RKC update, and a Paelo/Primal treat, Chocolate Chip Cookie

Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) update! It's official...I'm headed to the RKC, in Philly, September 28-30th. When the dates were announced, I screamed with excitement and groaned with nausea from getting that sick to my stomach feeling.
For those who might not understand why I would have these feelings, to make RKC would fulfill a HUGE personal goal that I've set for myself. I will be just shy of 43 yrs old when I go for the certification and I've made it a personal goal to see if I can make it through the weekend and become certified. Not everyone who goes to the certification passes; there is a 25-30% failure rate.
From what I understand, it's a weekend of learning and intense exercise. There are a number of physical tests that one has to pass in order to make RKC, and your performance the entire weekend is also taken into consideration.

I've met some super RKCs on line (Facebook and Twitter), as well as in person when I did my entry level kettlebell certification, called Hardstyle Kettlebell Certification (HKC), this past September, 2011. There is a camaraderie that is felt amongst the RKCs/HKCs, and it's been great to get their support.

I've enlisted an RKC II to help me train, Michael Perry of Skill of Strength (skillofstrength.com). I met Mike at my HKC certification, where his wife Amanda, was doing the cert as well. Amanda is going for her RKC in 1 month's time in St Paul, Minnesota. You can read about her training at sistasofstrength.com.

I've already had a number of setbacks to my training that make me wonder if I'll be able to do it; More often than not, I'm left with a feeling of self doubt. Mike wrote me a great program to do for 4-6 weeks. I was feeling very strong doing the program for about 2 weeks. Then I woke up with a pain under my collar bone, which radiated into my shoulder and arm. I'm not sure what happened. The pain persisted for a number of days and eased up enough for me to pick up the kettlebells again, but still hasn't totally gone away.

Shortly after that, my son, whom many of you know has Asperger's Syndrome/ADHD, was having many problems at school and home, and eventually ended up needing a 2+ week hospitalization. I can't put into words what it feels like to leave your 9yr old child at a pediatric psych unit. I just can't. The past month was exhausting, both emotionally and physically, and following a kettlebell program just wasn't in my cards.

Most recently another injury kicked in: my facet joint arthoprathy of the lumbar spine presented itself as I was working out last Thursday. It's basically arthritis of the joints of my lumbar spine. The area where my lumbar spine meets the sacrum seized up on me and I've been in agony since. Today is the first day that it's felt better. I actually picked the bell up today and tried a few swings. Felt ok, some pain upon hinging back, but gave me hope that I can start swinging fairly soon.

I feel terrible about not being able to work out and my diet has suffered since I was basically going back and forth to the hospital, every day for 15+ days, and got totally off of my diet and food routine. I just need to feel strong and grounded again......
So, I hope to be back on track with the program that Mike wrote for me w.in a few days. I will keep you posted. Until then, please enjoy these treats, Paleo/Primal friendly Chocolate Chip Cookies. I adapted the recipe from the folks at Primal Palate. Their website is fantastic - check it here: The Food Lover's Kitchen. I made a couple changes to the recipe, one which was to omit some of the almond flour for some coconut flour, and the second, reducing the amount of salt by half. The cookies came out great! SOOOO delicious!

Chocolate Chip Cookies (recipe adapted from The Food Lover's Kitchen)
2.5 cups almond flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp pure vanilla
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup Grade B Maple Syrup
2 eggs
1.5 cups chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life brand which are gluten and dairy free)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees; mix your dry ingredients together in a medium bowl and set aside.
2. In a separate, large bowl, beat the eggs, maple syrup and vanilla together until well combined. Add the dry ingredients into the wet, and beat until combined.
3. Pour the melted coconut oil over the mix and beat until combined.
4. Stir in the chocolate chips.


5. On parchment paper lined baking sheets, drop tablespoon sized balls of dough, then press them down slightly prior to baking.
6. Bake for 10-14 minutes; check at 10 minutes and let them go another couple minutes if the cookies are not firm enough, or are not brown enough.

7. Remove from oven and transfer to rack to cool.
The cookies have a great texture and flavor and I seriously have been ODing on them the past few days (which is unfortunate given that I haven't been able to workout....can you see why I'm itching to get back on the wagon??)....

Enjoy!