Workout Challenge

It's not a secret that I like to push myself physically, emotionally and spiritually (example- 2 marathons in 6 days :). I find that's when I discover how far I can be stretched and where my rope ends and God's starts. Sure it's uncomfortable at times, sure it hurts, but it's been my experience that this is how life is too.

So when I go through a tough week of training and workouts I just file it away. When life gets tough, I can think back to that tough week and know that if I can make it through THAT, then I can make it through my present situation with God's sovereign help.

So I challenge you this week... push yourself to get comfortable in the uncomfortable and try this workout...

Real food

Since September of last year, I have followed a paleo diet pretty exclusively (minus a month or two). I initially started a Paleo challenge as a way to rid my body of processed sugars and increase my protein intake, but it has evolved into a lifestyle which is clean, healthy, and nutrient dense. I have so enjoyed the freedoms this lifestyle has provided for me- freedom from guilt after eating sugar-heavy foods, freedom from blood sugar spikes, freedom from the scale, and most importantly for me, freedom from the power struggle food had over me at times.

I was driving down the highway some months back and saw the picture of guardrails on either side of the road, no big deal, guardrails are everywhere. However, I started to consider their purpose and realized that they are placed there for the driver's safety and for the safety of others.

I translated this into my own life and realized that guardrails in my life of health and fitness not only provide safe boundaries for me but more importantly they allow me freedom inside. See, when you travel down the highway, you have two, sometimes three lanes that you can move in and out of as you choose. If you get too close to the guardrails the rumble strips let you know and you navigate your car back onto the highway. Nutrition is no different. If I place the guardrails of paleo (gluten free, dairy free, grain free, and sugar free) on either side of my 'eating highway' then I have freedom to move in between the lanes and eat nutritious food as my body desires and craves. It no longer becomes about the number of calories or the percentages of fats, carbs, and protein, but instead it becomes about choosing the most nutrient dense foods for my body that will fuel and heal it appropriately.

See, for me eating a Paleo lifestyle isn't restrictive, instead it is freedom. I get to explore new recipes, (find more recipes by following me on pinterest) new foods, and eat when my body is hungry. It's how we were designed- to live in freedom in all areas of life. Cheers!

My new favorite recipe for 'nut milk'

Cashew Milk

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight
• 3-4 cups water
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar or honey
• pinch celtic sea salt

Instructions

1. Discard soaking water and rinse cashews thoroughly until water runs clear
2. Place cashews, (3-4 cups fresh) water, agave and salt in a vitamix
3. Process on high speed 20-30 seconds
4. Store in glass mason jar in refrigerator

Killer 30 minute cardio

So I have this friend; you know the kind of friend that make you do things you really don't want to do, but in the end you know it's the best thing for you. After an Olympic lifting WOD (workout of the day) and setting a new PR (personal record) in the split snatch, she says to me and another innocent bystander friend... "hey girls want to do a 30 minute cardio workout with me? It's a good cardio blast, c'mon it will be fun." (insert sly sarcastic smile here). So hesitantly we agreed, and do you know what? It was empowering, faith building and one of my favorite cardio workouts I have done in a long time even though it was TOUGH. I love my friend for so many reasons, but one of them being that she pushes me to be a better athlete and believes in my ability way more so than I do at times. Friends are such a blessing- especially fitness and faith centered friends!

So here's the workout... try it if you have a good base of cardio endurance and want a challenge! You can also scale it back to 15 minutes or minimize the number of reps in each round to fit you fitness level.

Every minute on the minute (EMOM):
10-12 calorie row
10-12 burpees
  * pick a number than you can maintain throughout the entire workout. Also, If the row takes 40
     seconds, rest for the remaining 20 seconds then start with burpees at the top of the next minute.  
     Continue until set time elapses.