Fool Proof Chicken...

...and I would know - because when it comes to cooking chicken, I am a fool. I have NEVER in my adult life been able to successfully cook a chicken. Sure, I "cook" chicken, but it has yet (until now) turned out to be anything but slightly "edible." I blame it on my paranoia of undercooked chicken that has caused me to overcook it every time.

Awhile back I came across, and tried, this recipe on the "Every Day Paleo" website. I have since made this chicken several times and it is so good and one of the easiest things I've ever made - seriously -  so, I thought I'd share

Start with a 3-4 lb whole chicken (innards removed). Wash and pat dry.  Lots of salt.....that's it. No other seasonings, no veggies, nothing - just salt. The recipe says to "let salt rain down" - inside and out.

Place it in a "roasting pan" (I am single, this is the closest I have to a "roasting pan") - it works!

Bake for an hour at 450degrees

* Warning: If you live in an apartment or a small house - this WILL set the smoke detector off - several times. It WILL happen - expect it, deal with it, apologize to your neighbors in advance if you must.

Remove from oven....and enjoy! It really is that simple. 

Chicken.Salt.450.1hr.YUM!

I forgot to take a picture of the whole chicken before I started picking the skin off!

The skin is crispy and delicious and the meat is juicy, tender and so yummy. I ate mine tonight with green beans and a little red wine. :)

*side note, if you would have told me a few years ago that I would eat chicken straight off the bone (dark meat in particular) along with the skin I would have said you were crazy. However, CrossFit, paleo/whole30 and, I guess, just growing up has opened my eyes to the deliciousness that is dark meat chicken and crispy/yummy skin! This is now one of my favorite meals (aside from the annoying smoke detector).

Enjoy!

Let It Go

"Let It Go" - One day while I was explaining to a friend (okay venting) about a particular life situation that had really messed with my mind, (not  just every day drama but something that shook  me to the core) he looked at me and said "let...it...go."  At the time I was little frustrated, because I didn't want to let it go. I wanted to hang on to it, to vent, to feel sorry for myself, to make people understand the wrong that had been done to me and the hurt I felt. But again, he looked at me and said "let...it...go."

I heard him, and thought, "yeah, easier said than done!" However - he was right.

We cannot control what other people think, say or do, the only thing we can control is our reaction. When we choose to hold on to the things we cannot control, they begin to control us. Anger, bitterness, confusion, and hurt can keep us from moving forward and seeing clearly what is actually before us.

Let....it....go!

Things I've realized lately that I need to let go:
Expectations of what life should look like - LET IT GO
Disappointment and hurt from friends/family - LET IT GO
Personal failures/goals unmet - LET IT GO
Sins committed/embarrassing or bad choices  - LET IT GO

I am not perfect - life is not perfect. We all make mistakes, we all make choices against our better judgement, we embarrass ourselves and others, we let people down, and we are let down. It's part of life. It's easy, even comfortable sometimes, to hold on to these things, to live in the guilt, to hold on to hurt, to not forgive (yourself or others). However the tighter your grip and the longer you hold on, the harder it will be to understand true freedom and forgiveness. God's grace truly is amazing and He has chosen through His son to forgive us our sins - If a Holy God can look past our iniquities, shouldn't we also be able to forgive the sins of others and ourselves?

For some reason this phrase reminds me of balloons. I have some special kids in my life who, occasionally when we'd go somewhere, they'd get balloons. However when it was time to get in the car, or go home they had to "let them go." Of course they would be sad, what kid wants to let a balloon go? However, we would say "send the balloon to Jesus." This made it easier for them to "let it go." They would watch as the balloon traveled high in to the sky until it was out of sight, "with Jesus" and they could get in the car and move on.  Like these balloons, we need to "send our issues to Jesus." - Let them go, until they are out of our sight so we can "get in the car" and move on.

We can choose to hold on tight, to live in anger, fear, guilt and/or shame OR we can "let it go" and walk forward in grace, forgiveness and joy.  Things may not be as we wished they were, we WILL experience hurt and we WILL cause hurt -  do not let circumstances, hurt, disappointment or choices of your past dictate the steps you take towards your future.

Let...it...go!

Have I mentioned I hate running?

6 months ago, that statement was 100% true! However, I think my hatred towards running wasn't necessarily directed at the act of running, but more how running made me feel: weak, breathless, sore, and very un-athletic. As I would watch others so "effortlessly" buzz past me with their headphones in their ears and smile on their face...or better yet, chatting away like they were on a leisurely stroll, I would role my eyes, gasp for breath and mumbled to myself  "I hate running, I hate running...".

The more I talked to "runners" the more I was encouraged that although they may look like it's effortless, it really does take a lot of work to get to that point. So, instead of staying frustrated and constantly expressing my hatred for running I decided to, well, start running.

A few months ago I met a lady at a charity event I went to for work. Her name was Theresa and she mentioned that she started Bel Inizion, an outreach to women in recovery.

From their website: (it's long, but worth the read and explains it far better than I can)
"Houston has a generous giving community and great compassion for those in need. We have emergency shelters, transitional housing, and half-way houses. The agencies offer case workers, recovery programs, and job skills training. What gets lost, and is critically needed, is helping individuals achieve the self esteem and confidence that can come from an ongoing exercise and nutrition program.

Bel Inizio (Beautiful Beginning) was launched to help meet this need. Our participants are women ranging from their 20s to their 50s. They are female veterans who have had a challenges from sexual abuse, substance and alcohol abuse and homelessness. Most are in recovery, and all are working hard to re-enter the community. And now many have the opportunity to succeed in a way which they never thought possible: they will set a healthy goal and achieve it.

Bel Inizio teams train to complete a 5K, and in the process learn about commitment, fitness, and nutrition. They see healthy behaviors in action and are offered tools to help them succeed once they are out on their own. Bel Inizio shows each woman that they matter. We help prepare them for the ultimate race — the race for a better life." 


After meeting Theresa and reading about Bel Inizio online I decided that I needed to be a part of it! Through the CrossFit community, I have been encouraged and pushed to train my body to do things that I NEVER in my life thought I could do. I was excited about the opportunity to be a part of something that is teaching and encouraging women not only to have physically discipline, but to build healthy practices and the self esteem to overcome and accomplish great things.

I started started volunteering two weeks ago and my first 5K with them was this past Sunday. I stayed with the group that did the run/walk pace! After the first run I felt great, my body settled in to a good pace and I was good to go! :) I didn't once think "I hate running" in fact, I wanted to just keep running, I wasn't ready for the finish line.

Before the race!

We finished!

I am looking forward to more races with this group as together we build up our strength as runners and as women!  Check out Bel Inizio for more information.

No Excuses

Enough Said! :)

What is "As Rx'd?"

So what does the title of my blog, "My Life, As Rx'd" mean?

Two things have greatly impacted the way I live my life: Christ and CrossFit. In the CrossFit world, "As Rx'd" means you are able to complete the WOD (workout of the day) as it was prescribed - with no modifications, no scaling. The goal of a CrossFit athlete is to continue growing stronger so that you can do the workouts "as rx'd." Likewise, the goal of the Christian life is one of constant spiritual training and growth.

In the past few years, as I have gotten more involved in CrossFit and overall healthier lifestyle practices, I have seen a huge connection between my physical and spiritual health. I believe that when we are following the prescriptions for life, both  physically and spiritually, we can truly "live" this life we have been given, rather than just "live through it." This blog is to keep me focused and accountable and hopefully encourage others to seek to live their lives "As Rx'd" as well. :) 

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 " For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf."