About

CrossFit
My husband, Scott, introduced me to CrossFit the beginning of 2009, but I didn't find myself ready to join until after my first experience (watching and cheering, not competing) with "The CrossFit Games 2009 Regional Qualifiers" in May. I was amazed at the lean physiques, mental determination, and physical prowess of the women competitors...I wanted that for myself and knew that the treadmill and strength machines at our local gym weren't getting me there. So, I committed to one month of CrossFit, at which point I would reassess my commitment. After the first week, I started to see positive changes; both physical and mental...over two years later and I can't imagine not doing it. 


UPDATE (August 2012): Scott and I decided to take our passion for food and fitness to the next level and opened CrossFit Oregon City
Food
As far as eating and nutrition are concerned, I have always been interested in food (I love to cook AND eat!); not only the creativity that it inspires, but the way that it makes me feel and the way that I can make others feel. 
A quick synopsis of my lifetime of eating:
Age 10-22: 
I was a vegetarian, with a couple short (year or so) stints with vegan eating (I thought that I was lactose intolerant, so I decided it best to limit my dairy intake). I raised pigs, turkeys, and chickens for fair and our family’s consumption; what should have been the best lesson in healthy eating turned out to be completely lost on me…from that point on, I refused to eat meat. During this time I experienced:
-skin issues (including eczema, random skin rashes/irritations, and blemishes)
-asthma and allergies
-iron deficiency 
-weight fluctuations 
-fatigue, and 
-digestive problems
Throughout this time, I felt that I was making the healthiest choices for my body and continued to eat this way, regardless of the negative impact it seemed to be having. My mom continually incorporated fresh vegetables and fruits into our diet, limited our sugar and processed food intake, and introduced me to quinoa, as a way of increasing my protein and amino acid consumption. Yes, I have the best mom…EVER! 
I have never been really overweight, but after high school I had to become more conscious of what I ate in order to avoid weight gain. As a way to control/manage my weight, I turned to calorie restriction. As a result, I was thin but squishy and without any sort of muscle structure or shape. 
Age 22-27
I was a pescatarian, a vegetarian who eats fish. I was introduced to sushi and have been totally addicted since. I worked as a store manager for Starbucks Coffee and drank A LOT of coffee. My diet staples were black beans, brown rice, vegetables, and most things “California Fresh Mex”. 
During this time I still experienced:
-skin issues (including eczema, random skin rashes/irritations, and blemishes)
-asthma and allergies
-iron deficiency 
-weight fluctuations 
-fatigue, and 
-digestive problems
Age 27-31
I ate my first filet at a Ruth’s Chris in Portland, OR. Until my introduction to CrossFit and Paleo, I would eat a small (4oz) beef filet on occasion (maybe 3-4 times per year). My diet consisted of mostly fish, quinoa, barley, vegetables, fruit, and very little fat. Oh the lessons I’ve learned…
And, Today:
I discovered buffalo, grass-fed meats, wild game, and fat. My Paleo experience began as a sort of experiment with eating. My intention was to “try it out” for a few weeks and see how I felt…after one month, I decided I was in for good. I have discovered that I am extremely sensitive to grains and react (allergies, congestion, skin irritations...) to them almost immediately; and, yes I still struggle with my love of beer. I have also discovered that my body does best with meat and good fats. I eat a lot of pastured eggs, a lot of grass-fed meat, and a lot of good-quality (avocado, coconut, and olive oil) fats. I now limit my fruit and nut intake, as I experienced challenges leaning-out when I first began eating “Paleo”, due to overconsumption. 
I no longer experience:
-skin issues (including eczema, random skin rashes/irritations, and blemishes)
-asthma and allergies
-iron deficiency 
-weight fluctuations 
-fatigue, and 
-digestive problems
I have never felt better or looked better, and want to keep seeing the results. My eating will not always be perfect, but I hope that my food log and recipes will help others along the way. 

I started this blog as a way to help myself stay motivated during my “Experiment with Eating”. I am continuing as a way to not only to track my progress, but to help inspire others. Thank you for checking out my blog and Happy Paleo Eating to you!