TL/DR: Wim Hof breathing techniques and cold training are definitely worth checking out for recovery and building grit.

I don’t like the cold. Let me say it again, loud and clear: I DO NOT LIKE THE COLD. I often joke that I’m Thai, and I grew up in Houston, Texas; therefore I’m built for hot, sweaty, humid weather. So, when I started hearing about this crazy Dutch guy named Wim Hof years ago, I thought, “Yeah, that’s cool, but I’ll never, ever do that.” Fast forward a few years, and there I was, voluntarily signing up for an in-person workshop.

 

Who: Wim Hof is probably best known for his extreme-cold adventures, like swimming underneath the ice, running half-marathons barefoot in the snow, and hanging out in tubs full of ice on the regular. They call him “The Iceman” for good reason. 

 

What: The Wim Hof Method includes the pillars of cold therapy, breathing, and commitment. I attended an in-person workshop the second weekend in January with nearly 40 other people at a Bikram Yoga studio in East Austin. It was led by Elizabeth Lee, a Level 3 Instructor, who was playful, professional, and best of all, practical. 

 

Why: While the WHM is still met with some skepticism, it claims to relieve symptoms of several diseases due to its effects on one’s physiology. However, within athletic circles, the touted benefits are improved recovery, increased sports performance, more energy, and a boosted immune system, among others.

 

Before attending this workshop, I watched the Vice documentary about Wim Hof so I’d have some idea of what to expect. If you’ve seen it, you’ll know that some footage seems a little over-the-top. Nevertheless, I decided to have an open mind about it and to give it a solid effort. After all, why pay money for an in-person workshop if I’m just going to act like a grumpy skeptic the entire time? 

 

The first portion of the workshop was on breathing. We jumped right into the practical application of it, and while I know a bit about breathwork and practice frequently, I’d never gone as far as this. We laid on the floor, and we deepened and sped up our breath for 10-15 minutes, and before I knew it, my hands started to curl up (T-Rex style), my face was going numb, and I felt my entire body start to buzz. It was nuts. In my head, all I could think was WTF, since I genuinely couldn’t believe that focused breathwork could make you feel so… well, high. Wim, being the character that he is, says that’s energy moving through your body and “getting the s*** out.” The lack of scientific explanation (hyperoxygenation) is probably one reason his methods are met with skepticism from many, but I’m touchy-feely enough to be okay with the layman’s version!

 

Then, segueing off of that breathing exercise, we started playing with “power breaths” and holds. Holds are when you take a big breath in, let it out, and hold there for as long as you can before having to take the next breath. We did a baseline measurement, and I got to 20 seconds before wanting to take another breath. To be fair, I was trying to do what felt natural without turning myself blue. We followed that with the breathing exercises and took three more measured holds, and I ended at 1:42, 1:51, 1:46. Again, all I could think was WTF.

Then came the part that had made me the most anxious in the week leading up to the workshop: the ice bath. We preceded it with 20 minutes in horse stance to get ourselves revved up and warmed up for the 32-degree ice-water (yes, they measured the temp exactly). I won’t drag this part out, but it was… really freaking cold (duh). If you want a good laugh, just watch the video of me freaking out and struggling to breathe for the first minute, and then eventually surrendering to it. I never got my arms into the pool because the bottom was slippery, and I was just trying to keep myself upright. In any case, once I’d settled in, it wasn’t so bad. I was totally invigorated and proud coming out of the tub, having toughed it out for a full two minutes. I even danced through the water a few more times to celebrate with my classmates!

 

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/WWlQgrSpOeA

 

The Takeaways: The big question coming out of this workshop is what I would do with what I learned. I am definitely going to learn more about the breathing exercises and their supposed benefits, so stay tuned for that. I’m still not fully certain how or why I should be creating a daily practice for this. As for the ice bath, I am 100% going to incorporate that into my recovery routine. There’s a reason athletes do ice plunges regularly! For me personally, the mental toughness is just as important as the physical recovery. The cold training will never be fun or easy for me, but I can almost guarantee it’ll be worth it. As a CrossFitter, I also know that doing hard things is almost always easier with friends, so be on the lookout for community cold-plunge days at CrossFit Austin!

 

Further Reading: The Way of the Iceman by Wim Hof and Koen De Jong and What Doesn’t Kill Us by Scott Carney are both on the bookshelf in the office at CrossFit Austin!

