April Athlete of the Month || Nova Lowden!!

Each month we spotlight a different CFA athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow classmates and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit Austin Community should be about.

Our April Athlete of the Month is Nova Lowden! Nova joined the CFA family in June of 2020 and has been killing it since day one! Nova is such a hard worker! When she gets a goal in mind, you better believe she’s willing to put the work in to get there. It’s that kind of focus and drive that makes her such a dream to coach. Don’t let her hard working attitude fool you though. She also knows how to have fun! She has such a fun loving and welcoming personality that would make any newcomer feel like part of the family. We’ve loved being part of the journey with her and celebrating the wins along the way! Nova, we are honored to have you as our April Athlete of the Month and as an awesome part of this team. Thanks for your all your hard work and we look forward to seeing all you accomplish in the years to come! Congratulations!

State your Name and/or Nickname please:
Nova
Words to live by?
‘Do Epic Stuff, Just Send It, Don’t Freaking Die’, edited to be G versions of the sayings 🙂
 
What is your fitness background?
I’ve been an athlete my entire life. My mom put me in softball at age 4, and then I played every sport I could through high school. Then as an adult I have played roller derby for the last 8 years.
 
How long have you been CrossFitting?
Since May 2018
 
Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today?
I was in roller derby shape, so leg workouts were awesome, but I had less than zero upper body strength. Learning all of the lifts properly was extremely difficult for me. I like that CFA has different scaling options written out. It helps me push myself without feeling like I’m not going hard enough.
What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?
The people. Hands down. This is my second family, and is very much a similar feeling to the community I had with roller derby.
 
Current Training Goals/PRs?
Actually achieve a strict pull-up, find my running endurance again, be consistent doing crossfit 3x a week and running 3x a week.

What advice do you have for folks just starting out in CrossFit?
If you’re nervous, bring a friend. If you don’t have a friend willing to show up with you, don’t be afraid to ask someone in your class to be your buddy for the day. It helps when you get confused or overwhelmed by all the acronyms.
 
How do you balance staying focused in your training and in your life?
I block my work calendar for training time…then it’s a meeting I have to attend and can only be moved for extreme work emergencies.

What is your cheat meal go-to?
Biscuits and Gravy
 
How do you use your fitness outside of the gym?
Primarily used to be roller derby, but these days it’s just anytime I’m trying to be active outside.
 
Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout.
Deadlifting 325#, it was a 45# gain over my previous PR…I still can’t believe it.
 
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your fitness journey?
My own self doubt.
 
If you could create a WOD and name it for yourself, what would it be?
I’ve always been a fan of “Death by…Anything”. Pick your movement and do an EMOM for as long as possible. 1 rep in min 1, 2 rep in min 2, 3 rep in min 3…etc.
What keeps you going on the days you don’t feel like it?
Alien.
 

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?
Roller derby, learning to ride my motorcycle, and I’m a massive geek.
 
Tell us something we don’t know about you…
P.O.D. shot footage with my former roller derby team for a music video that was never used. I’m somewhere in that footage.
 
Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words…
I’m thankful and grateful y’all are in my life!

March Athlete of the Month || Diamond Horton!!

Each month we spotlight a different CFA athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow classmates and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit Austin Community should be about.

Our March Athlete of the Month is Diamond Horton! Diamond joined the CFA family a little over a year ago and has been on that steady growth track from day 1! Diamond is such a focused and driven person, there is no way he won’t succeed if he puts his mind to something! To top it all off, if you ever need a smile or a friendly face, he’s your guy!  Diamond has always been a hard worker, but he’s been kicking that into high gear the last few months and it shows! He’s a great example of working through the hard stuff and coming out better on the other side. Diamond has been such an incredible addition to our CFA family and it’s been a joy to watch his growth in his time here. Diamond, we are honored to have you as our March Athlete of the Month and as an awesome part of this team. Thanks for your all your hard work and we look forward to seeing all you accomplish in the years to come! Congratulations!

 

State your name or nickname please:
Diamond (Thanks Mom). I also go by Dee.

 

Words to live by?
“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength”. I’ve basically adopted this quote from Oprah.

 

 

What is your fitness background?
Fitness has pretty much been a part of my life in varying degrees. In high school, I played for the football team as a corner back and kick returner. I ran for the track team, running the 200m and 4×4 relay. After high school, I joined the Army National Guard, and of course, you have to keep up with your fitness in order to stay fit for duty.

