drinking glass over and over again, why not bring this same discipline into my crossfitting? I will never get to the Elite level if I don't take them time to slow down and refocus my energy on perfecting my form. I will never be able to properly deal with the weigh I desire if I don't make sure that very first bubble is perfectly on center so to speak There is so much work to be done.

So, with my new understanding this morning, I have decided to dedicate the next 3 months to focusing on form, both in and out of the gym. I will not be signing up for the Spartan Challenge (first challenge EVER that I haven't signed up for) as food logging and extra workouts is not what I want to focus on right now. While I will absolutely be maintaining my nutrition, I feel confident about making great food choices and I certainly am as lean I want to be. I am ready to slow down a little, not worry about being the last to finish a workout & instead truly make each rep count. Dig deeper for it. Listening to my body, understanding when I am compensating or recruiting the wrong muscles, and knowing the differences in strength on each side of my body are all things I will be focusing on in the upcoming months. This also means I will be trigger pointing way more often and hopefully incorporating more yoga. I want muscle, I want strength, and I need some good old-fashioned, clean as a whistle, solid form to get it. And this will do nothing but improve all aspects of my glassblowing practice which makes this even more exciting....simple disciplines everyday compounded over time...

The Last Five Pounds

2010-03-12T21:51:00.000-08:00

I wrote most of this post after my Crossfit Totals last week, but I got slammed with the stomach flu and got behind on pretty much everything across the board. Even though Crossfit Totals are over for the time being, the mental game is always relevant.

Crossfit Totals: We do this every 3 months with the hopes of reaching personal records and noting our fitness & strength gains. We get three shots, hopefully lifting to the point of failure to determine our true maximum. 3 moves: The Backsquat, Shoulder Press, and Deadlift. My last deadlift max was 195lbs and after all my hard work, it was time to join the 200 club.

But for some reason I went to bed saying to myself, "I know that I am only going to lift 195lbs." Even though I knew I was strong enough to lift 200lbs, I still felt myself making the decision that I wasn't going past 195 on that Wednesday morning. Tossing in my bed...feeling pissed that I was settling...where was my CAN DO attitude?... why am I making a decision for 195lbs when I could just as easily make the decision to lift 200? Refocusing my brain, I gave it another try and said to myself, "I am going to lift 200lbs tomorrow morning and join that damn 200 club if it kills me." But before I could repeat that sentence, my brain said, "nice try but you know you've already decided on 195lbs" And I knew somewhere inside of me that I had already decided. The 200lb thing was just mindless chatter, it wasn't coming from the core of my being. 195 was determined.

I tried again on my way to the gym to change my thinking and say, "I am lifting 200lbs this morning." Then, just like the night before, my brain giggled and said, "yeah right."

What do you think happened when I approached that bar? I lifted 185 on my first attempt, lifted 195 on my second attempt (with some struggle and a fight....but not the fight you give when you lift your max...not the fight that comes from digging deep with all your might), 3rd attempt I approached the 200lb bar and it was glued to the ground. Approached it again and it was now bolted to the ground. Approached it a third time and I heard myself say, "you are not lifting this" and I threw my hands up, walked away, and wrote 195 as my score.

Am I strong enough to lift 200lbs? Yes

If I had the last 5 pounds hanging around my neck like a Flavor Flav clock, I would have lifted it.

If it was a 200lb bar that someone told me was 195lbs, I would have lifted it.

I didn't leave totals feeling like I failed, because I had accomplished exactly was I set my mind to do. I made a decision to leave it at 195 and that's what I did.

But my new question became, why?
I want the 200 club bragging rights, I'm strong enough to get them, why didn't I decide in my core that I was going to lift that 200lbs NO MATTER WHAT. I learned how to do this at my very first Totals and wrote about it here.

As I drove to work, it sunk in what had happened. I was facing a particularly jam packed and stressful workday. This was a workday that was requiring me to go to emotionally uncomfortable places in order to get the job done. I needed to dig deep for the next 9 hours.

I was reserving my energy for that. I've been so in tune with my body so I knew how much I had to draw from. On that morning, I couldn't give it to the last 5 lbs. And I also knew that the night before. My brain could not trick my higher self.

When you get into heavy lifting, the difference between 5 lbs can become so much bigger than actual strength. It is about making a decision deep within and getting your mental strength to back it up. It's not enough to think it, you have to believe it.

What I find so interesting about this is that I believe we often don't align our thinking with our deeper selves. We have ideas that we believe in our heads about who we are & what we want and we often wonder why we are not getting them. Sometimes it's hard to see that it's because we don't actually want it. It's amazing how we can trick ourselves. I'm 31 years old and I still make discoveries about who I actually am vs how I think of myself.

What is your deeper self actually asking for? Has anyone experienced frustration that they aren't manifesting something in their lives, only to realize it was because something inside them didn't actually want it?

The mind is extraordinarily powerful, so imagine what is possible when that is completely aligned with what your deeper self really wants in life. It's pretty much guaranteed. But the hard part is finding that alignment. It takes a whole lot of wisdom and letting go to sit whole heatedly in what you really are. One of my goals is to be a presence that inspires that in people. But in order to accomplish that, I must work on my own alignment as well. This can actually be quite fun if you allow it.

But for now I just have to stop fearing how hard those push-ups are going to be after q week off with the stomach flu.

A Little Sunday Morning Curling

2010-02-28T19:11:00.001-08:00

Is it just me or is curling more exciting this year than it's been in past winter Olympic games? Maybe my TV wacthing time happens to line up better with the broadcasting of curling or maybe it is my love of Bocce ball (similar rules) that has my interest in curling peaked. Either way, I've been having the craving to get my hands on one of those curling stones and give it a whirl. But we live in Austin and where could I possibly try my hand at this fine sport? Well wouldn't you know, the local ice rink and the Lone Star Curling Club held an open house for the public to come play a little curling this morning. They prepared the ice and were ready to accomodate about 30 people. Turns out, lots of people find curling to be interesting this year and 500 people showed up!! My husband and I waited on line for 2 hours before we were able to get on the ice. And to my surprise, curling was a lot harder than I expected. I have a whole new respect for the curlers of the world. I thought between my training and bacci ball practice, I would kick ass. What I didn't anticipate was how much the ice would throw me off. Sure I can tighten my core and move some weight around on the solid ground. But man, it's a whole new level of balance and control when you can rely on your feet grounding you. While I wished I could have played a real game, it was so fun to try something totally new.

Putting on my gliding shoe so I can push off the hack and deliver that stone! This was hard!
Now watch me push off and completely forget to release the stone. All I could concentrate on was, "don't fall over, don't fall

This is Gary, our curling instructor. He was awesome because a) even though they were overwhelmed by the 500 people that showed up ready to learn, he still took the time to make sure everyone got individual attention & a chance to curl and b) he was wearing a sweater that said OLD STYLE across it.
Matt turned out to be really good at the delivery of the stone. Look at his great form!One of my favorite things was to watch how vigorously everyone would sweep even though there was no purpose or direction. It was hilarious. Watch Matt sweep with all his might and he isn't even close enough to the stone to affect it's direction in any way. I love it.

The next step in our curling adventure is to play an actual game.

Until then I will keep reading up on nerdy curling facts like: the stones weigh between 38 & 44 pounds and are made ailsite, a type of granite only found on Ailsa Craig, an island off the Ayrshire coast in Scotland.Pretty comparable to a 16kg Kettlebell.

I also just found out that my grandmother and grandfather played on a curling team for 2 years when they lived in North Dakota. I better get my form under control so I can make them proud!

Read some more about this crazy Scottish beer-drinking bar game turned olympic sport here. And in case all this curling talk doesn't have you running to your nearest curling club, check out this amazing shot for some extra inspiration.

Yummy Spaghetti Squash

2010-02-25T19:42:00.000-08:00

I am a huge fan of spaghetti squash. All squash varieties tend to be some of my favorite veggies and spaghetti squash in particular is quite diverse. One thing that does happen when you bake a spaghetti squash is that it produces a TON of food. I always end up having to throw the last bit away because I just can't get through it all. I have been experimenting with fresh ways to sneak the gargantuan amount of spaghetti squash into more meals & not get sick of it.

A few days ago I was trying to decide if I should toss the last of my beautiful yellowy strands when I remembered a recipe my friend's mother had just given me. The recipe is a delicious combination of nuts, raisins, and anchovies normally tossed with pasta, but I thought I could mix the amazingness with the remainder of my squash and see how it went. It was a winner!! So delicious I had to post. (*Thanks Bobbie for introducing me to this awesome recipe! Who knew I would ever buy anchovies!)

Here is what you need:

1 spaghetti squash
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
12 anchovy fillets, rinsed & dried
1/2 cup walnuts, broken into quarters
1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
1/2 cup dark raisins
1 tsp dried oregano
pinch of hot pepper flakes
pinch of freshly ground black pepper
4 tbs finely chopped parsley leaves

1) Bake spaghetti squash: This is how I do it.
2) This recipe works best if you remove the water from the squash. Without squeezing out the water this recipe gets sludgy and, while it still tastes good, the consistency is not as appealing. I literally wring it out over the sink and wrap it in paper towel.
3) Heat the olive oil, add the garlic & 9 anchovy fillets and saute over low heat until the garlic and the anchovies have dissolved (mash them with a fork).
4) Add the walnuts, pine nuts, raisins, oregano, & black and red pepper-simmer about 4 minutes. *note...I never knew I liked anchovies until this recipe came along. They are not fishy and add a salty deliciousness to the mix! You won't even know they are in there..I promise)
5) Add the spaghetti squash to the pan and toss.
6) Transfer the mixture to a warm serving bowl & garnish with parsley. Optional: garnish with the remaining anchovy fillets.
7) Love it!

The next day I ate it cold right out of my tupperware and it was so yummy.
Another Favorite: Spaghetti Squash Fritters.

What's fun about these is you can make them as simple or as complex as you want and they will pretty much always be delicious. I'll show you the simplest version and let you come up with fun creative twists on this basic. This is my favorite way to use up the last bit of squash in the morning for breakfast, as a quick snack, or as a side with dinner.

What you will need:

spaghetti squash
egg
coconut flour
coconut oil

I've always just made this up so I don't have exact measurements. If I had to guess I would say one egg works for up to 2 cups of spaghetti squash and I use about 2 tsp coconut flour per fritter. Play with it and see how you like it best!

Mix it all together:

Make some patties and fry them up in coconut oil:

Sometimes I add my favorite salsa to the top:

LOVE IT!
For those familiar with the zone diet, the fritter is the perfect 1 block snack. You've got your squash for healthy carbs, coconut flour & oil for healthy fat, and egg for healthy protein.
Post to comments if you have any twists or additions to the fritters.

How to get lucky

2010-02-25T06:55:00.000-08:00

My whole life people have commented that I seem to be a lucky person. Growing up, I never really knew how to explain why I didn't feel this was the case. I just knew on some level that it was something I decided, but didn't have the words to explain that. Well, lucky for me, I surround myself with awesomely articulate people who can do that for me!

So may I direct you to my friend Erika's post. Not only is Erika a brilliant artist, awesomely articulate, beautiful inside and out, she's an all around bad ass that gets shit done! Over the past few weeks I watched Erika make her dream of buying a house come true. It all happened because of the attitude she picked and her full commitment to her dream. Even on days when it seemed a dream house was falling through, her Facebook posts would say: "I'm buying a house!" They never said, "I wish I could buy a house" or "I hope this works out", she simply stated, "I am buying a house." And guess what? In record time, she did.

