Off the hiatus...

Fall for Greenville 2012

I'm back!!! Sorry for the lack of post the past few weeks. I had to take a little hiatus since the wife landed a NEW TEACHING JOB!!! (Thank you Jesus!) With her getting settled in to a new routine, daddy duty was in full swing. I have plenty of new post coming. Have some good recipes to share and some good news coming down the pipe too that I hope to share soon. Until then, stay social! Feel free to Tweet me anytime.

@Batteman87

Tailgate time!

David Ruth cooking a pig as we tailgate for South Carolina Football!

It's that time of the year again... Finally! Back to Fall, Football, and Food! (Don't forget the friends!) Wanted to share my Championship Chicken Wings recipe again as I ramp up a new tailgate recipe post sharing great finger foods, appetizers, and meals to make your next tailgate party a hit! Stay tuned for more, and please feel free to share your great tips and recipes for tailgating!

Thanks for looking!

@Batteman87

CHAMPIONSHIP CHICKEN WINGS 10 chicken wings 1/2 C all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp paprika 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 1 dash ground black pepper 1/4 tsp salt Oil - Enough for frying In a small bowl mix together the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt. Place chicken wings in a large non-porous glass dish or bowl and sprinkle flour mixture over them until they are evenly coated. Cover dish or bowl and refrigerate for 60 to 90 minutes. (Tip: Use a sifter to sprinkle on flour mixture evenly then flip to coat the opposite side.) Heat oil in a cast iron skillet, pan, or deep fryer to 375° F. (I usually put my stove dial at just over Medium.) The oil should be just enough to cover wings entirely, or at least half way up. While your oil heats you can make your wing sauce listed below. Once oil has reached the desired temperature, carefully place wings into hot oil. Fry coated wings in hot oil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until wings begin to turn golden brown and juices run clear. Remove from oil and drain on a paper towel lined plate. Once the wings have drained, place the wings in serving bowl, add hot sauce mixture and stir together or spoon some sauce over the top. Serve with or without sauce. Wing Sauce 1/4 C Butter 1/4 C Hot sauce (We HIGHLY recommend Franks Hot Sauce!) 1 dash garlic powder Combine the butter, hot sauce, pepper and garlic powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir together and heat until butter is melted and mixture is well blended. Remove from heat or set on low heat to reserve for serving. Stir occasionally if left on low heat. (Note: For hotter sauce, use LESS butter. For a more milder sauce with less heat, use MORE butter.)

Photo Tutorial CLICK HERE!

Blooming Onion Bread - Appetizer (Updated 8/21/12)

Image via "The Girl Who Ate Everything"

My sister-in-law turned us onto this little appetizer she discovered via Pintrest. (It seems any and everything comes from there now haha!) Thought I would share it with my readers for a different and easy app to prepare for a small gathering (~ 6-10 people depending on the size of the loaf). As far I could dig, the original recipe comes from ChangableTable.com. The above image is from The Girl who Ate Everything.com (My Recipe is below)

As we have made this a few times, I have made some very slight modifications to the recipe to get the maximum benefit from the ingredients. Instead of combining the onions, and poppy seeds into the melted butter and pouring it over, I separate it. Combining it and pouring it onto the loaf leaves you with clumps of onion and poppy seeds. If you do it separate as I've listed, you get a much better distribution of flavor. This will prevent your guest from having a bite of just onions or poppy seeds! You can see the original recipes in their entirety on the blogs I listed above.

Update: 8/21/12 - Made this great dish once again this weekend. Added a pinch of granulated sea salt with a sprinkle of fresh ground black pepper. The little bit of salt really put this over the top! I highly recommend adding it!

