crossfit

my love affair with sweet potatoes

~ taytertalks ~ Leave a comment

Do you have one of those foods that you could eat endless supplies of?  Mine is tacos.  And pizza.  But for performance foods AND tastiness, my body has a love affair with sweet potatoes.  My friends tease me for it, and I seriously question how I haven’t taken on the shade of an Oompa Loompa .

oompa loompa

For my weekly meal prep, I regularly roast up broccoli, sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts.  It’s easy and OH SO delicious.  Roast any vegetable and I’m totally okay with it.  During the month of February (and slightly into March), I completed the Whole 30.  Meal prepping went to a whole new level when you have to look for added sugars, no legumes, no dairy, etc.  I like to think that I eat relatively clean anyway, but I had to get creative!

One of my favorite go-to meals was SO easy and my boyfriend (who did NOT complete the Whole 30 with me) LOVED it.

Crockpot Meat Sauce

  • 1 jar spaghetti sauce (Whole 30 compliant..I LOVED Raos Homemade)
  • 1 box of mushrooms chopped
  • 1 lb ground meat of choice
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon coarse ground pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
  • handful of fresh basil chopped

sauce

Seriously just throw that shit in the crockpot on low for 6 hours and you’re in heaven.  I would usually pour it over spaghetti squash, but I was recently reunited with my spiralizer and tried sweet potato noodles!!  Oh my gosh.  GAME CHANGER.

I present to you

Swoodles

swoodles

  • Peel two sweet potatoes
  • Spiralize the shit out of said sweet potatoes
  • Sautee over medium heat with olive oil and garlic powder for 7-10 minutes

 

ENJOY!

Paleo Coffee aka: sexy smackers

~ taytertalks

I remember the first time I made myself a coffee drink that I could actually stomach.  I was a freshman in college and I made the sickliest mocha.  I was a barista, which was ironic, because I didn’t drink coffee.  There was, seriously, so much chocolate in this drink.  Then my love affair with coffee began.  I didn’t drink it every morning, I didn’t need the caffeine to feel alert.  I certainly never made coffee at home.  As time passed, and my career as a barista continued, I slowly weaned off the flavorings.  First it was to a vanilla latte, then it was a white chocolate mocha.  At one point, I discovered that adding white chocolate powder to an americano was a game changer.  Then one day I went cold turkey and started drinking my coffee black.  Okay, so it wasn’t cold turkey and I was actually forced to drink it that way because I ran out of creamer.

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I’ve always said that my favorite meal to go out for is breakfast.  There is something really special about starting your day sipping java with someone.  A chance to catch up.  A chance to cuddle up on the couch and connect.  So many conversations over so many caffeinated drinks.  I always order coffee when I go out for breakfast and until recently, that was the only time I enjoyed a steaming cup o’ joe.  Colin drinks coffee every morning, so it was an adjustment when he starting grinding the beans for me too.  But I went with it, always black, except the few times that I would add some almond milk to cool it down.  I became a creature of habit and before I knew it, I was having a cup almost every morning.

I had heard of paleo coffee over the last few years, but never done much research.  I’d tried paleo in the past, without any guidance, and just following the advice “just eat meat and fats”.  Needless to say, it was not a successful attempt and I was a bit turned off when I wasn’t seeing or feeling the results I had hoped for.  When I joined Crossfit Train last year, I just kept hearing the coach talk about her meals, and watching her move, how strong she was, and the fact that she had just pushed a baby out of her only three (3) months prior that I REALLY wanted to know more.  I’m obsessed with self-improvement books, so I bought every cookbook I saw, I read every article I got my hands on and I started following every paleo icon on Instagram.  She kept talking about the Whole 30 and how we should do it as a group, so I did what any normal person would do.  I went to Target, bought the book, read it cover to cover, followed every Whole 30 Instagram account and signed up for their newsletter.  We started the Whole 30 on February 1st.

I figured this would be the best time to try paleo coffee.  There are so many variations and recipes.  My first attempt was blending coconut oil and cinnamon.  It was delicious until the end of the morning and the end of my cup.  A weird slime had come together in my cup and it was a terrible moment when I attempted to swallow this paleo slime.  I swapped out the cinnamon for ghee on my next attempt, since it’s Whole 30 approved.  I blended one teaspoon of coconut oil and one teaspoon of ghee with one cup of coffee.  It was delicious and also gave my lips a sexy sheen!  BONUS!  I still make this version on occasion, but my go to is a tablespoon of coconut oil on a spoon.  Put the spoon in my coffee cup.  Pour coffee over the cup, stir and enjoy!  It’s not nearly as frothy as when I blend it, but it saves me time in the morning.  I’m debating purchasing a frother this weekend.  Even though I have omitted the cinnamon, mixing the two reminds me of my grandmother’s cinnamon toast.  It’s been magical.

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I’m really looking forward to trying other variations of paleo coffee after my Whole 30.  Like this Metabolic Paleo Coffee they serve at Honor Society in Denver, CO.

METABOLIC PALEO COFFEE

Coffee, Organic Coconut Oil, Grass Fed Clarified Butter, Molasses, Vanilla, Maple, Maca Root  $4.25

What’s your favorite paleo coffee recipe?

 

.Defeat.

~ taytertalks ~ Leave a comment

It happened.

The feeling.

DEFEAT.

Last night I stayed after work for a Happy Hour meet and greet event.  I had come off of a long 24 hours of traveling and dealing with the loss of someone dear.  I had three glasses of wine and was feeling great.  I mean, wine always makes me feel great.  Until the next morning when my head is pounding.