Check out her post because she is smarter than I am.

http://erikajeanne.blogspot.com/2010/02/recognizing-opportunity.html

Challenge Update: The Kipping Pull-up

2010-02-22T09:13:00.000-08:00

One of my goals for the I AM CROSSFIT Challenge is to get 5 Kipping pull-ups in a row with no help from a resistance band. I kicked off the challenge being able to do one...sort-of...only on a good day...when everything lined up perfectly. And this was only when I jumped onto that bar when no one was looking after class, I never attempted to go unassisted during a workout. Well, today changed everything. I did the entire workout with Kipping Pull-ups and I never even considered using the resistance band. And I was able to do 3 very solid Kipps in a row each time & completed 51 total! A whole new world of Crossfitting feels like it has opened up to me. It feels like freedom.

Check out this quick video that explains what a kipping pull-up is:

There is just something about being able to do a pull-up. It sort of epitomizes strength in many of our minds. The pull-up is probably the most sought after goal in my gym. I remember being 12 years old, watching Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2 rock out some pull-ups and thinking to myself: I want to do that. Wasn't she such a bad-ass?
I just have to get 2 more to reach my goal. And if I can get to 7 that would be even better! There are 2 weeks left and I will be dialing in all the way while visualizing success.

I believe that I was able to get these for the following reasons:
1) Clean eating. While I've been eating a healthy diet for some time, I've dialed in way more on quality. Organic, local, grass-fed, etc. I sought out quality and I can feel the difference.
2) My group of support! I mentioned this before in this post, and I continue to believe it makes all the difference in the world. It's easier to believe in yourself when so many believe in you, cheer for you, and push you. It's always easy to keep pushing yourself when you see your support group reaching their goals around around you. *thank you Erika & Anna who continue to get better at their pull-ups and inspire me to get the job done.
3) Setting the goal in the first place: Without goals, how do we focus our energy?
4) Visualizing success: Every day I visualize myself doing Kipping Pull-ups. When you can see it in your mind, your body will follow!
5) Sleep: I continue to make sleep a priority. I sleep with a mask over my eyes and earplugs in my ears so that nothing can pull me out of my deep sleep. That way, if my husband goes to bed later than I do, I am not disturbed.

But now I know the real hard work begins. I can no longer rely on the band and I'm sure I'm about to face many days when I can't get my chin over the bar, I feel very fatigued, my hands have ripped, the workout is taking forever because I can only rock one at time, you name it. But I invite this upcoming battle with open arms!

Congratulations to all who are reaching their goals! You can do ANYTHING you decide to do!

What do you mean a Challenge?

2010-02-13T14:15:00.000-08:00

I get asked all the time what the heck I'm talking about when I say I'm in the middle of a challenge with my gym. Don't you always work out anyway? Don't you always eat well? And I find myself having a hard time explaining it.

To start there are a few consistent things that define being in a challenge:
1) It's an 8 week time period bookmarked with the same workout to measure progress.
2) I write down absolutely everything that I put into my body and my personal coach helps me understand how to tweak things to reach my goals.
3) It's a defined period of time where you can map out goals and have a support team to help you reach them.

But all those things aside, being inside a challenge means really dialing in to all aspects of my life. A concentrated time of evaluation where I make sure the choices I'm making are the right ones for taking my life in the direction that I want. It's a time period to remember that I am the CEO of my life. What can I eliminate that does not add value to my journey? What can I add that will enhance the quality of my life? What is really important to me? All these questions become easier and easier to answer when I am treating my body well & I'm constantly in touch with how strong I am and how much stronger I continue to become. And when you add a team of support that knows what your goals are, it's like icing on the cake. And, of course, making my life what I want it to be and treating myself well does not end when the challenge ends. But sometimes you need a defined period of discipline to get all your ducks in a row.

For those of you that are currently in the heart if the I AM CROSSFIT E.P.O.C. Challenge, you know exactly what I am talking about. For those of you who are not Crossfit Central nerds like me, check out this video to understand what this whole thing is really all about:

I Am CrossFit E.P.O.C. from CrossFit Central on Vimeo.

Best of luck to all those in the challenge. Finish out these last 3 weeks strong!!

Seminar Reviews

2010-02-06T13:09:00.000-08:00

I just read some reviews by a few of the other attendees of the Paleolithic Solution Seminar last weekend.

In case anyone is interested in what some like-minded people had to say, check out these links:

Food Should Make You Healthy by the Whole 9 Crew
http://whole9life.com/2010/02/robb-wolf-review/

Get on board the Geek Train by Crossfit Genesis
http://www.crossfitgenesis.com/category/blogs/nutrition

Enjoy!

Nutrition Nerdiness!

2010-02-03T12:36:00.000-08:00

It's official: I'm nerdy about nutrition. I had the absolute privilege this past weekend to attend Robb Wolf's Inaugural Nutrition Seminar: The Paleolithic Solution. I don't even know how to begin making a post about this because I soaked up such an incredible amount of valuable information. What I learned will inform my choices, my blog, and my life for years to come. I have been refining how I view food and what I put into my body for some time now, but this seminar helped get my feet firmly planted in my new way of thinking by providing a better understanding of why it feels so good to eat REAL FOOD. I feel like my nutritional understanding went from floating facts to concrete & incorporated knowledge. For that I am very thankful for Robb Wolf's dedication and for his welcoming staff and family at Norcal Strength and Conditioning. In intend on honoring their goodness by incorporating what I learned into my recipes, into this blog, and into the lives around me.
I also got to eat at In-n-Out Burger TWICE! Which made everything that much more amazing. For those of you who know the car I drive in Austin, I have a Crossfit bumper sticker on one side of my car and an In-N-Out Bumper sticker on the other. One of the spots I truly miss about living in California. The hilarious thing was that most of the people attending the Nutrition Seminar chose In-N-Out Burger for their lunch break meal. I think we overwhelmed the staff by having an influx of people ordering their burgers wrapped in lettuce or as In-n-Out calls it Protein Style. I am sure they had a surplus of buns by the end of that day!

I made a new friend named Allison, who's a trainer at Crossfit New York and runs a blog with great links worth checking out: http://crossfitnyc.com/ We sat down to a delicious red snapper covered in mangoes & served with a side of my new favorite vegetable: chayote. I had never tasted this veggie before and the chef brought one out to show me. It looks like a pear mixed with an old person with no teeth. I love it!It was also amazing to simply be in the California air. It has a crispness to it that I haven't encountered in any other state. And I leave you with the sun I had setting next to me as I drove from Sacramento to Chico, because California never ceases to deliver a beautiful sky and it matches the way I feel about my experience this past weekend.

Workout FAIL

2010-01-28T19:21:00.000-08:00

I interrupt what I planned on blogging about this evening to bring you on my quick journey from feeling like a genius to feeling like a moron.

On Wednesday I skipped my Crossfit morning class to get a little more sleep. I had done an extra workout the night before that was really tough (100 dumbbell snatches) and my body was screaming for some rest. I decided it was wise to trade in my scheduled Thursday rest day for a Wednesday rest day instead. So now it's Thursday and I decide to tackle the workout I slept through on Wednesday morning. The workout looked like a beast, which made me both want to do it and not want to do it at the same time. But I am committed to the I AM CROSSFIT challenge and I knew that I wouldn't feel good if I didn't tackle it so when I got home from today it was go time.

Here's what stood before me:

42 ring rows, 42 med ball cleans, 800m run
30 ring rows, 30 med ball cleans, 600m run
18 ring rows, 18 med ball cleans, 400m run

I have a med ball, I already know how far an 800m run is from my house, but I didn't have the rings. Since I am a creative person, I decide there is no need to substitute a new move in for ring rows because I can certainly brain storm a make-shift pair if rings.

I ran to Lowes down the street and found these for less than 3 bucks in the plumbing aisle. I decide to attach them to my clothes line pole with belts! Brilliant! I can see my blog post now!I get my warmup in & ask my hubby to take some pictures of me in action. I must show the world my ring row brilliance! Look at me go!And then all the sudden the belt gave way and somehow managed to whip me extremely hard smack in the middle of my forehead. I almost couldn't figure out what happened it ws so fast but I knew that I was upside down, my husband threw the camera and ran to me, and I felt like someone took a bat to my forehead.

At closer examination, it was this part of the belt that got me:So my hubby leads me inside and wraps my head with an ice pack as I try to figure out what just happened and what could have possibly felt like a metal bat on my forehead.So after 3 hours of icing it, my husband swears that the swelling has gone down dramatically. I just took this picture and I think he's right...you can hardly see it!
Phew, I will try again tomorrow!

Sunday Bacon

2010-01-24T15:18:00.001-08:00

Every Sunday my husband and I enjoy Applegate Farms' Uncured Sunday Bacon. And every Sunday I revel in the fact that bacon is simply one of the great joys of eating & it makes my scrambled eggs taste that much better!

For your Sunday bacon enjoyment, try adding http://bacolicio.us/ before any http:// to baconize your favorite website.

Check it out:
http://bacolicio.us/http://www.catherinewalkerhart.blogspot.com

AND, just for fun, did you know that if you say "Beer Can" with a British accent it sounds like you are saying "Bacon" with a Jamaican accent? It's true. Try it!

Happy Sunday!

Skinless Gyozas = Deliciousness!

2010-01-18T16:39:00.000-08:00

This is a recipe from Mark's Daily Apple that I make all the time. I just made it again and my stomach is so happy with me that I wanted to post it for anyone who hasn't stumbled upon this one yet. As an entry from one of Mark's video recipe contests, this dish is just as delicious as traditional gyozas but without the "skin" they are a much healthier option. The special dipping sauce is also something that I use for dipping veggies and dripping over kelp noodles.

Check out the recipe!
Here is what you will need:

1 jalapeno
4 garlic cloves
1 tbs fresh ginger
1/2 head cabbage
1 lb ground pork
4 scallions
wheat free Tamari sauce
sesame oil
olive oil
balsamic vinegar

1) Chop up everything but pork very finely
2) Put aside 1 tsp garlic, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp scallions for special dipping sauce
3) Put the rest in a big bowl with the ground pork and add 2 tbs Tamari, 2 Tbs sesame oil
4) MIX TOGETHER! I mush it all with my hands.
5) Shape into little dumpling-like shapes
6) Pan fry in olive oil (approximately 2 minutes each side or until cooked through and crispy on the outside)

Special Dipping Sauce:
1 Tbs Tamari
1 Tbs Balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs water
& the ginger, garlic, and scallions you put aside.I added some mushrooms, broccoli, and kelp noodles on the side and placed the gyozas over spinach. This recipe can make a TON of gyozas (8-16 depending on the size) so prepare for left overs or just cut the recipe in half for 2 people. My husband insists on making the entire recipes because he puts the leftover gyoza meat in his eggs the next morning. Enjoy!

Elk Chili & the experience of quality meat

2010-01-13T08:14:00.000-08:00

I had the honor of receiving a fresh Elk Roast from a buddy of mine. His mother killed this Elk in Colorado & sent it to him for the holidays. He and I enjoy talking about meat, the quality of meat, where to find local grass-fed goodness, and exchange meat recipes. So, knowing I would absolutely appreciate this gift, I got a gorgeous 1 pound elk roast! I knew I was holding something special in my hands...so what recipe might do this justice? This cold weather we've been having in Austin has me craving chili...so chili it shall be!I wish I took a picture of this roast before I cut it because it was gorgeous (side note: this is the first time in my life I have ever considered a piece of raw meat gorgeous). There was an energy in this meat that is not found in meat from a grocery store. This was an elk that had a free & happy life and ate the food he was meant to eat. Not sure if it translates in this picture, but the lack of stress in this meat was moving. Can you tell?Plus, a chili recipe allowed me to grate some garlic on my new MINI grater. Yes, that is a normal garlic clove to show off how tiny that thing is. Also works great for ginger. In case you didn't know this about me, I'm obsessed with tiny versions of things.This is the recipe I used minus the kidney bean business. Didn't have them, but didn't miss them. I also used olive oil instead of canola oil and added lots and lots of Cholula. I normally add all the spices after the tomato paste and diced tomatoes, but this recipe called for the spices to be added in the beginning when browning the elk. It must have worked because the final result was jam packed with flavor.
I let it slow cook for about 6 hours so it thickened up very nicely. Elk doesn't quite have the "fall apart" qualities of beef, but it was still delicious nonetheless. And this was the first time that I ever felt compelled to thank the elk for it's sacrafice before my hubby and I dove in. It felt nice...like how it should feel.
Another recommended for a fantastic chili recipe is from Melicious over at The Clothes Make the Girl. Make sure to check it out!

