A new spin on some old faves

For the past two weeks, I've had the privilege of being part of an elite group of women chefs who spend one evening a week training a new chef in the ways of paleo cooking.  All the while, swapping recipes, taste testing our specialties, and laughing at ourselves.  Yep, I'm part of the CFNH (Crossfit New Haven) Cooking WOD group. 

And, last night we had a ball!  Our team leader and Mama Bear, Barb, created this site, http://cfnhcookingwod.tumblr.com/, to help us keep track of our recipes for each week.  Last night the theme was Cauliflower (and other things).  I'll bet you never knew you could make such healthy versions of some of your old favorites.  Check it out:

A new spin on PIZZA


Paleo/GlutenFree Cauliflower Pizza Crust



Primal/GlutenFree Pizza on the crust! (Primal due to cheese)



  



The newly named 'CFNH SisterWives' or 'Chefs'


A healthy Fried 'Rice'


Cauliflower Fried Rice- totally paleo and gluten free! (no actual rice necessary)

 And my favorite recipe of the night, Zucchini Latkes


Zucchini latkes (pancakes) in coconut oil

 


Because it helps if you dance to the latkes to get them to brown faster

 



Finished product... so good!


So check out our site and follow along as we try out new recipes and teach our sweet peach how to cook!

***Apologies for the formatting issues... not sure what happened here.

Yours in a food coma (in the best way),
whit

Today is the day

Friends,

Today is the day I both long for and dread all year.  Today, the CrossFit Opens Competition begins.  It's a five week global competition in which CrossFit athletes compete each week as they work toward an invitation to the Regional competition in their state/country.

Tonight at 8pm the first WOD of the competition will be announced and I'm nervous.  Like a combination of butterflies in your stomach before a first date and the gut wrenching feeling of desperation and despair.  Lovely, right?

But before that, I am asking you all to watch this video of my gym, CrossFit New Haven, as we participated in a competition called Barbells for Boobs last October.  The competition was to raise awareness and access for early breast cancer detection and mammograms.  Our gym raised over $6,000 and had a BLAST!  PS- it's my absolute favorite crossfit workout.  On the video you'll get to see our gym, my friends, and even me! talking about this great community of people. 

When you click the link, read the article if you choose, but definitely click the best format for you to the right and watch.  It's about 6 minutes, but I'd love it if you took the time to check out something so important to me.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Cheers,
Whitney

Whirlwind

This last 10 days has been quite a whirlwind. I've been working on huge projects at work, carving pumpkins, participating in fundraisers, SNOW, halloween, and the list goes on. Whew! I'm pooped.

Here are some photos from the last week+ of activities and adventures.

Last Saturday, I participated in Barbells for Boobs, which is a CrossFit event that raises funding for Breast Cancer research and treatment.  Our gym raised over $6,000 and held a friendly competition event.  Participants had to perform the WOD called 'Grace' which is 30 clean and jerks for time.  I finished in 3:09 at 95lbs.  All photos borrowed from Aaron Poach- a friend and fellow CFNH member.

The day was electric with energy and stories of triumph, survival, and spirit. We had a cookout afterward and then awaited the snow to fall.  I couldn't believe I was seeing snow come so early in the year. October 29th.  Many parts of CT are still without power today; however, Milford wasn't too hard hit so we managed to not relive our Hurricane Irene lifestyle. 

More on Halloween and the snow to come. Hope you all are having a good week. Happy Wednesday!

-Whitney

Why I heart CrossFit

I've been in a bit of a topic slump the last few days.  There are so many things going on that it's hard to find time to focus on just one and write about it.  But, seeing some amazing pictures and experiencing a great day at the gym with my team and friends this past weekend lit a spark. I LOVE CrossFit.  I know a lot of people will say they love running or they love to swim or they love riding their bike, and those things are very nice, but I seriously love CrossFit and I'm so thankful to have found it a year and a half ago. 

Here is a link to my crossfit gym, CrossFit New Haven.  This place is awesome and has become a second home of sorts.  For those of you who don't know much about CrossFit, I'd highly recommend that you do a little research for gyms in your area and check it out.  This type of workout is not only some of the best physical activity I've ever done, but it's totally motivating. 