Ingredients:

1 - unsliced loaf (round is preferable) sourdough bread (We get ours at Publix)

1/2  to 1 lb block of Monterey Jack cheese, thinly sliced (or any cheese you desire)

1/2  C butter, melted

1/2 C finely diced green onion, with tops

2-3 tsp poppy seeds

Tin Foil, enough to cover the entire loaf. (You can use two pieces)
*Optional Sea Salt / Kosher Salt - Just a small pinch

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  
2. Cut the bread both lengthwise and widthwise like a 1 inch cube - DON'T CUT  THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE CRUST!  
3. Place cut loaf on a foil-lined baking sheet.  
4. Insert cheese between cuts.  
5. Sprinkle on the finely diced green onion.
6. Pour the melted butter over the loaf.
7. Sprinkle with poppy seeds and *Sea salt .
8. Wrap foil over stuffed loaf.
9. Place in oven and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  
10. Unwrap.  Bake 10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted.
11. Serve warm as a finger food / appetizer 

Image via ChangeableTable.com

Cut the bread both lengthwise and widthwise like a 1 inch cube

Insert cheese between cuts

sprinkle on the finely diced green onion

Wrap foil over stuffed loaf and bake for 15 minutes covered

Unwrap.  Bake 10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted

Serve warm! 

DIY - Mason Jar Soap Dispenser

Check out this great DIY project from Heather Bullard @ HeatherBullard.com It's a way to reuse the classic mason jar and make a unique soap dispenser. It's definitely on my to-do list now! Check out her site for the instructions!

How to make your own Mason jar soap dispenser. - Thanks Heather!

The Nine Healthiest Alcoholic Drinks - Gizmodo

Image via Gizmodo.com

I came across this article while surfing the net. Thought I would share since we are all (or all should be) health conscious. Article via Gizmodo 

The Nine Healthiest Alcoholic Drinks

It's summer time. You want to look good. You want to feel good—especially after that hangover from the time you tried to drink all day without passing out. So how are you supposed to relax with an adult beverage on the beach, porch, or patio? By choosing one of the nine healthiest drinks you can pour up.

It's Friday afternoon, you've made it through the long week, and it's time for Happy Hour, Gizmodo's weekly booze column. A cocktail shaker full of innovation, science, and alcohol. Here's to your health.

In the quest for healthy booziness, we talked to Ms. Maren Robinson, certified nutritional consultant (CNC) and master of public health (MPH). As a holistic nutritionist, she doesn't just count calories—she looks at a cocktail's comprehensive health profile. These drinks are on this list based on their nutrient value, caloric density, potential for obtaining fruit and vegetable servings, sugar content, antioxidant level, and medicinal properties. Plus flavor.

The Warning

"Healthy" is a pretty subjective term. Nothing on this list is healthy when multiplied by four. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, drinking in moderation is defined as having "up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men." Our bodies treat alcohol as a toxin. No matter what form it takes, your body can only process so much, so quickly. Robinson notes, "Although these drinks may be healthier options, it does not mean you should consume more. The fewer the drinks, the fewer the calories, and reduced risk of longer term problems. Further, if you are an alcoholic, seek the appropriate treatment options, and avoid drinking alcohol." Further, "healthy" is a subjective term. Some people are looking to keep calories down, some are looking to get vitamins and nutrients. Here are the Gizmodo picks!

Insanity Workout Survival Guide (Updated 8/21/12)

The insanity workout is just that... Insane. (Bad pun, I know!) When I get asked about my Insanity experience it's hard to express the mixed emotions that you have. It's a true love hate relationship. You love the result, but I hate pressing that play button, because I know whats coming! It's true that this program isn't for everyone. I know of several people who can't make it through the first week. Some of them it's just not right for them, but some of them could do it if they had a little motivation and a few tips to void the immanent discouragement that this workout can bring. For them and for those who might be looking into the Insanity workout, I wanted to issue my "Insanity Workout Survival Guide". A list of tips to get you through Insanity and to your goal. (Too, click here to check out my Insanity journey that help me build this list...)