Having A Support Team

2010-01-11T07:13:00.001-08:00

Perhaps the #1 thing that has kept me engaged in a healthy lifestyle of good eats and fitness, is the community of like-minded people surrounding me. If you are trying to get into shape, eat healthier foods, or anything else to better yourself, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND including friends and family in your process or make new friends that have a similar mission. There is nothing like friends going through the same thing to keep you motivated and hold you accountable. I am thankful for everyone in my life that likes to be extremely nerdy with me about food, recipes, workouts, finding your true passion, etc.

Case in point: I got called out twice this morning at the gym for trying to settle for less. With my awesome support team, why did I even try and get away with that? Part of it was that I didn't know I was doing it...and that's where you REALLY need good people around you.

Call out #1:
While brief and subtle, it was enough to make me push myself. Our workout was 5 sets of 5 Thrusters and the intention was to go heavy. The intention was to feel like you found your point of failure so that you actually know how much you can lift. I know in the past, pre-wrist injury, I was able to do 65lb thrusters. So I was quickly calculating my strategy thinking I would start at 55lb and maybe, just maybe, get to 70lbs by my last round. But my super awesome lifting partner Devon, was not really going to let that fly. She knows I'm stronger than that and when I see her thrust that bar up, really push her boundaries, & then look me straight in the eye and tell me she knows I can lift it...I know I have no choice. I gotta do it. So we started with 65lbs and worked our way up from there. I finished the last 10 reps with a solid 80lbs. If it weren't for Devon's strength, and I had been on my own in a big-box gym, I would have walked away never knowing I was strong enough to thrust 80lbs over my head. Thank You Devon.

Call out #2:
A totally direct, "I call BULLSHIT on you" call out that was extremely necessary to hear. Brief Background: The I AM CROSSFIT challenge is bookmarked by the exact same workout with 8 weeks in between so you can see how much stronger & faster you've become. The way you perform the workout the first time is exactly how you have to perform it 8 weeks later. This is the best way to gauge improvement. Even if you feel you can lift more weight or you feel you can do the pull-ups without a resistance band for guidance, you MUST repeat the workout the same way. Your improved strength and endurance will be reflected in how much faster you complete the workout. One of my goals for this 8 week challenge is to get off the resistance band and move on to unassisted pull-ups. Because I am not there yet, I plan on kicking off the first workout using an assisted band. The bands offer different levels of support, meaning some make you lift less of your own body weight and some make you lift more. Here is where the major call-out comes in: My girl, Erika Jeanne, is chatting me about what band I am planning on using for the kick-off tomorrow night. I tell her the blue band, which is the band I have been on for about a year now and I picked it because I know I can do it. Erika looked at me and I could see in her eyes the "you've got to be kidding me" look. I knew I was in trouble. She reminded me that if my goal is to get off that band and I know I am going to have to do the same workout 2 months from now, why would I chose something that I am very comfortable with right now. I was never going to see progress in my pull-ups if I didn't use a band that really challenged me...a band that I would be so happy to have chosen 8 weeks from now. And she is 100% correct. I was staying in a comfort zone and I won't reach my goals if stay there. If it were not for Erika putting her foot down on my behalf, I would have done that workout with a band that isn't as hard for me and therefore setting my initial bar too low. If I want to raise the bar on my fitness level (no pun intended), it's pretty lame to set the bar at a low point to ensure I beat it. It's a true accomplishment to beat a bar I set at a slightly uncomfortably higher place. Make sense?

Anyway, the point being, Thank You Devon and Erika Jeanne for pushing me to realize how much strength I have inside me. Because breaking records and reaching goals feels so empowering....but sometimes it's hard to do all by yourself.

Pushing Through: One thing at a time

2010-01-08T06:44:00.000-08:00

This morning's workout was a doozy for me. It was HARD. Not because it was necessarily more challenging that the typical workout...they are always hard. But this morning I was reminded of how CrossFIt challenges you to push through mental barriers as much as it does physical. Exactly why I love it so much and exactly why it was so hard. You can't fake that.

10 Rounds for time:
10 Kettlebell Cleans (16kg)
10 Kettlebell Swings (16kg)
10 Jumping Squats
10 Box Jumps (24" box)

If none of that makes sense, you can click on each move to find out more :)

What I was up against:
1) Not get the greatest night sleep, woke up throughout the night.
2) Something new thrown into my routine: I decided for the first time in 2 years to eat 1 hour before my workout. I wanted to see if I was depriving myself of extra energy without knowing it. At 6am I ate 1 hard boiled egg and had a big ol' scoop of almond butter.
3) And this probably didn't help: fearing what lack of sleep would do to me, I drank one of those 5 hour energy shots which made my stomach unhappy. Not used to it? Combo with food?
4) Oh yeah, did I mention that it was 20 degrees this morning...and we work out in a garage with no heat.

So I find myself in a workout this morning with sub-optimal energy, freezing temperatures, a jittery stomach, and for some reason I up the weight on my Kettlebell (I've been rocking a steady 12kg since my wrist got hurt) & add 4" to my normal 20" jump! While the above factors made it the wrong day to up the ante, I knew that I couldn't settle for less...mentally I had to do it. I had to push through the barrier and go back to heavier weights one of these days and waiting for the perfect day was starting to become an excuse.

I had to concentrate with all my might to get my feet up in the air and land safely on that box. This is a move where you can really eat it if you are not focused. You can't fake jumping on that box. And let me tell you, 4" changes the situation quite a bit. I have memorized jumping on 20". I have the muscle memory for 20". I had never attempted 24" so I certainly could not rely on muscle memorization.

Normally my brain is running through many calculations at once. How many rounds? How many reps? Strategies for getting through the next 10 reps? What are different ways I can break up this time so it goes faster? How long has it taken me to do each round so far? At this rate will I finish? All the while swinging a Kettlebell over my head. This time, fighting the nausea & fatigue, I had to quite my mind, shut everything out and focus 100% of my energy on jumping on that box. I could not think about the dreaded Kettlebell I had to swing in a few minutes. If I did, I would fall. I could only address the Kettlebell once I was standing in front of it. And then, fighting my nausea & fatigue, I had to concentrate with all my mind and find the willpower to wrap my hand around that handle and start moving. I have never had a workout where every single rep of every single move was a challenge., There was no rhythm, there was no flow. It was a series of facing each rep head on and making myself push though each one individually. I was feeling miserable physically, but proud mentally. It was a great exercise for focusing under stress and taking one thing at a time. A very helpful mental practice.

So while I did not come anywhere close to finishing that workout, I committed to upping my weights and committed to making each rep count. It was a real struggle this morning, but I learned more than one would hope for at 7am in 20 degree weather with a nauseous stomach. The I AM CROSSFIT Challenge has begun and I couldn't kick it off without feeling myself commit mentally. And while I technically failed miserably in the workout, I have set a tone I feel good about. I will not back down from my goals and I can accomplish anything...one thing at a time.

Welcome 2010!

2010-01-04T20:52:00.001-08:00

It's that time again, a new year has begun and I'm evaluating and defining my goals for 2010. I'm very nerdy about writing in notebooks, using awesome pens, and making lists. So goal-setting is quite satisfying for me & there's nothing like a new year and a fresh piece of paper. What's even more satisfying is to look back on your goals and realize you've accomplished almost all of them. In fact, the only goals I did not accomplish on my list were due to a wrist injury, so I'm feeling pretty proud of myself. As I refine my goal setting process, I'm trying to listen to what I really want and not what I think I want. That's not always an easy task. But one thing I keep learning about from this process is the unbelievable power of intention. Simply setting an intention gets the ball rolling and starts opening doors. When you make every cell in your body align with the same intention, the universe can bend for you. You have to listen and you have to follow and you have to mean it. So I take that knowledge into 2010 as I set intention for the following:

1) I want to not be afraid to say what I am thinking and feeling. Every year I get better at this, but I still have more work to do.

2) I, again, want to bring my whole self to the I AM CROSSFIT Challenge which begins this Saturday.

3) I want to examine more ways to curb overeating tendencies. I still manage to have some binge episodes that leave me feeling not so good, emotionally and physically. I need to learn how to treat myself and not feel like I lose 2 days of productive life because of it. Mastering the balance. I certainly do better today than I ever have, but I know there is an even happier sense of balance as I learn to maintain my weight loss.

4) I want to experiment even more in the kitchen and add some new dishes to the regular rotation. I also want to get over how bad I think my food pictures look, so I'm not afraid to post my home cooking! You guys don't care right?

5) I want to learn how to comfortably say no.

6) I want to add some meditation to my life. A quite moment everyday, where the only goal is to breath and relax. Take a deep breath of life & love and then go about my tasks. I deserve at least 20 minutes where my brain doesn't have to go over my to-do lists.

7) Simplify simplify....continue the work we have put into our house by aligning it with our natural flow, eliminate blockages...develop simple systems that are easy to stay with, even when life is hectic.

8) Learn how to put things away after I use them.

8) Date night!! Once a week!! We always talk about this but our life is so busy. But life will always be busy so we will have to make it a priority :)

You know, I think I could go on and on with goals that I have. There are so many things I want to accomplish, but I think in order for my extremely long list of goals to manifest, these are some important ground work goals. Everything else that I want to accomplish will be much clearer and easier to navigate with this foundation. So in an effort to not set TOO MANY goals and thereby feeling overwhelmed by them, I am going to leave it at this. I've got my work cut out for me.

Happy New Year to all and here's to wishing you lots of strength to accomplish all that you want in 2010!

Let's do this!!!

This year feels good doesn't it?

This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship

2009-12-14T18:56:00.000-08:00

I have always been a noodle person. Noodle dishes were the standard go-to meal for me when I couldn't think of what sounded good: pad-thai, stir fry, ramen, etc. Love it all. I remember a restaurant called Khiva growing up that was essentially a Mongolian stir-fry noodle buffet extravaganza. You were supposed to pick out all your ingredients to be tossed with your noodles, but I am fairly certain I didn't add much...the noodles and a little bit of sauce and I was psyched! I remember feeling like going to Khiva was like a special treat...more so than ice cream. So it's no wonder that, along with the crunch of the cracker, I have been wondering if a healthy noodle substitute was out there. I got the word on spaghetti squash and have had a lot of successful meals with it. Toss some spaghetti squash with ground turkey or ground pork, add some basil and marinara sauce and I'm in heaven. Spaghetti squash is something I've come to love and crave, but I do think it satisfies something different than the true noodle craving. Why? I think it's because you can't slurp them up! I mean, remember this adorable scene from Lady and The Tramp? This would not be nearly as adorable with spaghetti squash.

But then I found this recipe and discovered the Kelp Noodle: a noodle that is entirely made of Kelp, a very low carbohydrate sea vegetable...also known as...well...seaweed :)

They are not easy to find, but are carried in many groceries throughout California. Since I'm in Austin, TX, I ordered a batch from here. They just arrived in the mail and I had to whip some up for lunch.

So far, the verdict is: Very interesting... & most likely very promising.

What I know about Kelp Noodles so far (9 hours into our new friendship):

1) They are a strange combination of soft, slippery, and crunchy! Yes, soft and crunchy...I know!

2) They absolutely pass the "slurp-up" test. A+. Kelp Noodles could be spaghetti's body double in Lady and the Tramp and no one would know!

