Crazy Chicken Lady

Two weeks ago we adopted five chickens, and now I am officially a Crazy Chicken Lady.

We eat a ton of eggs and have talked about getting chickens for awhile now, but got serious about it this winter. Turns out the Ag department (that's Agriculture for all you Yankees...it's an actual high school course that you can take for a grade and everything. I was shocked too!) at Zach's school was purchasing chicks in bulk so that a student could raise a few for the stock show. He really only needed about five, but they had to order 30 or so, and so we were able to take five Leghorn chicks for our own.

Yup, Leghorn. As in Foghorn Leghorn:

During winter break Zach started working on the coop. If you know Zach at all, you know that he doesn't do things half way. This coop was thoroughly researched and had architectural plans. It's less a chicken coop and more a chicken mansion, complete with a watering system with small nipples both in and outside the coop for the chickens to peck at when they want water.

Here are a few pictures of the coop while it was being built.

Jazz hands!

Nesting boxes. Apparently the chickens don't need their
own individual box -- they tend to all use one or two of the same boxes.

The mostly finished product, compete with door that slides up and down
for them to walk down the plank into the yard. 

The coop has wheels so we can move it around the yard. Right now it's in the shop because it's still pretty cold at night, but in a week or so they will be able to go outside full time.

Before the chicks got here I was all, "I do not want pets. I want eggs. These chickens are not pets, they are egg layers."

And then they arrived.

And I was all, "They're so CUUUUUTE! Listen to their little chirping! Look at their little feathers!"

And then I crossed over to Crazy Chicken Lady territory and began fretting, doting, and spoiling these chickens rotten. I gladly clean their coop, check their water, check their food, and the kids and I wheel them out to get some sun most afternoons and watch them. They are not terribly interesting, mind you...we just like to watch them.

And talk about eating, drinking, pooping, growing machines! It's only been two weeks, and look how much they've grown:

I'll keep you posted on how things go with the chickens, but here are a few things you're probably wondering about:

Do you have any roosters? We don't know yet. It's hard to tell what you have until they are a few months old. I suspect that we have at least one rooster, which we do not want to have because our neighbors will think bad things about us. If he does turn out to be a rooster, we are sending him back to school so he can go to a farm. 

Do chickens lay eggs if there are no roosters? Yes. They lay eggs, but they aren't fertilized so they do not become baby chicks.

When will they start laying eggs? At about 20-24 weeks old, so we are hoping to have eggs around the start of summertime. 

How many eggs will five chickens lay? They say about one per chicken per day. In the heat of summer and dead of winter production slows down, as well as when they "molt" (lose their feathers and grow them back in).

Are they hard to take care of? So far it's been really easy. They poop a lot, so I've been cleaning out the coop every few days or so, but other than that you just make sure they have food and water. Other than that they are pretty happy.

Did you name them? We had (and have) full intention of naming them, but we really can't tell them apart right now; they all look similar. The names we chose are: Ginger, Polly, Francine, Nadine, and Roxy. 

What other questions do you have? Post 'em on Facebook or as a comment below and I'll do my best to answer, despite my inexperience as a Crazy Chicken Lady.

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Workout of the Day

Asylum 2: Championship

My bottom is SORE right now because of the speed skater drills. This has been a great first week of Asylum. I really like this program so far!

Certifiable

Last October I started studying to become a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Last Wednesday, I passed the test and got to cross off #6 on my 2013 Goal List!

The studying was difficult, mostly because of the shear volume of material to cover. One text book is 680 pages, the other was 267, and the study guide to accompany the first text book was 186 pages. Science and math are not my strong points, but the material was interesting to me and that kept me going.

I was thankful for the study support provided through ACE -- they sent a weekly email telling me how much and which material to cover so that I could work through it in 12 weeks. I took about six more weeks on the tail end to truly master the material before I took the test. (If I'm really honest with myself I pretty much took December off from studying; I read a little bit but there wasn't much happening with the kids home and Christmas festivities going on.)