 

 

How long have you been CrossFitting?
I have been crossfitting since I joined CFA, so that would be just over a year.

 

 

Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today?
I was pretty nervous on my first day of CrossFit. I felt like a freshmen with no skills who somehow made the Varsity team. I did not want to embarrass myself. In comparison from then to today, I believe I have progressed greatly. This is the most productive and consistent I have ever been when it comes to my fitness. Definitely don’t feel nervous about getting after it with everyone now.

 

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?
The group sessions. It’s one of the main reasons why I joined. I am terrible at working out by myself so being with others, motivating each other through action and words gets me hyped. Gotta love all the coaches too!

 

Current Training Goals/PRs?
 Become more proficient with cleans and snatches. And be able to do a muscle up by the end of the year. I’m dabbling more in performing WODs at the performance level as well after a year of mainly doing them at the athletic level.

 

What advice do you have for folks just starting out in CrossFit?
Give it time and patience. CrossFit is definitely not something you can just jump into and dominate as a newbie whose never done it before. Don’t give up and remain consistent.

 

 

Things look a little different right now, how are you staying focused in your training and in your life during this time?
 Without training, I don’t feel at my best and that alone usually motivates me to stay on top of my fitness. Also, family keeps me going. They are my backbone.

 

What is your cheat meal go-to?
Oh, I love me some pizza, especially Dominoes black box pizza.

 

 

 

How do you use your fitness outside of the gym?
I do it to keep up with the kids. I like to be active with them, play basketball, volleyball, throw the football around, etc. I also do it for work. I love what I do and I want to be able to do it for as long as I can. As a paramedic, there is a lot of lifting and moving involved. I feel as a healthcare provider, I have to “talk the talk and walk the walk”, and fitness puts me in that position. Fitness is also my therapy when it comes to dealing with traumatic events in my field. I’m not a big talker about my emotions, so sweating it out works better for me.

 

 

Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout.
 I felt most proud of my deadlift Max, which is 315, because I’ve never lifted that heavy in my life. It felt rewarding. Now I can’t wait to see what else I can achieve.

 

 

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your fitness journey?
Dieting. That is something I’m constantly working on, and I feel like I’m making some progress. Snatches and cleans are a pain for me, but I also feel like I’m making some headway with that. Overall, I’m just working on pushing myself past that comfortable limit where you want to just stop and rest. I want to continue working past that limit, safely of course.

 

 

If you could create a WOD and name it for yourself, what would it be?
“Dig Deep”
7min AMRAP:
10 Goblet Squat,
10 burpees
100m sprint

 

What keeps you going on the days you don’t feel like it?
I usually just find a way to motivate myself. I do quite a bit of positive self-talk when it comes to that. Remind myself of the goals I want to achieve.

 

 

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?
Spending time with family, my dogs and friends. Huge fan of horror movies. Hiking. Camping. And I just started getting into woodworking so I’m currently getting my little shop set up in the garage.

 

Tell us something we don’t know about you…
I was trying to think of something less depressing, but I was homeless as a child, but eventually found a loving home as a teenager.

 

 

Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words…
I am really glad to find such an awesome community. Lets all continue kicking ass and crushing goals.

February Athlete of the Month || Dariana Lua!!

Each month we spotlight a different CFA athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow classmates and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit Austin Community should be about.

Our February Athlete of the Month is Dariana Lua! Dariana joined the CFA family a little over a year ago and has grown so much since she started! From day 1, she has been focused on her form and improving technique and it shows! This girl can move!! Dariana has been such an incredible addition to our CFA family and it’s been a joy to watch her growth in his time here. Dariana, we are honored to have you as our February Athlete of the Month and as an awesome part of this team. Thanks for your all your hard work and we look forward to seeing all you accomplish in the years to come! Congratulations!

State your Name and/or Nickname please:
Dariana or Dari for short =)
 
Words to live by?
“Hard work pays off”
 
What is your fitness background?
I used to try Gym Training without results for the goals I had in mind but 15 months ago i decided to join Austin Cross-fit and was one of the best decisions i ever made
How long have you been CrossFitting?
A little over a year
 
Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today? The first day of CrossFit… i was kinda nervous and it was pretty hard at first but once i got the hang of it, i loved it! i love the feeling of being able to meeting my goals
What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?
I would have to say my favorite part of CFA would be the community and the motivation
 
Current Training Goals/PRs?
A new goal i am working on is getting a handstand push-up and also working on squat snatch but taking it day by day, slowly but surely:)

What is your cheat meal go-to?
 One of my go to cheat meals would have to be pasta it’s my favorite lol !!! 
 
Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout.
A moment i felt the proudest at myself was when i PR squat clean @115 i was so hyped and happy, that day was a good day
What keeps you going on the days you don’t feel like it?
Something that’s keeps me going when i don’t feel like it would be… i think about where i was when i started, to how i am now and motivates me to keep wanting to get better and better
 
What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?
Something i like to do outside of CF would be go on hikes or enjoying nature.

Happy New Year || Whole Life Challenge with Team CrossFit Austin

Image result for challenge

 

REGISTER HERE

Change can be challenging. We like to think of change as an opportunity for growth. With the New Year right around the corner, many of us are beginning to think about those resolutions. Why wait until January to make a commitment to yourself?! You can start now and set yourself up for success by committing to focus on yourself and your habits for 6 weeks. You can do the prep work between now and the start of the challenge to not only get through the holidays with a healthier mindset, but roll into the challenge likes it’s no big deal with some major growth to look forward to.

We also hope that this challenge will create habits that cover the usual resolution suspects like weight, working out, eating well, etc… so you can shift your New Year’s resolutions away from health and fitness goals (because they’ll already be in place!) and make more goals surrounding having fun in 2021!

During our last challenge, we saw some awesome results and had great time working through the challenges & celebrating our weekly wins with our teammates. We hope you’ll consider joining us on this journey again!

Whole Life Challenge is part fitness, part nutritional and body composition, and part accountability challenges. Our goals for each New Year 2019 Whole Life Challenger are:

  • Mental + emotional preparation for the longevity of a healthy lifestyle {awareness + action}
  • Individual fitness gains
  • Deeper knowledge and understanding of your own make up, so you can create more specific goals
  • Creation of lasting habits for individualized nutritional and body composition success
  • Physical & nutritional preparation to get you through LIFE and be the best version of yourself

You + Whole Life Challenge = Team CrossFit Austin

Challenge = Change // Goals = Gains

{What is it?}

While everyone wants to look and feel better, it can be a challenge to know how or where to start. The Whole Life Challenge focuses you on the key areas of your life that produce real, life-long changes. Playing together with your friends and family in a fun and motivating daily game, you’ll create new healthy habits that last long after it ends.

The Whole Life Challenge focuses on 7 daily habits that you will learn and create for yourself as you journey through.

These 7 Daily Habits are:

    • Nutrition. Your food choices have the single greatest impact on your health, well-being, and community. When you make choices that keep you healthy, you give yourself the fuel to fulfill all of who you are. There are 3 levels to choose from that allow you to start making changes in a realistic and attainable way.  {Choose the level that is right for you}
    • Exercise. Humans are designed to move daily. Whether through workouts, activity, or simply enjoying the full use of your body, daily movement keeps you healthy and vital. You’re already moving regularly with us!
    • Mobility. In a sedentary world, our bodies get stuck. Daily mobility and stretching helps you move the way nature intended and continue enjoying freedom of movement into your later years.
    • Sleep. Modern schedules tend to dictate how many hours of sleep we’re entitled to. A practice of increasing that time, even by a little bit, can make big strides in robust health. You set the sleep goals that are right for you.
    • Hydration. More than anything, your body is made of water. This habit ensures that your body gets enough of its most basic resources for life.
    • Lifestyle Practice. The {WLC weekly lifestyle practices}turn a life into your life. Learn to step back, take stock, connect, and turn your attention to what is really important to you.
    • Reflection. Looking back, looking inward, or looking forward, daily reflection draws your awareness to what is working and what needs your attention today.

 

{How Do I Play?}

The {Challenge} begins with taking your preliminary measurements and completing a workout (that can be scaled to your level) that will be repeated at the end.

Throughout the 42 day challenge you will post your scores in the 7 categories listed above. The Challenge is designed in a way that we can work as a team to check in with and support each other on a daily basis.

To close out the Whole Life Challenge, you will repeat the preliminary measurements and workout to gauge how far you’ve come! But, it doesn’t end there! The Whole Life Challenge is designed to help you make healthy lifestyle changes that last.

