The Crossfit Fitness Craze

CrossFit is the fitness craze sweeping the nation. It’s hard to categorize CrossFit because a CrossFit workout could feature such a broad range of techniques and equipment that it doesn’t fit nicely in to one precise exercise category. It’s safe to say that, each time you work out you’ll be doing something new, unusual, effective and tough.

CrossFit’s mantra is “Forging Elite Fitness” which means that workouts are often very challenging- most definitely not for the fainthearted. That’s not to say you need to be an athlete to get started as workouts can be scaled so that novices can safely complete them; safely however not effortlessly! There are often various levels for each and every workout for novices, intermediate and advanced exercisers and as lots of workouts are against the clock, you can also regulate your training by going at it as hard and fast or slow and easy as your personal fitness levels allow.

Lots of exercises require little more than some space, an exercise mat, a stopwatch and the desire to work up a sweat while others require access to specialist equipment such as Olympic weights, gymnastic rings, rowing machines, tractor tires and, that exercise stalwart, a jump rope.

Speaking of jump ropes, skipping is an excellent way to warm up before moving onto the more strenuous main CrossFit exercises; many of which include skipping and, particularly, double unders. In case you didn’t know, a double under involves turning the rope not once but twice per jump and, once mastered, is a really cool-looking way to crank up your heart rate and burn lots and lots of calories. It goes without saying, double unders require a good speed rope as a slow-moving, thick rope simply will not turn quick enough for you to spin it two times before landing.

The workouts are made to increase a higher level of fitness so that you are pretty much fit for anything. The broad spectrum of workouts are made to improve your:.

1. Cardiovascular fitness
2. Stamina
3. Strength
4. Flexibility
5. Power
6. Speed
7. Coordination
8. Agility
9. Balance
10. Accuracy

These ten fitness characteristics make up what CrossFit’s creator Greg Glassman calls the foundations of fitness.

The workouts often have quirky names such as Barbara, Angie, Fran and Linda, however don’t let those genteel names deceive you; these are the “benchmark” workouts through which performance and progress are assessed.

Various other exercises are named after fallen military and public service personnel which is fitting as these are the men and women that use CrossFit to guarantee they are fit enough for everything their demanding jobs throw at them.

If you want to increase overall fitness, lose fat, develop muscle and train like an athlete then CrossFit could well be for you. The workouts are fun, varied and tough and the community is a really welcoming one. Give CrossFit a go – you may just love it!

Major Components And The Importance Of Physical Fitness

The importance of physical fitness in the life of anyone trying to seek better health and over-all well being is not just as easy as working out three days a week. Life itself is nothing but constant checks and balances and so to should be your health and fitness.

What I mean is this, life is a series of waves, it may seem things have a constant but this is only an illusion. For life to maintain it’s “constant” it must achieve a balance of these waves which can be called an equilibrium or when things seem to be complacent.

The importance of physical fitness in your life and in your health is just as important as the constant balance of life itself. But to achieve this balance in health you must understand three major components. It is in this article that you will discover these components and why they are so important in achieving balance in your health and physical fitness.

#1 The Mindset:

The mindset will be one of the most important aspects, no, THE most important aspect of your physical fitness. If you don’t have the mindset, the drive, the perseverance, and the ability to channel your focus then you will fail before you even get started.

Mindset is made up of your goals and your convictions. Are you of the mindset to do what it takes?will you push through the pain? Will you do it again tomorrow or give up today?

Before you can begin to understand the importance of physical fitness you must first look deep within yourself. You must pledge to your inner self that this is what you truly want. Go beyond the simple thoughts and dialog within your outer self, adhere to your goal and know, no matter what those thoughts say, you know deep within yourself to continue pushing forward.

#2 What You Eat:

The importance of physical fitness is also just another form of balance in your over-all health. Working out and using your body will be just one step in creating harmony within your body.

To achieve that equilibrium of health you must also look at your eating habits. Now I hate to call healthy eating a “diet”. The very word “Diet” to me signifies a temporary outcome or a short term goal. This word can also be looked at subconsciously as a negative in your life.

