Crossfit Open 2014

So ladies and gents, lets be real...

We have roughly 3 days until the Crossfit Games Open begins and the first workout is posted. I know a lot of people are still debating if they should put themselves out there and register or not. Last year I didn't register because I was new and super intimidated. I was thinking - "No way I can do this", "People are going to think I'm weak", and lastly "I don't want to kill myself."

A lot has changed since then... I'm stronger, more confident, and this year I'm looking forward to getting my ass kicked in the Open. I still can barely do a pull up, my double unders aren't consistent, and burpees still make me want to puke sometimes... But that doesn't matter. 

The Open isn't just for those hardcore Crossfitters hoping for a spot at Regionals, or those headed straight for the Games. The Open is for EVERYONE.

You heard me, EVERYONE.

It doesn't matter if you just started Crossfit or if you've been at it for years. It doesn't matter if you can't lift as much as you want, or you don't finish wods as fast as others.

What matters is you. This is your time to see what you are really made of! 

The Open is a way to push yourself and test your limits. To see what you can and can't do. Its a way to benchmark yourself - you can compare your performance against other years that you have registered. 

If you do one more rep than you anticipated - you come out a winner. If you happen to PR a lift in the middle of the Open - you come out a winner. If you finally get that pull up or double under - you come out a winner. If you have a blast and become closer with your box buds - you come out a winner.

You aren't competing against everyone.... As always, you are competing against you. Don't worry about who is watching you, what others are doing, or what others may think. They don't matter. This is your journey... Focus on you. Focus on doing your best. 

If you do good and get into Regionals, SWEET. But that isn't what really matters... Just go out there, have fun, push yourself, do your best and you will come out on top!

You still have time to sign up. Just do it.

Question:
What is your favorite protein bar?
Are you registered for the Open?

Eat clean, train mean, && inspire others!
-Jaren

WIAW #15

Good morning! Its another WIAW post and I'm going to continue posting like I have the last few weeks. Instead of posting everything I had in one day, I'm posting all the things I ate this week that caught my eye! This girl likes variety! 

----What WIAW isn't about----

Comparison - Judgement - Restriction - Guilt

----What WIAW is about----

Celebrating one of the glorious things we all have in common: We all eat!

WIAW is about food and fun! It's about making new friends, breaking out of a food rut, noting changes in your diet/lifestyle, inspiring yourself & others, embracing fruit & vegetables, nourishing your body with the foods that work for you, finding new ways to eat your favorite foods, and so much more <3

-peas & crayons

wednesday night the hubby cooked homemade turkey meat loaf, homemade herb mashed potatoes, and roasted brussel sprouts

thursday night I had a cup of wonton soup and these delicious bad boys... love me some vietnamese spring rolls...

friday the hubby and I made homemade cajun crawfish and veggie pizza

for breakfast saturday - frozen blueberries and a turkey omelet 

dinner sunday night after the hubby came home - creamy chicken sausage and veggie skillet

forgot my lunch yesterday so chickfila grilled chicken sandwich and a side salad... YUM

and my workouts for the week...

thursday I pr'd my back squat - holla

and did yoga for some extra burn

friday morning crossfit

saturday morning yoga.... with an audience... 

sunday funday consisted of sprints!

tuesday morning crossfit...

Question: What PR did you reach this week?
What new recipe did you try?

Eat clean, train mean, && inspire others!
-Jaren

Running Out of Time

I would like to start off by saying that I need about 4 extra hours added to each day so if someone could make that possible that would be great! For the last couple days I have been running non stop getting ready for school, completely wedding things, and trying to make sure I get in a decent amount of workouts in each week while still spending time with the fiance and the family! I think it finally caught up with me because I have been sick the last few days. Guess the body got tired of the go go go.

I'll just hit the recent highlights! As for workouts I've been running, doing the deck of cards workout a few times a week {burpees always kill me}, Bob Yoga, and Jillian Michaels. Did ya'll see that Jillian will be back on Biggest Loser in January? Who is really happy about this? I know I am, I love her!

Friday I spent the day with Mom. We had an appointment at the reception venue in which we picked out the menu, how the room would be arranged and any extras we wanted. They are going to drape the ceiling with white fabric - I'm so excited! It will look a little like this - this picture is from More than an Image.

We had lunch at my favorite place, America's! Chicken with pineapple salsa, asparagus and quinoa with a mojito! It was love as usual! After that we went to the mall to look for wedding shoes, and Mom finally bought her dress. Its a gorgeous navy form fitting dress with beading and sheer sleeves. Seriously my mom has it going on, a size 2 hour glass figure... Why didn't I get those genes?!?! From there we went to my bridal hair trial. I really want my hair down and curly but out of my face. I love how it turned out, the pictures just don't do it justice! We are going to have to find a better way to pin it though since I have so much hair the weight started loosening the pins after about 4 hrs.

Saturday, Candace and I went to a tea room for lunch. It was so pretty and I loved all the mixed china. They pretty much serve just tea, soup, sandwiches and salads but it was great!

Afterwards, we hit Joann's for some fabric and wedding supplies like a birdcage, guestbook, and candy buffet needs. Candace is hand making a dress for her little girl to wear to the wedding. She is too young to be the flower girl but we still want to include her and have her look darling! We picked out this sweet light pink fabric! I can't wait to see the finished product! After that we just HAD to stop for some frozen yogurt - mandatory snack on fun days! Then we headed to Walmart for some glass dishes and a few other things we needed for the candy buffet at the wedding. Thank goodness we decided to go to Walmart cause we saved TONS of money getting it there instead of Joann's or Michaels. 