The practice modules and exams helped tremendously, too, especially since it's been about 13 years since I've taken any type of exam. (GAH! Has it seriously been that long since I left college? I'm getting very old!) ACE also has a library of blog topics related to the test, and it hosts frequent live question and answer sessions on its Facebook page. I reviewed the history of the Q&As and picked up quite a few pointers and strategies that I put to good use.

After a short period of completely freaking out about a month before the test, I was very confident and calm heading into the exam. My trusty stack of index cards, Post-it flags, and paper clips made sure I focused on what I was sure to be covered. It also helped to use Zach as my pseudo-client as I put him through some posture and movement assessments to get some real-world practice.

The exam was 150 questions and covered four domains:
- Client Interviews and Assessments: I scored 89%
- Program Design and Implementation: I scored 81%
- Program Progression and Modifications: I scored 93%
- Professional Conduct, Safety, and Risk Management: I scored 88%

It sure was a load off to pass that exam! However, even though I learned a lot and received a passing score, I realize that there is so much more to learn -- and that's a good thing! I don't ever want to stop learning how to be a better person, a better trainer, a better business person.

I have a few things in the works to put my new certification to use, which I will share later. In the meantime I'm going to find some new ways to spend those two hours per day that were earmarked for studying for the past 4 months!

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Workout of the Day

Asylum 2: Upper Elite

60 minutes of upper body work. At one point I thought my entire upper body was going to cramp!

So far I really like these workouts, though. They go by quickly and are not as repetitive as the workouts in Asylum 1.

Meatless Monday: Plateful O'Veggies

Back a few years ago when we started trying to have a few meals here or there that didn't feature meat as the star attraction, I'd do this thing called "Veggie Night." It was pretty much how it sounds: a plate full of three or four kinds of veggies. I was always surprised at how filling, yet low-calorie those nights were!

If you're not much of a cook and/or new to the meatless thing, try Veggie Night. Pick a few veggies you like, make a ton of 'em, and load up your plate. See how it fills you up and makes you feel the next day.

Here's a sample menu:

- Mashed butternut squash (cut it in half and bake face-down in a 375-degree oven till soft)
- Steamed snap peas (buy them frozen and microwave them)
- Roasted new potatoes (cut them in quarters, sprinkle with olive oil and cook at the same time as the squash. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and dill weed to serve.)

If you're feeling adventurous with greens, try this recipe (another favorite from the Ultimate Reset). We like it so much we brought it to Christmas Dinner last year!

Coconut Collard Greens

Ingredients
1½ tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
¼ yellow onion, diced
½ bunch collard greens, washed, stems removed, and cut into ½-inch strips
¼ cup coconut milk
⅛ tsp. Himalayan salt (optional)

Directions
Heat oil in large wok or pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until golden brown and very soft. Add collard greens and stir well. Add coconut milk and stir. Sauté another 10 minutes, or until greens are very tender. Add salt. Serves 1.

BONUS! When you fix this recipe you will have some leftover coconut milk. Save it! Within a day or two, bake a butternut squash or an acorn squash, scoop out the flesh and mix it with your leftover coconut milk and some nutmeg. Those three ingredients will create a knockout soup! 

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Workout of the Day

It's heeeeerrrree!!

A-2 day. We've had Asylum 2 in the house for a couple months now, but running training prevented us from tackling it straight away. Zach's recovered and we're ready to DO THIS! Day one was X-Trainer, and it was really fun! The workout was 49 minutes of agility training, and it went by really fast. I can't wait to see what the next 30 days are going to look like. 

Last night we were previewing the workout, and Kate said, "Hey, he (Shaun T) has the same bumps on his stomach like Mom does!"

Thanks, Kate! That's called a 6-pack. I appreciate you noticing! I'm going to go write this date down now. 

He made it! 50 miles in less than 10 hours

If you're friends with me on Facebook, you already know that Zach triumphantly finished his 50-mile race last Saturday two minutes below his goal time. (And if we're not friends on Facebook, why not? We should be friends! Look me up here and be sure to "Like" this page.)