Definitely stepping outside of my comfort zone this week! Mine and Tim’s favorite food truck is a place on East 6th called Halal Time and they make the BEST Falafels. Mine don’t even hold a candle to those, but they did actually come out falafel like this time! I tried once before to make falafel and it was a big fail. Not because they didn’t taste good… they were just a big mushy mess… This time, consistency was on point! I think traditionally, falafel is made from chickpeas, but this version uses lentils and herbs. I’m sure you could do the same thing with chickpeas, but since I was doing roasted chickpeas in the bowl I wanted to use another source.

While the falafel was my big win for this recipe, they are not the only thing in this bowl. It’s packed full of colorful veggies with rich flavors and all topped with a zingy yogurt sauce. If you’re looking for a tasty, filling meatless option, here ya go! This recipe made 4 large bowls for us this week.

 

INGREDIENTS
For the falafel
1 cup (large handful) fresh parsley – leaves and stems
1 cup (large handful) fresh cilantro – leaves and stems
2 cups cooked lentils – slightly undercooked is better for consistency
1 TBSP olive oil
1 jalapeno – seeds optional for more spice
2 cloves of garlic
Juice from half a lemon
1/2 tsp sea salt
1-2 TBSP flour of your choice – best would likely be almond or cassava

For the bowls
6-8 carrots – peeled and sliced into
1 small red onion – cut into thick slices
1 head cauliflower – cut into florets
2-3 beets – washed
2 cans chickpeas – drained, rinsed, and dried
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp garlic powder
Salt & Pepper to taste
Olive oil and coconut oil for roasting
Optional – 2 cups cooked quinoa to bulk up the bowls if you prefer

For the sauce
1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
2 cloves garlic – minced
Juice from half a lemon
1/2 tsp fresh dill
pinch of salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook your lentils and if you’re using it, quinoa and set aside to cool. Remember, a little under is better for the lentils.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. All the veggies for this recipe are roasted and timing will be the most important part to be able to load your bowls easily at the end. Wash and trim the tops and tails off the beets. Coat in coconut oil and roast until fork tender (about 30 min depending on size). Carrots – wash, peel and cut into thin sticks. Coat in olive oil and roast for 20-25 minutes. Onion – peeled and sliced into thick slices – coat in olive oil and roast for 15-20 minutes. Cauliflower – cut into floret – coat in olive oil and roast for 15-20 minutes. Keep the seasoning simple with a little sea salt and black pepper!

For the chickpeas – drain, rinse, and lay them out on a layer of paper towels. Pat dry prior to roasting. This will help them crisp up a bit! Then, you guessed it – coat in olive oil and roast on a lined cookie sheet for about 20 minutes. Once finished, combine curry powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and toss the chickpeas in the seasoning.

For the falafels – In a food processor, add all of the falafel ingredients except the flour and pulse until well combined. A little at a time, add the flour and pulse until the mixture becomes thick enough that it sticks together and can be handled and molded. To make things cleaner and easier, I used a greased mini muffin tin for mine and it was FANTASTIC. You can also mold them into balls and place them on a lined cookie sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Let them cool before messing with them so they don’t lose their structure.

For the sauce – combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl or jar. Cover and refrigerate and drizzle on after you’ve reheated your bowl.

Once everything is done, divide evenly amongst 4 bowls. Cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to eat!

Ok… Who has tips for cutting onions without crying your eyes out? I swear, I even tear up cutting lil ol’ green onions… Short of wearing swimming goggles (which I have) I don’t know what to do! Anyway… I love onions and I don’t think I could cook regularly without them so, I’ll get over it.

This week, I’m completing my saga of the Force of Nature meats we have available! Aside from the bison/bacon burgers which don’t need a recipe. I’ve done recipes for ancestral beef, bison, wild boar, & elk, so this week we have venison! I’ve eaten a lot of venison in my life, but I haven’t prepared much of it.

This recipe is born from kind of a mash of different dishes I like to make and I thought would pair well with the natural flavors in venison. I wasn’t entirely sure how it would turn out, but I must say I’m pleased! I love the smoky tangy flavor of chipotle peppers in adobo so that gives this dish much of it’s flavor, but be warned they can pack a pretty big punch. I’ve paired this with a cool lime crema sauce to go on top that will bring down the heat just a bit and give it a little extra zing.