{How Do I Register?}

You can register and join Team CrossFit Austin through the Whole Life Challenge Website. Make sure you do join our team to participate with the community!

CHALLENGE BEGINS || CHALLENGE ENDS
January 16, 2021       February 28, 2021
Registration
Open Now
Price: $49.00

{What’s New This Year?}

We have partnered with BodySpec to offer fast, accurate body composition testing. They use a DEXA scan system which will give you a comprehensive breakdown of your body composition. You can read more about it HERE

This will be an additional service offered at CrossFit Austin both pre & post WLC.

Pre WLC – January 21 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm – REGISTER HERE

Post WLC – March 1 from 4:00 – 8:00 – Registration coming soon 

There are still more exciting things to come for the New Year challenge (stay tuned)! Commit to yourself for 2021 and start your year out right by joining Team CrossFit Austin!

 

December Athlete of the Month || Tino Guerra!!

Each month we spotlight a different CFA athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow classmates and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit Austin Community should be about.

Our December Athlete of the Month is Tino Guerra! Tino joined the CFA family in June of this year and has grown so much since he started! Lately, he’s been expanding his training with a focus on weightlifting and lots of recovery/rehab work to keep his body moving to the best of his ability! Tino has been such an incredible addition to our CFA family and it’s been a joy to watch him growth in his time here. Tino, we are honored to have you as our December Athlete of the Month and as an awesome part of this team. Thanks for your all your hard work and we look forward to seeing all you accomplish in the years to come! Congratulations!

 

State your Name and/or Nickname please:
Tino Guerra

 

Words to live by?
I don’t have a mantra or anything like that, I just believe in keep challenging myself and take chances.

 

What is your fitness background?
I played football growing up and was part of a swim team for 7 years.

 

How long have you been Cross Fitting?
Since June 2020

 

Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today?
My first class was the 6am class with Coach Heidi, I remember I was super tired because I couldn’t sleep the night before, but Heidi had great energy, she made me feel welcomed and led a fun class. I can’t compare that workout to any other that I’ve had since because it was practicing rope climbing and I haven’t done it after that.

 

 

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?
The same as anyone that sticks around, I think we have a great community of people trying their best to improve themselves and help others achieve their goals.

 

Current Training Goals/PRs?
I’m currently trying to take a step back from pushing myself into going harder/heavier and trying to focus more in learning proper lift techniques and working on my shoulder mobility.

 

What advice do you have for folks just starting out in CrossFit?
Take it slow, I tried CrossFit a couple of times before joining CFA and always ended up injuring myself for trying to go all out from day one. Progress takes time but eventually you start getting better.

 

 

Things look a little different right now, how are you staying focused in your training and in your life during this time?
By finding ways of having fun while trying to live healthy lifestyle.

 

What is your cheat meal go-to?
VIA 313 four cheese pizza

 

How do you use your fitness outside of the gym?
I’m the Chef of a local meal prep company, so I’m on my feet all day. Doing CrossFit has made my day to day easier in every way also I’ve been hiking more lately.

 

Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout.
I think it has to be the first day that I “successfully” did a squat snatch, it looks so easy, but I’ve been struggling with shoulder mobility issues, so the overhead position while trying to squat was something that I couldn’t see myself doing when I started.

 

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your fitness journey?
I’ve always struggled with consistency due to injuries, so lately I’ve been trying to listen to my body, if I feel I’d benefit from an extra rest day I’ll take it.

 

If you could create a WOD and name it for yourself, what would it be? What keeps you going on the days you don’t feel like it?

 “I Want to Believe”

x5 Rounds for time
40ft Overhead BB Lunges
10 Burpee OBB
10 Wall Balls
400MT Run

 

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?
I love everything food related; lately I’ve been doing more small private dinners & corporate zoom cooking classes. I like to work on old motorcycles & checking out national parks.

 

Tell us something we don’t know about you…
Before I moved to Austin, I had a food truck in Mexico and got awarded best new food truck of the year.

 

Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words…
Just to say thanks to everyone that I’ve met at the gym for sharing words of advice and helping me keep motivated. I see how much hard work everyone puts into their training and that makes me want to push myself.

