Cocomo Joe's Paleo Joe Bars Review

Cocomo Joe's Paleo Joe Bar

It is hard to find a good Paleo bar out there.  Although there are a lot of options, the problems I have with packaged Paleo energy bars are: I find most to be pretty disgusting, too sweet, too carby (and not enough protein), or just way too expensive.  You know they are bad when you don't want to keep the samples!  This is why I prefer make my own energy bars: Primal Energy Bars and Coconut Bars.  They are delicious and convenient, especially with my busy schedule.  I would have them all the time if only I had time to make them!

Lately, I have been consuming the Oh My Bars.  They are probably my favorite packaged Paleo bars to date, but at $5 a square for a tiny un-filling piece, it adds up.  Recently, the awesome team at Cocomo Joe Foods hooked me up with some Paleo Joe Bars to try out (thank you!!).  I was happy to see that the main ingredient is not honey!

Cocomo Joe is a newly launched organic foods company.  They specialize in completely organic and vegan products.  According to the company, the Joe Bar has become increasingly popular among the CrossFit community because it is raw, organic, gluten-free, and PALEO.

Steak au Poivre

Steak au Poivre -- Peppered Steak in a Brandy Sauce

I am currently really into French-style cooking.  So much that I bought Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking book to really learn how to make delicious French dishes.  The first dish I decided to make from this book was Steak au Poivre, or peppered steak in a brandy sauce.  This was one of my favorite dishes I had in France.  There are only a small handful of sauces that can accompany a filet without spoiling the natural flavor of the cut and this is one of them, if done right.  Julia's recipe did not disappoint!  The flavor was absolutely marvelous.  The sauce, simply outstanding.

CrossFit Santa Rosa

CrossFit Santa Rosa

I was in Sonoma County last weekend so we decided to drop in for a class at CrossFit Santa Rosa.   I am glad I finally made it in!  I have been in Sonoma a few times this summer and wanted to stop by but failed.  Turns out, Joanna, one of the ladies in my squad at Occupy Strength, owns CrossFit Santa Rosa!  

Burgener 10x3

Burgener 10x3 -- holy front squats.

After Hatch, I decided to do Mike Burgener's 10x3.  Like Hatch, the Burgener 10x3 program is twelve weeks long.  Ten sets of three of back squat and front squat on separate days.  The actual full program is you do 10x3 back squats and then 5x3 front squats, and for the other squat day, you flip them.  This is the rep scheme I followed.

The Burgener 10x3 squat program is the hardest squat cycle I have done to date.  SO MANY FRONT SQUATS at a high percentage of your 1RM.  For the first half of the program, you do 10 sets of 3, starting at 80% for the front squat and 75% for the back squat.  Every week, the load increases by 3-5%, until week six, where you will be doing 10x3 front squats at 95% of your max!  After that you drop to sets of two (at 101% during week 10!).  Don't worry, there is an alternating de-load built in after week five.  The program concludes with multiple sets of singles at 104% of your 1RM front squat!  Crazy!