I don’t want you to “diet” or restrict yourself. What you do need to do is understand the food you eat. Eat for the reasons of health and longevity, not only for pleasure or avoidance of pain.

When you understand the food you eat you will never have to diet again. You can still eat the foods you desire on occasion but with portion control and in balance. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables more often then ice cream and candy. Drink water more often then soda and alcohol.

Eventually you will find that you don’t have to diet, that you can enjoy these “bad” foods, but soon you will realize you don’t even need them in your life. By taking the balanced and portion approach rather than short term restriction you can reach your long term goals.

When you deprive or punish yourself you give reasons to break down when your emotional load is overwhelming. When you give in you may give up. this is not because you are weak but because you are human.

In a balanced approach you realize that you are not being bad by enjoying something tasty. But instead you can take the moment to really enjoy the sense of taste and the pleasures it provides. But after wards you will drink your water and tomorrow you will enjoy your fruits and vegetables.

Strive for balance not restriction.

#3 Physical Fitness:

So by now you can see that the “importance of physical fitness” cannot be looked at as a one trick pony. It is only part of a collaborative approach of over-all health and fitness.

But lets take a look at physical fitness itself. Why is it important?

Well, I am sure you have heard this saying before, “Use it or lose it”. The same idea goes with your body. Sure it won’t happen over night, but in long term, if you don’t use muscles they will break down and be used for alternative energy.

If you don’t stimulate your body if will never feel the need to be strong and ready for physical actions. If you don’t give your body a reason to do a particular action it simply won’t do it!

Think of it as doing your chores. Sure sometimes they seem pointless even though it will take a whopping 15 minutes to vacuum. But think about it, if you don’t vacuum the dust will build up and the room will begin to look old.

In time, because this room is not taken care of it will become cluttered and un-used. Bugs may move in and take over just as viruses, bacteria, and cell deformations may take over an unused body.

So think about it, if you just took that 15 minutes to “vacuum”, the room would stay more vibrant and fresh a lot longer. Sure everything is bound to break down in time as that is the life and the laws of physics that we live by.

However, up keeping something will keep it new, longer. Taking care of the room will give reason for it to be used and kept up.

Just in the same way through physical fitness that your body has a reason to renew your skeletal structure, to build muscle, to burn fat, and to keep your body running optimal.

By now the importance of physical fitness should be very apparent. Don’t neglect the very possession you have always had and will always have regardless of what life may bring.

Your body is after-all your temple and your vehicle to interact and enjoy all that life has to offer. Whether that may be the taste of foreign cuisine, the sound of laughter from your friends, the feeling of touch when you embrace your children, or that sense of “feeling good” when everything is as it should be.

Keep Your Fitness Routine Fun

Music matters. Change up your music! Create several playlists and try a new one for each fitness routine. Try some new genres that you might not normally listen to, but that you just can’t resist moving to!

Bring a friend. Find a workout partner and keep a few extras on standby. Family members, co-workers, and neighbors make great workout buddies. You may be able to find a gym membership that allows you to bring a guest each time you go. If not, ask about guest passes.

Switch It Up! It’s easy to get comfortable doing the exercises you are most familiar with, but it’s important to try new ones. Another option is simply altering the order of exercises. Simply changing which exercise you do first, last and in the middle can have big results on the effectiveness of your fitness routine.

Try Something Different. Try classes such as yoga, Zumba, spinning or even pole dancing. When one class starts to get too familiar, try another. Change the way you work out frequently to keep your fitness routine fresh and make each trip to the gym exciting.

Change Your Fitness Routine Schedule. It may sound strange, but your body will respond to a change in the time of day or days of the week that your exercise. Overall, it’s about constantly confusing our bodies so we never hit that plateau we all hate so much. If that means switching the days and times you do your workouts, then give it a try!

Circuit training requires you to perform a series of exercise moves targeting different muscle groups one right after the other with little to no rest between exercises. Ultimately, it allows you to burn more calories, keep your heart rate elevated, and incorporate more exercises in a shorter amount of time.