Kitchen Adventures || Fiesta Chicken Foil Pouches & Heidi Childers Jones (in the role of Doula)

Hey friends! It’s been a minute! Life has been a bit on the busy side lately and I think will continue to be so through the end of the year at least! My meal prep game is still going strong, but I’ve definitely been searching out more ways to make things easier. Y’all know I’m the queen of “dump recipes” where I can just put everything together in one device to cook. This week’s recipe feels like the true definition of a “dump” dinner haha! It may not look pretty, but it was EASY, tasty, and got the job done!

Before we get there, I want to introduce this week’s feature. Now, if you follow CFA in any of our adventures, you are already familiar with this spectacular human being. You may not know, however, that she is among many things, a doula! In fact, she is OUR doula! (Oh yes, we are pregnant! Well… I am… but Tim helped). We could not be more elated to have such a special person helping to guide us through growing our first little human. It truly is such an honor to have Heidi on our birth team. She has already made us feel so informed and empowered and we’re only 21 weeks in! We feel confident that her knowledge and energy will help us guide our little guy confidently and powerfully into the world.

If you’re looking to become pregnant or ARE pregnant, I really can’t recommend more that you get a doula to help you in the journey. Heidi is the perfect fit for our family, but if you’re not in the area or not into the virtual thing, you can still reach out to her and she can likely connect you to someone in her incredible birth network

Just a little flash of all the things Heidi does: Coach/Private Trainer, Massage Therapist, Prenatal/Postpartum BirthFit Coach, Clean Beauty & Skincare Rep, Mother, etc, etc, etc… She really does it all, y’all. If you would like to learn more about her, check out her WEBSITE which also has links to her social. There’s a little something for everyone and if she personally doesn’t do what you’re looking for, she’s also just an excellent resource and wealth of knowledge. 

 

Ok, so let’s get cooking…

FIESTA CHICKEN FOIL POUCHES

4 Large Chicken Breasts – pound with a meat tenderizer until about an inch thick
1.5 cups uncooked quick brown rice (it MUST be quick rice – I used Minute Instant Brown Rice)
1.5 cups water or broth (for rice)
1/2 cup salsa – I used roasted red salsa
1/2 cup shredded cheese – I used a Mexican blend
1 medium onion (I used yellow) – sliced
2 Bell peppers – seeds removed & sliced (any color)
1 poblano pepper – seeds removed & sliced
2-3 cloves of garlic – minced
1 can black beans – drained and rinsed
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 package taco seasoning
Olive oil
Lime juice to finish
*Optional – greek yogurt or sour cream to top

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 400. While the oven preheats, mix the rice, water or broth, and about half of the taco seasoning in a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.

Line a baking sheet (I had to use two) with foil and prepare four pieces of foil large enough to accommodate a chicken breast and other ingredients folded into a pouch.

After the rice has soaked, divide it and the remaining liquid between the 4 pieces of foil. Lay a chicken breast on top and surround with peppers, onions, beans, corn and garlic.

Sprinkle the remaining taco seasoning evenly on the four chicken breasts. Top with a couple of tablespoons of salsa each. Drizzle each with a little bit of olive oil and top with cheese.

Create pouches around the ingredients and seal on all sides. They don’t have to look pretty! Baking time will vary from 35 minute to an hour based on how large your chicken breasts are. Mine took about 45 minutes. You can open a pouch and check to see if the chicken is done. The internal temp should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

*Optional – open each pouch and finish off with a few minutes under the broiler to make the cheese nice and melty.

Top with lime juice, sour cream, cilantro, etc… and enjoy!

November Athlete of the Month || Angie Bobst!!

Each month we spotlight a different CFA athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow classmates and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit Austin Community should be about.

Our November Athlete of the Month is Angie Bobst! Angie has been part of the CFA family for a little over a year now. She has been a hard working gal from the beginning and while her goals have shifted a bit through her pregnancy (congrats BTW!!) she is still as driven and focused as ever. She has been such an incredible addition to our CFA family and it’s been a joy to watch her growth over the last year. Angie, we are honored to have you as our November Athlete of the Month and as an awesome part of this team. Thanks for your all your hard work and we look forward to seeing all you accomplish in the years to come! Congratulations!

State your Name and/or Nickname please:

Angie

 

Words to live by?

To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift -Steve Prefontaine

 

What is your fitness background?

I grew up playing sports year round, anything to stay active but mainly soccer and basketball. Then went on to play collegiate soccer for a couple of years. Since then, I had been going through phases of running, and trying to self-motivate at the gym.