1. Drink Water... LOTS of the stuff. You will need to rehydrate, because you will be sweating out of places you didn't know could sweat. 
2. Sip on your water. Especially with the workout. Don't guzzle it. If you do, you can anticipate cleaning puke up or at least you will have that uncomfortable sloshing in your belly as you workout.
3. You're calfs WILL be sore for the first week or so... As will some of your other muscles. But muscle soreness is good. It might tai you a little while to get out of bed or in and out of a seat but it will go away. Muscle soreness is NOT a reason to quit. 
4. Stretch, stretch, stretch... Although there are two little stretch sessions in the workouts, I highly recommend doing at least two minutes of independent stretches before you press the play button. I strongly suggest you focus on your calfs, hamstrings, and quads. It doesn't hurt to sneak a few extra stretches in during the day too.
5. Pace yourself! One of the most important tips that I can't stress enough...It's a 45 - 60 minute workout. Don't go "all out" during the warm up. It's just that, a warm up. Yeah, it too will kick your butt and get you sweating... but you have to be able to get to the rest of the exercises. The circuits typically come in three. The first round is a slow, second round is moderate pace, third is do what you can do! As much and as fast as you can while keeping GOOD FORM!
6. Don't compromise your form!  You can and will hurt yourself if you keep pushing yourself. Specifically if you push and your exercise technique isn't spot on. Listen and watch how the exercise is supposed to be performed. If you notice you don't look what it should or you hurt...STOP!!! Take a break, then try again. 
7. "Take 5"! Well maybe not 5 minutes, but enough time for you're heart rate to slow down, so you can catch your breath, and to let your muscles get some fresh blood and oxygen to them. Get some cold water while your at it. Even the fitness gurus and Shuan T takes a break durning the intense workout(s).  Overall...Listen to your body, it knows what it can and can't do.
8. "No pain, no gain!" NO! This could not be anymore false. If you experience pain of any kind, STOP! Pushing through will only make it worse. Pain is there for a reason, it's a built in alert to stop whatever your doing because you're about to cause harm to yourself. See a medical professional if needed.
9. The "It hurts" Modification! If you hurt or notice there is a specific exercise that bothers you or a joint (like your knees) Change it out for something else. "Power Knees" not for you? Trade in Mini Jumps or lunges. Key is to keep your form no matter what. 
10. The "I can't do it" Modification. Not everyone can do a push up, modify it. Do a high plank instead. Same for other exercises. If you can't do what they he is asking, do something you can safely do to build your way up to the next level. 
11. Schedule it! A large part of the battle of getting through this is with finding time to do it in your busy schedule. Get up an hour early or plan to do it before dinner... either way. If you don't have a solid schedule to do it... it won't get done.
12. Don't eat... A big meal or crappy meal at least 2-3 hours before you workout. If you do, you will pay for it. Either puking, fighting the urge to puke, or overall sluggish from what you're body is working on in your stomach.
13. Diet Plan... I couldn't stick to the issued diet plan because it's expensive for me. If you can stick with the plan great! If not,  I suggest still watching what you eat. You will get hungary because the workout uses up a lot of the fuel your body has stored. You will need to refuel for your recovery and for the next workout. Moderation and tracking is key. I use FatSecret.com to track my weight, calorie intake and calorie burning. I recommend them or one you find to track what you eat.
14. WTF...Week 5 & Week 7! Both weeks include the Fit Test and the Max Interval Circuit. Problem is... with the Fit Test, you go all out. You are suppose to max out to see how/if you have improved. My problem with this is, your too spent to do the Max Interval Circuit. This then compromises your form and you're pretty much worthless for the workout. If you do vise-versa, you are pretty much guaranteed to have worse Fit Test numbers because the workout will fatigue you. My suggestion  is to preform the Fit Test on your "Day Off". Then the following day, Do your Max Interval Circuit. (or vise-versa).
15. Knee pain. I find this to be the most common complaint with this routine. It all falls back to keeping your form/technique and or modifying if you know something hurts your knees or what ever else. This is a high level program so your joints and muscle are most likely not yet "use to" the new demand or stress placed on your joints. *I took 2 Aleve and put ice on my knees 2 -3 times a day until the pain was better controlled and practically gone around week 5. 
16. Dig Deeper!  Life happens! Don't get discouraged if you miss a workout or if you're not seeing the results you want. Stick with it. Take a day, two, or more off if you need. It's not the end of the world. It will be there when you're ready. All you have to do is press play! 
17. Weight Loss. Everyone and every body is different. It took me almost 6 weeks to see any change. I've lost ~12 lbs thus far.  Some will show faster, some later. Either way, you will see a result if you stick with it. 

