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 “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you” -Zig Ziglar

Change can be challenging. Yet, without a challenge, there can’t be change. With the holidays right around the corner, we have the opportunity to create good habits that will help us make smart choices through the holiday meals!

We also hope that this challenge will create habits that carry over into the New Year 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 2019!

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 Fall 2018 Whole Life Challenger are:

• Mental + emotional preparation for the longevity of a healthy lifestyle {awareness + action}
• Individual fitness gains
• Creation of lasting habits for individualized nutritional and body composition success
• Physical & nutritional preparation to get you through the holidays and carry over into the New Year!

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 scalable workout 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 September 29, 2018
CHALLENGE ENDS November 9, 2018

Early Player Registration
August 21-September 12
Returning Player Price: $29.00
New Player Price: $39.00

Regular Registration
September 12 – September 29
All Player Price: $49.00

{What’s New This Year?}

Well, for one, the challenge is a little shorter. What used to be an 8 week challenge is now a 6 week challenge, but regardless, the goal is still the same. We’re here to create long-lasting, healthy habits to

We have partnered with {Body Analytics USA} to offer fast, accurate body composition testing. Their Hydrostatic Testing method uses a three component model which separates the body into 3 areas:

• Bone, muscle and organs, along with connective tissue, collectively known as lean mass, sinks (is more dense than water)
• Body fat floats (is less dense than water)
• Total body water which is neutrally buoyant, but must be removed from your actual weight

By obtaining your dry weight and water weight, based on buoyancy, our specialized computer program can scientifically calculate your body fat as a percentage of your total weight. The ordinary scale cannot tell you if weight loss is muscle or fat while testing with Body Analytics will tell you exactly what took place with your body during your weight loss regimen.

This will be an additional service offered at CrossFit Austin on Monday, September 24th from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Our post-challenge follow up will be on Monday, November 12th from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Single test – $49
Pre & Post-test – $80

RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE

State your Name and/or Nickname please:
Billie Cervera, Wild Bill & Barbara (nickname)

What is your fitness background?
I was very active in high school and actually took powerlifting 1 year. Not sure why I stopped!

After school I didn’t do much. I didn’t actually start working out until I had my second son which is when I felt I needed it. I started with home videos then worked myself up into a gym.

How long have you been CrossFitting?
1-1/2 years

Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today?
I was super intimidated. I felt like everyone was looking at me . I wanted to lift heavy right away. I then realized I needed to work up to that and also work on form. I used to always do cardio then I found myself wanting to build muscle and so this is way more of a rush and just being surrounded by others pushes you to go hard.

What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin?
The people. I love being surrounded by others who push you to do more and encouraging you every step.

Current Training Goals/PRs?
 Squat snatch, pulls up. My PRs I swear I tell myself I need to record these and I don’t. So I have no clue at the top of my head however I know I am not where I use to be! 🏼

What advice do you have for folks just starting out in CrossFit?
Don’t be scared! Keep going and never give up! You really can do more than you think you can. Give it a year and you will see your progress.

What is your cheat meal go to? Mexican tacos by my mother n law! I mean I can make them too but she has a magic touch! And I have a weakness for cake & cookies.

How do you use your fitness outside of the gym?
I chase kids all day lol!! #momlife

Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout.
When I finally did a handstand and when I first Rxd

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

4 rounds
18 burpees
2 Kipping pull-ups
22  hang power cleans
10 cal row
15 kbs

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?
 I love to just chill with my hubby. I enjoy taking my kids to do things just to see them smile. I love to work/hustle making money! I love helping others.

Tell us something we don’t know about you…
I got my husband’s name tattooed on me when we were only dating. He has no Idea either! Something about speaking into existence and writing it down will make it happen  It worked though! ️ Together for 12 years 🏼🏼

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

“A quitter never inspired anyone “

Hey, hey guys! How’s everyone doing this week? If you’ve seen me in the last 7 days you know I was sick and lost my voice for like a solid 5 days… Do you know how hard it is to coach/communicate/live/function without a voice??? Alright, I made due, and I’m on the mend and back in action!

