Tasteful Tuesday

I took the kids to the San Diego Zoo yesterday.  I LOVE that zoo.  I practically grew up there.  My daughter thought I was just partial to my zoo because I grew up in San Diego.  After all, we have been to zoos all over- including Tokyo, Singapore, Washington DC and Seattle.  After our visit yesterday she conceded with me.  It is IS the best freakin' zoo there is.

Why the zoo story?  Well it was a last minute trip which means I broke up with my Whole 30-ish. I will be back at it tomorrow.  I would say today but this evening I had pizza.  Whoops.  By the way, my stomach wasn't happy with me this morning.  It really is necessary for me to follow a Paleo lifestyle because if I don't I pay for it!

This morning I did start the day off right with my sweet potato and yam fries topped with two sunny side up eggs and homemade mayo. Very TAsty Tuesday indeed! 

Breffis and sweet potatoes or yams?

Know what I discovered upon moving (back) to California?  

Yams and sweet potatoes are not the same thing!  What I had been calling sweet potatoes and the East coast grocery stores called that as well were actually YAMS!  I really thought they were one in the same.  

But upon visiting the local grocery store I found two bins- one with sweet potatoes and the other with yams.  The yams have more color. If you look at the picture of my sweet potato fries you will see they almost look like regular ole' Idaho white potatoes (they have paprika on them hence the color.) But they are not.  And I think they are a little sweeter than yams.  Very yummy in either case.

My breffis (breakfast) (as we jokingly call it in our house), consists of leftover sweet potato fries and a chicken thigh.  I topped the chicken with two sunny side up eggs and added a good measure of homemade mayo on the side.

Here's to making it a great day. :)

2 year CrossFit Anniversary! (AKA yummy egg celebration)

I realized this morning as I was brushing my teeth that today is my two year CrossFit Anniversary.  Two years ago I walked into the gym for my very first CrossFit work out.  I was so very nervous, in fact I was ready to cry I was that anxious about it all.  The night before I dreamt that I showed up for my work out and everyone sneered at me and were even angry about me being there- I was the "FNG".

So how did it go?  First off I could not even do a decent push up on my knees and lets not get started on my squats (which I had never attempted before that day.)  My first WOD was Cindy- which is traditionally 20 minute AMRAP of 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups and 15 squats.  Since it was my first work-out my coach had me do ten minutes.  Which, I have to say probably saved my life.  10 minutes was hard- I did jumping pull-ups, very shallow push-ups on my knees and very shallow squats.  My coach, who is now one of my dearest friends- looked me dead in the eye in the middle of my work out when I thought I was about to puke- "you are not going to throw up."  I didn't.  I went home after that- showered and took a two hour nap.  The next several days were painful- I could barely walk down the stairs and sitting down to pee was a feat in itself (I had to hold on the walls around me).  It sounds awful but I was in love.  After only two weeks I knew I was stronger already.  It works that fast.

Fast forward two years later-
Initially I lost twenty pounds and two dress sizes within the first 6 months (I started eating paleo about a month after I started CrossFit).  I have gained eight of those pounds back, but still fit into the same clothes- which means I have gained a ton of muscle.  My one rep max for deadlift is now 205- I worked hard for that!  I cannot RX all WODs- which to be honest a lot of people can't or choose not to- but that is a discussion for another day.  Two years ago I couldn't even run one lap around the track without stopping- the other day I went for a nice 2 mile run with no problems.  I am a little disappointed I still can't do a kipping pull-up- but to be honest I haven't worked hard enough for it.  I have never had any upper body strength.  I played volleyball in high school and couldn't even serve the ball overhanded- I had to hit it from the side.  But now I have real muscles in my arms!  Let me tell you I am proud of them too.
To sum it up- I am stronger, leaner, faster and more confident.  I am part of a community of like minded individuals who share this passion with me- to be stronger, faster, healthier.  I hope to pass it on to my children.  I shudder to think of all the time I threw away sitting on the couch because I had no energy to do anything.  The times when my children wanted to me to go out and play with them but all I could do was sit and watch because I felt too tired.  I really wish CrossFit had come into my life a lot sooner!

To celebrate this milestone I made the most delicious eggs.  I saw a recipe somewhere on FaceBook- can't remember where- but I just know it had eggs, avocado and bacon in it.  That is what inspired me to make this dish.

Green Eggs and Bacon (a tribute to Dr. Seuss's birthday which is March 2nd.)

1/2 green pepper- diced

1 ripe avocado- peeled and diced

1 tablespoon coconut oil

3 eggs

salt and pepper to taste

3 strips of bacon- cooked and crumbled

1/4 cup diced tomatoes

cilantro (half handful or however much you like)

hot sauce (I like Tapatios)

Heat pan on medium high heat- add coconut oil.  Stir fry green pepper until it starts to brown slightly, add avocado.  Cook veggies until the avocado starts to brown slightly.  Whisk the eggs in a bowl- season with salt and pepper.  Add to veggies and scramble the eggs with the veggies.  Once the eggs are cooked, immediately scoop out on a plate.  Top with tomatoes, cilantro (I just break up the leaves with my hands), and crumbled bacon.  Add a dash or two or three of hot sauce.  Enjoy!