Any questions, comments, tips, and suggestions are welcome! I will be adding to this list as I make my way through round two and my wife makes her way though round one after having our daughter Millie! Hope this helps some of you, and again, feel free to ask a question if you have one. Leave it in the comment section or via Twitter @Batteman87 Thanks for looking!

*"I took 2 Aleve and iced my knees"... This is what I did, this is not to be taken as medical advice for what you should do. Nor should this post. I recommend consulting with your physician before, during, and after your Insanity Workout journey if you have or think you have any issues. Basically, I'm not responsible for what you do...  

Happy Declaration of Independence Day!

Thanks to those who fight and have fought for our freedom(s)!

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more." - John Adams in a letter to his wife Abigail 


A great day to celebrate both our Independence Day (July 2nd*) and the Declaration of Independence (July 4th*). I hope you all have a great one! Now, go sped time with your family and/or pets! 


*During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain.^[4][5] After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail. (Wikipedia)

17 Dead Humming Birds Later

Ruby Throated Humming Bird

(Image via Outdoor Nature Resource) 

Our barren backyard needed some life...wild life. We recently put out a humming bird feeder to attract something to look at in the backyard. We just picked up one from our Local Home Depot but decided to forgo purchasing the nectar in the store because we're on a budget and we wanted to attempt to make our own. After all, it's just water, sugar, and *red food coloring right?!?!?

17 Dead humming birds later... we perfected the recipe. KIDDING! No humming birds died... that we know of. And, I already knew the recipe so there was no experimenting. So far it's been a great success. We have several humming birds that chug the nectar like it's going out of style. We have to refill the jar at least 2 times a week they go though it so fast. They even wage war on each other to keep the nectar all to themselves. I never knew they would be so territorial. Anyway, Just wanted to share the idea and the nectar recipe if any of my readers want to attract these little visitors.

Humming Bird Nectar 
Ingredients  
4 Cups Water
1 Cup Sugar
(Optional) *2-3 Drops RED food coloring

Directions
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Stir in the sugar and let dissolve. Return to a boil, and boil for 2 minutes to kill any mold or bacteria that might be hiding. Remove from heat after boiling for 2 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature. Fill your humming bird feeder. I add 2-3 drops of *red food coloring at this point. I typically have some remaining nectar as well. I just pour the extra nectar into a jar and refrigerate it for when the feeder needs a refill. (The nectar should keep in the fridge for a week or two. Anything past that will need to be thrown out.)

*2-3 Drops Red food coloring:  To use or not to use... This is a HOT topic in the birding community apparently. I'm not going to get into the argument or details. I use the red stuff and have not seen any ill effects. No dead birds, no disfigured birds, and weird behavior from them. I have researched and have not found any REAL and SOLID evidence of negative effects of the red stuff to the hummers. You can use your own judgment and your own recipe. Here's a link to some history and facts about the hot topic. Is red dye harmful to humming birds? via About

Welcome Millie Grace Batte!

My wife and I are happy to announce the new addition to our family. Millie Grace Batte arrived a week ago today on 5/29/12 at 10:27 PM. She weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and 21inches in length. She's already the joy of our lives!

36 Weeks Maternity Shots

My beautiful wife Lauren 36 weeks pregnant with Millie Grace Batte
Photo taken at Redcliffe Plantation, (Beech Island) Aiken SC.

Went out to get a few more maternity shots before Millie Grace makes her appearance. The baby photos will be starting soon I'm sure.  Will post more as I get a chance to work on them. Also have an exciting project I'm working on that I hope I get a chance to announce soon. Thanks for looking!

