ONE WEEK

Can you believe we only have ONE WEEK left?! I know how hard you all have worked and how committed you have been over the last 6 weeks. I also know you are ready to be DONE! We are so close to the finish line so stay strong this last week and then we can celebrate =) Please post your 3 goals that you set for this challenge and the status of each goal. Thanks! Keep up the hard work! I'll be out of town again this weekend but per usual you guys get together if you want some workout accountability. Gooooo team!

My FAVORITE Paleo Side Dish

Thanks to my client Kerri for this delicious recipe! Brussel Sprouts with an Almond Butter glaze...so yummi, nutritious and easy to make. I added shrimp to mine to make it an entree but it can be a great side dish with fish or steak! Give it a whirl for something new.

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb. brussels sprouts
2 tbsp smooth unsalted almond butter
2 tsp tamari soy sauce (didn't have this but it was fine without it)
2 tsp raw organic honey
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic

INSTRUCTIONS:
- Trim about ¼ inch from bottom of each sprout.
- Separate and remove loose outer leaves of each sprout.
- Place leaves into a bowl and set aside.
- Slice each sprout in half.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together almond butter, 1 ½ tbsp water, soy sauce, honey, lemon juice and cayenne. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a medium nonstick sauté pan over medium- high heat.
- Add garlic and halved sprout centers and sear for about 1 minute.
- Add leaves and sauté until light golden brown and wilted, about 4-6 minutes.
- Add about 2 tbsp water to pan and stir once.
- Reduce heat to medium, pour in almond butter mixture and stir until sprouts are coated.
- Cook for about 30-60 seconds longer, until sauce has thickened slightly.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately.

WEEK 3!

Hey Team!!! Just want to check-in with you all and make sure we are still motivated and staying on track! We are more than 2 weeks into this challenge, it will be over before you know it so make the most of it and be as strict as you can with nutrition, alcohol intake and hitting those extra workouts and staying consistent with your supplements. If anybody has anything to share for motivation please leave a comment for the team! Help each other out!!!

Congrats!

Nice job to all of you who got to come out to the workshop on Saturday!!! I know it was hard and a lot of advanced moves and you all did awesome! Just wanted to give a shout out to Melissa for getting her first UNASSISTED KIPPING PULL-UPS!!! Way to go girl!

Also, Wednesday is Miss Sara and Melissa's Birthdays so happy birthday to both of you!

All of you are doing a great job food logging and keeping cheats to a minimum thus far. Definitely keep communicating with each other to get recipe ideas, get together for your extra workouts, etc. One week down and only 6 to go. Short and intense, you can do it!

Yet Another Delicious Paleo Recipe

Paleo Salmon Croquette salad

Mix together...
1 can of salmon (and the juice)
2 eggs
1 tsp fresh lemon juice

Then add...
1 tsp pepper
1/2 med onion (chopped) - i used purple onion
I just added enough almond flour to make it stick together. Recipe called for 1 whole package of crushed saltines, but just eye it with the almond flour.

Mix it all up. Make patties & let them rest for 5 min. Heat up a 1/2 inch of oil in a pan (don't skimp on the oil, you need it for frying properly). Use grapeseed, walnut or coconut oil. Add the paties to the oil & let them cook 3-4 minutes on each side. Once you put them in the oil don't touch them until it's time to flip or they'll fall apart. They should be nice & brown and crispy.

Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the finished product! Deeeelish!

Recipe

Hey team...Crystal had a yummi Paleo recipe and thought I would share with you all! See below and give it a try!

The NY Times recently published a new, very interesting recipe that I can't wait to try out. "Asparagus Pesto" not only sounds really good, it is really good for you!

Recipe:
Cut the woody ends off of the Asparagus
Boil the asparagus (Your asparagus is ready when it is easily cut with a knife which might take as long as 10 minutes)
Drain, Cool, and Dry off the asparagus
Puree Asparagus for about 5 Seconds
Add Olive Oil (quite a bit), Some Salt, and a Clove (or 2) of Garlic and Puree
Add Pine Nuts and Lemon and Puree

This is to taste, so do what tastes good to you!! Top this on some baked fish and you will have a gorgeous vegetable and meat meal.

Let the Games Begin!!

Alright team, it's GO time!! Body Comps, Goals and Supplments set this week and before photos and benchmark workout Saturday! Set your mind right now that you are going to take up the intensity of your workouts, stay consistent with your nutrition and hit it hard! I will use this blog for all of us to communicate on...share tips, recipes, what your times are for the workouts that are sent to you weekly, etc. I will make a post and then you all can respond in the comments section.

For this post, please everybody write what your 3 main goals are for this challenge! As Carey mentioned, if you write them down and share them with others they are more likely to be achieved. So...3 main goals, GO!