Whole 50 & Crossfit

Beginning April 1st, I am going to embark on a new life journey. I will start my second Whole30 but this time I am going to do a Whole50 (same principles, just 20 more days). I had great success with my last Whole30, but I would love to see if I can conquer the "sugar dragon" and find what works for me without regressing into old habits. It always helps to start a whole30 with friends, and this time my husband and two friends will be doing it with me. I will end my Whole50 with a half marathon and my husband's birthday.

My next step in this journey is to begin Crossfit. I have finally bitten the bullet and decided that I just need to spend the money and Crossfit. Luckily, I have an amazing husband that supports me and told me it was okay. :) I am going to go to an introductory class after my vacation in Arizona and I decided to pick a "box" (Crossfit gyms) that one of our friends goes to. She was not a crossfitter before she joined and she has nothing but good things to say about it. I can't wait to try it out.

I have been feeling very anxious and out of sync with my body lately. Hopefully, this will help realign my body, mind, and spirit.

New Shoes for Kari

For the first time ever in my running career, I went to get my running gait checked and get fitted for running shoes. I went to RunAway Shoes in Green Bay with my mom before leaving for Arizona. I worked with an awesome sales person who really knew his stuff, which reminded me a lot of going for a bra fitting at Victoria's Secret. Since I am a retired bra specialist, this one-on-one service meant a lot to me.

I ended up getting two different pairs of shoes -- one for distance running and one for Crossfit. Before this purchase, I was wearing Nike Free Run +3. I really liked them, but I had run them past their prime and was beginning to get shin splints. I found out at my consultation that since I over pronate, I need a stability shoe. I didn't like hearing that, as I really love my minimalist shoes. The solution? Brooks Cadence - they are nice and light but give me tight support around my arch and ankle. It is a completely different feeling than any other running shoe I have had before. I have not run in them yet but I am planning on doing a treadmill run tomorrow morning. I would love to take them out on the pavement but since there is still ice on the ground I don't want to risk it. 

The second pair I got for teaching aerobics and doing Crossfit. It is a minimalist shoe created by New Balance. THEY ARE AWESOME. I don't know if you can be in love with a shoe but I am. I have no shame. New Balance Minimus 10V2 - they are low to the ground and give a nice amount of cushion with still having the feeling of being barefoot. I can not wait to wear these to my first Crossfit session. 

If you are in the market for new shoes, I would highly recommend going to a running store and getting fit according to your running style and gait. It was definitely worth the time and the money. I am so pleased with both of my purchases. 

(Note: I am not a high heel or designer shoe person, so most of my shoe money goes to high quality running shoes or Birkenstocks.) 

Pineapple Cinnamon Pulled Pork

Last Thursday, I had a long after-school training and was not in the mood to make something to eat. John met me out for dinner (a rare thing for us) at the Great Dane. It is a local restaurant that brews its own beer and has a VERY tasty menu. Since modifying our diets to become paleo, eating out is an adventure. It is not hard, but you have to get a little creative with the menu. We each had a drink while we scanned the menu. John went with his standby, a burger with bacon and bbq sauce.

I was about to settle on a Thai dish when I spotted the Drunken Jerk: Tender pork shoulder soaked in spiced rum and our own jerk marinade wrapped in banana leaves and slow cooked with coconut-lime butter and pineapple salsa. Served with sweet fried plantains.  

I don't know if I have ever ordered straight-up "meat" at a restaurant. I'll have a burger or chicken sandwich every once in a while, but for those of you who know me, you know that this was a stretch. It came wrapped in banana leaves with a side of green beans. I was nervous but it ended up being really tasty. I didn't finish it all so I saved some of it for lunch the next day. This little bunny trail story brings me to today's post, Pineapple Cinnamon Pulled Pork.

I was searching for things to make for this week and remembered the delicious pork at the Great Dane and though, "I can make that pineapple pulled pork thing!" So naturally, I googled "paleo pineapple pulled pork". Several websites came up and I glanced over the recipes until I came up with my own.

Pineapple Cinnamon Pulled Pork

2-3 lbs Bone-in Pork Shoulder Roast
8 oz Chicken Stock or Coconut Milk (I used chicken stock)
1 can No Sugar Added Diced Pineapple
1 diced Onion
2 TBS Garlic
Cinnamon
Salt & Pepper

Put all of the ingredients into a crock pot and cook on low for 5-7 hours.

I can't wait to taste it!