With that said, life does go on whether you’re sick, exhausted, overbooked, or whatever. Life goes on and so does your need to feed yourself and your family. The recipe I have for you this week is one that can be completely done in 30 minutes flat. It’s healthy, DELICIOUS, and so easy to make that I’m guessing you guys will have this in your back pocket rotation for a long time.

So, we are meat eaters in our house, but let me tell you, you don’t miss it at all with these hearty tacos. The flavor and texture are so amazing and they are wonderfully filling. I’ve made several variations with the toppings and seasonings as well, but the recipe as it’s written below is a true-blue so ENJOY!

ROASTED PORTOBELLO TACOS

INGREDIENTS:

Don’t judge me! I never said I had plating skills 😉

Taco Ingredients:

• 3-4 large portobello caps, stems removed
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 batch corn salsa (see below)
• 1 package tortillas of your choice
• 1 large ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese

Corn Salsa Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups whole-kernel corn
• ⅓ cup finely-diced red onion
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
•  pinch of salt
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely-diced
• juice of one lime (about 2 tablespoons)

DIRECTIONS:

Sweet potato side:

Serve these up with whatever you like, but this week I did a simple roasted sweet potato and black bean mixture. The potatoes take a while longer to roast so I started them first and then prepped everything else while they were going.

Wash and cube your sweet potatoes. Toss in the oil of your choice and roast at 400 degrees until soft (usually about 30 minutes depending on how big your cubes are). Rinse and drain a can of black beans. Mix with potatoes in a bowl and season to taste. I used a little salt, red and green chile power, and a splash of lime juice.

Chow down, friends! I’ll see you next week.

When it is hot outside, and we are doing an activity that generates a lot of excess body heat, we are at risk of overheating. This is especially true when we are paying more attention to what round we are on, our form, and trying not to get passed by the gal/guy next to us!

Chances are, you’ve probably been somewhere close (if not completely) in heat exhaustion before on a hot day when doing a workout, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t know the signs so we can avoid it in the future.

Side Note: It is no coincidence that many of the symptoms of heat exhaustion look like the exact same things you experience after a particularly hard workout. These workouts make you HOT! There is evidence that making yourself hot (through training or even sauna use) is one of the stimuli that causes your body to adapt in positive ways like lower body fat, better heart health, better cognitive function, etc.!

Tips for Performance When Training in the Heat (and avoiding heat exhaustion)

1. Stay hydrated! The human body is a hydraulic machine. Not only do we use our blood to move fuel and oxygen around, we use it transfer heat to our skin so it can be radiated to the atmosphere. As we sweat, we lose some of the fluid that allows our circulatory system to operate properly because we cannot transport nutrients/oxygen AND we can’t shed heat as effectively. If your urine is darker than light, transparent, yellow, you probably aren’t getting enough water!
2. Make sure you are getting enough electrolytes. Electrolyte drinks are great, but make sure you are getting enough sodium. It is common for people who are avoiding processed foods to not get enough salt, especially if/when they are training and sweating a lot. The number one mineral that is lost through sweat is salt. Make sure you are getting enough of it!
3. Stay out of the sun and/or stay covered up if you can’t. The sun adds a significant amount of heat to the body. If you can stay in the shade/indoors you will be much better off. If you must be in direct sunlight, wear lighter color clothes and a hat. Work on your tan after the workout is over.
4. Keep your ego in check. Take stock of yourself and those around you. Is your pulse higher than normal? Are you sweating the normal amount? During your short breaks, are you recovering normally? If you start having the symptoms of heat exhaustion, you can first try taking an extended rest in a cool area. If you still don’t recover, it is time to ‘call it’ for the day and cool off. Make sure you are paying attention to others around you to see if they are going into ‘danger’ territory.
5. Give yourself time to ‘acclimatize’. If you haven’t trained in a while, or you haven’t trained in the heat lately, be extra careful the first 3-4 weeks. Extensive testing by the Military has found that it usually takes about 21 days for the body to ‘get used’ to the heat (by storing extra water, initiating sweating faster, etc.)
6. Pay attention to ‘gear’. The body sheds heat through the hands, feet, and ears through special capillaries. If you are wearing gloves or particularly hot shoes, you may overheat faster. The same thing goes for weight vests. Be extra vigilant when using a vest to train in the heat!
7. Set up near a fan or somewhere with a breeze. Fans will help evaporate the sweat off of your body creating a cooling effect. Just make sure you are well hydrated so you are sweating enough.