 

How long have you been CrossFitting?

Just over a year; August was my one year mark!

 

Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today?

Nervous as could be! All of the movements and WODs seemed so advanced and unlike anything that I had done before. But it only took a couple of classes to realize that there is a progression for every movement and the coaches are so supportive in ensuring that you progress safely. Now when I step into the gym, Im excited because there is always something new to learn and skill to become better at.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?

The people, hands down. I was initially hesitant about joining a Crossfit gym, but CFA is so much more than that; it is truly the greatest community of people in all aspects of life.

 

Current Training Goals/PRs?

To move smartly throughout this last trimester of pregnancy, rock childbirth, then come back stronger than ever with that good ol’ mom strength!


What advice do you have for folks just starting out in CrossFit?

Embrace the skills that scare you the most, and trust the process. Nothing happens overnight, but the victory is oh so sweet when you nail a skill or movement that you have been working your butt off for.

 

Things look a little different right now, how are you staying focused in your training and in your life during this time?

The year started with lofty goals of weightlifting competitions and muscle-ups, but as things changed it has become a year to focus on what the body needs to move most effectively and developing healthy habits for the long haul.


What is your cheat meal go-to?

Chinese takeout & red wine!

 

How do you use your fitness outside of the gym?

As a nurse, I am on my feet for long hours at a time, and often moving patients much larger than myself. The gym has made me better, and more energetic at my job, and hopefully a good influence on those around me in terms of living a healthy balance of fitness and fun.

 

Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout.

PRs are always a proud moment, but Id have to say I felt most proud when another member complimented on my form for the snatch not knowing that I had been working with Dylan in weightlifting on it for months.

 

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your fitness journey?

Hip and shoulder mobility was a huge struggle at the beginning, and still present as gentle reminders that consistency, and bodywork are my best friends for quality movement.

 

If you could create a WOD and name it for yourself, what would it be?

Thirty & Thriving : 30 thrusters for time 🙂

What keeps you going on the days you don’t feel like it?

Knowing how much better I feel and the day generally is after the workout is done.

 

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?

Hanging out with my husband and animals (2 dogs, 2 cats, and 4 chickens), and relaxing at home pretending I live on a farm.

 

Tell us something we don’t know about you

I can sign my name in cursive, upside-down and backwards 🙂

 

Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words…

Yall are amazing & I am so thankful to get to be surrounded by such great people in this world!

Kitchen Adventures || Elk Shepherd’s Pie & Amy Myers!

Hello friends! I hope all of you lovely people are doing well! I’m back with another recipe and another feature of an amazing human being!

This week’s recipe came very much from a place of needing to use some veggies before they went bad and desperately wanting to avoid going to the grocery store. I’m surprised at how great this turned out considering I basically just threw a bunch of stuff in a skillet and hoped for the best!

Y’all… this soap looks good enough to eat. Imagine how amazing her chocolate is 😉

Before I get to the recipe, I want to introduce this week’s feature, Amy Myers! Amy is a friend who I met in the dance community here in Austin, but that is just ONE of the many amazing things she does. She’s a performer/choreographer, massage therapist, a creator/maker of many things, and owner of Amy’s Apothecary! (where she sells some of the things she makes 🙂 )

In a never ending effort to reduce the amount of unnatural/toxic ingredients we put into/onto our bodies, she has some products that I not only trust, but can tell you from personal experience that they are excellent! Over the years she’s done everything from natural deodorant, to bug spray, to organic chocolates! Currently on her website she has options to customize whatever type of bar soap you’d like, she organizes chocolate making classes, and for those of you who get eaten up by the mosquitoes at the gym (*cough cough* looking at you weightlifters) her all natural bug spray works better for me than any of the commercial stuff I’ve used and actually leaves my skin feeling soft and smelling good!

Check out her site and follow her FB page , order some stuff, keep an eye out for special new products when she releases them!

 

Ok, so now that you’ve put your order in for a batch of her chocolates, let’s make dinner! Basically, I really didn’t feel like stopping at the store and I needed to make dinner so I gathered up all the things I had in my fridge/pantry and it came together beautifully!