I was down there to see most of the race, and it was so interesting to see the type of people who enter 50- and 100-mile races. It's a different breed, for sure.

Even though I wasn't racing, it was an honor to be there to see so many people accomplish a task that seems insurmountable. Special thanks to my Mom who stayed with the kids so I could go down and help out Zach and Mark!

I interviewed Zach before the race (see that post here), and I wanted to do a follow-up to get his reaction about how he thought the race went.

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Was the race easier or harder than you thought it would be?
Honestly, it was easier. It was probably still the hardest physical thing I've ever done, but it was still easier than I anticipated.

In what ways did you think it would be harder?
I thought I'd be dealing with cramps and muscle fatigue to the point of not being able to run, but I didn't have issues with either one.

What was hardest part about it?
The duration of dealing with being uncomfortable -- on the verge of pain. If you take Vertical Plyo (from the Insanity: The Asylum program), there are 20 minutes in that workout that are worse pain than what I felt during the 50 miles. The difference is that in Vertical Plyo, I know a break is coming, whereas during the run I knew that I was going to be uncomfortable for a long time.

How did you fuel your body before and during the race?
I typically eat a really healthy diet anyway, so I didn't change a lot leading up to the race. My pre-race meal was pretty much what I've always eaten before a race, which is oatmeal, fruit, and Grape Nuts. Also right before the race I took some E&E (Energy and Endurance formula).

During the race my biggest concern was taking in calories early, so I began eating at the first aid station three miles in. There was an aid station every three to four miles, and my strategy was to deplete my water bottle by the time I reached the next aid station. Then get some food at each station. Typically it was bananas or peanut butter and jelly. Later in the race as I started having trouble wanting to eat anything I changed over to eating gels.

You said by the end of the race you felt bloated from eating so much.
It may have been either an overeating, overhydrating, or too much sodium, but I did feel bloated. However, I wanted to err on the side of too much hydration and sodium in fear of cramping, especially considering it was unusually warm (temperatures were in the 70s).

What was the atmosphere like on the course with the runners?
The first lap everyone is very happy and cheerful. Everyone is talking and encouraging each other. That decreased with each lap, and by the time you're past about 16 miles there was very little talking. The course starts to thin out and you see more people walking. Facial expressions turned from enjoyment to determination or pain.

How did the dynamics between you and your running partner change throughout the race?
Similar to what happened with everyone on the course...we started out excited and had a plan in place to take turns who would lead, alternating at each station. Halfway through the race we weren't saying much to each other, and when we did it was abrupt and to the point, almost to the point of being rude. Our plan took a back seat and whomever felt like leading would take the lead.

Tell me about some of the strange things you saw on the course.
Two things stand out. Coming back in on our second loop, a young woman was walking toward us going the opposite direction on the trail, and she was pumping her breasts with a portable breast pump. Later at an aid station I saw her again with another young woman and a small baby that I assume was hers, and she was pumping again. It was early enough in the race that I knew I couldn't possibly be hallucinating, but I did ask Mark if he just saw what I saw. All I can say is that is some serious dedication!

The other thing happened about halfway through the third and final loop, I heard a commotion in the brush off the trail, and a 250-pound feral pig comes out of the brush running parallel to me along the trail. He overtook me, thank goodness, and crossed in front of me over the trail. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but I knew I didn't have the energy to take on the pig or get out of the way, so I just kept running. I think we just woke him up. At this point it was possible that I was hallucinating, but Mark screaming behind me, "Watch out for that pig!" reassured me that I was not.

Your goal was to run 50 miles in less than 10 hours. You made it with two minutes to spare. Tell me about the last 28 minutes of the race.
On the first two laps we found a landmark that gave us a good estimate of a 30-minute mark to the finish line. We knew we could use it to gauge our finish time at the end of the race. On the final lap we crossed that landmark at 9 hours, 31 minutes. I told Mark we had to put the hammer down to make it in 10, and he said "take off, I'm right behind you." We ran the last 30-minute section in 27 minutes on our final lap to come in under 10.