Insanity Workout / Review UPDATED 8/21/12

Insanity Workout

Almost burned out on my current workout routine, I was looking for a change up.  I stumbled across this program while thumbing through the channels one day. I'm always hesitant about some of these infomercial workout videos but this one caught my attention. After contemplating and researching for a month (like I do before I buy anything), I decided to pull the trigger. I'm in decent shape.  How Insane can it be?

I received my Insanity DVD set late Wednesday night... late being 9:08PM (UPS working hard!). I decided to go ahead and crank it up since the first workout was the fit test. Basically, a base line test to see how in shape you are, and to have a comparison for later. BUT... before the test, there is a warm up... Apparently, my "in shape", is face down in a pool of my own sweat. This thing kick my a$$. This, as sick as it sounds, made me happy! I'm stoked to have a great new workout what challenges me to "Dig Deeper"!

I'm currently on Day 4 of the 60 Day program and can barely take a normal step length because my calfs are so tired and sore! I look forward to this challenge, review, and better yet.... the results! Stay Tuned...

Be Great!
-Jimmy

UPDATE 1: 4/27/12

Little "Proof in the Pudding"

Note: Recover face up to prevent drowning in your own sweat...
My wife too this image after my Pure Cardio session (Day 5).

Week 1: One week is in the books... I had my Day 7 rest/recovery today. Much needed! After work out 2 and 3, when I got up in the morning, I couldn't take a full step. My calf muscles were so sore and tight. It was like I had not used them ever before. The calf muscle soreness finally subsided around workout 5 and 6. I can now walk normal instead of looking like I was tip-toing or sneaking everywhere. No dramatic weight loss or body changes to note yet, but I hope to have something soon!


UPDATE 2: 5/2/12

Front of Fit Test Card

Week 2: Week two is done & I Re-tested the "Fit Test" to start my 3rd week of Insanity. The Fit Test is a way to measure your progression throughout the weeks of "insane" workouts. It's a group of 8 different exercises that you do for one minute straight (One minute recovery in-between). It's basically an objective number thats shows that you are indeed getting better. I purposely didn't look at my initial test to see what I would get not knowing my original mark(s) would give me true look at if I was really getting better or if I just felt like I was. WELL... "The results are in...." All of my numbers increased. I remember when I first started,  I was toast. The fit test kick my a$$ as did the little warmup before the test started. I was still toast at the end because you are going all out... but the numbers speak for themselves. ALL of them improved. I just added the total reps of all exercises... I will post the full fit test later w/ exact numbers where they belong per exercise. But, for simplicity purposes, total score before was 271, today 309.

Again, no dramatic weight loss to note yet. 2-3 lbs keep fluctuating on my scale, but I always assume it's mainly water weight. I do feel like my pants are a tad easier to button, but that might be psychological effects. I plan to take some more before/after images this weekend to track my progress and see if I can tell anything from the ones I have already had taken.

 My calf pain that killed me in the first week to middle of 2 weeks is GONE! In it's place however, is a little knee pain (Just above the patella of my right knee). Thus far, I am treating it with Aleve, and some stretching. I think it's a result of my inflexibly with some of the kicking exercises because that's when I really feel it. So far it's manageable, I think it's a small case of tendonitis and I can handle that. That being said, I can't stress enough that you REALLY have to watch your form and technique. You WILL get tired and your form WILL break down. If you do it wrong, you can and most likely will hurt yourself. Take breaks and allow your muscles to recover and get some oxygen in the blood. After all, there's 45 more days to "Dig Deep"!

Stay tuned.... Be Great!
 Any questions or comments, hit me up here or on the Twitter @Batteman87

UPADTE 3:
Week 3: This program is still kicking my tail... but I love it! 5-6 lbs weight loss now keep fluctuating on my scale. Still think some of it is a water weight. There is NO DOUBT this will make you sweat! I weighed myself before an insanity workout and after to find out I lost two pounds... (yes I weighed 3 times before my work out and three times after to ensure the scale was right). You have to drink plenty of water through the workouts. But... sip, don't guzzle or you might end up sloshing and puking your way to the end. I managed to keep it down but I could tell if I pushed more that was going to be the ned result.