Obviously, not everyone just has super high quality elk in their freezer, but guess what?!? You can snag it at the gym! I know I talk about it a lot, but Force of Nature is truly an amazing company. They put out a product that is not only incredibly clean and tasty, but their regenerative farming practices are actually GOOD for the planet. Anyway, recipe below. I hope you enjoy!

 

INGREDIENTS

1 package ground elk
3 carrots – peeled and diced
1 parsnip – peeled and diced
2 stalks of celery – diced
1 medium yellow onion – diced
1.5 lb bag baby rainbow potatoes – washed and skin on
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup frozen okra – sliced
1/2 cup frozen corn
3-4 cloves garlic – minced
3 TBSP grassfed butter
1 TBSP grassfed butter – melted for brushing on top
3/4 cup milk of your choice
2 TBSP Italian seasoning
1 tsp Garlic Powder
Salt Pepper to taste
Oil for cooking – I used avocado oil

 

INSTRUCTIONS

As always… those are approximate amounts… I don’t measure exactly when I cook so adjust to your liking!

In a large pot, cover potatoes with salted water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes or until tender. Once tender, drain and let sit for a couple of minutes. Add the butter, milk, garlic powder and some salt and pepper and mash well. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 400. In an oven safe skillet (I used enameled cast iron) over med/high heat, heat about a TBSP of oil. Add the elk and cook, crumbling as you go, until mostly cooked through. Leave just a tiny bit under so it doesn’t dry out when it goes in the oven. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Add a little more oil if necessary. Add all your veggies to the skillet and cook until they begin to soften. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Add the elk back to the skillet and mix everything well.

Top the meat and veggie mixture with the mashed potatoes and brush with a thin layer of butter. Put the whole skillet into the oven and bake until potatoes are golden brown on top. I actually baked for about 20 minutes and then broiled on high for about 3 minutes to finish off the tops.

Dish it out and enjoy!

 

October Athlete of the Month || Brian Stacey!!

Each month we spotlight a different CFA athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow classmates and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit Austin Community should be about.

Our October Athlete of the Month is Brian Stacey! Brian has been part of the CFA family for about a year and a half now and has recently kicked his training into high gear! That is not to say he hasn’t worked hard up to this point though. Brian has been a part of the trusty noon crew for some time now and many of the coaches have had the pleasure of working with him. He is focused and extremely coachable in class and it shows as he gets closer and closer to his goals. Brian, we are honored to have you as our October Athlete of the Month and as an awesome part of this team. Thanks for your all your hard work and we look forward to seeing all you accomplish in the years to come! Congratulations!

 

State your Name and/or Nickname please:
Brian

 

Words to live by?
No better time than now to go for it.

 

What is your fitness background?
I swam competitively for 13 years, then started competing in triathlon and endurance sports in 2007. I’m a 3-time Ironman finisher (Canada, Florida, Louisville).

 

How long have you been CrossFitting?
I’ve been at CFA since May 2019.

 

Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today?
I was very intimidated on my first day and just wanted to get through the class without embarrassing myself. Now I can actually set goals and really push myself.

 

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?
Hands down, the community.

 

Current Training Goals/PRs?
I’m currently training for Ironman Mont-Tremblant, so my main goal is to build strength and improve fitness to prepare for the race. That said, I’d also like to eventually be doing all my workouts at least at the athletic level, so I’m working toward that as my main crossfit-specific goal.

 

What advice do you have for folks just starting out in CrossFit?
Set a variety of goals: small goals, long-term goals, and a seemingly impossible goal. Having lots of small goals helps me stay focused and motivated day-to-day. Having long-term goals helps me stay disciplined enough to string together small goals. Having an impossible goal helps me track my progress over time. And nothing beats resetting goals because you just accomplished something you once thought impossible!

 

Things look a little different right now, how are you staying focused in your training and in your life during this time?
I constantly reevaluate goals vs the current situation. My training in April (lockdown) vs August (heat) vs today  is completely different, but I have to look at what kind of progress is feasible and set my goals accordingly.

 

What is your cheat meal go to?
Tex-mex for sure.

 

How do you use your fitness outside of the gym?
Swimming, biking, running, tennis, hiking.

 

Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout.
I’m pretty sure I PR’d on my front squat last week. If it wasn’t a PR, it was just a really solid rep. Either way, it was a proud moment.