Like I do with a lot of dishes, I served this with some roasted sweet potatoes. To my surprise, however, I ended up with one orange and one white sweet potato! Pulled out of the same bin! I do have to say I like how they turned out visually 🙂 I seasoned this batch with cinnamon and chili powder for a bit of contrast.

This is a quick weeknight dish that will yield 4 total peppers so Tim and I will have some left over for tomorrow’s lunch!

Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS
1 Package Force Of Nature Venison
1 Cup (uncooked) brown rice
4 Large Poblano Peppers
1 small yellow onion – diced
3 cloves of garlic – minced
1 can black beans – drained and rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes (I used fire roasted)
3 tsp pureed chipotles in adobo sauce (I bought it pre-pureed, but you can do this in a food processor)
1 TBSP chili powder (I like a dark chili powder)
1 tsp cumin
Olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

For the sauce
1/2 cup Mexican Crema
Juice from 1 small lime
Pinch of salt
Cilantro – chopped finely

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Cook the rice according to the instructions.

Mix all of the ingredients for the crema in a small bowl, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use. If it’s too thick, add a splash of cold water.

In a glass baking dish, place the peppers in about a 1/4 inch of water. Microwave for 3 minutes. Check the peppers for tenderness, flip and microwave for another 2 minutes or until softened. They should be soft, but still hold shape. Drain the water and set aside to cool until they are cool enough for you to handle.

Heat about a TBSP of olive oil in a large skillet over medium/high heat. Add the onions and saute for 3-4 minutes or until they begin to soften. Add the venison and cook until browned. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and some S&P and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.

Next, add the tomatoes, beans, and rice. Stir well to combine. Finally, add the chipotle puree and mix well. Turn down the heat, taste the mixture and adjust to your liking.

When you can handle the peppers, cut the top off, and slice one side open. Remove the seeds and stems. Coat the outside with olive oil and sprinkle some salt on each one. In the glass baking dish, fill each pepper with the venison mixture. Place in the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes or until you start to see the skin blister. Be careful not to let the filling burn!

Remove and serve with a drizzle of the crema and some extra cilantro if you like!

At CrossFit Austin

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR SPOT

In years past, we have had a few different methods of body composition testing available. Most recently, you’ve probably seen a hydrostatic weighing truck (water method) parked out front, but this year we wanted to try something a little different!

Body composition tests measure the specific  percentages of bone, fat, lean mass, and water that make up your body. When you step on a scale, all of those things are combined to give you your total bodyweight, but with composition testing you can see exactly what that number breaks down to. If you’re interested in body composition testing, DXA scans are one of the most precise and accurate tests available.

For more info and what to expect, keep reading! 

From the BodySpec site:

“DXA stands for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Our DXA scans are performed using the same medical-grade machine used by hospitals, universities, and professional athletic facilities. The DXA uses very weak x-ray beams to detect the composition of each square inch of your body. These results are interpreted and aggregated to give you not only a total body fat percentage, but also complete visualization and analysis of your lean tissue and bone density.”

If you have specific composition goals for yourself (as most of us do) like getting leaner, adding mass, etc… it’s important that you understand the make up of your own body. Diet and exercise are not a ‘one size fits all’ kind of deal so by knowing and understand your own individual make up, you can then make choices that will actually guide you toward your goals!

How does it work?

The process is simple! Basically, you’re going to lie on the scanner for about 10 minutes and then you’ll sit with a consultant for another 10 or so minutes to talk through your results. Easy!

* Make sure you wear closing without metal pieces – workout clothes are great!

* Take note of your circumstances if you plan to scan again at a later date – time of day, water/food intake, etc…

* Additionally, if you have recently had a barium x-ray, a nuclear medicine scan, or any other x-ray procedure involving ingestion or injection of a tracer substance, please wait at least 2 weeks after that procedure before scheduling a DXA scan.

* Finally, if you are pregnant, please do not sign up for a DXA scan.

How do I book?

CrossFit Austin is bringing a truck right to the gym! You can reserve a spot through our personal link! Plan to allot about 20 minutes for your scan and results. You can fill out your intake form ahead of time to save time the day of!

