Posts Tagged ‘crossfit’
What to Look for in a CrossFit Box
Recently, a friend asked me how she could find a good CrossFit box. She wants to try CrossFit for the first time, but she doesn’t know what to look for and doesn’t want to end up choosing the wrong box or trainer. So, I put together a short list of the things that I think…
Read MoreHow to Prepare for Your First CrossFit Session
This is a followup from a previous post that I wrote: So you want to try CrossFit? Check that out for a few tips and links to useful resources. You will see examples of the workouts (WODs), which gives you an idea of the types of exercises and lifts you will be doing. But, this post is…
Read MoreWhere Is Your Redline?
Are you familiar with the concept of the “redline“? It refers to the maximum engine speed, usually measured by the RPM (revolutions per minute), at which an engine can be operated without causing damage. Human beings have that redline too, but it varies from individual to individual, and it has a lot to do with…
Read MoreCrossFit Metcons Are Not Enough.
I just read this article a couple of days ago and it compelled me to share some thoughts. Why Adding Weight to the Bar Is the Whole Damned Point How was it possible that grown-assed men who have been doing CrossFit for over three years were struggling to squat sets of five reps with a…
Read MoreSo You Want to Try CrossFit?
So, you’ve heard about this CrossFit thing and you’ve decided to give it a shot. But, maybe you are a little worried because you’ve heard about it from friends who do it. Or you’ve watched a few videos of some of the elite (or insane) athletes doing crazy workouts. You don’t think you are that strong, that fast, or that fit yet.
Don’t worry about it.
Seriously. The nice thing about CrossFit is that everything is scaled appropriately for your capabilities and experience. So, everyone starts out light if they aren’t familiar with weight lifting. Heck, for the Overhead Squat I spent weeks using nothing but a wooden dowel until I became more flexible and skilled.
One of the most important things to focus on when you are just starting out is to take the time to get your form and technique perfected before trying to go heavy. Don’t be shy about scaling the lifts and WODs (i.e., workout of the day) by using less weight or scaling the technique (e.g., doing burpees without the push-up component). A good coach will recommend that when you are new and tell how you to scale, because he or she wants you to get the most out of the program and not get injured. So, focus on learning in the first few months (and it does take months) so that you become really good at the lifts and exercises. Then, once you feel comfortable and you’ve worked through the adaptation (you will be sore a lot), you can start adding more weight. Your coach will help you program that.
Read MoreMy Body Fat is at 9% Now. CrossFit & Paleo work!
I started testing my body fat % a few months ago, mostly out of curiosity as I finished a Paleo challenge. About 3 months ago or so, I was at 12-13% which is solid. I knew I had a few more “soft spots” that were lingering. I believe that our love handles love us so much that they have a hard time letting go. For us guys, they seem to be the last ones to leave the party. Well, mine are finally going bye-bye.
CrossFit Helped Me Discover What My Body is Capable of
I have been doing CrossFit for almost a year and what a journey it has been! For the first 2-3 weeks I was so sore that I seriously couldn’t even walk down stairs. I wish I was exaggerating, but I’m not. I had to find alternative ways to get places. I remember days that I couldn’t lift my arms over my head. I almost quit. I thought I was seriously damaging my body.
The Cherry Pickers Exercise. Work Those Hamstrings!
Cherry pickers are a good exercise for strengthening and stretching your hamstrings. Here is how you do them. Spread your legs with knees straight. Bend straight over and touch the ground with both hands a bit ahead of your toes. Rise up a little and touch the ground again near your heels. Rise up a…
Read MoreHow Many Carbs Do You Need if You're a Paleo CrossFitter?
I found this article by Lyle McDonald on Bodyrecomposition.com very interesting: How Many Carbohydrates Do You Need? It’s a question that I have been asking myself a lot, since I have been following the Paleo diet and actively do CrossFit every week. I wish there was an easy answer, but there isn’t. The answer is “It Depends“. It depends on who you are, your activity level, and what you want to accomplish (e.g., weight loss, endurance running, muscle building, etc.).
Hitting Deep Muscle Pain and Tightness with the RumbleRoller
I’ve been using a really firm J Fit foam roller for quite some time now. As I wrote about in this post, using a foam roller is a critical useful tool for increasing blood flow and circulation to your muscles and tissues to promote healing. They can also provide “myofascial release”, which is a technique that results in softening and lengthening of the fascia over your muscles. By focusing the roller on places where you are stiff, sore, or are experiencing reduced flexibility; you can break down unwanted adhesions between the fascia and the underlying muscle tissue. At first the foam roller was pretty painful. But after using it for awhile, I’m used to it and it takes a lot more pressure to work on the knots in my muscles.