Heat Stroke is No Joke

Take heed. Heat stroke can cause damage to internal organs, your brain, and even lead to death. Be cool folks!

Can someone please tell me HOW it is already Wednesday again?? The days are going so quickly… but I actually don’t mind flying through these ridiculously hot ones in hopes of a few cooler temperatures. Anyhoo – On with with recipes! I actually have 2 for you today because I love them together so much that I won’t make one without the other. This is also a great combo because you get some nice textures along with the dichotomy of the warm meatballs and the cold salad. I suppose you could eat the meatballs cold, but… I might judge you for that. 😉

As you can see, presented by my lovely assistant, this is another Tim approved, portable & healthy meal that will keep you happy though the week! As always, if you make it, let me know how you like it!

Honey Sriracha Meatballs

2 lb. lean ground turkey
1 cup whole wheat panko breadcrumbs
2 eggs
¼ cup green onions, chopped
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper

¼ cup Sriracha
3 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
3 Tbsp rice vinegar
4 Tbsp honey (add more to taste)
1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp. toasted sesame oil

Get that oven going at 375 degrees. Mix all of the meatball ingredients in a large bowl and mix until well combined. Roll the mixture into appx. 1.5 inch balls and place on a greased baking sheet. I usually get around 25 meatballs out of this.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until browned and cooked through.

While your meatballs are in the oven, combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking continuously. Reduce heat and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes (the sauce will start to thicken) then toss with the meatballs. These keep really well throughout the week and reheat well too. Optional: You can also add some fresh green onions and sesame seeds when serving for a little extra!

MOROCCAN CHICKPEA QUINOA POWER SALAD

I serve this with the salad cold and the meatballs reheated and tossed on top! 

Happy Hump day! How’s your week  been? If you haven’t noticed, it’s 1000 degrees outside and it’s gross…. My appetite usually drops quite a bit when it’s hot like this, but if I don’t eat, I don’t feel well so I’ve been on a mission to make healthy foods that can be served cold and have tons of flavor. This will be the second week in a row I’ve made this salad because we loved it so much so I present to you, cold Brussels Sprout Salad with GOAT CHEESE (I never turn down goat cheese y’all). This is great as a side, on it’s own, or you could even add a protein to it and make it a whole meal.

RECIPE:

1 10 oz bag shaved brussels sprouts (I went the easy route with this, but if you’re one for artistry you can shave your own sprouts…)
1/2 a medium red onion – diced
1/3 cup dried cranberries (or cherries/raisins/whatever you like)
1/3 cup sliced almonds (you can toast them if you like)
2-3 oz crumbled goat cheese
3-4 strips of bacon – chopped

(these are all approximate – put as much or as little as you like of each)

Mix all that mess up and then add a citrus vinaigrette – You can certainly make your own (see below) but I was going for a quick, pre-made option to keep it simple. I used this LEMON VINAIGRETTE from HEB and I actually really like it, but you could get away with any citrus dressing. Then, enjoy! If you make any creative additions let me know! I love this so much as a base, but I bet it would be great with avocado, chicken, all kinds of stuff!

Citrus Vinaigrette:

• 1 small orange, juiced
• 1 tsp. orange zest
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 Tbsp. finely minced shallots (may substitute 1 Tbsp. minced garlic)
• 1 tsp. yellow mustard
• 3/4 cup avocado or olive oil
• 2 tsp. fresh thyme, minced (may substitute an equal amount of tarragon, basil, rosemary or oregano or 1 tsp. dried herbs of choice)
• Sea salt and pepper to taste

Happy Hump Day! It’s mid week and we are clawing our way to the weekend! I’m excited to be writing to you guys right now because this is usually where we start to slip in our week when it comes to nutrition. Tell me I’m wrong…

Many times, the cycle goes something like this:

Friday/Saturday  – It’s the weekend! It’s cheat day(s)! I have all these social events! My mom is in town and she’s cooking! Etc….