 

BODYSPEC AT CROSSFIT AUSTIN
Monday, February 10 || 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Pricing – 1 scan $45
2 scans $85
4 scans $170

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR SPOT

 

Check out the BodySpec website for more information on DXA scanning and FAQs! 

I’m back! It was a couple of weeks without recipes over the holidays, but honestly I didn’t cook that much either. We had SO MUCH FOOD over the holidays with family and had left overs and everything else.

We had an awesome time, but man… I’m glad to be home and getting back into a normal schedule/routine. Maybe I’m just a creature of habit… or I’m boring…. but I like routine.

Back to the grind means back to the kitchen! I’m coming back to the Force of Nature stuff here because I’ve been thinking about this elk for weeks so I figured it would be a great return to the blog.

The measurements in this recipe made 4 sliders so if you plan to do this with leftovers in mind, I’d double it. Otherwise this was a great dinner! It felt decadent and fancy, but y’all…. this. was. easy.

Enjoy!

 

Stuffed Elk Sliders

INGREDIENTS

For the sliders
1 Package Force of Nature Elk (y’all know you can get this AT the gym, right?)
2 ounces of brie – remove the rind and cut up into small cubes – you can sub any cheese you like, but this was awesome (or no cheese if you prefer)
1/2 tsp pink salt
1/2 tsp black pepper (if you can get smoked black pepper I highly recommend it!)
Olive oil
Mini buns – I used whole wheat

For the sauce – Do not skip this… maybe make extra to dip your sweet potato fries in….
1/2 cup mayo
1 clove of garlic – minced
1/2 TBSP lemon juice
1/2 TBSP olive oil
1/2 TBSP dried tarragon
pinch of sea salt

We served these with sweet potato fries that I baked in coconut oil and sprinkled with paprika.

INSTRUCTIONS

We don’t have a grill at the moment, but you could absolutely grill them. If you’re going the oven route, preheat the oven to 475 with a cast iron griddle plate inside.

If serving with baked sweet potato fries, cut, coat and start those in the oven first on a lined cookie sheet. Bake to your liking and sprinkle with paprika.

In a bowl, mix the ingredients for the sauce well until combined. I actually threw mine in the food processor, but up to you. Cover and put in the fridge until you’re ready for it.

In another bowl, season the elk with salt and pepper and divide into 8 equal parts. You’ll use two parts for each burger. With 1 part, form a small patty and place a couple of small chunks of brie in the middle. Cover with another patty and press so the edges combine leaving you with 1 small patty with cheese hidden nicely in the middle. Once you’ve made 4 stuffed patties, brush each on both sides with olive oil.

Place the patties on the grill plate and grill for about 4 min/side or to your liking! This got me to about medium/well in my oven. Cook them the same way you’d cook your favorite burger.

Assemble your sliders and enjoy!

I served these on wheat buns with some arugula, red onion, and tomato. Next time, I’ll definitely double the recipe!

Every year, we’ve chosen a male and female that stood out to us and exemplified the things that we look for in members of our community. In year’s past, this award has been called the Push-Up Man and Push-Up Woman of the Year award. While we will always be proud of our Push-Up men and women, we chose to bring to light a new award with our new ownership. Our first Iron Buffalo recipients were announced in the 10th year of business in 2018!

The Iron Buffalo award reflects many of the same things we looked for with the PUM/PUW. The athletes chosen were not limited to physical ability alone, although both of these athletes are quite talented in their individual areas. It also encompasses their ability to connect with their fellow CFA members, their continuous drive, and their commitment not only to this community, but to their own longevity, health, and overall being.

As Tim was considering the elements of this award, he turned to his own family and his own history. The Buffalo has been a symbol in his family for many years. From family homesteading a ranch in Buffalo, Texas where he and his brother made many childhood memories, to his hometown in Bartlesville, OK where Buffalo statues line the intersections of the city. Even the company he formed to purchase the gym, The Buffalo Collective, uses the symbol.

The Buffalo, in Native American culture symbolizes a spirit of abundance and friendship. As a totem it symbolizes earth-centeredness, selflessness, and the power of a team unit. The buffalo itself is a symbol of power. It has the strength the carry heavy burdens, not just physically, but in all aspects. We find all of these qualities to be what we looked for in our athletes of the year and could not be more proud to call them the Iron Buffalo recipients.