 

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your fitness journey?
I was diagnosed with epilepsy in mid-2017 and was put on medications that had some severe effects. By the time I got meds and dosage figured out in late-2019, I had lost most of the progress I had made from 4 years of IM training. Being patient, forgiving, and persistent in finding my prior level wasn’t – and isn’t – easy.

 

If you could create a WOD and name it for yourself, what would it be?
12 Deadlifts then three rounds: 500m row, 2mi on the bike, 400m run.

 

What keeps you going on the days you don’t feel like it?
I know I’ll feel better for at least giving it a shot. Even if it’s not my best workout, it’ll be better than nothing.

 

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?
Camping, hiking, traveling, going to see live music, watching or playing tennis.

 

Tell us something we don’t know about you…
I coached swimming for many years. I coached kids, adults, and Special Olympics teams in Dallas and Austin.

 

Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words…
Sign up for a triathlon! Crossfit is such a great supplement and you’re already closer to the finish line than you might think. I’m happy to share some tips for anyone interested.

Kitchen Adventures || Souper Greens Soup & Patrick Deutschmann

Happy Wednesday! Back with more Kitchen Adventures and another featured friend! This week’s recipe truly was an adventure for me. I have never made a blended soup and there is one special ingredient I’ve never worked with before so I’m excited to share this recipe with you!

BUT FIRST! Let me introduce this week’s feature. Many of you already know him, or at least know the extensions of him, Hannan and little Ziva! You may not know, however, that Patrick is QUITE the craftsman! He owns his own carpentry business, Edelcor, down in Buda, but does work all around the Austin area!

 

Basically, if you can dream it up, Patrick can get it done. We’ve seen him build everything from wooden toys to a full on house and it’s all done with such care and precision, you won’t be disappointed. If you need an example of some of his work, just look around the gym. Patrick custom built the pegboard you see on the back wall and not only made a plyo box for us, but has actually made several for other members’ home gyms. That doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of what he can do though. Check out the Portfolio on his website to see some more of his work, but don’t let those categories stop you from dreaming up whatever you want made! He’s up to the task!

Ok, now that you’re dreaming up the new dining table Patrick is going to make for you, let’s talk about the recipe you can make to eat on it 😉

 

I am always trying to find new ways to boost my veggie intake and to keep things interesting, I try to find ways to use vegetables I’ve never cooked with before. In this case, it’s fennel bulb! Now, I’m no stranger to fennel as a spice, but I’ve never actually picked up a fresh fennel bulb in the store until this recipe. Fresh fennel smells amazing and has a nice sweet tasting crunch. I was excited to work it in with this soup and I have to say, it gave it great flavor!

Although this whole year has been “sick season” I usually start around this time amping up the cold/flu fighting foods. This is an immune boosting powerhouse of a soup and it’s tasty to boot! I served it with some simple baked chicken breast and roasted asparagus and mushrooms, but it would be great on it’s own. Give it a go!

SOUPer Greens Soup – *Tools – you will need an immersion blender or be ready to transfer to a blender and back to the pot

INGREDIENTS
2 TBSP Avocado oil
1 medium yellow onion – diced
1 large parsnip – roughly chopped
5-6 garlic cloves minced
1 bunch flat-leaf parsley – chopped – stems and all
1 zucchini – sliced thin – keep the skin on
1 fennel bulb – roughly chopped (Just the white part, the tops won’t be used for this recipe)
3 celery stalks – chopped
1 small head broccoli – chopped into small florets
1 bay leaf
8 cups vegetable stock
1 can chickpeas, drained
10 oz baby spinach leaves
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt & cracked black pepper

Optional for topping, but HIGHLY recommended:
Dollop of plain Greek Yogurt
Drizzles of Truffle Oil – adds a whole new dimension of flavor

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat avocado oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, parsnips, garlic, parsley, zucchini, fennel, celery, and bay leaf. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they veggies have softened.

Add the broth, broccoli, and chickpeas and bring the pot to a boil. Cook for 4-5 minutes and then lower the heat to a simmer. Remove the bay leaf, add the spinach and season lightly with salt and pepper. Using an immersion blender if you have one (highly recommended), carefully blend the soup until smooth.  If you’re using a blender, carefully transfer the soup to a blender and pulse until smooth, transfer back to the pot.

Once smooth, stir in the lemon juice and taste. Adjust with salt and pepper if needed. Dish it out, drop a dollop of Greek yogurt in the middle, and drizzle a bit of truffle oil. Enjoy!