A few key points to know about CrossFit are:

• It's a group style workout- you are never working out alone without support; you work out in a class style format with people of all walks of life with the same goal of being healthy and fit. 
• There is always at least 1 coach who is monitoring your movements and giving you one-on-one advice and support throughout the workout.  It's like working out with a personal trainer amongst all of your friends.
• The workouts are constantly varied so you never get bored and you don't have to keep track of which day/body part you are focusing on today.  The workouts (called WODs) are set up to build and strengthen specific movements and modalities.  There are days where we focus on one thing at a time, or days where we do a 20 minute workout that includes 3 modalities together.
• There is weightlifting involved, but not in a greasy, vein popping out, body builder kind of way.  Each person is free to work with a weight that suits them and allows them to perform the movement safely and properly.  It's tailored to each person specifically so there is not competition for who is lifting the heaviest or most.
• Each gym is a unique family- it allows you to get to know people in their times of struggle and need, as well as in their times of triumph and glory.  We create a family dynamic where all are welcome and we support each other through goals and challenges.  Hence, my paleo challenge team that I'm sacrificing my beloved carbs for.  Team Kick JurASSics, I love you guys.

 My favorite part of CrossFit is getting to workout with my friends! They push me, I push them, we set goals together and discuss parts of the workout that might be challenging or feel good.  We are accountable to each other.

Not only do I feel stronger, healthier, and ready for anything, but I also have a great time every time I'm at the gym.  Sure, I curse the workout the next morning when my quads are screaming at me while I descend the stairs at home, but it's all worth it.  I get as much peace of mind from this place and the people in it as I would sitting on a quiet beach reading a book.  There's something soothing about heavy metal or hard core rap music blaring so loud you can't hear yourself breathe... sweat dripping all over the place leaving a trail of the work you've already done, and blisters on your hands after the 100th pull-up.  You won't know the feeling I'm talking about until you try it. 

 Don't be afraid.  Check out a CrossFit gym near you by visiting this website.  Also, the 2011 CrossFit games have been playing on ESPN2, which is a great way to see what hard work, dedication, and eating right can do.  Those people are incredible!

Mike and I met at a competition a year and a half ago... nothing but love for it.

Yours in xfit love,
Whitney

Captain Caaaaaaaaaaave Womaaaaannnnn!

Yep. It's day 2 of the challenge and so far, it's going well.  I made the trek to Costco this weekend to stock up on meat and veg.  I cleaned out the crap from the fridge and cabinets.  We did not restock our beer fridge (sigh), nor did we purchase any wine.  I did my assessment workout, Fight Gone Bad, and set a benchmark for myself.  I was assigned to Coach Ryan's team for the challenge with some of my favorite people from my gym.  So now it's all about maintaining and not giving in to cravings or weak moments where chocolate or wine would normally be the answer. 

I spent about 4 hours prepping food on Sunday afternoon.  Cutting veggies up.  Picking chicken for chicken salad.  Hard boiling eggs for breakfasts.  Prepping meat for dinners each night. It was good.  And now our fridge looks like this:



I think the most difficult part is going to be lunches.  It can be hard at work to always find time to eat, and to eat healthy things that require preparation.  Here's what I have for today:


my packed lunch bag



avocado for a snack



spinach for my chicken salad

Hydration- gotta drink 1/2 my weight in ounces of water each day!

YUM- tomatoes for my chicken salad

and my hard boiled eggs

It's not easy, but I feel good.  I guess that's why they call it a challenge.  Stay tuned... and keep your fingers crossed that I don't have any slip ups. 

Yours in meat loving,
Whitney

Back to the stone age... just call me Wilma

Today marks an ending of sorts.  Well... a beginning to an ending that will culminate on Sunday.  This Sunday.  On that fateful day, I will begin a 30 day 'Paleo' challenge.  Yes, Paleo, like cavemen. 

It's something that is preached a lot at CrossFit and it's something that I've thus far managed to somewhat avoid.  Sure, during the week I cook very healthy meals that are just about 95% Paleo, but we still have a beer or glass of wine or coconut macaroon with our meat and veg.

Our gym is launching their annual 30 challenge to jump start people back into healthy eating before we all hibernate in our caves for the long winter, living off of our fat stores and baked goods. Yep. That's what happens.

Here are a few useful websites that discuss the paleo diet: this one,  and this one,  and especially this one.