These athletes exemplify all of these amazing qualities and more. They lead by example. They work hard. Their family and friends are a priority in their lives and they uplift and encourage those around them. We are so honored to share the interviews of our 2019 Iron Buffalo recipients, JoAnna Brand and Sayyed Naghaviani. Congratulations you two! We’re grateful to have you as a part of this team and this family.

 

JoAnna Brand

When did you join the CFA community?
2014 (2009 for CF, but 2014 CFA)

What is one of your most memorable moments from your early days at CFA? Any ‘newbie’ stories you’d like to share?
Getting those first couple bar muscle ups and having Gen there to record them!

What is it about CFA that you love or that is different from other sports/programs you’ve tried?
It’s like playing. Just fun stuff. sometimes a struggle, but always worth it. And FUN. Even when I have to row.

What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time to when you first started CrossFit?
I just wish I could have started it in my teens or 20s, before broken ankles and poor form set in… 

What was your initial reason for starting (your ‘why’)? How has that ‘Why’ changed?
Looked like fun, and to be a challenge. And I love pull ups and push ups!!!

How did you create long term fitness/CrossFit success for yourself?
Finding things I enjoy, that I can do alone as well as with others for motivation. Running around in the woods, CrossFit, and just sustained movement throughout the day.

What makes you come in and train on days when you don’t want to?
I always want to!! But if my body is telling me to rest, I have no problem listening!

Recent PRs?
I have recently adopted a “by feel” policy, so not many recent PRs. But I feel good every day!!! Or most days, anyway. 

Current training goals?
Just stay healthy and keep enjoying my CFA and trail tribes. 

Tell us about an obstacle you have had to work through in your training. How did you work through it?
I am getting older and despite being pretty fit and able to do most of what I want, I have had to re-evaluate goals like hitting a 300 pound deadlift. It is more important to stay strong and healthy and be able to do the things I enjoy. If I am forever stuck at 285# on my DL as a PR, so be it!

What is your cheat meal go to?
Not a meal, really. But cheese.

What does the Iron Buffalo title mean to you?
It’s an honor and I am humbled and proud all at once. I love this community. 

Thoughts upon winning the title?
See previous statement. Honored and humbled and proud and also grateful and thankful. So many folks in our community worthy of this…

How will you use your new found Buffalo Strength?
Continue with my slow, forward progress, with some occasional skipping thrown in to keep things fun. 🙂

What are you most excited about in the upcoming year? Gym related and/or personally?
I’m in a good place, so just maintaining the status quo. BALANCE!!

Leave the fine folks of CFA with some parting wisdom.
Be grateful for every day. There’s a song with a line about having good days when you keep your level of gratitude above your level of expectations. Do THAT.

 

 

 

 

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Sayyed Naghaviani

When did you join the CFA community?
Feb 2017 started CF in March of 2013.

What is one of your most memorable moments from your early days at CFA? Any ‘newbie’ stories you’d like to share?
Most of y’all know I work out at the 430PM class but I started working out at CFA during the 730am class.  At the time I was thinking I was going to be one of these early risers who seized the day and felt “energized” after working out in the morning.  What happened is after about a month my back locked up on me while we were warming up back squats and I laid on the ground for about 30 minutes.  I don’t think I went back to a 730am class after that unless it was forced.  430PM is my jam.  Morale of the story is we all know what time of the day we are at our prime.  Focus your training at that time and you probably will do a lot better and wont hurt yourself squatting just the barbell.

 

What is it about CFA that you love or that is different from other sports/programs you’ve tried?
Everyday is different but the same.  Different meaning it’s rare we do the same workout but when we do its a benchmark to see if you have improved from the last time you did it.  Variety keeps me interested and allows you to crush some workouts and be humbled by others.  Same meaning I see the same lovely faces everyday that push me to do work harder and not sandbag.

What makes you come in and train on days when you don’t want to?
Honestly skipping days makes coming in the day after even harder.  Be consistent and you wont want to not come in.

Tell us about an obstacle you have had to work through in your training. How did you work through it?
Injuries are an obvious one but considering how much I travel for work I could easily “skip” days.  What I do is I try to book my meetings so I can drop into a class wherever I am at.  I don’t cherry pick.  I drop into the gym that is most convenient given my travel schedule.  Being the new guy makes it almost like a mini competition every time which is kind of fun.