I feel I am getting better, but that feeling diminishes every time you have to pry yourself off the floor in exhaustion. Learning to pace myself and not over exert too early. I still have to take breaks to let my heart slow down and let my arms, legs, and lungs get the oxygen they are screaming for. Week four is on deck...and so is a little back soreness apparently as I finished week three, I started to notice a little more back soreness...However....this might be secondary to a little yard work/weed pulling so I'm not blaming Insanity. Stay Tuned!

Update 4: 5/14/12
Week 4:  Sweating out of glands I didn't know I had, I successfully completed week four today! My knee pain is gone and my lower back soreness has eased. I did notice as my form diminished with fatigue my back would be sore later that day and night. The fix... STOP as soon as your form goes to shat! Give yourself a sight break to recover, slow down, keep your form/technique. This has since eased my lower back pain/soreness. It was mostly from not listening to when my body needed a break and so it started compensating with bad form and poor body mechanics. As I fixed this, the pain eased (A little Aleve helped too.. But don't have to take it now.).

I can make it through more of the workout now, but still have to take a break now and again to allow my body to recover and replenish all the fluids I am steadily losing. I can also see a little change in my body as can my wife as she made remarked this morning. Again, no significant weight loss. Only 4-5 lbs give or take some water weight. The workouts still kick your tail, and yet I keep coming back for more. Week 5 is "Recovery Week". All week has the title "Core Cardio and Balance". If it's like the "Cardio Recovery" day(s), I'm in for a long week... ~32 Days remain and the results keep me wanting more.

Update 5: 5/23/12
Week 5: A much needed Recovery Week is in the books! Week 5 was one DVD titled "Core Cardio and Balance". It's a bit of a slower pace but don't let that fool you.. this week will set fire to your muscles. You indeed get a workout and by the end of the week you can tell you've gotten better but it still lets you know that you're no where close to "in shape". Excited to start Week 6... I hope...

Before I start week 6, I notice that the Fit Test is included in the same day. I decided to do the Fit Test on my "Recovery Day"/Day off. My rational behind this is.. well during the Fit Test, you go ALL OUT! Doing this exhaust you and your muscles. I strongly recommend doing this for anyone at this stage. For me, at the end of last test exercise, I was curled up in the fetal position almost dry heaving from physical exhaustion. There was no way I could then SAFELY do the next workout keeping good form. And with this program, I can't emphasize the importance of keeping good form.

PREVIEW Week 6: "Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water"  HOLY $#!T!  Just started week 6 workout one for the "second" portion of the Insanity program. If this program doesn't get you in shape... nothing will. Hang it up, that's a FACT!  I indeed was excited and a little nervous to start this week. My first surprise this morning was to see the average workout length (35-45 minutes)  jump to 59:30 sum seconds. It's no ho-hum workout. It literally beats you down... lets you get up, only to beat you down again..and again. The pool of sweat you end up residing in could now be considered one of the Great Lakes. 6 More days to go this week... BUT that might be extended. We are currently awaiting the birth of or first child- Millie Grace Batte! She is due any time but if she's a no show... We are "going in"!  Will keep you posted on both accounts none the less! Be Great!    

Update 6: 5/28/12
Week 6:  Hard... YES! Results? ...YES! Starting to see a significant change in my body. Not only are the flexibility and endurance improving but, the body fat is decreasing. My pants / shorts fit loose now. I can can synch my belt an extra hole without issue. My wife even stated my calf muscles are bigger and my belly fat is less. I can tell my arms and chest are more toned as well. Total weight loss is 6-8 lbs depending on when I weigh.

The workout is tough and you indeed have to pace yourself if you want to finish the 50-60 minute programs in the second half. Doing the first half sets you up for the second half of this program. You not only have a foundation to start with, but you learn when you can and can't push yourself. Setting a pace you can handle is the key to not getting burned out or discouraged. I will be posting some tips/pointers later on to help anyone going through the Insanity program or at least thinking about it. Knee and back pain are gone. Only notice a little knee "discomfort" when my legs are tired and I sit/kneel to a low seat or to the ground. Overall, no pain.

My wife and I are headed to the hospital tomorrow to have our first baby. Millie Grace Batte is scheduled to be here at some point tomorrow (5/29/12). Once the "dust settles", I will kick start week 7. Dig Deep, Be Great!

Update 7: 6/10/12

Millie Grace Batte - Our New Daughter

Bye Week :-) I know Insanity is a straight ~60 day program however... life happens. My wife and I just had our first baby (girl) on 5/29/12. Only a few complications near the end of the birth process but everyone is recovering well. That being said, for the past 2 weeks I was unable to get to the program. As you can imagine, we are all on a different schedule now. Don't fret, I crank up "Week 7" tomorrow. I will continue to post results, tips, and before and after photos once I'm done. Once my wife is cleared to start, she too wants to join in on the "Insanity" to get her pre-baby bod back.

I know my body has enjoyed the two weeks off but, I have noticed even with the time off...more weight seems to have come off. Clothes (pants/shorts) fit very looser now. Weight loss per the scale is 8-9 lbs total thus far. My wife also continues to report more definition in my muscles (calfs, chest, abs, and arms). Not having any pain in my knees or back. Everything feels pretty good and I'm excited to crank this up again and to see the end result soon! Thanks for reading, I will continue to keep you all posted!

Newborn Insanity Workout

Week 7 Still working through and digging deep! Still see the results too. The only thing I hate as of late isn't the program but not being able to get a routine down where I get a chance to get the session in. I'm back to work after my paternity leave. After working 9-10 hrs I come home and relieve my wife from her shift. I use to get my session in every morning at 5:30AM... This has changed to, when ever I can get it in and if I have more than 3 hours of sleep to survive the extensive workout! I can't stress the fact that you have to keep good form with the exercises or you will eventually hurt yourself. My knee pain is for the large part still gone unless I have a break down in form or I'm too tired. It then slightly reminds me... "I'm still lingering here". The second round of exercises still kicks your tail and I still require breaks as do the folks going through the workout with you. Weight loss is a solid 10 lbs so far with 2 weeks to go. Excited to post some results pics then and hopefully get my Insanity graduation shirt.

Working on my Insanity Survival Tips post that I will publish soon too. If any of you have questions or feedback, please feel free to hit me up!

Millie Chilling after a little Insanity! 

Week 8/Week 9 A new born has the ability to destroy any thing similar to a schedule haha! Found myself cranking up a workout and having to pause to do my fatherly duties. Workout continues to kick butt and take names. Haven't been able to get to the workout as much as I would like on a regular schedule, but that's life. Knee pain (more discomfort really) comes and goes with form/technique breakdown as I mentioned before. Weight loss ~12lbs. Still have to take the after photos and send it in to get my graduation shirt!!! About to post my Insanity Workout Survival Guide! Thanks for reading. I will continue to keep you all posted. My wife is going to start once she is cleared by her doctor. I will be joining her for my round two! Will be logging her and my result too! Thanks again for checking out my blog. Hope you visit again to see the photo results and the round two / post baby version of the Insanity workout! God Bless!

My "Insanity Workout Survival Guide" has been posted! Check it out here!

Thanks again for reading, will continue to keep you all posted.  If you have any questions or comments, hit me up here or on the Twitter @Batteman87

Click Image to check Amazon for prices.
I purchased mine form Amazon.