3) They have a mild taste, but it's unusual and unfamiliar so it does stand out to me. It's possible that once this flavor is a regular for my taste buds, it will be subtle enough to fall to the background. But I can say....right now....I taste them.

4) Once you open up the pack, you MUST store them in water....it makes me feel like they are a weird sea creature that must return to it's home....

5) Because I was impatient to try my new noodle friends, I didn't prepare a recipe beforehand. I just threw them in my wok after sauteing broccoli, zucchini, & onions in wheat free Tamari, garlic, & a drop of sesame oil. I had tried the noodles on their own, straight out of the pack & got a little worried...sort of slippery...sort of crunchy seaweed weirdness. But after I added all the goodness of flavor and I got to feel like I was indulging my noodle love (when all I was really doing was adding yet another veggie to the mix) I felt EXCITED about what I could do with these guys.

6) When you bite into them, they pop...kind of like a pomegranate seed. It's different...but strangely satisfying.

I will be trying out a few Kelp recipes in the very near future and I will post recipes, pictures, and results.

Right now I feel like they will take some getting used to...but very optimistic about their satisfying recipe possibilities!

Stay tuned :)

*got any Kelp Noodle recipes? Share in comments if you do :)

Healthy food does not have to be boring!

2009-12-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

Busy Busy Busy! This time of year is always a whirlwind both personally and professionally and I'm constantly on the go. In years past, the drive through window was where I grabbed my quick meal in between the holiday hustle and bustle. But now, I can't possibly get done all that I need to with loads of unhealthy processed foods. I have to be on top of my home cooking, I have to get a focused brain to plan ahead meals that create great leftovers, and I have to be equipped with healthy on the go snacks. My latest discovery has me giddy over healthy food possibilities. I have missed the crunchiness of crackers and have been on the look out for a healthy alternative. Not only did I find it, but these are the best crackers I've ever had. No joke. They are so freakin tasty! May I introduce to you: Ingredients: Organic Flax Seeds, Organic Sprouted Sunflower Seeds, Organic Carrot, Organic Celery, Organic Onion, Organic Raisins, Organic Kale, Organic Basil, Organic Cilantro, Organic Lemon, Celtic Sea Salt, Organic Oregano, Organic Rosemary.

If you are following the zone diet: 7.2 g Fat, 5.8g Carb, 3.1g Protein
I found these at the Natural Grocers and they have many other flavors including: Pesto Pumpkin & Coconut Curry.
You can also order them online at: http://www.gluten-free-crackers.com/index.html

*I made zucchini hummus the other day because I had a ton of zucchini I had to do something with. Surprisingly delicious & dipping these crackers in that hummus was like heaven!

Another great discovery (thanks to my sister-in-law) are the 100 calorie packs of Wholly Guacamole. I am not counting calories but it happens to be the perfect serving size. Scramble up some eggs & squish that whole packet right on top. It's so delicious and requires next to no brain power! Love it! And they sell them at Target.Ingredients: Avocado, Jalapeno Puree (Jalapenos & white vinegar), dehydrated onions, salt, garlic
8g Fat, 5g Carb, 1g protein

YUM.

So much to be Thankful for

2009-11-26T10:02:00.000-08:00

As some of you know, our house was robbed on Sunday and many of our valuables were taken. Our TV, both our computers, stereo, X-box, DVD player, & ALL my jewelry (including engagement ring and family heirlooms)...gone. They even stole my pillow case to use as a bag for the jewelry. yuck.

But you know what? It's okay. Because it really is just stuff.

And this is such a timely event because I've been spending a lot of time this past month reflecting on my attachment to stuff and the different roles "stuff" plays in my life. I set a goal to have our house purged of anything that does not add value to our lives by the start of the new year. I have two sides tugging at me as I attempt to move through each room in my house. On the one hand I want to go to the extreme end of purging...get down to the bare necessities. But on the other hand, I am a maker with a great appreciation for the energy of objects & their sentimental value. It has been an intense process to evaluate each object one-by-one, each piece of clothing, each piece of jewelry, every fork and spoon...everything. Questions arise like, "is the "possible future event" I am hanging on to this object for really worth it? Is it even going to happen? Do I need this now? Will I notice it's missing when it's gone? Does it currently add value?"

One question my Dad told me to ask myself in regards to my clothing was, "Do I feel good in this?" and if the answer was NO then get rid of it. That helped me purge about 50% of my clothing. You would be surprised at how many pieces of clothing I don't feel good in that I was hanging on to as some mental or emotional placeholder. But if you eliminate the objects that exist purely as emotional or mental placeholders, you are making room for more ideas and more growth. It feels awesome. But one area that I was particularly having trouble with was my jewelry. Jewelry does not take up that much space so it's easy to say, "ill just keep that" but some jewelry is deeply rooted in older phases of me. Sorting all that out was more emotionally taxing that I anticipated and I found myself procrastinating the jewelry. But I sleep right next to all my jewelry and I was starting to feel like the vibes of Catherine's past were seeping into my dreams and I knew I had to work on letting go of some of those pieces. I had to make more room for new Catherines to emerge. So you know what, the thieves made my decisions for me. They took it all. Every last piece of it. Even the black rubber bracelets from college that are of absolutely no value. And you know what, it feels awesome. There are pieces I am sad they took of course, but it's been nice to reflect on the memories those pieces held in the first place.

Actually, they did leave ONE thing in my jewelry bureau....my Dog Tags. Unbelievable. The universe had to have a hand in this one.

So on this Thanksgiving day, I have no sadness about losing my stuff. I feel that I only have things to be thankful for...possibly more now than ever. I am thankful for my family, my friends, my health, my freedom, the magic of art, food, & music, my staff for working so hard for me every day, the Sunday evening of reading next to my husband in silence since we didn't have a TV, and to all of you who take the time to read my blog. I appreciate absolutely everyone, large and small, in my life. And everything I just listed is something I could never lose in a robbery. So really my life is rich with blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Owning Your Own Situation

2009-11-15T08:20:00.000-08:00

One of the women I'm with on this trip is pregnant. She & her hubby were caught off guard by the pregnancy and, while ultimately very excited, she didn't have any time to mentally prepare for all the lifestyle changes she had to make. One thing she is particularly struggling with is not being able to have a beer or a glass of wine at the end of a long day. Well, last night was the epitome of the end to a very long day and boy did she wish she was having a beer with the rest of us. She was struggling on her side of the table and expressed about feeling jipped.

Well, on my side of the table, I was battling every factor that contributes to my overeating all at once. 1) I was totally exhausted 2) I was overly hungry and had run out of my healthy snack stash 3) Hadn't been able to have solid Catherine time in days & instead was flooded with social interaction after social interaction 4) I've been away from my husband so I haven't had a good hug in a while 5) I was half way done with my beer before the enormous basket of chips and queso was placed right in front of me. I was doomed. And when I'm tired like that and I already have alcohol in my system before I start eating, it's like I've flushed all will power down the toilet. So I went for it. I ate WAY past my full point and left the restaurant feeling very uncomfortable.

When I got back to my hotel room and tried to go to sleep I was smacked in the face with how miserable I felt. There was absolutely nothing I could do to get comfortable. Hit with a serious carb load that my body hardly ever gets, my heart was racing and I was so irritated in my own skin. I was miserable. My pregnant buddy, on the other hand, was sleeping peacefully. I kept thinking she was so lucky she didn't drink too many beers and had a perfectly proportioned chicken salad. What I had forgotten was she fell asleep feeling jipped out of the experience of the evening.

The point is, when you transition from eating foods that don't support your health to foods that do, you can have moments where you feel like your missing out. Coach Megan expressed it well, when she stated that many people focus on what they CAN'T eat as opposed to what they CAN (which turns out to be a much longer list!). Watching people eat what you used to eat can cause some jealousy. But that way of thinking is not worth it and a waste of your time. You can always join them, but your not for a reason. You are making healthy choices for yourself and instead of feeling jealous, focus on how much better you are treating your body and feel good about it. You never know, they could be totally inspired by your will power and it's what they needed the whole time. Sit in your own power, sit in your own choices, own it and feel good about it!

My pregnant buddy and I laughed this morning about our jealousy exchange. And she came out the winner because I still feel full and bloated and she is facing the day with great energy.

Here's to hoping that all my readers are facing the day with great energy and happiness.

Traveling WOD's

2009-11-12T09:57:00.000-08:00

Right now I'm in Dallas at a business conference & I was very pleased to find a newly remodeled fitness room in my hotel. Okay, no excuses...but you know I need my Crossfit Gym to help me push through a good workout. So, to ensure that I actually got out of bed after my wake-up call & went to that fitness center, I had to have a plan in place before I fell asleep. First, I needed to define my workout so that I didn't get to the gym and simply dabble. And second, I committed to myself that I would make a post about my WOD time so that I would have to complete it. So, my wonderful readers, while I'm on the road, you are my new Crossfit gym to keep me on track...because I can't lie to you!

Here goes: I first set out to do FRAN in honor of all my friends doing her majesty at Crossfit Central this Saturday. But there was no pull-up situation so I developed a modified FRAN. This was a great workout because I only had time for a "sprint" WOD.

This is what I had to work with:That's a 20lb med ball and 25lb dumbbells.
I named her FRANITA :)
3...2...1...GO!

21-15-9
Dumbbell Thrusters
Push-ups
Russian Twists (that's 42-30-18 touches total)

Time!
The last set of Thrusters I had to move down to 20lb dumbbells. And the last 5 seemed like they might be impossible. But I had a lot of lingering feelings from Veteran's Day and I thought about how many brave men and women have had to push through horrifying moments when they didn't want to. I thought about what it must be like to be faced with these moments & all the sudden pushing through those thrusters seemed like a piece of cake. A new energy flooded me. We all have the strength within for anything we want to accomplish...it's just a matter of believing it and drawing from it, but trust me it's there.

Time: 10 mins 7 secs

shower.
8am meeting.
good to go.

Happy Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T08:59:00.000-08:00

Every morning when I wake up I see these dog tags hanging close to my bed. The 3 tags are: my father's tag from Vietnam, my grandfather's tag from Vietnam, Korea, and World War II, and my great-grandfather's tag from World War I (still equipped with the original red, white & blue ribbon). These tags are worn proudly around my neck every Verteran's Day and every Memorial Day & are one of my most cherished gifts my Dad has ever given me. There is an incredible power infused in these tags. These tags have been to war and they were worn by some of the most admirable and brave men I have ever known (I never had the chance to meet my great-grandfather but I hear that's where I get my artistic genes). I make sure that I look at these tags, hold them and feel them to recognize what they stand for. I try not to take for granted the enormous freedoms I enjoy and how that came to be. And most importantly, I hold them in my hands as a reminder to follow my dreams and to live life fully with passion and intention. Today, I thank my Father, my Grandfather, my Great-Grandfather, my cousin Scott, Coach Lance, and the thousands of others who have chosen to make the freedom of our country a priority in the most selfless manner. May I never take for granted the freedom you fought for and the blessings it has brought us. Thank You.

My first 5K

2009-11-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

I had been feeling under the weather, not sure if it was allergies, & worried I would be out of breath the whole time. Distance running has never been my thing because it's hard for me to focus my mind on positive thoughts. "Man I wish I could stop" is what my brain likes to chant anytime I run longer than 6 minutes. While I know 3 miles is not that long of a distance, especially for the fitness level I have reached, I still worried about my ability to get through it. My friend Erika gave me a great goal to work with: no negative thoughts while running. Don't worry about speed, don't worry about finishing, just focus on having NO NEGATIVE THOUGHTS. And guess what, it worked!