Sunday – Man… I ate so much junk this weekend. I’m going to clean it up this week. Commence Operation Meal Prep!

Monday/Tuesday – Eating pretty well. It’s nice to have food available and it’s much better than if I eat out. I’m doing great!

Wednesday – Hmm… Chicken breast again..? (Or maybe) I only prepped enough for a couple of days. It’s a busy day, maybe I’ll just grab a quick bite today.

Thursday – I didn’t prep anything else.. I’ll just grab a quick bite again today…. “Yeah, can I order a pizza for delivery?”

And we’re back to the weekend binge!

Now, that is not EVERYONE, but if that sounds at all like you, I want you to know you’re not alone! I still find myself here from time to time, but over the last few years (Yes, that’s how long it took me to get the hang of things) I’ve come to not only appreciate, but rely on my meal prep game. This post will be a bit longer because I want to tell you how the process developed for me so you can see that if I can make this happen, literally any other person can. Bon Appetit!

So let’s rewind a few years. Y’all I was never good at cooking. What I really mean to say is, I was terrible. I’m about to impress some of you here. You ready? I once managed to set off smoke alarm while boiling water. But, I started practicing. I’d make a meal once or twice a week, choke it down, and try something else the next week. Just like anything else, it takes practice. I wouldn’t say I’m a pro by any means, but I’m pretty good and I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t always need a recipe. I’ve learned enough and developed enough skill to make healthy & tasty meals to get us through the week.

In the beginning of my meal prep days I kept it simple. 5 days of chicken breast and veggies got boring pretty quick so I started playing with different spices, different ways of cooking the veggies. I got a little more complex with from scratch sauces and slaws…  Now I’m at the point that I try to make 2-3 brand new dishes each week that are sometimes complex, but sometimes only seem that way. We don’t eat strict Paleo, Zone, or any other “diet.” We eat as much clean and unprocessed food as possible. We indulge from time to time. We move our bodies, hydrate, and sleep to balance it all out.

Meal prep days aren’t easy, but they are well worth it. I’ve come to really enjoy cooking and it keeps Tim and I eating well through the week. I prep 2-3 different lunch options, a breakfast option, have a couple of healthy snack options ready, and then I can cook dinners or we have left overs throughout the week.

The thing I struggled with the most when I started trying to prep was breakfast so that’s where I’m starting with you guys. I wanted to share this SUPER simple breakfast prep option with you so you can have something ready to grab in the morning and start your morning out well. This usually lasts Tim and I 3-4 days (6-8 meals total).

Much of what I make anymore isn’t a direct recipe. I’m just winging it and making it work so I’ll share what I do and you can take it knowing that these are flexible options!

Easy Breakfast Hash: 2 TBSP Coconut oil (add as needed when adding kale)
1 large butternut squash – peeled and cubed (you can also buy pre-cut at HEB to keep it easy)
1 large head of kale or appx: 3/4  of a 4 oz. bag chopped with thick stems removed
1/2 medium sized red onion
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
Salt & Pepper to taste

Heat 2 TBSP oil in a large skillet (the bigger the better for when you’re adding the kale). Saute’ the onion and butternut squash until the onions begin to turntranslucent and the squash begins to soften. It will turn a bright, beautiful orange!

Add the paprika (more if you like) & pine nuts and stir for about a minute

Begin folding in your kale. You may have to do it in chunks. It will shrink as it cooks. Don’t let the kale get too dry. This is where you’ll start adding in a little more coconut oil as needed. Don’t go crazy though, it shouldn’t be “wet.”

Cook until kale is a rich green color and has softened some.

Serve with your choice of sausage, bacon, hard boiled or fried eggs and some fresh avocado! This week I packed the meals with 2 hard boiled eggs along with both bacon & sausage. This meal keeps well and reheats well for a filling breakfast. Enjoy!