Update 8/7/12

Wanted to let everyone know that Round 2 of Insanity has started for me and Round 1 has started for my wife. Will be posting the pics later this week/weekend as I get a chance. Will also Have my wife guest post to share her thoughts. As you can imagine, after 9+ months of not doing any "real" exercise, this is a huge wake-up call. We finished Day 2 today and just a few hours after sitting, my wife had some difficulty walking because of the muscle fatigue. Can't wait to see the changes for both of us as we continue! I will be making a new Insanity journey post for everyone to follow. I will post the link here once I get it up! Thanks for reading!

Update 8/21/12
Newborns and hormonal women tend to tend to affect and destroy any semblance of a schedule... I hate it's taken me so long to upload the photos but here is round one of Insanity before (yikes! I blame it on recipe testing for the cookbook... yeah that sounds good.) and after (getting there). As you can see for yourself... If you put in the work, and do it at a pace that is right for you, you can get the results!

Thanks again for looking, reading, and commenting! 

@Batteman87

Mille Grace Update

Just had our 33 week doctor visit. Ultrasound measures put her at around 4.9 lbs. Doctor guesstimated her birth weight to be about 7-8 lbs. They said everything looks good.  Can't believe there is only 7 weeks to go! This is the 4D image they captured today during our visit. Makes us smile!

Deviled Easter Eggs

My beautiful wife made these for our family Easter dinner. They turned out super colorful and deelish! I am just going to copy and paste her Facebook post of how she did it. I will post a much more formal approach soon.

"Boil the eggs like you would normally do, peel them, and then cut the eggs in half. Next, scoop out the yolk and set aside. Then, put the egg whites into a mixture of water with 1 tsp of vinegar and 3 drops of food coloring (I used the neon food coloring). I used cereal bowls to do this, so I was able to put about four eggs whites in at a time. Let the egg whites soak until you are happy with the color (I let them soak for about 5 to 10 minutes). After you dye the egg whites, let them dry. Last, make the yolks the way you would normally make them. I put my yolk mixture into a Ziploc bag and piped them into the egg whites."

Great French Toast

Ingredients
1/2 of a French baguette
2-3 eggs (use large eggs if you can)
1-2 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1-2 drops of vanilla
1 Tbsp butter

NOTE: This is great for two or three people, if you expect more guest, just double the listed ingredients.


Directions
Cut the baguette into about 1 inch slices (you can cut the slices on an angle if you desire for aesthetics). Hand whisk eggs in a bowl. Then add milk and whisk together to incorporate. Whisk for a minute or two until it's smooth. Add cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk once again for a few seconds to combine the newly added ingredients. Using a Tbsp of butter, add to your pan/skillet and turn on medium heat. Once butter has melted, your ready to fry up your toast. Using a set of tongs or your fingers, dredge A slice of bread in your egg mixture. Ensure both sides get coated and allow any excess to fall back into the bowl. Place coated baguette slice(s) into your heated pan and repeat this until you pan is full... but not overly crowded like Wal-Mart on Black Friday. Allow to cook on one side for 2-3 minutes then turn to the uncooked side. The newly uncooked side doesn't normally take as long to cook so check on it just over a minute or so. (Adjust this as if you desire lighter or darker french toast). Best served warm with some syrup and optional light coating of powdered sugar.

Southern Fried Rice

We tried this great recipe the other night. Figured I would share on here since I've been busy with my photography blog. This turned out pretty deelish! Served it with oven fried chili-lime Chicken via Kraft Foods new breading & cheese mixture. Made for a pretty quick meal when two are working together.

Ingredients
3 Tbsp bacon drippings
1/2 C green onions & tops, chopped
3/4 C celery, diced
1 C mushrooms, sliced
3 C COOKED rice
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 lb crisp bacon, crumbled

Directions
In a large skillet, fry bacon and reserve drippings. Drain bacon and crumble. Place onions and celery in bacon drippings and sauté until tender. Once tender, turn heat to low. Add your cooked rice, and soy sauce. Cook for about 10 minutes on low heat. Stir in the beaten egg and cook until the egg is done. Add crumbled bacon and mix well. Serve with extra soy sauce if desired.

Kraft Chili-Lime Chicken