How did you feel when you crossed the finish line?
It was very emotional. I was very excited about completing it. I think part of the issue is that there are so many points in the race when you think, "Why am I doing this? I should just stay here at the aid station and eat some of this food." There are so many temptations to quit. Only 85% of people who started the 50-mile completed it, and just 67% completed the 100-mile. I felt like I just learned a lot about what you're capable of accomplishing if you put your mind to it.

When you finished your 50-miles, how did you feel that there were 100-mile participants who were only halfway through? They still had 50 miles to go.
I had two completely opposite thoughts and feelings. One that I was very thankful that I was done, but the other was a feeling that there are people still running out there, and maybe I should be joining them.

Does that mean you're thinking about trying a 100?
I haven't decided yet. I think I would like to try a 50 again first. There are some things I could have done differently to make it a better experience, even though for a first time this was pretty amazing.
I'm thankful that my wife came down to take care of me. I appreciate her support even when she doesn't understand why I'm doing something.

How was that pancake breakfast the next morning?
It was awesome. I had two pancakes with pecans baked into them, covered in syrup, along with two fried eggs and hash browns.

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Workout of the Day

It's a recovery week (obviously!), so we just did a 20-minute "Flow" yoga routine from Les Mills Pump.

Meatless Monday: Butternut Squash and Kale

Today I'm posting a recipe that is a marriage of two things I've become obsessed with: butternut squash and kale.

My butternut squash obsession is easily understood. Aside from having to track down a hack saw to cut the thing, butternut squash is so yummy and versatile. If you're feeling lazy, just cut it in half and bake it face down in some water, then mash it up with some nutmeg. If you're feeling a little more adventurous, dice it and toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and cinnamon and roast it in the oven. Got all kinds of time on your hands? Turn it into a soup. Might I suggest butternut squash and apple soup?

But kale...how can you be obsessed with kale? Most people know it as the garnish that holds the fruit and vegetables at parties catered by hotels.

See it? It's that green, curly-looking lettuce under the cucumbers. Yup, it's edible! And not only is it edible, it's about the number one food you can get your hands on. 

It's high in fiber, beta-carotene, vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin B6, manganese, and potassium. It's a source of well-absorbed calcium, which prevents osteoporosis, and all of its antioxidants put together make it a major player in fighting cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. It's good stuff. 

It also tastes like really tough grass. Or so I thought the first few times I had it.

My neighbor Susie once told me that there is this thing called metabolic reformation, which is a phenomenon that occurs when you start eating super-healthy food. At first you don't like the taste of the healthy stuff and find it kind of disgusting. But when you keep eating it, and your body is happy about it, then you start craving that food. That is the only explanation for what happened with me and kale.

I always read how good it is for you, but I didn't start fixing kale regularly until the Ultimate Reset. We had kale in eggs, steamed kale, kale in salads, kale, kale, kale. With a side of kale. Once our three-week reset was over, I found myself really wanting to make myself kale and eggs for breakfast.

And ever since then I don't go a week without having kale and eggs, or steamed kale as a side for dinner, or kale in my Shakeology. (Note that I actually prefer spinach in my shake as it dissolves better. Kale makes for a "chewier" shake that I'm not necessarily a fan of, but Zach likes it so if he's making the shake that day, then I get kale. He even puts the stalks in!)

A couple weeks ago The Pioneer Woman featured a recipe on her site called Butternut Squash and Kale Quesadillas. I had never thought of that combination before, but I was ready to give it a shot. The first time I made this I went ahead and made the quesadillas, but it occurred to me that the cheese and tortillas were extraneous because the squash and kale made a great meal in and of itself. 

You could serve it with a side of cous cous or quinoa, or a crusty loaf of bread. This is a new favorite for me, for sure!

Here's how to make it (recipe adapted from Pioneer Woman's):

Butternut Squash and Kale

Ingredients
1/2 whole Butternut Squash, Peeled, Seeded, And Diced.
3 TB Olive Oil, divided use
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
Black Pepper To Taste
1/4 teaspoon Chili Powder (more To Taste)
1 bunch Kale, Leaves Torn, Stalks Discarded

Preparation Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add squash and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and chili powder. Cook for several minutes, turning gently with a spatula, until squash is deep golden brown and tender (but not falling apart.) Remove to a plate and set aside.

