Max Out Month 2

Week 5 of Insanity Max:30 is in the books and I have to say, it may have been the hardest week of workouts that I have EVER done. They are completely doable, but your mind can't win!!!! You must not give up. Shaun T talks about how he is scared in some of the workouts.. DON'T LET HIM GET INTO YOUR HEAD!!!!
One of the things I really liked about Month 2, is that it isn't just a harder Month 1. There are new moves (that I had never done before), there are CRAZY push up sequences, and through every since move, if you perform them with purpose you are sculpting those abs!
In Max Out Cardio, you have to move quick but you also have to pay attention. A lot of the time in month one, I just focused on what I was doing and never looked up. This isn't the case for month 2. I had to focus on and watch the moves because I had never done them.

Max Out Power should just be called Beat Down Day! By far the HARDEST workout I have EVER done. The moves are 45 seconds on 15 seconds off unlike month one 20 seconds and 10 seconds. Shaun says, "Now you have found the power - you have to let your power take over - not an option to not max out- now you let the power from within take over'" and it's so true! I wanted to actually turn off the workout and give up and I have never felt that way before. It pushes your most and mind to the limit and then gives you a little shove over into feeling a bit defeated. You have to go down to be able to get back up though right??

Max Sweat Intervals helps you redeem yourself after Max Out Power. So, after being beat down, you will do Max Sweat and feel like you can conquer the world. Don't get me wrong, you are going to max out, and much sooner than you did during month one. Don't hold back and don't be afraid. I was feeling very humbled after Max Power but as I went through Max Sweat, my confidence in the fact that I COULD do this came back in full force. I was also super sore by this workout and I was feeling muscles I didn't even know existed!

Max Strength would have to be the exact opposite of how I felt during max power. By the end you and the floor will be best friends because it should just be called make them do push ups. I have never done so many variations of push ups and up until I started T25 almost a year ago, I had never even done one push up! I modify them but I am strong enough (from month one) to push myself through. I can visibly see a difference in my arms and that is all due to my BFF the push up.

By Friday, you are ready for the week to be done. You are sore and tired but then it's time for Friday Night Fight Round 2. Out of month one, Friday fight was my favorite one, so it wasn't a huge surprise that it is my favorite in Month 2 either. I like knowing I only have to do that exercise one time and being able to give it everything I have. Shaun says, "It's about going beyond your max! You will max out but because you got this far - you know how to go more! Pull it together and you fight!! Do what you need to do to get through." He has a way of pushing you to go just a little bit farther than you really thought you could go.

Week 5 was mentally challenging. You have started to master month one and feel really confident and then you fail (a lot). I am so happy that I can do it in my home where no one can see my uncoordinated movements and my near face plants. I'm really starting to see more definition in my abs (hallelujah). I've never had abs before, so being able to see some has been a highlight for me. I used to be afraid of gaining muscle, but the truth is, I would rather be strong with some muscles than weak. My shoulders and arms are definitely getting defined (thank you push ups) and I think the exercises this week are really helping to define my inner thighs (at least that is what hurts the most). The soreness is worth being comfortable in my skin and knowing that no matter what he throws at me, I can push though it.

Are you curious yet??? I will have round 2 of Insanity Max:30 starting February 9. Join me, you will not regret it!

Insanity Instructor Check!

This last weekend, I really stepped out of my comfort zone and went to New York to get certified to teach Insanity.

Fun fact... I had never done the original insanity. Fun fact #2... I had never been to a group exercise class before in my life.

I have never been what some would call coordinated (at all). I'm the person who when they say move left, I go right but I totally fell in love with Insanity Max:30 and I felt pretty confident that I could make it through the training so I signed up and went to New York. My mantra for this certification was... Just make it through and you know what? I didn't just make it through- I loved every second of it. When I originally signed up, I was super excited because the instructor was going to be Danielle Katz, who is a master trainer and expert on Insanity formats. She is a kick butt Beachbody coach but she is an EXPERT on teaching Insanity!!
This means that short of Shaun T being there to teach me... Danielle is the BEST!