I had the pleasure and honor of running with my sister-in-law. We don't get to see each other nearly as much as we wish we could so the excitement of being with her made it impossible to have negative thoughts. We got so caught up in chatting with each other during the race, that I hardly even realized I was running. We decided to take a nice even pace. We ended up doing a steady 11 minute mile and finishing at 33 minutes. This is actually a slower pace than we are both capable of and afterward wondered what our time would have been if we really pushed it. But the truth is, even though I wish I could brag about a faster time, this experience has equipped me with some nuggets of knowledge that really make me excited:

1) I am much better at running that I think I am. During the race I knew when I was running slower than I could & I know that I could have kept running for a lot longer. I felt strong and I faced how much endurance I really have. The fact that I was able to jabber away the whole three miles means I don't huff and puff as much I think I do.

2) 3 miles is not a scary distance. That is simply in my mind. I'm used to the Crossfit way of running 400m and 800m & really blew up how long 3 miles was going to feel in my mind. It is actually quite short and I look forward to running 3 miles when I get home and really going for it. How fast can I really run it?

3) It's all in your head. My brother and I have a joke that throughout life you are simply learning things over and over again that you already know. Well I was just reminded of the power of our minds, once again. Thinking positively and feeling joy throughout this run made it painless. I had attempted 3 miles run many times throughout this last year. Sometimes I finished but felt like my brain drove me nuts during the whole thing and felt like I would never do it again. Other times I just stopped and walked. But I just let my mind rule. If I let my healthy, fit, and very capable body rule and make sure my brain is being nice to me, I actually really like running. Who knew?

So while I can't wait to run another one and report a much faster time, I feel so happy that I've had these discoveries about what I'm capable of. Phew. It feels like a relief to not be afraid of running. And I already have a date with my sister-in-law at the next Midnight Margarita Run in Austin. Can't wait! Plus how can you be in a bad mood when your little nephew gets excited to run with you? You simple can't. Life is good.

Frailure is NOT an option

2009-11-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

This fine Sunday morning I met my fellow Team Phoenix members at Austin High School's track for a run through of the benchmark workout Fran. In case you are not familiar with this nasty lady the workout goes a little something like this:

21 Thrusters
21 Pull-ups

15 Thrusters
15 Pull-ups

9 Thrusters
9 Pull-ups

Erika Jeanne, participating in the 5 week Fran Challenge, has declared FRAILURE is not an option. Sometimes the anticipation of a challenge can get you mentally psyched out. When this happens, sometimes the best thing you can do to stop over-thinking it is to just jump right in. So I showed up to cheer Anna and Erika on with a stop watch, some pull-ups bands, a barbell, and a "Frailure is not an option" attitude.

I'm proud of my Team Phoenix members for putting their ALL into this workout. Anna, who has only been crossfitting for 3 months rocked out all her pull-ups on the blue band (for those of you who don't know what the blue band is...let's just say it took me a year to get to the blue band...so it's bad-ass). And Erika rocked out her Fran at the Elite level, all pull-ups unassisted. Way to go ladies!One thing is for sure...both these ladies RIPPED IT UP.....literally!

The Language of Dieting

2009-10-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about how the words we use to describe how and what we eat can really affect how we view our choices. I think it's important to check in with the associated meanings of the words we use to describe a healthy lifestyle and make sure they are words that make us feel good. Many people have commented on the word diet itself. The word diet has developed some negative connotations over the years. People often associate it with denial, restriction, or a phase. When really the word diet is the Greek word for "way of life." So, in truth, it doesn't make sense to be "on a diet." Everyone is "on a diet," it's just a matter of what your diet consists of.

I recently started calling my "cheat day" my "looser day." To me, "cheating" makes me feel guilty, like I'm violating what I'm supposed to be doing. That doesn't make me feel good. I have built in a day where I can be a little less restrictive on purpose. I feel that I need it for balance and to keep my obsessiveness in check. Everyone is different, but if I am too strict with myself, I could be setting myself up for a detrimental "F*#$ this" binge. I call it a looser day or a looser meal, because I am loosening the parameters I usually follow. For me, allowing myself a looser day is a healthy and wise

Now that doesn't mean the word cheat doesn't have it's place. If I declare I am going 100% Paleo with no loose days for a full month and I eat sugar, well then I cheated on my diet. I violated the rules and regulations of my way of life. Right now I'm abstaining from alcohol while I train for my 5K. If I decide to have a glass of wine, that's not loose...that's a cheat.

What's fun about thinking about the language of dieting is that you can make up your own words & phrases if it's helpful. The incredible Melicious, who once fought going Paleo, renamed it Dino-Chow and took the plunge. Love it! When I realized I was going to have to stop eating nightshades to heal the tendinitis in my wrist, I was sad to let go of my salsa, Cholula, and bell peppers as they were a HUGE part of my diet. I had to re-name them wrist poison so I wasn't so sad. It worked! In this case, the negative connotation was necessary for me to feel like I wasn't missing out on anything and in fact I was bettering myself. Now that my wrist has healed I'm slowly reintroducing nightshades & everytime I eat some, I apologize for having to call them poison for a while. I think I'm forgiven.

While searching for diet terms I ran into a great post that addresses this same topic. Stephanie from "Back in Skinny Jeans" uses the terms on the menu as in "that's not on my menu today" That seems less restrictive than "I can't eat that. Check out her post.

Because after all, eating well is about feeling good. Language is powerful, it should make us feel just as good as the foods we eat!
Any great terms you have come up with?

A great night sleep with a side of primal pizza

2009-10-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

Remember when I declared sleep my new best friend? Well soon after I announced to sleep that we would be hanging out a lot more often, sleep got cold feet. Sleep felt like I was getting too serious and maybe a little too clingy & stopped showing up for many of our dates. And when sleep would show up, sleep seemed very distant and distracted...we had trouble connecting with each other. But all the sudden this past week or so, I've been sleeping like a baby. And the difference it makes the next day is enormous. I must reiterate how very important it is to sleep well and treat your bodies need for sleep with respect. I felt like I nearly tripled my productivity this week because I was actually well rested. Clear thinking followed by immediate execution. Whole new world.

So what's different?

1) I'm back in a good flow with my workouts. The extra sleep I get from switching to the 7am class has really helped & the clear goal of re-gaining my upper body strength keeps me motivated.

2) I have my first 5K coming up in a few weeks. Whenever I have an exciting event with a specific date attached to it, somehow my life seems more organized. Plus, this means I get to hang out with my family in LA and that makes everything feel right with the world.

3) Taking an break from alcohol means I've not been metabolizing any sugar while trying to sleep.

4) And this has made the biggest difference so far: I eliminated stressful thoughts from my mind. I zoomed in and identified what thought patterns I had that were making me feel anxious in any way. I then identified which were reflections of real external circumstances that I could work on changing and which were simply stressful thoughts. Turns out about 99% of my thoughts were from a stressed perspective and not from reality. This is something that you always kind of know happens, but it wasn't until I fully internalized that only my thoughts were causing me stress, NOT my situation, that I finally began sleeping again. I feel like this is a lesson we sort of learn over and over again in life. We just need to check in with ourselves every once in a while and make sure our thought patterns are not causing us unnecessary stress.

So sleep, thank you for returning to me. I had really been missing you!

And now, as I prepare to slip into bed for my nightly hang out with sleep, I feel FULL with Primal Pizza. I went overboard, but it was oh, so tasty!For anyone who is going gluten free, I highly recommend this particular recipe for pizza crust.

Taken from Mark's Daily Apple:

Ingredients:
Crust:
2 Cups Almond Meal/Flour
2 Eggs
2 Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tsp salt

Instructions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. This should give you a ball of “dough”. If your dough is too “mushy” (like mine was), continue to add almond flour until you get a good consistency.
3. Make a pizza sheet or baking tray non-stick. This is VERY important if you want your pizza slices to come off in one piece.
4. Press your dough on the sheet nice and even about 1/4 inch in the middle and 1/2 inch at the edges.
5. Put crust in the oven for 15 minutes. It should look slightly golden brown when you take it out.

Then add whatever toppings you want. If you want a more traditional pizza & you eat dairy-go for pizza sauce and cheese. Or just load it up with pizza sauce and tons of veggies and/or a protein of your choice. You can even make your own pizza sauce by mixing 1 Can Tomato Paste, 1-2 Cups Water (To desired thickness), 1 Tsp Dried Oregano, & 1 Tsp Garlic. Just load it up and pop it back in the 350 degree over for another 15 minutes or so. Voila!

Here's the scoop: The thinner the crust, the better. It takes a while to get it thin and even. The almond flour is extremely filling and can overwhelm the toppings. And if you are following the zone diet, there are about 5 fat blocks per small piece, so be aware of that. But I love this recipe because it feels like a real crust to me and totally satisfies my craving for a bread/crust type item. There is a lot of crispy integrity...plus I super love almonds. However, I wonder if the fact that I don't eat very much bread anymore is why this tasted like the greatest meal in the world to me. Because my husband just said he feels like he has a pile of mud sitting in his gut. So maybe it's not for everyone :)
... I did say it was filling!

Why I need my Crossfit Gym

2009-10-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning I woke up inspired and ready for my homemade workout. I planned it as I was falling asleep the night before.

4 Rounds:
10 push-ups with a side plank between each one, rotating sides
20 Overhead Squats (35lbs)
30 Kettlebell Swings
40 box-jumps

3, 2, 1...GO!!

Well, my workout went a little more like this:
10 push-ups with side planks
10 OH Squats
5 Box jumps with a little dance on top of the box because I was listening to Jay-Z
10 KB swings

Another dance on my way to my water bottle

5 push-ups with side planks
10 KB clean and presses cuz they seemed more fun at the moment
10 OH squats
Dance on top of my box until my neighbor starting mowing his lawn and saw me

Breakfast!

Way to go me!
As I was running one of my 400m this morning, I was thinking about my Sunday workout attempt and how I really need the structure of the gym to keep me going. Crossfit workouts are hard. And they do not slowly build. When you hear 3, 2, 1, Go! you jump right in and at some point in that first 3 minutes you hit a moment where you say, "Oh F?%*! This requires my WHOLE and present self & it's too intense to be lazy about it." This is the moment that if you push through and keep going, you find a whole new place inside. One that is capable, one that is strong, and one where you have so much momentum you somehow are going for it. Your blood is pumping and your sweat is dripping and it's hard as shit but you are going....
This is also the moment that if you don't have your classmates next to you & if you don't have your coaches inspiring you, you can give in & stop. When you get to the "Oh F*%#!" moment and you don't have the spirit of the Crossfit Central crew around you, it's hard to remember that it actually feels good to push through to the other side. It becomes a moment where dancing on top of the jump box is much more appealing.

Thank You to my classmates, coaches, and all my Crossfit buddies for your continued dedication to waking up early and working your ass off. I couldn't do it without you.

Good Morning Chief

2009-10-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

Today I finally made the switch from the 6:15am class to the 7am class. At first I felt out of sorts, like I was late for something important. All the ladies I normally see trickle in while I'm mid work-out were now mid workout themselves...very discombobulating. I started the warm-up a little confused trying to focus my mind and remember I was not late for anything important. I was right on time. And then we met The Chief.

"The Chief"
As Many Rounds as Possible in 3 minutes:
3 Power Cleans
6 Push-ups
9 squats
Do that 5 Times.

I was able to complete 17 rounds. I really enjoyed this workout, one of my new favorites in fact. It was one of those times where I felt myself get stronger as I progressed rather than worn down. The sun started rising and the women's class cleared out. All the sudden the gym felt like it was mine. No more confused and discombobulated feelings. It was me and my power cleans, push-ups, squats, and the music. I felt present in my workout. Maybe that extra 45 minutes of sleep made all the difference. There really is a difference between waking up in the 5 o'clock hour vs. the 6 o'clock hour. And there is something great about the sun rising during a workout...it's like a reminder that I'm fueling myself up for the day to come.
Thanks Chief!