What is your cheat meal go to?

Pizza, Shitty domino’s pizza.

What are you most excited about in the upcoming year? Gym related and/or personally?
Finally getting to Machu Pichu in the fall.

Over the years, months, or weeks you’ve been doing CrossFit, you’ve likely picked up on most of the key points of performance for the various movements. There’s a lot to know, and with experience comes muscle memory. You probably don’t think too much about your setup for the most common lifts. But, it’s important that you take yourself off of auto-pilot and continue striving for virtuosity.

 

Part of the practice context for Thursday’s programming is knowing (and showing) the difference between the hip position for the clean and the deadlift. Coach Dylan shows a clear distinction between his hip positions in the clean and in the deadlift in the photos below.

 

In the clean, his hips are lower, shoulders slightly over the bar (stick). In the deadlift, his hips are higher, shoulders definitively over the bar. 

 

If he set up for a clean the way he does for a deadlift (hips higher), he’d have a harder time getting into a proper position to initiate the second pull of the clean, position 3 (hang) to position 5 (triple extension). If this is a problem for you, as it is for many, let the bar come out over the middle of your foot a bit and sit back.

 

In full disclosure, the hip position for both cleans and deadlifts may look different on different people based on anthropometry (i.e. limb length). Also, it is worth noting that your setup will change based on the type of deadlift you are doing — conventional, sumo, hex bar, etc. Some folks even prefer to set up for their deadlifts with a lower hip position as it helps them use more leg drive to get the weight off of the floor.

 

Questions? Ask one of your coaches for help!

Happy Hump Day! Guys…. next week is Christmas! How did that happen so quickly?? Anyway… I decided to switch it up a bit this week because I’ve been doing a lot of heavy dishes and soups with all the new Force of Nature stuff we have! That will definitely come back. I think I’m going to do Elk sliders next. Stay tuned! But, just to give you some other ideas, here’s a super easy breakfast option that is even easier to take on the go!

This recipe is extremely diverse. I used peaches and blueberries, but you could do apples, bananas, raspberries… whatever fruit you like really! There are also a lot of choices you can make in terms of your sweetener, nuts, milk choices, etc…. Use the oatmeal as a base and go crazy! You could even mix in some almond butter or something. I like to top this with a little drizzle of maple syrup, but do you boo!

If you make another version of this, I’d love to know what you put in it!

Enjoy!

 

INGREDIENTS

2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup coconut sugar (choose an alternative if you prefer, but coconut sugar has a flavor similar to brown sugar)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (can also use coconut, unflavored, churro…)
1 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sliced almonds (walnuts or pecans would be great too!)
2 cups milk unsweetened almond milk (can use coconut milk or any other option you like)
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 TBSP melted coconut oil or grass fed butter
1 large egg – lightly whisked
1 cup peaches – sliced or cut into small chunks

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8×8 glass baking dish and set aside.

In one bowl, combine the oats, coconut sugar, protein, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and almonds. In a separate bowl add the milk, vanilla, melted oil (or butter), and egg and whisk lightly to combine.

Line the bottom of your greased dish with part of the peaches and blueberries. Layer the dry ingredients on top and then add another later of peaches and blueberries on top. Then, pour the wet ingredients over the whole thing. Shift the dish lightly or use a butter knife to create little spots for the liquid to soak through the dry ingredients.

Bake uncovered for 40 minutes or until the dish is set and starting to turn slightly golden brown. It should not be liquid in the middled. Let cool and serve! Or, divvy it up into meal prep containers for the week. This reheats really well in the microwave!

Every year during our Anniversary/Holiday party we like to take a minute to recognize some of our members. Over the years these superlatives have been lovingly deemed the “bitter burpee awards” but they are ALL from the heart. We could recognize every single one of our members with an award of some kind, but let’s be honest… there is only so much random stuff in the closet that we can give away 😉

In all seriousness, we are so grateful for all of you. We’re grateful for the hard work, the smiles, and most of all, your personalities and the things you bring into this community to make it so great.

THANK YOU for 11 great years! We’re excited to see what the 12th holds!