Not only did we have Danielle there to impart all of her knowledge but where Danielle goes, Darren goes and so we got to have the knowledge of two master insanity trainers!
That's kind of intimidating for a person who has never done insanity- right?!??
So, everyone shows up at the location and we sit in a circle and we all start saying who we are and where we are from... And the first 5 people to introduce themselves were in the Insanity Max:30 test group - oh ok. The next 4 people , they were in he insanity and insanity max DVD's - what?!?!? Apparently I had fallen into Insanity Royalty and I need to catch up!!
The class overall was super informative and I learned a ton about the Insanity Brand. Then... It was time to workout.
So, Danielle started previewing the moves for the round we will be doing in the class and she says - "oh wow this one is hard, WOW, this is really HARD!"
As a newbie... I was scared but I KNEW I just had to make it through. Could I do every move??? No, so I modified! I concentrated on doing good form instead of trying to "keep up" with all of these Insanity Pro's that were getting certified.. JUST LIKE ME!
I truly feel like doing the Beachbody programs has not only made me a stronger person on the outside but they have done more work on my insides! The confidence I have gained is AMAZING!!!

Sigh...I digress...
I made It through the workout!! ME! The person who had never done insanity or been to a group exercise class. And when it came time in our small group to teach our section- I did pretty good (if I do say so myself).

I have to practice and I have to learn but I WILL teach insanity in the near future - I can tell you that with full confidence because if there is one thing I have learned being a Beachbody coach it is how to set goals and meet them!
So who is ready to go Insane with me?? It was one of the best days of my life and I wish I could bottle up the feelings from that day and give it away to people!!
I can- come to a class with me!!!!! I can't wait to start teaching and it boggles my mind that a year ago, this wasn't even a dream of mine. What this whole experience has taught me is to be open minded!! Don't judge a program before you actually try it first and even though it's the "hardest workout ever made" it is the most rewarding one as well!! I am certifiably Insane - it's official now!!

Why not you??

That girl in week 1, she had no idea how much she would GROW. She looks scared- ha! She was scared. She wanted to see changes so badly and she wanted to be able to be a good example to as many people as she could be. 

That girl in week 4, she thought she was doing awesome. She had seen some results, she had stuck to the plan, and was pretty proud of herself.

The girl in week 6, she has been humbled. She has experienced some freaking HARD workouts. She has faced her fear of group exercise classes. She has learned that she is more than a number on a scale. She can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 2 more weeks and she will be an Insanity Max:30 graduate!!! She CAN push through and Max Out! She KNOWS that things she never thought she wanted are possible. 

When I started doing Beachbody programs (T25 to be exact), I wanted to be able to tone up a little bit, and I did. Max:30 has taken my toning to an entirely new level. It has taken it to a level that I didn't even know I wanted. I didn't know that finding abs would push me to want to see what other muscles were there. I didn't know that I could actually enjoy (gasp!) push ups! I didn't know I was capable of some of these things.

I am not posting this to make anyone feel badly. I am posting and sharing myself like this because I want you to see the possibilities. If you want to be a runner, go outside and run (even if it's just 100 yards) you have to start somewhere. If you want to learn about nutrition, start researching!!! All the answers you need are available- all you have to do is find the one that you are looking for.

2 more weeks and then I will be starting a new program, I will be committing to the 21 day fix Extreme program for 3 weeks and most likely I will then start another round of Insanity Max. If you are wanting some direction...ask me!!! I want to help you start your journey. It won't be the exact same as mine but it will be an adventure that I would love to go on with you :)

What do you do decompress???

The last few weeks have been CRAZY in the Kyle household. While we were on vacation in Utah, hubs had to get 16 stitches from a gash he got while snowboarding. Then this last weekend I was traveling to get my Insanity Certification ( still flying high from that). While I was gone, Ryan broke his arm and we had to go get him casted when I got home...so CRAZY!

One of my goals for this year was to learn how to cook and we have been very vigilant in making our meals BUT we really like to eat out. Food always tastes better when you don't have to make it, so I suggested to hubs that we have a date night and of course he said yes!!

One of the perks of where we live is that we are literally 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia and we have so many great options for date night. Hubs gave me 2 choices and we decided that we would try out Talula's Garden. My reason for choosing this restaurant is because it claimed a Farm to Table atmosphere and when I looked at the menu there were plenty of options for our nutrition plan.