Countdown to my First 5K

2009-10-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

On November 8th I'm flying out to Los Angeles to join my amazing sister-in-law for my first 5K. I've never run one before and I'm really looking forward to it. I have to say I'm not that great at running. I've gotten better than I've been in the past, but longer distances are still very hard for me. I love that Crossfit changes up the moves so frequently during a workout that it re-jiggers my mind set. Running long distances, on the other hand, gives my mind time to ponder how much I feel like stopping. BUT, the adrenaline of a crowd and knowing that my sister-in-law is running too may change all of that.

So it's time to bring out my Crossfit Endurance workbook and step up my training. I will be adding 2 endurance workouts a week for the next 3 weeks. I'm also not going to drink any alcohol in the next 3 weeks. I am doing this not because I am worried about the occasional glass of wine or beer, but because once I have a drink in me I make poor food choices. In the past couple of weeks I've let in so many bad food choices because of this. I don't regret the choices I've made...I've been to art openings, had a wonderful visit with an old friend, a send off celebration for a new friend, birthday parties, you name it! All these events have involved bottles of wine or fancy drinks to cheers with. But, I've started gaining back some body fat that I worked so hard to lose which means it's time to dial back in. It's starting to add up & I always see it first in those darn love handles.

And now is when I need to learn a new kind of balanced discipline. When I started my journey to lose weight, I found it surprising easy to make great food choices. I was so ready to shed the weight and so ready to feel better that with every great choice I made I was one step closer. And when I started to see the results I only got more motivated because I knew the great choices were making a difference. But now that I've lost the weight I have to learn the right mindset for maintenance. I eat so well most of the time, that I feel comfortable with letting in some "here and theres" to treat myself and feel like I have a balanced life. But I can really feel the difference in my body and wellness when those "here & theres" start occurring too frequently.

So rather than get depressed that I woke up this morning with a sugar headache and noticeable jiggling in my belly and love handles, I will embrace where I am and realize I'm at a new point in my journey. After all, this really is a journey in wellness and now I have to learn maintenance. I have finally learned to let go of an all or nothing way of thinking. And that is the first major lesson of maintenance. I don't need to feel like I ruined my hard work by gaining a little body fat & feel like I can never have a glass of wine again. But I can certainly acknowledge that the weight gain makes me uncomfortable, take note of what got me here, and make the proper adjustments.

I also plan on posting more frequently in the next 3 weeks about how I dial in and train for this 5K. That is both a commitment to myself and to all you lovely folks who take the time to read this.

Looking the Pig in the eye

2009-09-30T19:27:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed this blog post from Farmhouse Delivery, a local service that:

"brings the farm to your door, offering local produce, meat, dairy, eggs, and local artisanal products to customers in Austin. We sell produce grown exclusively on local farms and even grow some of it ourselves! Meat and dairy products are sourced from farms within a 200 mile foodshed, and artisanal products are sustainably produced here in Austin. Weekly, bi-monthly, or one-time delivery is available with no delivery fee."

Pretty awesome!

Next Month, Farmhouse delivery is hosting a pig roast & this post is an eloquent response addressing some vegetarians that were quite upset about the event. I mostly appreciate the idea of connecting to the food you eat and the commitment Farmhouse Delivery has made to this concept.

I have many close friends that are vegetarians, and while I do not agree that a diet free of animal products is a healthier choice, I can at least empathize with the decision when it's due to the terrible situation of our meat industry. For me, instead of not eating meat, I cast my vote for supporting businesses like these (and I do! I've signed up for monthly deliveries). Plus I really love bacon.

I had a date with Angie...but I stood her up

2009-09-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Oh boy. I missed Angie. And I really have no great excuse, other than I couldn't get momentum towards the gym. In all fairness to myself Monday was my first day off with no obligations in a very long time. And part of me just wanted to do absolutely nothing and soak in the freedom of not having to be anywhere at any particular time. Especially because I still had to do so much while being sick that I felt I got cheated out of a full-on face to the pillow kind of day. But man, the guilt factor is terrible. Because I know that I would have felt awesome afterward. And because I love Angie. And because the night before, I thought about my goal to not miss a single class this session. See the thing is, a few things have changed at my job which requires a ton of myself. It's been very rewarding, but it's a new level of multi-tasking and responsibility. Which means the days when I feel sluggish are rough. So I'm working on how to optimize my energy by both getting a ton of sleep as well as not missing any crossfit classes. I really only miss classes if I'm out of town or really need to sleep. And I have a feeling that I will be feeling the need for rest and rejuvenation quite a bit in the upcoming weeks, but I don't want that to mean missing training. I might switch to a later class, or re-arrange other aspects of how I organize my time. This month, being all Ladies and Heroes and a wrist that is really showing signs of healing, I don't want to miss this opportunity to get in the gym and be STRONG...it makes everything else in my life better and easier. So I post this to first, apologize to Angie...you have always been one of my favorites and I'm sorry I acted so selfishly on Monday. And second, to ask Angie out on a date at the end of the month...just you and me in my backyard. On October 31st, I'm posting my Angie score...until then, I'm going to hang with some cool ladies and heroes*

*a bunch of killer workouts named after women and fallen soldiers. Like Angie: 100 pull-ups, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats!

Fight Gone not so Bad

2009-09-28T21:13:00.000-07:00

I wasn't sure how this was going to go. My goal last year was to get a 280 at the Elite level. But my training had to take a slow down in 2009 because of my wrist tendonitis, and I did not do the Elite level this year. I would have been okay on the sumo deadlift highpull, I would have been semi-okay on the push press (although I know that round 3 would have been a real struggle) but catching that 14 lb medball just hurts my wrist too much. Well, am I ever glad that I signed up for intermediate level instead because prior to Saturday morning I had not worked out in almost 2 weeks due to being sick. I had no idea if I would hold up during one of the most intense workouts, but I made sure to get as much rest as possible before hand. I told myself to take it slow and realize that this was fun and for a good cause. I gave myself permission to let go of having a high score. Last year I got 257 and this year I got a 273. I feel pretty good about that actually, considering how I had been feeling only 2 days prior. I'll take it!

What I love is to see how the pain grows in my face as each round passes. The smile on my face in the picture above is clearly the smle of someone who hasn't started the workout yet.

One round down, first rest station:

Two rounds down, second rest station:

Three rounds down, & done:

I also learned that I stick my tongue out a lot when I workout...I don't think I knew I did that. There were pictures from every station that looked like this:
And I make the infamous Hart family Squint Face!And I promised my sweet husband, who worked very hard on taking lots of pics, that I would include his "art shots":Matt would like you to note the in focus foreground vs. out of focus superstar! Very artsy of him!

But what makes this day so fun is that fact that we all endure this pain together. And I don't think I could have kept the momentum if it weren't for the excitement and support of everyone in this amazing community.See what I mean? I'm clearly about to puke but how could I not keep going with the always kick-ass Melicious cheering for me?

AND I happened to be wearing the COOLEST shirt ever, made by the bad-ass Anna Krachey, who also ripped it up at Fight Gone Bad. Watch out for this one, her dedication is serious and she is a real athlete.
Congratulations to everyone that participated. A special shout out to Erika Jeanne and Mel for stepping it up to the Elite Level this year. Way to RIP IT UP ladies, I'm so proud of you!! Next year I will join you there!A trip down memory lane, remembering last years Fight Gone Bad experience.

But I just can't resist it!

2009-09-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

We all know the pull of the foods that make us feel bad. We all know that cleaning up our diets, eating more veggies, cutting out sugar & processed crap makes us feel awesome. But no matter how good we know clean eating makes our bodies feel and how bad sugar and overly processed non-food makes us feel, we still crave the bad stuff! And I don't know about you guys, but not only do I crave it, but sometimes I binge on it. I get the taste for it and I can't stop. In fact, that happens to me with all food. I have a tendency to overeat no matter what I'm eating. I can ignore the full signals like no bodies business because the "I want more" team is cheering much louder than those full signals. This is one of the reasons I gained a lot of weight in the first place. In order to get my weight under control I, of course, had to start exercising and eating healthy food but I also needed to develop techniques to curb my overeating habits. This is still a daily challenge for me, but some of techniques I've developed have really helped me and I thought I would share them. I know that no matter how disciplined you are, our coaches included, we all fall victim to the almighty carb binge resulting in a horrible hangover the next day and a declaration of reigning in our clean eating from now until....
And we have to remember that when we look to the diet of our paleolithic ancestors to understand what our genes are designed to eat, we are looking to a world that did not have a corner store with snickers bars and a world that did not have office parties with pizza and chocolate cake in the break room. We can learn about diet and lifestyle quite a bit when we look back, but we certainly can't learn about the "tools of resistance" from our ancestors because...well...they had nothing to resist!

1) Smaller plates, and smaller pieces!
Trick your brain to see more volume. I know that the overeating indulgent side of my brain can look at a meal & calculate how many bites I get to enjoy. And of course, I want to have as many bites as possible. Sure, I could cut tiny pieces with my fork, but once I get the taste, I just want to ravage through it. So chop up your portions before you cook.
Take this sausage for example:I could eat this puppy in 4 big bites.
But now look at this same sausage on a slightly smaller plate all chopped up. I see many delicious bites in my future. This is Applegate Farms Chicken & Apple Sausage by the way (totally awesome) and is 2 blocks of protein.

2) Serve yourself 1/2 and go back for seconds!
This has been very effective for me when I cook dinner at home. I know before hand the portions of my entire meal (usually 3 blocks) and I only put 1/2 on my plate to start. I try and eat it slowly and convince myself this is my whole dinner (and if I've used my volume trick sometimes that seems reasonable to my pesky overeating brain). Then I take a few deep breaths and get super excited that I get to go back for seconds-guilt free! I know it seems silly, but it's not my body that wants to keep eating...my body is getting all the fuel it needs. It's my chatty overeating brain that talks me into it. Sometimes it just wants the feeling of getting to go back for seconds. This pleases the overeating cheerleaders and they are usually very satisfied by this fake feeling of going in for more!

3) Just wait!
Sometimes I eat past my full point because I love to eat and I don't want the eating experience to be over. But now that I have built in snacks and eat 5 times a day, I don't have to wait very long in between eating. One very effective tool is to tell myself, "Stop, you will get to eat again very soon. If you wait to eat this, you will enjoy it twice as much because you won't feel guilty." And all the sudden 2 hours go by so fast and I get to eat again & not having the guilt factor is so worth it!! The regret ways us down. We don't have time for it. I know it seems too simple, but it really calms the overeating cheerleaders. It's like saying, "hold on guys...let me just get some things done in the next 2 hours and we can totally eat again when I'm done." It's great because the cheerleaders wait patiently on the bench as long as they know there is a game in their near future.

4) Change your situation immediately.
I have some built in rituals to change my situation for those moments when I start heading toward the fridge for a totally unnecessary munching session. Because it really is just those pesky cheerleaders who want you to overeat and not your body, give your cheerleaders some new scenery for a bit. My favorite ritual that always works is a walk to the corner store to buy myself a Lime Topo Chico (Mineral water with a twist of Lime for all you Non-Texans). It is the perfect distraction. It's a 400m walk...just long enough to switch up my brain waves, get some fresh air, and still treat myself to something. And I always feel great afterward. I'm happy I didn't indulge unnecessarily, I'm happy from moving my body and taking in fresh air, and I'm happy to have a refreshing bottle of deliciousness! Love it! My other favorite ritual is to paint my nails (sorry gentlemen...this may not be a great tip for you...although who knows...:). Works every time. I start getting excited about the new color and the new personality I can wear with the new color. AND with wet nails, no fridge rummaging will be happening. And when I'm in a plain nail phase...go for clear!