 

 

The Traffic Jam Award – Daniel Arrendondo

Daniel owes the most burpees for being late to class… but he always runs in with a smile and is READY TO WORK when he gets here! Daniel, thank you for making us smile and for working so hard in every single class!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tenant in C-300 – Jacki De Los Santos
Jacki has LIVED at the gym this year with 165 check ins (since we switched to our new system!) and we can see the results! She celebrates her wins and we are so proud of her growth! Congrats on all your hard work, Jacki!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. & Mrs. Liftmas – Alec and Angie Bobst

These swolemates stole our hearts when they joined the gym! We love seeing folks sweat with their sweethearts! These two came in with a “can do” mindset and we believe anything they put their minds to and work together on, they will achieve! Send some love to your gym couple of the year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ol’ Reliable – Scott Stookey

He never misses a beat! 5:30 am and he’s at the door with a story and a smile. Fun fact- Scott and Gen worked together for 9 months 3x a week at 5:30 am without fail! Scott has kept that consistency with his group class schedule and we can always rely on him to be there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a 3 part award! CrossFit Austin = CFA = Community, Fitness, and Adventure. These are our 3 pillars and these folks live the life!

 

Community – George and Denise Valdez
Not only has this couple (and now their beautiful daughter!) been a part of our community for many years, but they are always supportive of their fellow athletes, cheering them on in class and gathering the crew for Thirsty Thursdays! They set a great example for new folks coming in and are always happy to make a new friend. They are a couple of friendly faces we are super grateful for!

 

 

 

 

Fitness – Marco (Alien) Torres
When life gets hard, work harder. Marco has truly made fitness a priority in his life this year! He’s put in the work with additional plus programming and extra open gym time to train for his sport, roller derby, and we SO PROUD of him! He made the Mexican National team again this year! Way to use your fitness, Marco!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adventure – Marco Ramos
What we do is about so much more than the hour in the gym! How are you using your fitness outside of the gym!? Marco is a big adventurer! When he’s not in the gym, you can find him deep in a cave, hiking, climbing, swimming, and who knows what else?! He takes his fitness out into nature and pushes his body to its limits. THIS is why we train! We train to live!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rookies of the Year – Joel Guajardo & Katie Alfsen
These two hit the ground running! It’s been a joy to watch their growth since joining CFA. Their desire to learn, openness to coaching, and drive to do the work is all we could ask for in a new athlete! Congratulations on all of your accomplishments so far! We’re excited to be a part of your continued growth!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Longevity Award – Paul (Buck) Patek
We lovingly call Paul our “teacher’s pet” because this guy does ALL of his homework! Since day 1, he has been in it for the long haul. Paul understands the importance of the accessory work, the soft tissue, the recovery and he spends the time to make sure his body is both prepped and taken care of day in and day out. Because of this, we’ve seen more improvement and growth in Paul than we see in a lot of athletes. He also knows that it doesn’t happen over night. Patience, diligence, and that long term mindset have set him up for success.

We’re so proud of you, Paul! We’re proud of your work, your dedication, and your support! We’re so thankful to have you as a member and as a FRIEND and we look forward to moving with you for MANY more years!

 

 

Coach of the Year – Dylan Wall

Let me begin by saying we are so proud of our current team. We truly believe this is the strongest coaching team we have ever had in our 11 years. This crew brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and joy! They are humble, they are always hungry for more, and they truly work together as a team.

With that said, we wanted to recognize Dylan for going above and beyond this year! Dylan has grown the Austin Weightlifting program massively, built the youth strength & conditioning from the ground up, and taken HUGE leaps in building his future career. This year, he stepped out of his comfort zone and into the role of Coach for Life with us. Additionally…. and we never thought we’d see it 😉 but Dylan also crossed the boundary from weightlifting to CrossFit and has become a CFL1 coach. He’s regularly gotten into classes to expand his own coaching repertoire and to grow himself as an athlete and a member of this community.
We learn something new from Dylan every day about things both in and outside of the gym and we are honored to have him as a part of this team.

Heart warming moment – After winning this award, Dylan approached us humbly and said it wasn’t just his… it was the Team’s award. THIS is why we love and are so proud of this crew. Thank you for being you, Dylan.

 

 

And last, but certainly not least…

Our 2019 Iron Buffalo Award Winners – JoAnna Brand & Sayyed Naghaviani 

The buffalo represents a headstrong and steadfast figure. It is representative of good health, strength, and stamina. It represents a humble confidence and a work ethic that is unmatched. It is calm and steady, but also extremely protective of and dedicated to its herd.