So this means BIG changes are coming. And I'm going to do my best to maintain and stay strictly paleo as long as I can. 30 days is a long time, though. I may have a few slip ups.  So I'll keep a food journal and I'll be honest in documenting my good work and my slip-ups (let's face it, there will be some). 

I don't have a specific goal.  Maybe I should set one. But, I would like to tone up a bit more and feel better during WODs. While those are generic goals, they work for me.  I'm not a scale watcher, I don't know how much I weigh, I don't know my measurements and I don't ever intend to know these things.  I'll judge my results by how my clothes fit, how I feel, my energy levels, and my performance at the gym.  I'll also document these things as well.  And- for the sake of honesty and accountability, I'll take some before, during, and after photos. It will keep me motivated if I have to put my sports bra'd self on the interweb for show.

At the end of the 30 days, I hope this is something that becomes our 'normal' and I can stick with it.  Sure, I'll still have the occasional beer or FroYo (duh, FroYo Fridays would suffer without me), but I hope that my primary eating habits are forever changed. 

And with that, I will spend the next two days tasting my favorites one last time, cleaning out the pantry and shelves of non-paleo snacks, and restocking with legit paleo foods.  Sigh. Farewell Lays Potato Chips... I heart you. So long coconut macaroons... you've been good to me.  And... ForYo, where do I begin?  I will miss you every Friday for the next month. Today I will have a large cup in solidarity.

Yours in chest beating and clubbing,
Paleo Whitney

Paintball... oh my!

Friends,

Today, I sit here slightly nervous and partially excited but mostly confused as to how I got myself into a paintball tournament tonight with my fellow CrossFitters.  Oh. My. Heavens.  I think initially I thought we were actually doing laser tag.  You know, the non-hurting, you can hide in a dark corner until it's done, or secretly shoot at people without them knowing.  Yeah, that's what I thought we were doing.

Instead, we are going to paintball.  Paintball!?!?  Isn't this crap going to hurt me?  I treated myself to a little photo montage via Google Images to check out exactly what this craziness looks like.  It's not pretty.  I'm even more afraid now.  You know, I'm like a peach; I bruise easily :)  Ha!

Here is my before picture... just in case I don't come back in the same condition:

Here are a few pieces of evidence I found that have contributed to my fear and desire to possibly back out of this whole adventure.  I think this is definitely a 'boy' type of event.  Can't I just go to Lulu Lemon instead?

Exhibit A:

What the heck are all of those canister things on their backs and why are they all huddled together while homeboy in the red shirt is attacking them?  And what's with the guy in the front who is posed like a cheetah ready to strike.  Isn't this a gun game? 

Exhibit B:

It's clear you can't really hide 'behind' anything since we're bigger than all of these obstacles.  So my theory of hiding in the corner is out the window.  And- is that a dog house?!?!

Exhibit C:

I am not a Sniper; however, some of the people going with us have been snipers and sharp shooters in the military.  So while they will take this stance, I will take the shape of a rolly polly and wait until the whole thing is over.

Exhibit D:

There are no words for this. This is like Chewbaca meets Swamp Thing in the bayou of Louisiana.  But, I kind wish I had this get up to hide in.  And I'll be it helps prevent the pain from the paintball hit.

Exhibit E- The Most Important One:

Are you freaking kidding me?!?  If this crap hits my face I will be pissed. I can not show up to work on Monday with a black eye, swollen face, or any missing teeth.  Seriously. The face?  And I'm pretty sure the free-with-purchase face mask they give us won't be a protective as this one. Sigh.

So with that, I'm officially afraid.  Perhaps I can persuade my team to let me be the photographer (positioned safely from the sidelines with a zoom lens) instead of being in the trenches.  I hope they tell us the commands for "I quit" and "Please don't hurt me" and "I'm outta here!"  because I have a feeling I will need them.

Oh holy hannah, this is going to hurt.  So folks, keep me in your thoughts.  When the clock strikes 5pm, I'll be covered in this:

Dear washing machine, please forgive me for the clothes in which you will receive tonight.  I have a sneaking suspicion that Mike is going to L-O-V-E this and ensure that he uses every available paintball on the field.  He tends to be deceivingly good at these types of things. Sigh, again.

I'll report back with photos.

Yours in fear,
Whitney