I wish I had been able to take more photos of the actual restaurant because the garden outside was beautiful but the waitress told me that the gardens aren't open to sit at until the temperature is consistently above 60. Since the temperature was around 35 when we arrived, I was very happy to be sitting inside.

The chef sent out complimentary brioche buns with a pat of butter and even though that is NOT paleo, it would have been rude for me to leave it sitting there, so I took a small taste and it melted in my mouth. I had already looked at the menu and hubs and I had pretty much decided what we were going to get. 

We started with:

"Oyster and Pickles"...cornmeal fried Chesapeake Oysters, Garden Pickels, Baby Romaine hearts and Smoke house made creme fraiche. (there is not pic because we inhaled it)

The Hubs had:

Overnight Pork Belly, Berkshire Pork, Black Garlic Crust, Ginger Scented Sweet Potatoes, Local Apples, and Pomegranate Pork Gastrique

     I have to say that I did taste the pork belly and it was very very good. I was expecting it to be a little bit crispier but he loved it.

My choice was"

Seared Day Boat Scallops, Fragrant Roasted Quince, Parsnip Puree, Toasted Hazelnuts, Citrus Herb Vinaigrette, Fresh Baby Kale

     IT WAS AHHHHH-MAZING! I don't think it was because I didn't have to actually make it but the parsnip puree was so so good!!! 

For sides we had:

Brussel Sprouts and Bacon "Stuffing" walnuts and Apple Cider Glaze

     and 

Maple Roasted Butternut and Acorn Squash , Hot & Spicy Toasted Pecans

The squash could have been a dessert. The maple syrup that they were roasted with really made them sweet and tender. I could have eaten just that and been a happy happy person. 

We did have dessert ( no pics)
Old Fashioned Maple Bread Pudding
     Toasted Brioche, Maple Ice Cream, Cayenne Cashews, and Bourbon Sauce.

It wasn't a HUGE dessert but it hit the spot and it was a very nice end to a wonderful meal with my hubs.

We really like being able to find places that have healthier options so that when we leave we don't feel like we have ruined the progress that we have been striving for in our workouts all week.

Do you like to go out to eat? What's your favorite places to go??

Appleicious Greenery Shakeology Recipe

Finding a good Greenberry recipe was something that after a year of drinking Shakeology, I was desperately searching for. I just figured that I would never drink anything except for me beloved chocolate and vegan chocolate and I was totally ok with that. 

When I was in New York, 2 people attending the certification class with me were drinking Greenberry with just ice and water. I have to admit, I may have made a face or two of disgust, BUT then Alicia gave me the golden recipe.  I had some Greenery packets and I figured I didn't have anything to lose so Monday morning, I put my ingredients in my trusty Vitamix, blended it up, and it was REFRESHING!!!!

Applelicious:

1 scoop Greenberry Shakeology

1 cup water

splash of Almond Milk

1 tsp oranic honey

3/4 of a honey crisp apple

Ice

BLEND and ENJOY

Paleo Bison Chili

In my attempt to cook and eat healthier this year, I have realized one thing...I need to plan my weekly meals. Our family has always been a "what do you feel like" family. You know the one, me texting my hubs every morning asking, what do you feel like for dinner tonight? Him saying, whatever you want and then we end up ordering in since neither of us can make a decision. So, I sat down at my computer and researched meals that I thought looked good and relatively easy (because I am still a hot mess in the kitchen, lets be honest!)

 First up on my prep for the week is Paleo Bison Chicken.

 Prep your veggies... I am not an expert at this yet, I need to practice getting it all around the same size.

 Heat a heavy bottomed soup pot over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add coconut oil.Add onions, peppers and garlic and sauté until onions are translucent, about 3 or 4 minutes.

 Next, add ground bison, cumin, and chili powder.Stir while this cooks, about 5 to 6 minutes.

 I used organic green chiles, diced tomatoes with jalapeños and cilantro for some extra flavor and crab salsa. I wasn't sure about using the crab salsa but the hubs picked it and if it doesn't work out I can always use a regular salsa next time.

 Pour in salsa, tomatoes, green chiles and salt.

 Simmer for one hour.

It turned out a little bit on the spicy side thanks to the jalapeño in the tomatoes and the chili powder. For a milder flavor you can play with the spices a bit. I got a big thumbs up from the hubs and since he is my biggest critic, this dinner was a WIN!!!!!!