The buffalo has also held personal significance to Tim and his family for many years. If you haven’t see all the buffalo figures, pictures, etc in the gym, take a look around! The buffalo symbolizes so many amazing qualities and it is with the greatest honor that we recognize these athletes as our male and female Iron Buffalos!

Stand by for full interviews from both of those folks in January!

Jo & Sayyed – Thank you for being pillars in our community. Thank you for working hard, staying honest, and supporting our team and our CFA family. Day in and day out, we see your efforts and over the years we’ve come to know the love and goodness within each of you. 

We are proud to have you in our lives.

 

 

Well, we had another good ol’ Texas 40 degree temperature drop in less than 24 hours this week. That was fun…. But, it was perfect timing to try out this soup I’ve been playing with in my head.

So, if you didn’t read my post last week, you should (CLICK HERE) This will give you some info and links to more info on the freezer full of goodies in the front office. I’ve been looking through the different meats we have available to us and trying to come up with new recipes to change up my game, but to also give you some options to try in case some of these things are a little out of your comfort zone.

Last week we covered ground bison, but this week I tackled the Wild Boar. To be honest, I was a littlenervous about this one. My only exposure to wild boar was MANY years ago. I was in middle school and my ex-stepdad had killed one in Tennessee… He was not really a hunter… definitely not a chef… and it was disgusting.

I knew this experience would be different because of where this meat comes from, how it’s raised, killed, processed, etc… but I also had absolutely no idea how to cook it or what it’s true flavor profile was.

My first instinct was to treat it almost like sausage. I knew I wanted to make it into a cozy soup and I LOVE wild rice and mushrooms in soup. I originally was going to do this as a creamy based soup, but I tasted it before that step and I loved it so much as a broth based soup that… here we are.

I put this in my instructions below, but I’m going to emphasize, TASTE THE BROWNED MEAT BEFORE YOU PUT IT IN THE SOUP. I’m seriously so impressed. It doesn’t have any odd scent to it like some packaged meats can get and it has a lovely flavor. Give it a try. You’ll be glad you did and you’ll be more comfortable working it into different recipes.

Enjoy!

 

INGREDIENTS

1 Package Force of Nature Wild Boar
4-5 carrots -peeled and sliced
3-4 celery stalks – sliced
1 yellow onion – diced
3 cloves garlic- minced
4 large handfuls of kale – stems removed and torn into chunks
8 oz shitake mushrooms – thinly sliced
8 oz baby bella mushrooms – thinly sliced
1 cup (uncooked) wild rice
6-8 cups chicken broth
2 tsp dry rubbed sage
2 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp fresh thyme
salt & black pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Get your wild rice going first because it’s going to take the longest. Either cook it according to the package, but use chicken broth in place of water. OR to follow what I did, cook your rice in an instant pot with 4 cups of chicken broth. Close the valve and set it to manual pressure cook on high for 15 minutes. Allow to naturally release for 10 minutes before releasing the valve. You WILL have broth left over – SAVE IT – it will go in the soup. The left over broth will have SO much amazing flavor and I believe that really added to my soup.

While your rice is working begin working on the meat and the soup itself. Heat a pan with a splash of olive oil. Add the ground wild boar, season with 1 tsp sage, 1 tsp rosemary, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, and a dash of salt and pepper. Cook, chopping up as you go, until brown. It’s quite lean and you shouldn’t have much fat to drain, but drain it if you prefer. Taste a little bit before you put it in the soup because IT’S DELICIOUS.

For the soup, heat a large pot (I used by cast iron dutch oven) to medium high heat with a splash of olive oil. Add the carrots, onions, and celery to the pot and saute until the onions & celery start to become translucent and the carrots begin to soften. Add the garlic, 1 tsp sage, 1 tsp rosemary, and cook for another 30-60 seconds or until fragrant.

Add the broth from the rice first, then add the rice, meat, and additional broth as needed to create the consistency you prefer. Bring the pot to a soft boil, reduce heat to low, add the kale and fresh thyme, cover with a lid and let simmer for 5-10 minutes or until kale is the desired consistency.

Taste the broth and adjust seasoning to your liking! I like a little more sage in mine, but these measurements are a good starting point.

Serve with a little garlic bread if you like.

Eat well friends!