2014 USAW Senior National Championships

My awesome coaches @ I at weightlifting Nationals 2014!

Two weeks ago I competed in the 2014 USA Weightlifting Senior National Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The competition was at the Grand America Hotel, which is pretty much the best hotel in SLC and a HUGE upgrade from last year's roller rink venue.  More than 400 athletes competed at Nationals, making 2014 the largest weightlifting nationals ever!  There were two platforms running simultaneously and weight classes had multiple sessions.  

It was my second time at Nationals and this year, Catalyst Athletics sent 10 lifters: a full women's team and almost a men's team!  The National Catalyst lifters were: me (48kg), Danielle Welihozkiy (53kg), Jessica Salvaggio (58kg), Alyssa Sulay (63kg), Chelsea Ryan (69kg), Tamara Solari (75+), Blake Barnes (69kg), Zack Height (85kg), our coach: Greg Everett (105kg), and Brian Wilhelm (105+).

CrossFit Wall Street

CrossFit Wall Street

While in New York briefly for work, I dropped in for a workout at CrossFit Wall Street in Manhattan.  Had timing not have been so tight, I wouldn't have dropped in at CrossFit Wall Street.  They have the most extensive visitor policy I've seen to date and it took a lot of effort to get the green light for a drop in there.  Needless to say, I had a pretty good time there.  

USAW National Championships -- This Weekend!

Come watch Catalyst Athletics @ Nationals!

I am on a plane to Salt Lake City now to compete in the 2014 USAW National Championships!  I can't believe it's already time... and for my second Nationals!  With all the work travel I've been doing for the past 12 weeks, I lost track of time.

I think this will be USAW's biggest National Championships ever, with over 400 athletes, multiple platforms, and multiple sessions for each weight class.  I'm still lifting as part of the Catalyst Athletics Weightlifting Team and this year we have ten people going to Nationals!  I hope we medal as a team again this year!

You can watch us all LIVE at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake Cityor via webcast at: http://www.teamusa.org/usa-weightlifting/LIVE  

My blog post about Nationals.

Baked Chicken with Capers and Olives

Lemon Baked Chicken with Capers and Olives

I've been playing around with cooking with chicken recently since I feel like it's one of those proteins easily and often overcooked, but is so good when done right: moist, tender and full of flavor.  So for my 200th post, I'm excited to share with you one of my new favorite Paleo dishes: lemon baked chicken with capers and olives.  Check it out!

Paleo Cauliflower "Couscous"

Cauliflower "Couscous"

'Tis the season for cauliflower!  If you go to the Farmer's market now, you'll probably find many farms with lots of cauliflower, colored cauliflower, and even Romanesco.  I've been on a Mediterranean/Spanish/Moroccan/Israeli kick lately.  A couple weeks ago I made a baked chicken dish with lemon, capers, and olives and had it with some couscous (the real deal).  After my first serving, I figured I could do with out the couscous and sub it for the healthier and gluten free cauliflower mock version of it.  I try to cook with ingredients in season as much as possible, so with cauliflower fresh and in abundance, I figured it would be a great time to take a stab at our version of the Paleo "Couscous."  I want to say it has a Mediterranean flair to it, but I don't know the cuisine well enough to claim that.  Regardless, it's still pretty freaking good.