5) If you're gonna go crazy, at least go clean!
There is no better thing you can do to stop sugary indulgences than to not have any of that stuff in your house. Just don't buy it ever. So, when you do go to the fridge to pick when your not actually hungry, at least you are picking at the good stuff. I learned how true this was on Friday night when my awesome girlfriend Erika Jeanne brought me some homemade, all natural chicken soup. I have been sick since Wednesday (thus my MIA from Crossfit world) and Erika made me some almighty healing soup. She said, "Eat as much as you can and then SLEEP" Well, I took her up on the eating as much as I could...and then some. I ate 3 large bowls of her chicken soup, 1/2 yam, 1 apple with a bunch zucchini hummus, & 2 tbs almond butter. I'm sure 1 bowl alone was a 3 block meal...but I just wanted more. Let me tell you, I woke up the next morning with a flat stomach...not the "possibly 3 months pregnant" bulge I wake up with when I binge on sugar. It was a totally different story the next day. So, if you are going to eat beyond your blocks cuz you can't help it...stick to clean indulging and you won't regret it! Another tip: Frozen Grapes: a childhood favorite. When they are frozen, you eat less and they seem more like dessert.

If I think of more I will post them.
What are your tools for resistance?

Meet Team Phoenix

2009-09-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

Anna, Catherine, & Erika.

There is so much I could say about this day but the main word that comes to mind is PROUD.

I am proud to be a part of a phenomenal group of women who inspire me & push me to new heights on a daily basis.
I am proud of myself for getting through these workouts and actually being able to say that, despite the pain, they were really fun.
I am proud of my team members Erika and Anna.
I am proud of them individually and I am proud of how we worked together.

This is what my kick-ass team and I accomplished together on one rainy Saturday morning:

A 2 mile run with that could not be started until 150 Burpees were completed.
There were 2 stations that we stopped at during the our run to complete:
200 Kettlebell swings
200 med ball passes
Then back to the gym to complete the following:
50 barbell power snatch (45#)
200 box jumps
175 ab mat sit ups
100 pull ups
125 duo dead lifts @ 95#s (oh yeah, did I mention Team Phoenix did 105lbs by accident?)
150 jumping ring dips
100 duo shoulder press (55#)
Run 400m

Some memorable highlights for me were:

1) When Erika decided who was boss when it came to the 16kg Kettlebell. I was struggling with the weight and my wrist was weak when it came to stabilizing it overhead. I couldn't do as many reps as I wanted to in order to spare my team mates. But when Erika grabbed that Kettlebell, she let out an almighty grunt with every swing that said, "Guess whose boos MotherF&%$er!!" and swung that baby with all her might.

2) Anna and her never ending endurance makes me want to get off my ass and get going! While Anna has been an athlete most of her life, she has only being Crossfitting for about 2 months. She is new to many of the movements and new to the weight & intensity. But you would seriously never know it. She brings a "CAN DO" attitude to everything that she does and she was the first to cross the finish line amongst the 3 of us in both workouts. Totally inspiring.

3) I am pretty sure that Erika did the fasted sit-ups I have ever seen in my life. If I could get anywhere close to that speed I could shave a good 3 minutes off my "Angie" time. BAD ASS.

4) So, turns out Anna has never done a snatch with anything heavier than a PVP pipe. Remember that "CAN DO" attitude I was talking about? Well, we had to do 50 snatches with a 45lb bar (how much is a PVC pipe...1/2 lb?) and she ROCKED it with no fear. I watched her figure out the movement as she never stopped with grace, style, and determination. So awesome!

5) The cheers of all the ladies as everyone crossed the finish line made me feel a little choked up. Yeah, it was a competition...but it was so satisfying to watch everyone finish the race even if they totally beat us!

6) That run was so beautiful that I forgot that I don't like running as much as I wish to. The rain and the water made me forget the miserable Burpees and made me feel, well...special. I felt like a runner and I understood why I loved to do it.

See what I mean?
And the amazing meal we indulged in afterward was well worth the hard work: STEAK, FRENCH FRIES, and CHOCOLATE PIE = BLISS. Mel says it best with the pictures she took. Check them out!

Until Next time....
Team Phoenix will be in the 5 next year...watch out!!!

I'm pissed that you're pissed!

2009-09-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Okay...so I have tons to blog about this morning after a day of relaxation and recovery...an awesome art opening...an amazing women's challenge....

But before I get to any of that...my blood is boiling and I've got to post about it. I briefly mentioned in a previous post that I didn't understand why any citizen of Austin would be pissed that we can now enjoy a new Natural Grocery store in Hyde park just because it's somewhat close to Wheatsville. Last night, as I searched for some new recipes & where I might find some ingredients I need locally, I ran into a few reviews that got me pissed all over again. While most smart people are thrilled that more and more Natural Grocery Stores are joining the community...there are a few sour apples that simply piss me off. There is a trail of chatter on Yelp that begins with excitement for the addition of the Natural Grocers on 39th and Guadalupe and quickly spirals downward to a pissy rant about how Californians are ruining Austin with all this expansion...

For example:

"We like Wheatsville...which is why we'll keep supporting that almost completely local, community-owned and -loving emporium while wondering why a Colorado chain would set up shop just up the street from our most beloved and unique natural foods store..."

Before I tell you what really gets under my skin about this attitude...let me tell you a few quick notes about this "Colorado chain".

They have the freshest and MOST yummy almond butter I have ever tasted for only $4.99/tub. This is about 1/3 of the cost I have seen in other places.They also carry my favorite Turkey Jerky which is the only brand I have ever found locally to be both gluten free and sugar free. This stuff is a perfect portable protein and I can't get it anywhere else.Not to mention the fact that they sell Kombucha Tea for only $1.99 where the same brand is sold for $3.59 everywhere else in town.I personally believe that whether the owners of this chain are from Colorado or not, they have added a valuable resource for our community. And to be honest, I love Wheatsville and I do shop there quite a bit...but they are not quite as local as we want to believe.

But here is why I feel my blood circulating with great fervor when I read pissy rants about how unfortunate it is that the niche market of healthy eating is expanding:

HEALTHY EATING SHOULD NOT BE A NICHE MARKET!!!!

I'm sorry that you eat organic food, not because it's better for you, but because you need it to fuel your alternative identity. I'm sorry that you are so selfishly obsessed with your identity crisis that you don't want everyone to have access to good food. How dare you. How could another health food store (which is a full 10 blocks away on a major thoroughfare) be the downfall of Austin? F?%K You!! You don't get to own healthy food. You don't get to treat healthy food like your beloved underground band that sold out to the mainstream. It's people like you that make me afraid to be an outspoken healthy eater. There are "convenience stores" every other block that sell 90% crap filled with processed shit and tons of sugar. Well I want my organic apple to exist every other block too!! You are complaining about 10 blocks?!?!

Organic/healthy food should be as popular as Ferris Bueller. To quote Grace, it should be enjoyed by, "The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads" alike!

This is so much bigger than your alternative identity. Our country is in a health crisis. Get over yourself.

Happy eating my lovely people!!!

9 is the new 8

2009-09-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

Sleep. It's like breakfast: too many of us skimp on it and yet it will determine the quality of your day. Reality: I need at least 10 hours of sleep a night or NO LESS than 8 really deep/quality hours. But this almost never happens. It is so easy to slip into 7 is good enough. And 7 hours often feels like it was good enough because I was capable of multi-tasking & high levels of functioning throughout the day. But if 7 is basically getting a full-night sleep, then 6 1/2 is too...in fact sometimes I just have to settle for 6. I might be a little fog-headed when I first wake up...but the coffee will kick me into gear (sometimes).

But all it takes is the experience of a truly good night sleep that was long enough and quality enough for your body to restore itself to know that 7 doesn't cut it. It's actually unbelievable when you experience a freshness behind your eyes when you really get the sleep your body needs. I rarely experience this, but when I do I realize I am jipping myself. And when I perform amazingly in a workout where I have clarity of mind and fresh strength to keep going...it almost ALWAYS has to do with how well I slept the night before. I can examine my food journals all I want....but the answer usually comes from my sleep quality.

Adding healthy food and exercise to my life has brought me to new energy levels for sure. I would not be able to pull-off having a full-time job and an art career if I didn't crossfit and eat well. But I still find myself having those lulls....feeling like I want to crawl into my bed and just sleep...recharge. So I am joining the ever-fabulous Melicious on her journey of increasing energy by increasing veggie intake and GETTING MORE SLEEP!

The first step I am taking is to declare 9 hours the new 8 hours. I will strive for 9hours every night and will say that 8 (rather than 7) is the new good enough. This will be hard to do....when I get busy, good sleep is one of the first things to be sacrificed. But I also know that when I get more sleep, I get more out of my awake time because I am fresher. I went to bed at 9:30 last night and woke up at 7am....and I have to say there is a pep in my step today.

I have been reading "Lights Out: Sugar, Sleep, and Survival" by T.S. Wiley. This book, of course, points out how detrimental it is that humans do not sleep enough. In fact, in a very detailed and convincing 205 pages, the book basically states that lack of sufficient sleep is really the major problem behind most of our contemporary health issues. This problem happens before the overconsumption of sugar...lack of sleep increases our craving for sugar. One statement in this book that really spoke to me and I must share is:

"Understanding human physiological dysfunction is akin to repairing a broken vase. You start with the big pieces and, finally, all that's left is the impact point. Those tiny shards will go together in the end, but you never could have started there.

Those tiny shards are the only news the public gets. That's why the newspapers and news magazine shows are rife with "cutting-edge discoveries" that ostensibly will change your world, but, in real time, never provide one single cure."

This statement provided me with a sense of relaxation and understanding. It put words to something that I always felt was true. Because sometimes I feel like saying, how could this possibliy be so complicated? Why does one set of things cause cancer on one day and another set cause cancer the next day. Why does basically everything cause cancer? Why is the yoke of an egg the worst part of the egg one day and the most nutricious the next? One could simply go mad if you tried to keep up with all this mess. I am going to call these "shards" from now on. I can't go crazy over the shards...I want the big pices of glass...in fact, show me what the vase looked like before it was broken!

Speaking of sleep...check out these other cool beds!

A New Tool for the Kitchen

2009-08-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

This book just arrived from Amazon and it's a wonderful resource. Now that I have narrowed down my cooking ingredients to meats, vegetables, and healthy fats- my next step has been learning how to keep it interesting. I first realized the simple power of spicing things up when I dove into Indian Spices. But my understanding of adding spice combinations hasn't really expanded since then and I am ready to learn more. I am finally understanding the pleasure of cooking and more importantly the art of cooking. I need to follow the exact recipe over and over before I feel I intuitively understand it and can start improvising. And when I do get to that point where I am comfortably improvising beyond the basic recipe, it is a feeling a great empowerment...especially when it's delicious!

Well, this book is absolutely a great empowerment tool for my kitchen and I'm sure I will make many upcoming posts on my discoveries.

Here is what I have learned so far:

Flavor = Taste + Mouthfeel + Aroma + "The X Factor"

Taste = What is perceived by the taste buds
Mouthfeel = What is perceived by the rest of the mouth
Aroma = What is perceived by the nose
"The X Factor" = What is perceived by the other senses - plus the heart, mind, and spirit.

The book is essentially a large index that allows you to look up any ingredient and it gives you a list of other ingredients that magically compliment it and takes into account the 4 elements of flavor. I can already see that this book will introduce food combinations I would have never thought of...and this is a book years in the making with thousands of interviews with chefs all around the country. Lots of exciting flavor bursts await....
I will post my first recipe I experiment with this week.

My Morning Skies

2009-08-28T06:54:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed my workout this morning.
Very simple.
Felt Great.

3 Rounds:
50 squats
400m Run
20 Push Press

I used 20lb dumbells instead of 30lbs because I am still trying to be kind to my healing wrist. But I did not feel like I sold myself short...I made sure to keep those presses going at a fast pace.

Time: 14:42

Best part about the workout this morning was that I wasn't mentally struggling through the 400m runs. All the sudden I was back in the gym headed toward my dumbells and I realized, "Oh my gosh...I'm in the middle of a workout" Somehow my mind was drifting to fun places as I ran. What I love is how the sky changes on each run.

On the warmup up, the constellation of Orien is always perfectly placed in the sky. I looked at it and thought about how every single time I see Orien I remember when my dad taught me how to find it and I rember him telling me that was how his dad taught him how to find it. I don't think I have EVER looked at Orien and not thought about that story...and I will continue to do so everytime I see it.

By the final run of the workout the sky looks more like this:Second best part of the morning?
After I got home and ate my awesome breakfast I woke my husband up and had him do the exact same workout.
As I left for work he was returning from his 2nd 400m run.
And on his run the sky looked a little more like this:Happy Friday!

The Sniff Test no more!

2009-08-23T20:54:00.000-07:00

We used to joke about the sniff test when I was growing up. You know what I'm talking about...when you really aren't sure if the food from your fridge is still good. Well, as the fridge in our house becomes more and more full of fresh ingredients I find myself performing the sniff test quite a bit. Fresh food usually doesn't come with an expiration date. Plus, I'm new to cooking...so I really don't know how long food can last. And I'm also new to gauging how much food can yield. For example, who knew a spaghetti squash could make so much food! So...how long can I milk that thing?

I found the perfect resource: www.stilltasty.com

You can enter thousands of foods into the search engine and it will tell you how long it remains fresh. It also offers great tips on how to keep your food the freshest. I'm book-marking this baby.

Sprouts

2009-08-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the pleasure of attending another Goal Setting meeting at Crossfit Central. I attended my first one 3 months ago & we all set 3 month goals. We set goals for all aspects of our lives including our careers, family life, etc. After writing out what we want our life to look like in 10 years (which means I'll be 40...WOW!!), we set 1 year goals and 3 months goals as stepping stones for that life. I was pleased to see that 3 months later, I had accomplished all but one goal on my entire list. It never ceases to amaze me what starts to happen in your life when you set an intention. The simple act of writing goals means they are starting to get accomplished. When you really intend something and your whole being means it (and we have to really listen to ourselves because I have definitely set goals for things that I didn't actually want...I only thought I wanted it...but it didn't ultimately fit with who I am) the universe starts to open up opportunities all around you. Maybe these whispers of opportunities are always all around us...but when you clearly state your intentions to yourself and you truly align yourself with your goals and dreams...all the sudden these whispers turn into clear voices...and if you can let go of whatever it is that holds you back...you can walk the path of your dreams.

But what about those things that hold us back? In last nights meeting we got to address what the road blocks are between us and the life we want. What derails your plan? What delays your plan? What are the things we have control over and what are the things that we don't. Is it money? It is fear? When there are road blocks beyond our control, what attitude do we pick and how do we re-write our plan?
These are invaluable exercises to have some uninterrupted time to put some real thought into.

One of my favorite things from last nights meeting was some helpful tips on how to stay positive when life throws you some unexpected curve balls. What happens when you feel defeated? Carey introduced us to the idea of Sprouts. Whenever you feel down, just make a list of your sprouts! What are sprouts? Sprouts are the little tiny things that can happen in your day that make all stress seem silly. Little moments that you experience that remind you of why life is so good. I love calling these sprouts! Because when you experience them, I feel love sprouting in my heart.
I recommend writing down a list of sprouts even when you feel happy. I did it last night and it filled me up with such joy it made me giggle.

My Sprouts:
1) Any picture I receive of my nephew via email or text. Seeing a picture of him pretty much makes all stress irrelevant.
2) There is a certain look and a specific meow that my cat will give me that says, "Hey Buddy...you doing okay?" and it's almost always followed by a little nose nuzzle.
3) Anytime my husband reaches out for my hand while he is really concentrating on a task (like drawing or writing).
4) Anytime one of my employees does something really great and I get to tell them how appreciative I am for their work.
5) Anytime I get a text from one of my most favorite people in New York that simply says, "Thanks" and there is nothing specific attached to that thank you.
6) Hearing my sister-in-law sing.
7) Thinking about my breakfast on a drive home from my work out.
8) Any time my husband or any family member tells me they are proud of me.

Oh my goodness...and there are so many more. I feel very grateful for my life and my loved ones. Thanks Carey for giving me the gift of sprout lists. I can already tell I am going to have a great day after writing this list!

What are your sprouts?

Blog Overhaul

2009-08-21T09:52:00.001-07:00

Okay...I finally did it! I now have 2 blogs: one for my art adventures and the other for my journey in wellness. In so many ways these two areas of my life are one, as there is only one me & both areas are always informing the other. But the truth is, I kind of want to be a nerdy blogger. I am afraid to post too many nerdy healthy thoughts on a blog that I am pointing many art folks towards in hopes to build my art career. I also don't want to post too many nerdy creative process posts because I don't want my favorite crossfitters getting bored of my ramblings. So sometimes I sit here, with thoughts and ideas overflowing...but I don't post much of anything. I want the freedom to make an entire post on how cutting zuchini into matchsticks makes it taste better and I also want to post nuanced art thoughts about line quality. And of course, I certainly want all of my favorite people to enjoy both! You know, this blogosphere is a powerful place where a lot of networking can happen. I want my art to weasle its way into people's hearts and homes and I need an all out art blog to do so. But don't be surprised if art inspired posts still show up here as I'm sure some Crossfit posts will make there way onto my art blog. Can't wait to see how it goes. Check out: Catherine Hart Art

Multitasking: Maintaining A Good Flow

2009-08-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

I have been ridiculously busy. My husband has been ridiculously busy. So much so, that I keep finding myself worn out and needing to sleep a LONG time to recover. Last night for example: 8:30pm-8:30am...yep, slept right through my Crossfit class and woke up just barely in time to get to work. Long story short: I am balancing a lot of stuff. And I am not complaining...I actually kind of like it. But it means that the very carefully crafted flow I had going is starting to get fuzzy. While I consider myself a spontanious, easy going, go with-the flow kind of person, I still thrive off a strict schedule. I go to the grocery store the same time every week and follow the same path with my cart. My morning routine is always done in the same order at the same time or my day feels a little funky. I do the laundry ever Friday morning, etc, etc. But lately I have added way more to my to-do list. I am putting in extra hours at work, getting there earlier and coming home later, then I go right into being a maker & work steadily until I need to sleep...and sometimes way past when I need to go to sleep. I am determined and focused and I will get it done...but then my routine starts to slowly slip. I didn't get to the laundry on Friday. I missed class on Monday because I stayed up late finishing a drawing for my show (totally worth it) and had to sleep, which meant I didn't get to the grocery store like I'm used to...which meant I didn't have coffee to make this morning...which meant the laundry pile is spilling over...and once that happens why bother making the bed since the room feels messy....
So, I need to focus on a new routine that accomodes an even bsuier scheudle. Meeting my career goals with the job I currently have and my art goals at the same time is possible...but if it means I don't eat well, stay organized, and get to the gym that gives me so much eneregy and clarity, I need to rearrange something. I don't have kids right now so I have just enough time. But it requires focus. It require staying on track...and it requires knowing the "that can wait until tomorrow" thought is sometimes the right thing and sometimes the wrong thing. I need to focus on knowing the difference.
Thank goodness for the women's challenge to make sure that I stay on track...I can't let my teammates down. And right now, I have a fully loaded fruidge, laundry tumbling, my alarm set with a workout planned for my husband and I at 7:30am. And I even have the coffee prepped to brew so it's ready for us right when we are done with our workout! I am pressing my re-set button right now.
P.S. Thank God I have a husband who is in charge of all things trash and dishes...I'm bad at those things even when I am not busy!

Lots of Motion

2009-08-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

Things are getting a move on all around. I always feel the buzz around this time of year when school is about to begin. Because my husband teaches and my store's business mirrors the school schedule, this always feels like the true start of the new year for me. And now that I am no longer in school, this is one of my favorite times of year (not to mention knowing it's going to cool down in the fall).
The All Austin All Handmade Bash was a huge success for me. While I didn't sell very many pieces, it was a wonderful networking event and I really got the ball rolling on making my jewelry business the real deal. Best Part: I will be selling my jewelry in a local store called Downstairs Apparel on South Lamar. Totally psyched. AND, as many of you know, I long to blow glass, one of the greatest loves of my life. Well, I met someone who is building a glass studio in East Austin and I almost cried when I found out. I'm almost afraid to write bout it because it seems to good to be true. Glass dreams are a movin'....

I was truly moved on Saturday at the premiere of The Movement.I cried twice during this film and cried again watching it on my own computer. I cried because there were so many people in that room and it was only a year and a half ago that the new gym didn't exist and there were only 5 people in my glass. I feel so blessed to have been present for this unbelievable ripple affect. I cried because I know that when Jeremy and Carey say that they love every single person they work with, they actually mean it. I cried because this is not about lifting weights or being better than anyone else, this is about being the Best You. It's about believing you deserve to feel good and empowering you with the tools to do so. I have a tattoo on my back that says "Make it Epic" and that tattoo isn't just about doing it, it's about MEANING it. Otherwise it's just fluff. I was touched to be in the presence of a family who truly has made it EPIC. The family and friends that put their hearts and souls into starting Crossfit Central knew that their passion was worth something beyond themselves. I want to take this moment to thank the Crossfit Central Family for spreading love and helping a community learn to love and take care of themselves from the inside out. What it has taught me is invaluable. And to get to be around so many people that are also empowering themselves to feel good is a privilege and motivating beyond measure. Thank you to my Crossfit family.

The Movement: worth watching.
Love and wellness is a movin'...

And my poor little wrist is a movin'....finally!
It still hurts, but I am starting to use it.
Day 18 no nightshades.
I know it takes about 6 weeks to really know if your body is reacting, but I feel like this is working. Maybe it is just the placebo affect and I just believe in it...but I think it's helping.
So, I am back on that pull-up bar.
Only, I forgot that I was away for so long and I attacked that bar like I had the strength and it was ROUGH.
I also forgot that my callouses were no longer there for protection and now i get to be one of those crossfitters that post a nasty picture of their hands:And, after even more pull-ups at Run-Tex on Saturday, my biceps swelled up and....well....now my arms aren't a movin'....
So there are a few rest days in store before I get back up and do it all again.
And the announcement of the Women's Challenge was just what I wanted! I'm sure there will be lots of posts on that soon to come.

Monday is the New Sunday

2009-08-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

I know I promised a Sunday update, but I am just exhausted. I slept in until 12:30pm today! This is like EPIC-ly late for me these days. Can't remember the last time that happened. So, because I wore myself out & any post I would have created today would be half-hearted, I am updating tomorrow. Great things happening all over. LIFE IS GOOD. I'm still on a high from The Movement...thoughts tomorrow. :)

All Austin All Handmade Bash

2009-07-29T15:23:00.001-07:00

I am lucky enough to be participating in an awesome event this Friday night at the Beauty Bar Downtown from 7pm-11pm. The event is an All Austin, All Handmade Vendor/Launch Party. It will entail local handmade vendors, launch party for a new instructional DIY company... "do it yourself" tutorial/project, giveaways, up-dos, massages, manicures and all female/female lead bands. I will be selling a whole new batch of jewelry fresh out of the kiln from my Opal-Black line.

My babies!

If you want to see them up close you have to come to the event :)

Hope to see you there:
Friday, July 31st
7pm-11pm
Beauty Bar
7th and Red River

I feel like I have a ton to blog about but between getting ready for the busiest season at my store and working on jewelry at night I have been going full-tilt boogie! Check back (after I sleep in of course) for my Sunday post of updates.