In the same skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat and add in the kale. Toss it around with tongs and cook it for 3 to 4 minutes. Add in the cooked squash and gently toss together. Enjoy!

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Workout of the Day

P90X: YogaX

After running 50 miles on Saturday, Zach determined that a recovery week is in order. 

More on his race later, but suffice it to say that he made it within his goal time, and it was a pretty crazy experience. I was honored to have been there to see him do it.

Why would someone run 50 miles in one day?

This Saturday Zach and a friend are running in the 50-mile Rocky Raccoon Ultra Endurance Trail Run.

When he told me he was going to do such a long race, I wondered why in the world someone would want to do such a thing. So I decided to ask him.

Many moons ago, I was a reporter for my college newspaper, The Baylor Lariat. It was one of the best things I did while at Baylor; for one because of the people I met and experiences I had, and for two because it gave me at least one marketable skill after leaving Waco with an English degree and no desire to teach school.

Since Zach's reasoning for doing such a grueling race roused my reporting instincts, I decided to make it a learning experience for our kids. I sat Drew and Kate down at the kitchen table and asked if they knew what a reporter was. "No," they said. "Do you know what a newspaper is?" "No," they said.

So we really had to start from square one. I explained the concept of how a reporter asks the questions that his or her audience wants to know, and then we devised some questions. Below is a transcript of our interview -- I went first to demonstrate how questioning a source works, and the kids followed with a few questions of their own.

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Where is the Rocky Raccoon race taking place?
At Huntsville State Park in Hunstville, Texas. It's called the Rocky Raccoon 100, and it's known for its 100-mile race. But there is also a 50-mile race, which is what I'll be participating in. The 50 is like the kid's fun run.

How many people enter this race?
750 are registered to run either the 100 or 50.

Why would you want to run 50 miles in one day? How did you get interested in ultra marathons?
Because there is something wrong with my brain. Just kidding. I like to challenge myself and set a goal to work toward. I got interested when I started training for the Dallas Marathon and studying training plans for runners and how to become a better runner. I read "Ultra Marathon Man" by Dean Karnazes, and it was entertaining.

How do you train to run 50 miles?
You run. A lot. It's different from a marathon in that your training runs will never reach anywhere near 50 miles at one time, because the recovery period would be so long it would be detrimental to your training. So you build up by running back to back long runs, which is two long runs a day a part.

Define "long run."
20+ miles. The other thing I tried to do was run on trails as much as possible since the race is on a trail. Many of my trail runs had much more elevation change that what I'll see in the race due to the topography of the land in Dallas versus Huntsville. I hope that will have prepared me for the distance. It's not so much about miles, but time on your feet. During training I didn't worry so much about mileage, but just about the time I spent running. Then I made sure that I continued to be on my feet for much of the day after my runs. It's just about being active.

How long do anticipate the race will take you?
They say to double your marathon time and add one to two hours, so conservatively I am hoping to finish in nine to 10 hours.

How do you fuel your body for a race like this?
My approach is a little different than most, I think. The theory is that you just need to get calories in when you're running such a long distance. But I still want to focus on healthy calories. I stick with fruit as much as possible, peanut butter and jelly is good because they offer all three macro nutrients. When all else fails CLIF bars or an equivalent are hard to beat. It's also important to make sure you're taking in electrolytes.

Are you nervous?
Yes.

What are you most nervous about?
Not finishing. I'm nervous about not finishing due to an ailment. I think I have the ability to finish.

How will it make you feel if you don't finish?
Disappointed.

How long do you think it will take to recover?
Define recover.

Able to walk normally and form a coherent sentence.
I would hope within a couple hours.

Do you think you'll do this again, or are you a "one and done"?
I don't know, it depends on how this goes. If I'm not successful, I'll probably have to do it again. If it turns out easier than I thought, then I might have to shoot for the 100.