Sunday was Funday! Started with Cars and Coffee with the Camaro and lunch with our car buds! After that we headed south to another car friends place for a day of fun in the country! The girls talked, the boys shot their guns in the woods, and then we ended the night just sitting around talking. I love days with friends like that - even if it meant not getting home until 1 am!

As for Monday, I got up and ran for twenty minutes and came back inside because it was too hot to do my deck of cards workout instead. Then not long after my dad got the ribs out of the oven for a DELICIOUS dinner, I started feeling sick and have been down since. Good thing is the fiance has been a AWESOME nurse and spoiling me rotten. Maybe I should get sick more often.

Anyways, I'm sorry I haven't been posting much. But I'm trying to at least get one post in a week to keep in touch. Only five weeks till the wedding then I should have my life back. I don't know how people miss planning their wedding, it is exhausting! 

Question:

How did you spend your Labor Day weekend?

Eat clean, train hard, && inspire others!

Jaren

What I Ate Wednesday #11

Good morning! Its another WIAW post and I'm going to continue posting like I have the last few weeks. Instead of posting everything I had in one day, I'm posting all the things I ate this week that caught my eye! This girl likes variety! 

Since I spent most of last week sick {so I didn't eat much} and I didn't get to post my WIAW last week I am combining the two weeks into one post! 

----What WIAW isn't about----

Comparison - Judgement - Restriction - Guilt

----What WIAW is about----

Celebrating one of the glorious things we all have in common: We all eat!

"WIAW is about food and fun! It's about making new friends, breaking out of a food rut, noting changes in your diet/lifestyle, inspiring yourself & others, embracing fruit & vegetables, nourishing your body with the foods that work for you, finding new ways to eat your favorite foods, and so much more" 

<3-peas & crayons

sushi with the fiance: mine

his

peanut butter & chocolate froyo from orange leaf

pulled beef, trader joe's eggplant & zucchini, and sweet potato fries

scrambled eggs with trader joe's chicken sausage

check out my Larabar review and giveaway post here

chipotle burrito bowl, so good

pink berry chocolate mini cup

cafe express mini turkey sandwich, cup of turkey chili, and a spring salad

skinny taste sloppy joes & corn with quinoa

skinny taste santa fe chicken with some alterations

140 cal skinny cow, do you see an ice cream pattern here?

sometimes this girl just needs some chick-fil-a, grilled chicken nuggets with a fruit cup

skinny taste black bean chipotle bugers with homemade cole slaw, avocado's and sweet potato fries

even though my fiance thinks i have an addiction, he still takes me to starbucks to make me smile

iced skinny carmel macchiato

we tried a new froyo shop in town called chiller bee, officially my favorite. he got birthday cake and peanut butter while I got chocolate mixed with peanut butter. so tasty!

Now for the FITNESS!

These are just a few I recorded.

a short run i squeezed in before an hour of yoga

Question: 

What is the longest you've held a plank?

Eat clean, train hard, and inspire others!

Kiwi && Me

Marvelous in My Monday #6

Marvelous in My Monday is a link up party started by the wonderful Katie over at Healthy Diva Eats. You just post about marvelous things that have happened to you over the week. 

Rain: In the last week we have received over twelve inches of rain out here in SE Texas. There is some local flooding but everyone seems pretty to be in good spirits. This time last year we were in a terrible drought and fighting forest fires right and left, so the rain is welcome even if its excessive. I guess the only down side I can see is that the camaro is terribly dirty and so are the pups, but it has made from some great naps. 

Plus the rain has made from some awesome running weather! Got a quick run in last night before dinner and yoga!

Pink Berry: My new favorite frozen yogurt place. Their chocolate flavored froyo is so rich and delicious! Plus I love that they have a mini size so I can get my ice cream fix without having to worry about my waistline. I even have the fiance in love with them too, though I think he would rather drive 30 minutes to the other side of town for Orange Leaf's Birthday Cake froyo if I would let him.

Construction: It has begun! My family is currently in the process of turning the garage into a workout room, building out the upstairs, and building another garage with storage space. The workers came out and laid the frame for the new slab, no we are just waiting on the concrete to get the show on the road! I can't wait to share with you all the finished product of the gym! It is going to be so AWESOME!

Wedding Dress: COMPLETE! The bustle is done, and its been steamed so that bad boy is ready to rock in three months! It feels good to check that off my list of to do's! Also my sister's bridesmaid dresses came in and they are {GORGEOUS}!

Larabar: Look what I received in the mail!! Come back tomorrow for a review! I can't wait to share what I thought of these wonderful bars!

89 Days: Till I'm a married lady! {Get used to the count downs - you only have 89 more days of it} It is time for me to really focus on my portion sizes and getting in solid work outs a few times a week. I'm not going to go crazy and freak out, I am happy with my weight. I would like to mostly maintain and tone up a little! Plus if I loose anymore weight my dress won't fit, and I loooooooove my dress.

the gorgeous flowers my fiance brought me to mark three months till our day

Questions:

What marvelous things have happened to you recently?

What is your favorite froyo flavor?

Eat clean, train hard, & inspire others!

-Kiwi && Me