I got home around 8:30 pm and realized I was starving.  So I did what any normal person who is kinda drunk and dealing with food and body image issues would do.  I ate the rest of the ice cream in the fridge and ordered a pizza.  Okay, okay…I also ordered the parmesan bread bites.

As I sat on my couch, dipping my slices into the garlic butter included in my order, I started to think and be aware of how my body was feeling.   Sure, that pizza was AMAZING.  But I began to feel the grease on my face and fingers, the folds of my stomach over my comfy pants.  I began to realize how sad and weak and alone I felt in that moment but that each bite was filling me with a temporary sense of purpose and comfort.  But then the slice was gone and I was on to the next.

It wasn’t until I spilled the container of garlic butter on one of my throw pillows that I realized I was lost.  I was sad.  I was unhappy.  I had lost my purpose and was no longer celebrating my moments.  I had not had any victories.  I had not set and crushed any goals.  I also realized that my stomach hurt and I had a huge piece of pineapple stuck in my teeth.  It’s cool.  I was eating alone.

I woke up late this morning and I looked at my phone to realize I had 10 minutes to get up and get my ass to my workout.  I made a mini goal to make it because I had made a mini goal to get 4 workouts in this week.  I was 10 minutes late and had to do 40 burpees, but I made it.

I also reached out to a few friends to find support with my recent bout of depression after being assaulted.  But that’s a whole other post.

#goalsbeingcrushed

I stepped on the scale this morning and weighed 153 pounds.

It’s just a number.

It’s.  Just.  A.  Number.

find your HAPPY place

~ taytertalks ~ Leave a comment

Selecting a fitness program can be really overwhelming, especially when you’re new to the workout scene.  I’ve tried many forms of exercise.  From the elliptical at the gym, The Firm at-home workout videos, Zumba…I’ve tried almost everything and I’m here to help.

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Finding your fitness groove is personal to the individual and it’s important to know what you’re looking for and for you to be comfortable.  I’m here to share some of my favorite programs, but this article, from Fitness Magazine, could also help you determine what style is for you.  Keep in mind, I’m not a doctor.  Please talk to your doctor before beginning any fitness program.

THE AT HOME WORKOUT

The Firm & Tone It Up

When I was in college, my mom and I both ordered The Firm workout plans from an infomercial.  We followed their fitness plan, and together, lost almost 30lbs.  That was back in the early 2000’s and times are a changing!  I still use their DVD’s when I’m in a pinch, and although they are a bit old school…they do the job.  They get me sweating!

More recently, I fell in love with the Tone It Up girls, Katrina and Karena.  Last year I completed their Bikini Series and it’s back!  Their newsletter is free and they have tons of free workouts online.  They also have a YouTube channel and you can complete any of their workouts on the go!  I splurged and bought their Nutrition Plan and their Beach Babe 2 DVD.  The girls are hilarious and their bodies are BANGIN!  Not only do they motivate me to put down the pizza and workout, but I also want to be their best friend.  Check them out!

BOOTCAMP

Bootique Fitness / Barry’s Bootcamp / Blunt Force

If you’re a lady looking for other ladies to motivate your fitness, I highly recommend Bootique Fitness.  A women’s only, outdoor boot-camp, you get SO MUCH for your money.  Multiple locations with morning and evening classes, you’re able to find your inner fit babe from their program all day, every day, in the great outdoors.  BONUS:  As a Bootique member, you’re also able to attend their Zumba classes for FREE!  I am a big fan of being strong, but I have fallen in love with the dance!  I dare you to try it.

A friend of mine also turned me onto Barry’s Bootcamp.  Another strength based boot-camp style workout, Barry’s pushes you to the MAX.  A 60 minute workout, your instructor splits the class between the dreaded treadmill and the floor.  Each day is a different muscle group and it’s not for the faint of heart.  You’ve got to work.  They are bit more expensive, but if you’re going consistently, you’re paying for results.  But have a I ever mentioned how much I hate running?  I love the calories I burn in their classes, but I dread those sprints.

In January, I bought a Groupon for Blunt Force Training.  They have some KILLER group boot-camps with rotating Trainers.  No two workouts are the same.  They also offer Strength classes, Yoga and Boxing!  I have never left that gym without feeling like I just got my ass kicked.  They are friendly, motivating, fun and the clients come in all ages, shapes and sizes!  The gym also has several Personal Trainers that have clients throughout the day.  Team Fit Chick, with coaches Alysha White and Kasey Wilson, train their competitors out of this gym too.  I’d call this one a one stop shop.  And the Unlimited Membership is a steal at $99/month.  Personal Training and competing are an additional cost.

THE STANDARD GYM

24 Hour Fitness / Chuze Fitness / Planet Fitness

I’m not going to take a ton of time between each of these gyms.  I know that some gyms offer fancy pools and saunas…but I would rather get a facial or massage from a specialist so I am all about the basics.  Most standard gyms have the same equipment and cardio systems, so for me, it’s all about the cost.  24 Hour Fitness is the most expensive of the three gyms I’ve been a member of, ranging from $30-$60/month.  At $10/month, for their basic membership, Chuze Fitness and Planet Fitness take the cake.  The only setback is most locations don’t have free barbell weights.  I like to lift heavy, but not for nearly $30/month more, so this isn’t a deal breaker.  Make sure you take a tour of the facility and really understand the equipment before you get started.  You want to make sure you get the most for your money!  Plus, most gyms are creating awesome circuit areas for you to get an awesome 30 minute Circuit Training session in.  BOOM!

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I hope this helps you make a better decision for your fitness.  Feel free to share your own experiences in the comments.  I would love to hear your recommendations!