What will you think about all day while you're running 50 miles?
How bad it hurts. Just kidding. What I do a lot of times when I think "why am I doing this?" and I want to quit, I think about all the people who aren't able to walk or run, or enjoy the benefits of living an active lifestyle, and it makes me thankful that I can. And that makes it easier to go a few more miles. Here lately, my Dad had been on my mind a lot. (Zach's Dad was recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer.)

What are you looking forward to after the run?
Breakfast the next day. I'm going to have a cheat meal breakfast that consists of pancakes and syrup. A lot of them.

You must have a pretty nice wife who lets you run off and train for these crazy races.
Yes, I do. She's been better about it than she should be.

Drew and Kate, what questions do you have for Dad?

(Drew) Will you run with me at the 5K in Sunnyvale?
You bet. Looking forward to it.

(Drew) What will you wear for the 50 mile race?
It depends on the weather. The race starts at 7am. If it's above 40 degrees, I will start with shorts and a long-sleeve top and a toboggan and gloves. If it's below 40 I will add tights to the mix.

(Drew) What will the temperature be during the race?
Right now it looks like the start of the race it will be around 45 degrees, and it will be in the upper 60s in the day. So it looks like I'll be wearing shorts, and I will lose the top when I get warm.

(Kate) Can me and Drew run with you tomorrow?...I love you...I'll miss you while you're running...How do you see when it's foggy?
Well the race isn't till Saturday, and I think it will be a little far for you. I love you, too, and will miss you, too. I don't think it will be foggy.

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I'll be down at the race to procure anything they need at the drop spot and to fix dinner after the race. I'll post updates on Facebook to let everyone know how he does!

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Workout of the Day

Les Mills Combat Lower Body Lean Out

Meatless Monday: Black Bean Tacos

My son and daughter are obsessed with these black bean tacos. When I tell them we're having black bean tacos, they jump up and down like I told them it was Mac 'N Cheese night.

I remember the first time I made them last May when Zach and I were doing the Ultimate Reset. Zach and I were only allowed to have one measly taco, while Drew went on to have three. Hmph.

Since then Drew continues to load up on these tacos, and so do we. Kate scrapes her beans and rice out of the taco and eats it separate from the taco shell, but I'm not about to complain about it; she's eating, right?

The one component of these tacos that you're probably unfamiliar with is the Bragg's Liquid Aminos, and in my opinion it's the ingredient that absolutely makes this dish.

Liquid Aminos is kind of like soy sauce, but it doesn't taste like soy sauce -- it's just the same consistency and color. And it's a complete protein. Weird, but just trust me and head out to your local health store and get some because it is GOOD and you can also use it in my super favorite soup EVER, Zuchhini Cashew Soup. It's also good on salads, rice, stir fries...whatever.



Ultimate Reset Black Bean and Rice Tacos
Ingredients
¾ cup cooked brown rice
½ cup canned low-sodium black beans
¼ tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
⅛ tsp. ground chili powder
1 pinch ground cumin
¼ tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. Bragg® Liquid Aminos
Himalayan salt (to taste)

Directions
While rice is cooking, heat beans gently in saucepan until very hot. Drain and return to pan. Add olive oil, spices, Bragg Liquid Aminos, and Himalayan salt. Stir well. Gently fold beans into cooked rice. Serves 1.

For kicks you can add some diced tomatoes or corn to the taco/rice mixture, or serve with guacamole. During the Ultimate Reset the side to this dish was steamed kale, which may sound odd to you (it did to me), but it was very good. I continue to serve steamed kale as a side to this, and pretty much anything else that looks like it needs steamed kale. And what DOESN'T look like it needs steamed kale?

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Workout of the Day

Les Mills Combat: Upper Body Blowout

Why do I love this workout so much? Yesterday was yoga day, which meant no Combat. I ran around wanting to box all day and singing songs from the workouts. I think I have an addiction!

Saturday Drew and I did a 30-minute Combat workout together, and he had a lot of fun. I had fun showing off my jump kick -- he said, "Wow, Mom!"