311… heh. but this post isn’t about the band. Its about updating you all on stress. sloth. sleep. I’ve been meaning to write this post for some time… but again.. sloth.

These past few weeks….actually month has been extremely stressful for me. It has seemed like everyone has been pulling me in 50 different ways — I haven’t slept well during that time and my entire workout routine has been thrown off-kilter, practically non-existent with an exception for mini-workouts + some Zumba. This translated into me not doing well on all levels—physically, mentally, emotionally taxxed-out. A downward spiral of #epicfail. Last week I went on somewhat of a spring break/mental ‘vacation’ out into the wilderness. NO Facebook. NO email. NO Twitter. NO computer. NO phone. NO deadlines. NO demands. NO judgements. Just quietness. I inhaled fresh woodsy air, hiked 12+miles a day, relaxed and lastly, slept like a baby rock. It was AWESOME!!! 

I hated to come back to reality, to even get back online…back into the buzz. Back into demand. But all that quiet-time was healing and I’m doing much much better, even though I’ve walked back into the tangled yarn ball of stress that is my life right now, since taking a time-out, I’m able to manage it somewhat. 

However, one thing I just can’t seem to shrug is the intense need for sleep. I go to bed at 8pm since returning from my break. But now, I’ve been skipping my pre-dawn full-scale workouts for evening-time mini-workouts just so I can sleep a full un-interrupted 10 hours. I wake up feeling refreshed + awesome!!! until the stress-force sucks my life out by 10am each day.

However… that is not good. I’m not getting a hard enough workout in for each day that I desperately need and its definitely showing. I need to get back into my pre-dawn workout routine asap! even if that means I’m going to bed by 7p on most nights. I’m going to finish riding out this week of ‘sleeping in’ and hope it will make up for the rest + recovery + repair that I’m sure I am needing to make up for this past months worth of stressful damage. And I will also make sure I’m staying on top of taking my vitamins and supplements, esp B12!

So for now, I hope that you all pardon my stress-related sloth and lack of attention… I’m working thru it and will be back to my A-Game as quickly as possible.

NEXT WEEK - DO OR DIE OR PADDED ROOM!!!! I WILL REGAIN MY FULL-WORKOUTS + LIFE BACK!!!!  ….and I dare anyone to get in my way of doing so…even my own self and most importantly, my own self!!!

On a related note… I just received this email as I was composing this blog post.

i think this is a sign.

Here is the website for sign-ups: http://www.visitperdido.com/dragon-boat-race

So I have the opportunity to take the AFAA Group Exercise Certification course locally and at a discounted price. I REALLY-REALLY want to sign-up and begin studying before the test in early June. This IS after all one of my 2012 goals! However I am scared to death!

I mean this is a serious chunk of cash (it doesn’t grow on trees) to take a very serious test (which I’ve heard by many close friends is very seriously hard to pass) at which the possibility of succeeding or failing hangs in a very thin balance. That scares me to the core!  Especially since I have the hardest time retaining crucial information these days!

However I do like to face a challenge head-on and even if I don’t succeed I will have known that I tried my hardest and put forth my best. The only part that is bothering me, besides the thought of a practical exam (the shy girl in me is horrified by this), is the tight-wad in me who is afraid of being out a huge chunk of cash if I totally face-plant #fail!  

And on the split side, I should not be a negative nellie and face my fears head-on!!!! —regardless of the consequences and costs!!!  That is part of taking a risk for something that is positive and life changing. And goodness knows, I’ve already been schooled on “taking risks for change” during this journey. 

I’m human. Full of emotion - yes + no’s… fear + courage. And I had to just put it out in the open, to be expressive, to make myself feel better about making a big decision at taking the next step.

In the meantime, I’ve got a lot of thinking to do… if any of you already have this certification, please feel free to share any advice, tips and encouragement to help soothe my worries. I look forward to hearing it all.

xoxo! -FFG

On a separate note, here is today’s workout:

Despite my slacker efforts on blogging, I figured the least I could do is owe everyone a progress photo. While I’m still ‘stuck’ at the 120 lb. plateau (yay for being able to maintain a consistant weight), I’m kinda bummed about it… but… I’m NOT bummed about the “Overall” results esp when I put it together as a progress photo! Progress photos is a cure-all for any negative thinking. 

So this is me now… its March… Not too bad, right?

I’m really planning on busting tail these next few months, in hopes to break the last final pound plateau curse and reach my final goal weight by my 1 year weight loss anniversary! I’m looking forward to seeing the FINAL WL Progress Photo! *fingers crossed*

I’ve been a lean mean Paleo cooking machine! Today I enjoyed an abundance of mighty meals… This morning was my homemade version of Steve’s Original PaleoKrunch. I tossed in some raspberries + strawberries with unsweetened Almond Milk.

Lunch was leftover Chocolate Beef with Bacon + steamed Spinach

And this is waiting for me when I get home tonight…

…slow cooked Triple B (Buffalo, Bacon + Butternut Squash) chili. Yum!

Tonight I will also be completing the 500 FB Challenge that I have been needed to bust out and post up. Tonight is the night for it! I am also thinking about getting in a few Fitocracy Quests as well. And… more Z routine practicing!!! 

Is it 6 o’clock yet?

Triple B Chili  (Triple B stands for Buffalo, Bacon + Butternut Squash)

Paleo-friendly

Servings: 3-4

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: 45 Minutes

Ingredients:

• 1.5 Lb Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
• 6 Slices of Bacon
• 1 Lb Ground Bison (Or Beef)
• 1 Medium Red Onion, diced
• 3 Jalapeños, diced
• 2 Cloves garlic, chopped
• 14 Ounces Organic Tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 Tsp Sea Salt
• 1 Tsp Oregano
• 1/2 Tsp Cumin
• 1/2 Tsp Cayenne
• 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil, melted

Process:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 Degrees Fahrenheit
2. Mix the Butternut Squash and coconut oil together in a small roasting pan and roast in the oven for 30 Minutes or until tender
3. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat and cook until crispy, set aside to cool
4. Add the bison to the bacon grease in the pan and cook through
5. Stir in the onion, garlic, and jalapeños and cook until the onions are translucent
6. Add the salt, oregano, cumin, and cayenne and then cook while stirring for a minute
7. Crumble your bacon and add it as well as your tomatoes with the juice and apple cider vinegar
8. Bring to a simmer and let simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes
9. Once done, place your chili in a bowl and top with your roasted butternut squash
10. Sprinkle with some cinnamon or cocoa powder if desired
11. Enjoy

Here is the Paleo friendly recipe for Chocolate Beef. This recipe was provided to me from My Paleo Life. Brock was kind enough to share this recipe with me after I swooned over a photo of his meal of Chocolate Beef that he had posted on his Paleo FB page.

I made this tonight for dinner. dH was a bit leery of it since it seemed odd to him to put cocoa powder and cinnamon on beef. But once it was done and he had a bite, he was hooked!!! I had to make 2x as much extra afterwards because it was what he wanted for lunch tomorrow! This mealtime delight will definitely be on the repeat list! :)

This recipe truly is sweet, savory and amazing!

Chocolate Beef

• Pastured Stewing Beef (defrosted)
• Bacon Fat + Shmaltz 
• Onions
• Cumin
• Salt + Pepper
• Paprika
• Cinnamon
• Cocoa powder
• 1/8 cup of water

1. Cut up the stewing beef in managable cubes.

2. Fry it in a pan with bacon fat and shmaltz

3. Add onions, cumin, salt + pepper, paprika, cinnamon and cocoa powder. Add a bit of water.

And voila!

Chocolate Beef! Enjoy!