Alright! Feb 27-28 is going to be an action packed weekend of friends, fun, CrossFit and probably a little narcissism and pain thrown in on the side. Our very own Spencer Arnold will be competing for a chance to advance to the regional qualifiers for the 2010 CrossFit Games. Wish him luck, and that his hamstrings magical transform into something a little more powerful over the next 3 weeks!

For the rest of us mere mortals, there is an affiliate team division. Let’s get a team together and go kick some butt! There has to be at least 2guys/2gals per team, with the option of 6 total team members. But, there must be at least 2/2 at all times during the WODs. Check out the official rules here.

You come in feeling nervous, maybe a little anxious about what is going to be on the whiteboard. Some exercises you dread. Some workouts strike fear down to the bottom of your soul. However, no matter the pain you know that is coming, you’ll tackle it, push yourself as hard as possible and in the end come out victorious.

So why do we as humans push ourselves to great limits? Why do we as CrossFitters push ourselves even harder than the general population. What’s the point of being fit? Post your thoughts to comments.

Cheri and Katie admiring the results of pushing it to the limit.

Yesterday marked the beginning of the first ever (of many to come!) Paleo challenges here at CFAthens. For those undertaking the challenge, I need to take your before pictures!! I also need entry fees from many of you. Remember, all entry fees go into the pot with the winners splitting it down the middle. Stay tuned for more announcements on additional prizes.

For now, if you haven’t started your nutrition log, go here. Remember this is an easy way to pick up 49 points! If you’d rather enter it all at the end of the week, you may. My experience though is that many people forget. Your choice.

Resources for the challenge can be found here. There is more information here than you will want to know about the Paleo Diet. Check out the recipes too. These are an amazing way to get out of the ‘grilled chicken with steamed/sauteed veggies’ rut! Try one of my favorites with your choice of meat:

Easy Paleo Tacos

-6 pound beef roast cut into large cubes
-1 large yellow onion diced
-6 cloves garlic chopped (I use 2 heaping tbsp pre-chopped)
-.25-.50 cups diced chipotle peppers in sauce (only if you like it HOT)
-tsp cumin
-tsp ground coriander
-1 packet Salsa seasoning
-2 cans El Pato
(shown here with chicken from EatMoveThrive)

Mix everything in a crock pot, cooks for about 8 hours, shred the meat and serve in lettuce wraps. Adjust the cooking if you use a different meat. Chicken thighs are wonderful also. I like to add guacamole to mine to chill some of the spice. Delicious and you can eat it on it for days!

Paleo Challenge starts Monday! I get asked all of the time, “What can I eat?” Well, I fixed this Monday and it is delicious! Best part is, there are plenty of leftovers. Cook once, eat 5 times. My kind of meal indeed.

(From Mark’s Daily Apple)

Ingredients:

2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

1 lb andouille sausage, cut into ¼ inch thick slices ( I used kielbasa)

1/4 cup olive oil

1 cup onion, chopped

1 large bell pepper, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced crushed

1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained

1.5 cups chicken stock

1/2 tsp dried leaf thyme

1 tbsp parsley (fresh is preferable, but dried will do in a pinch!)

1 tsp chili powder

1 large head of cauliflower

2 cups shelled, deveined and cleaned shrimp

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and lightly cook the sausage and chicken over medium heat. Once golden, add onion, bell pepper and garlic and sauté until onion becomes translucent. Transfer items from the frying pan into a large pot. Add diced tomatoes, chicken broth, thyme, parsley and chili powder and bring to a simmer. While the mixture is simmering (you’ll want to let it go for about 20 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally), place the cauliflower in a food processor and shred until it becomes the consistency of rice. Add the cauliflower “rice” to the mixture and simmer for another 15 minutes until tender. Add shrimp and simmer for another 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and adjust other spices as needed. Serve piping hot. Serves 6.

Jason has finally returned to us, ready to kick some @ss and build himself a new one!  We know you were looking to lose that last 10 pounds Jason, but I think there might have been an easier way! 

Welcome Back!

(Looking good on that burpee too!)

It’s here! The inaugural Paleo Challenge is finally upon us. Check the message boards for more information and resources, as well as when you come into the gym. Cost to enter will be $30 a person, with the pot being split in half for the male and female winner. Additional bonus prizes to be announced!

Here’s how it works: Read More

Congrats to Rebecca and Aaron for setting personal records on “Fran” last Saturday morning!

If you paid for a hoodie, come get it!

Eddie, Tammy, Katie and Landon lovin’ lunges.

Make sure to say hello to some of our newest members! Bobby is warming up on the agility ladder and Jack is letting us know just how he feels about rowing and the baseline!

Now that the new year is upon us, CrossFit Athens will be undergoing a few changes.

1. The website will be re-vamped into something more streamlined and easier to use. (Look for this in the next week!)
2. We will be changing our membership options. To our current members, this does not affect you unless it is to your benefit.
3. WODs will be more structured. Please arrive 10 minutes early to the scheduled WOD you wish to attend. You'll see why when you  get here.;)

That's about all I can think of right now. Just be prepared for changes this year. They will all be in the best interest of you! As always, should you have any questions or concerns, let me know.

Happy New Year!

People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New
Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the
New Year and Christmas.  ~Author Unknown

(ha! we don't have that problem. right?!)