In January of 2013, I got really serious about getting in shape. I did "Insanity" every single day, ate frozen vegetables with spinach for lunch and dinner, and only rarely broke the healthy streak with wine and cake rusk (it’s an Indian thing, we have it with chai, yumm). I couldn’t really cook, my roommates made fun of me (affectionately) for the vegetables and my complete lack of skill in the kitchen. I was a kid, I never really tried to cook anyway, I just burned stuff. Then I entered the few months of metamorphosing into an adult.

Around a month and a half ago, I started going to crossfit religiously (thank you to the boyfriend Jud for this). We’ll say on average four times a week. Crossfit kicks your butt. You have to grasp your inner superhero and grab every single inspirational quote you’ve ever heard to push yourself further and further each day.

After the on-ramp program, two weeks of learning technique and doing mini WODs (workout of the day), I felt myself already get stronger. I could run faster and further, my muscles were tightening up. It occurred to me that it takes so long to motivate oneself to eat healthy, and go to the gym, until you stop thinking about it and just do it. No more excuses. Everyone has a gym; there are videos on the internet, plenty of running space outside, and 30 minutes per day to do it.

I started to cook. Once you start to cook, your life is entirely in your hands. You know all the ingredients you eat, and are responsible for every ounce of non goodness that goes into your body. I’m a huge fan of the paleo diet using ‘cave man’ ingredients (non processed, all natural earth given products), and most of my meals are the 'almost paleo’ tagline I’ll give them. It’s not incredibly easy. Cooking takes thought, time, money, and resources. But at the same time, it’s really not that hard. The way I see it, we have one life, and so far, I have never felt more healthy and happy. So start cooking!

Spaghetti Squash, Kale, and Chicken Sausage Pasta

1 3-4 pound Spaghetti Squash

3 sausages (you can really use any meat you want here, just cook it)

5 dino kale leaves

3 cloves garlic

bacon grease or coconut oil

½ avocado

salt, pepper

red chili flakes

Steps:

Preheat oven to 425

Chop Spaghetti Squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out middle section of pulp and seeds.

Lightly grease baking sheet, aluminum foil, or baking dish with coconut oil.

Place sqauash face down and poke some holes in the back with a fork.

Place in oven and cook for 40 minutes.

Cut sausage into little bits. I used scissors.

In the middle of cutting, mince garlic cloves and heat in oil for a few minutes.

Once garlic is sizzling, place cut sausage pieces in pan. Cook for 10-15 mins until almost well done. Season with salt and pepper.

While sausage is cooking, strip your kale and discard stems. Roll the kale strips into a ball and chop with knife.

Throw the kale into the pan with the sausage. Cover lid and cook for 10 minutes. Season with red chili flakes.

Turn heat on very low, or off, until squash is done baking.

Take squash out of oven. This is the fun part. Run a fork from the top of the squash to the bottom. It comes off in strands like spaghetti.

Do this for one half of the squash over your pan of cooked meat and kale.

In a food processor, or a bowl, mash ½ avocado and season with salt and pepper. Stir into pasta.

Serve and enjoy. You can save the other squash in the fridge by wrapping it in saran wrap and using it within a few days.