Spoon up and ENJOY!!!

Ingredients:

     1 Tbs coconut oil, tallow, bacon grease, or lard

     1/2 medium yellow onion, diced

     1 green pepper 

     1 red pepper

     2 cloves garlic, sliced

     1-3/4 lb ground bison (elk, venison, or beef may be substituted)

     2 tsp ground cumin

     2 tsp chili powder

     1 (12 oz) jar salsa

     1 (8 oz) can diced tomatoes

     1 (7 oz) can mild green chiles

     2 tsp sea salt (optional)

Instructions

Heat a heavy bottomed soup pot over medium-high heat. 

When the pan is hot, add coconut oil.

Add onions, peppers and garlic and sauté until onions are translucent, about 3 or 4 minutes.

Next, add ground bison, cumin, and chili powder.

Stir while this cooks, about 5 to 6 minutes.

Pour in salsa, tomatoes, green chiles and salt.

Simmer for at least 1 hour.

Enjoy!

Spicy and Sweet Coconut Honey Chicken

I am not the best cook, I think we have established that right?? That has not deterred me from attempting to make some recipes I NEVER would have attempted before. That is the case for this Spicy and Sweet Coconut Honey Chicken. I try to keep my recipes extremely simple and this one was up until the part where I made the sauce. I'm sure my sauce was a little lumpy but the hubs LOVED it and he is definitely my biggest critic. If only I could get my kids to eat this...baby steps.

The first issue that I would remedy when I make this next time would be...I would get the boneless skinless chicken thighs. I had to take it off the bone and I won't lie, it was slightly gross to me, but I did it! 

Now place a large saucepan or dutch oven over medium heat. Add coconut oil. Once oil is very hot, add chicken to the pan without crowding the pan to help with searing. 

I don't think I got my oil hot enough because my chicken did not sear very well. After chicken has cooked through, remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.

After I removed the chicken from the pan, there was a lot of liquid from the chicken cooking too slowly. Next time I make this I will make sure it is seared a bit better. I added the garlic and onions and cooked them until they were translucent.

After the onions were nice and soft (5 minutes or so) I added the honey, coconit milk, aminos and siracha. This is where I started to panic a little bit. I was supposed to whisk everything together and bring it to a boil ( and we know from the egg debacle that boiling things is rough for me!)

Once it was boiling, I was supposed to turn the heat down and add the tapioca flour and keep whisking. I need like 4 hands to be able to do this, so my sauce was a little lumpy. My goal though wasn't a lumpless sauce, it was a good tasting meal that my hubs would eat. 

After the sauce thickens up, I added the chicken back in to coat it (about 4 minutes to reheat) and then you can serve it with your favorite veggies. 

Since my goal was to make something my hubs would eat again, dinner was a success! This entire process of learning to cook (even at this stage in my life) is actually pretty fun. I haven't served anything raw or burnt all week!! Yay!!!!

Ingredients

For the chicken

• 1-2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1.5 pounds chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch cubes
• salt, to taste

For the sauce

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ small yellow onion, minced
• 1 (14 ounce) can of full fat coconut milk
• ¼ cup honey
• ½ cup coconut aminos (or gluten free soy sauce)
• 2-3 tablespoons sriracha, depending how spicy you like (find paleo sriracha here)
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• salt, to taste
• ¼ cup tapioca flour
• chopped green onions (to garnish)

Instructions

1. 
   
2. Now place a large saucepan or dutch oven over medium heat. Add coconut oil. Once oil is very hot, add chicken to the pan without crowding the pan to help with searing. Sprinkle with salt. Once chicken begins to turn white, flip on cook on other side. After chicken has cooked through, remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
3. When chicken is done cooking, add 2 more tablespoons to the pan (if needed) then add garlic and onion. Once onion becomes translucent, add coconut milk, honey, coconut amines, sriracha, red pepper flakes, and salt. Whisk together and let come to a low boil then reduce to low heat.
4. Lastly, while continuously whisking, add in tapioca flour ⅛ cup at a time. Be sure to continuously whisk to keep from tapioca flour from clumping.
5. Once mixture thickens, add chicken to the pan with the sauce and coat, let cook for about a minute to reheat the chicken.
6. Pour sauce and chicken on top rice and garnish with green onions.