Do you know where you're going?

Wow, what a year 2011 was! I traded PhD study for a grown-up's job, I got engaged, I got married, then I quit the grown-up's job and found a new one. I started this blog, I learnt to measure ingredients (sometimes) and I got in the habit of taking photos of my food (when Bear reminded me). I had some big victories in my own CrossFit training, and I had times when I couldn't remember what victory felt like. I laughed, I cried, I loved, and I cooked. It was a pretty amazing year. Thank you, 2011.

And now, it's 2012. A new year. I'm stoked to have started a new job with lululemon athletica, my CrossFit training is back on track, and I'm super excited about what this year might bring. Now it's time to sit down, reflect on my vision of my life in 10 years' time, and set the goals that are going to help get me there.

Do you set goals? You should! Goals help provide direction and meaning. They give us a focus - a step-by-step guide, if you like, as to how to go about creating the life we want. When Chip Wilson (founder of lululemon athletica) started setting goals, he found that: "My mind calmed down. I knew exactly where I was going, I knew exactly what I wanted to do."

Chip's take on goal setting

If you haven't tried it before, why not start now? If you're not sure where to start, ask someone to help you. If you're in Auckland, lululemon athletica Britomart showroom is holding a goal setting seminar on the 25th of January (click here for details); Cliff Harvey is a goal setting guru; or you can always give me a shout for a bit of guidance.

Do it!

And while you're thinking about it, here are a couple of paleo festive options that we implemented this year...

Caveman Christmas Crackers
For as long as I can remember, we have made our own Christmas crackers. Typically, my younger brother and I do them the day before Christmas. They involve used toilet rolls, crepe paper, stick-on stars, ribbon, and as many lollies as can possibly be stuffed into each toilet roll!

This year, I wasn't so keen on the whole 'stuffed with lollies' idea, so I suggested I make a nut mix for mine and Bear's. Turned out the rest of the family also liked that idea, so we all had Caveman Christmas crackers!

Nut mix:

Mixed nuts (I used cashews, almonds, hazelnuts & macadamias)
Spoonful of coconut oil
Spices: cinnamon, ground cloves, ground ginger, ground vanilla
Chopped dried apricots
Dried cranberries
85% dark chocolate, roughly chopped

Mix nuts, coconut oil & spices together in a bowl, then pour into a roasting dish and roast at 180 degrees until nuts are starting to brown. Make sure you mix it regularly so that they don't burn.

Remove from oven and leave to cool.

Once cool, add in dried fruit and chocolate pieces.

Stuff the mixture into your Christmas crackers...or just enjoy it as a tasty nut mix!

Paleo Stuffing
We've always traditionally had a bread stuffing for our turkey. Last year, I made a paleo stuffing with lots of dried fruit & nuts (from a recipe I found online), but Mum wasn't so keen on it, so this year, I had to try again. This one got Mum's seal of approval, so I think we can call it a success!

2 tbsp oil
1 onion, diced
Dried cranberries
1 apple, diced
1/2C chopped fresh herbs (I used Italian parsley and sage)
Zest of 1 lemon
3 x gluten-free pork sausages (meat removed and casings discarded)
1 egg

Almond meal
Salt & pepper

Heat oil in a frypan and fry onion until soft. Leave to cool.

In a bowl, combine cranberries, apple, herbs and lemon zest. Add onion, sausage meat and egg, and mix to combine. Gradually stir in almond meal, a spoonful at a time, until the mixture is gluey (i.e., it sticks together) but not too dry.

You can cook this stuffing in the turkey (we used a de-boned, rolled turkey, but a whole turkey would also work), or you can bake it separately in a baking dish (which we did with the leftover stuffing).

Pride - vice or virtue?

I felt proud of myself yesterday. Really proud. And I'm not going to feel bad about admitting it.

So often, we're told not to boast, not to 'talk ourselves up', that we should downplay our achievements. But why should we? What's wrong with having a little pride in ourselves? I'm not talking arrogance or out-of-control egos here, I'm just talking about being able to congratulate ourselves on our successes and share our excitement with those around us. The ability to do this enhances your confidence and motivates you to strive harder towards your goals. At least, it does for me.

Why was I feeling proud? Well it was nothing earth-shattering, nothing Nobel prize-worthy...just three small successes, but I feel good about them nonetheless.

Achievement #1
Yesterday's workout at CrossFit New Zealand involved unbroken reps, which provide an interesting mental and physical challenge.

5 sets:
15 unbroken pull ups
20 unbroken wall balls
25 unbroken Double unders
- restart the exercise from zero if you stop to rest or miss a rep.

This was a tough workout, and I had to modify. Modification #1 was reps - 10, 15, 20 instead of 15, 20, 25. I was hoping to be able to achieve this on the pull ups and wall balls, but I wasn't holding high hopes for the double unders, given that my previous PB had been 17. Modification #2 was to do broken sets.

Now, I didn't manage to do all the pull ups unbroken - after set 1, I was too broken for that! But I did get all the wall balls unbroken, which was pretty cool. Even better though, and what I'm really proud of...I got one unbroken set of double unders! That's right...I managed 20 unbroken double unders...and it was on the fourth set too, so I was doing them fatigued. Given that prior to Boxing Day, I couldn't even get two unbroken double unders, I am feeling pretty damn stoked.

Achievement #2
I got my first pull-up blister! I've had peeling skin & callouses on my hands from pull-ups before, but this was my first real, live blister. While I know that might not be much of a source of pride for many people, for me, it was an indication that I'd pushed myself...hard. High five (just be careful of popping that puppy!)

[Ok, so I know it's small and you can't really see it, but there really is a blister right below my index finger!]

Achievement #3
I actually remembered to measure the ingredients that went into last night's dinner! I almost forgot...I'd even picked up a regular old spoon to start throwing stuff into the pan...but then I remembered you guys and the measuring spoon. So here it is, the accurate (mostly) recipe for Almond Satay Chicken Stirfry.

Almond Satay Chicken Stirfry

Ingredients
2 onions
1 tsp crushed garlic
1 tsp red chilli
300g chicken
4 cups bean sprouts (I know these aren't technically paleo, but they were delivered in the vege box for the week, so we used them)
~ 2 cups broccoli
1 red capsicum
1 cup carrots
2 tbsp almond butter
110ml coconut cream

Fresh coriander to taste (I used lots because I like it!)

[note: these quantities gave us approximately 11 blocks carbs, 11 blocks protein, and 23 blocks fat - 3 x 2-block meals + 1 x 5-block meal. If you're not doing Zone, just chuck in whatever quantities of meat & veges you want]

1. Fry (I used a wok) onions, garlic, and chilli in a bit of olive oil. I didn't have fresh chillis or garlic, so I had to use pre-prepared stuff, but fresh would be better.
2. Add chicken and cook until white
3. Add all of the vegetables except the bean sprouts and cook until soft (or as cooked as you like them). I added a bit of water into the pan here too, to help soften them a bit.
4. Add the bean sprouts and stir through.
5. Add in the almond butter & coconut cream. Mix well and heat until simmering.
6. Stir in the coriander, serve & enjoy. If you're as lucky as me, that will be with good company, before a lovely evening at the tennis - thanks Tanya!