Your Hips Will Thank Me. Well...Kelly Starrett, Actually.

No seriously...they will.

My friend Becky talked me into participating in a 10-minute squat stretch, post-WOD, tonight. I was not at all enthusiastic, as I has just gotten done with this:

21-18-15-12-9-6-3 of:
65lb Sumo Deadlift High Pull (SDHP)
65lb Push Jerk

But, I am so glad that I did it. I had to squirm around a few times and I won't say that I did it without a bit of whining, but I did it...and, that's what matters.

She recently turned me on to Kelly Starrett's new blog, MobilityWOD...it's going to be life-changing...I'm sure of it! So, we are committing to participating in his daily mobility WODs and after today, I am enthusiastic! I have pain in my hips during and after squats and feel like my hips have a tendency to sort of "stick" in the bottom of my squat; they also pop on occasion and just really bug me at times, so...after a 10-minute squat I expected to be maybe limping a bit, or at least feel the sharpness that I sometimes experience post-squating...this, however, was not the case. I can't really explain exactly how they felt, but warm and almost normal might sort of do it. Does that make sense?

Anyway...give it a try, let me know how it goes, and I'll keep you posted on our commitment to mobility. Tomorrow..., "Don't go into the pain cave...". Yeah...you know you're curious.

Meatza and Bacon-Wrapped Sausage

I have a few new recipes to share and a week's worth of WODs to catch you up on, but last night's meal really just needs to take precedence...I present you with "Meatza"! Our friends, Bill and Becky, invited us over for a feast and did not disappoint. I had actually never tried "Meatza" before, but had been curious, as I have seen recipes on other websites. Thank you, Bill and Becky, for this fabulous meal!!!

This concoction takes about 1.5lbs grass-fed ground beef (you could also use lamb, buffalo...or your favorite ground meat) and 3 whisked eggs, layered with sauce (they used marinara on one, garlic cream sauce on another), layered with veggies, topped with cheese...yeah...this was pretty crazy good!

My favorite was the "Meatza" pictured below:

Here's what they did:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. 
2. In a bowl, combine ground beef and whisked eggs (add fresh herbs and/or garlic, if desired).
3. Spread the ground beef and egg mixture in an oven-proof dish or baking sheet.
4. Sprinkle with dried herbs and sea salt. 
5. Transfer pan to preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until cooked.
6. Remove from oven and top "crust" with veggies and then cover with shredded cheese. 
7. Transfer back to oven and bake another 10 minutes. Increase oven to broil and broil until cheese is browned and bubbly. 
8. Call or text and we'll bring the wine!

The last step is crucial! :)

These were cooking away on the stove...but, I'm not sure we actually ate them...were these under all that cheesy deliciousness!?

Becky's daughter and her boyfriend created this sausage beauty...check out the lattice-work!

"Bacon-Wrapped Sausage":

Try this, thinly sliced, on your "Meatza"!

I actually limit my dairy intake to occasional goat cheese and random snackings of raw (unpasturized) goat's and/or sheep's milk cheeses, but when you'r presented with something like this "Meatza"...how can you resist!? I can not wait to recreate this recipe! Or, even better...be invited to enjoy it at Bill and Beckys' house, again! :) FYI...Bill made that sausage creation (lovingly referred to as "Bacon Explosion") again, this time adding thinly sliced yams into the mix...ummm...YUM!!! I'm just curious...why no invite!? Was it the dancing!? 

Have you tried "Meatza"? 

Random Eating and Mini "DT"

Breakfast:
Three Eggs Over Easy w/Goat's Milk Butter
Granny Smith Apple

Lunch:
6oz Can of Wild Planet Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon
Mateo's Hot Salsa* (1/8 C)
Coconut Cream Pie Lara Bar

*This is some awesome salsa!!!

Post-Workout Snack:
Dried, Unsweetened Mangoes (6)

I stopped at the store on my way home and couldn't resist...

Dinner:
Wild Planet Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon (3oz leftover from yesterday)
Roasted Broccoli (2 cups) w/Bacon (1 strip)

Workout:
Mini "DT"
5 Rounds of:
9 Deadlifts (95lb)
6 Hang Cleans (95lb)
3 Push Jerks (95lb)

10:50

Back From The East Coast and Newfoundland

My mom (Linda), aunt (Cindy), cousin (Katelyn), and I just got back from an awesome two-week trip to the East Coast (from Portland, ME to Boston, MA) and Canada (Newfoundland)...here are a few pics!

Katelyn, Aunt Jean, Me, Cindy, and Mom

Portland Lobster Co. (Portland, ME)

Lobster Salad From Portland Lobster Co.

Lobster Roll

Crab Salad

Aunt Jean, Uncle Alan, and The Girls

Mussels

The Girls in Cape Elizabeth, ME

Katelyn and Her Lobster

Fresh Maine Lobster

Citrus-Basil Mojito at Vignola's (Portland, ME)

Maine Lobster at Vignola's

Portland Headlight (Cape Elizabeth, ME) with The Girls

Portland Headlight

Kayaking in Portland, ME (Peaks Island)

Newick's (on the drive from Portland, ME to Boston, MA)

We Shared Lobster Soup, Clam Chowder, and Clam Strips

Beantown Pub for Breakfast (Boston, MA)

Getting Fueled for Our Red Line Walk (Boston, MA)

Sam Adam's Red Brick Ale

Three Poached Eggs w/Bacon (rye toast was eaten by The Girls)

Chardonnay w/Dinner at Legal Seafood

Maryland Crabcakes (the best ever!!!)

8lb Lobster w/Oysters, Shrimp, and a Huge Salad (yes...we shared)

Mixed Greens w/Walnut-Crusted Goat Cheese (no dressing)

Grilled Salmon w/Broccoli (mom ate the farro salad)

Thumbs Up Creamery (Northborough, MA)

Ice Cream Cone

Happy Hour at The Hilton Garden Inn (Portland Airport)

Cabela's (Portland, ME)

Burger w/Bacon and Blue Cheese (no bun) from Sebaggo (I ate this three times while in Portland)

Off to Newfoundland...Canada that is!

We didn't see any moose...

but...we ate some! Aunt Armorel's Moose Stew

And then there were Scrunchions...

Traditional Newfoundland Fare- Cod w/Scrunchions, Potatoes, and Brewis 

(I ate the fish and scrunchions with salad)

Touring Around Newfoundland w/Aunt Armorel (88 and still spunky as can be!)

We stayed really active this trip and I was able to throw in a few CrossFit workouts along the way. As far as eating is concerned, my only real "bad" eating/consumption was a few (yes...I really only had a few) beers, three ice cream cones, and a mug of hot cocoa (with a bunch of mini marshmallows). So, I feel really good after this trip! I made it a point to not eat any grains (with exception to the few beers), which I'm sure helped me. 

With exception to our visit with Aunt Armorel, we ate out every day; I ordered burgers on several occasions (no bun) and ordered a side salad, sometimes in place of the fries, other times not. I ordered poached eggs for breakfast or found places that had prepackaged salads with grilled chicken and/or hard boiled eggs (no dressing or oil and vinegar). Protein seems to be pretty easy to come by, when traveling...veggies don't. I brought kale chips, made a point to eat a lot of salad, and we ordered steamed broccoli on a few occasions, but I felt like that was the hardest part for me...

What do you do to ensure that you're getting enough veggies while you travel?