Buy a New Outfit. Cotton clothes tend to hold on to moisture, becoming wet and uncomfortable long before the end of your fitness routine. Proper workout gear will act like a wick, soaking up the sweat and pulling it away from your body. Feeling good and looking great will give you the confidence you need to give your all to your fitness routine.

Take It Outside. Get outside and breathe some fresh air. Take a break from the stuffy gym and move your workout routine outdoors. Go for a run at your favorite park or play a sport with some friends.

Variety Is the Spice of Life. If you do a lot of walking as part of your fitness routine, add some variety. Try a walk at the beach or at a park. If that’s not possible, try walking in a new neighborhood instead of your own.

Change of scenery. Looking at the same wall in the gym or in the corner of your living room can get pretty boring pretty quickly. Try changing your fitness routine location completely by moving from your home to a gym, or even changing gyms.

Boxing Fitness Secrets For Beginners

The perfect fitness program for some people is a constant jog on a treadmill every day and no worries about leaving the house. The treadmill part will be easier for most than exercising from the comfort of their own homes.

Developing a beautiful physique, strength increases, a lean body, endurance, and feeling great about yourself are real challenges for most people. There is one type of fitness that will deliver long-term returns and give you the results you want in reasonable time… And build tremendous confidence because you’re learning a skill – boxing… Which is essential for self defense (just in case you’ll ever need it). It just happens to be the least understood type of fitness training, maybe the most misunderstood is a better way to describe it, and is avoided for that reason by many treadmill and weightlifting junkies.

Most people understand boxing fitness as simply a punching bag workout and that’s it. So today, I’m going to share 5 boxing fitness secrets to get you on the path to lightening fast physique changes asap.

1. Preparation

The first tip is to prepare your body so changes in physique come quickly. “Caveman” training is the best for this (no weights). Keep this secret to yourself. A boxing fitness exercise workout demands endurance. So start week 1 with a 30 minute jog, 3 sets of 18 push-ups, and 3 sets of 50 sit-ups. If you can’t do this after 1 week, keep training until you can.

2. Flexibility

Because boxing fitness involves full-body exercises and workouts, it’s essential to have good flexibility. Stretching has been shown to increase strength levels as well. As a beginner, do 7 minutes of stretches in week 1 before your jog-pushup-situp routine.

3. The champion’s favorite

The jump rope is a full-body workout that focuses on endurance, muscle toning and concentration which is great for the mind. But did you know that champions like Muhammad Ali and a lot of mixed martial artist fighters use the jump rope regularly?. That’s while the losers are going to bed at night happy with their biceps and tricep weightlifting routine. Sounds crazy, right? Try this one for size.

In week 2, use the jump rope Monday to Saturday for 15 minutes. Your body will be ready to take in a stream of strength and conditioning boosters.

4. Level II Caveman Training

Take your caveman training to the next level. Week 3 should focus strictly on this. It’s a muscle toning and conditioning secret of MMA fighters in the UFC… And boxing fitness prides itself on a lot of caveman training techniques. So take to the floor and do sit-ups: 4 sets of 10 reps.

Now do a tri-set of 25 push-ups, 10 pull-ups, and 10 tricep dips. Take a 1-1.5 minute break between sets. Aim for 3-5 sets. I suggest 5 sets with a 1.5-2 minute break between this triset. Work towards this until you get it… 10 pull-ups is no easy feat.

5. Now for the killer… Boxing fitness will burn your muscles after shadow boxing. Sounds easy right? Shadow boxing is really tough… But it’ll make you sweat, increase your endurance, upper-body & core strength, plus teach you a new skill. Physique changes are going to happen super-fast. Harvard’s done the study. It’s on the Internet. Interval training gets real results. The track record has only gotten better with MMA exercises making their way to boxing. In fact, MMA & boxing athletes are among the strongest and most conditioned athletes in the world. Boxing fitness exactly as advertised.

Is it worth the trouble to learn more about boxing fitness? Even if you’re a fitness model, or ever plan to be one, it may be the best thing you will ever do for yourself. Do the math. Read about weight loss results from boxing fitness. There is a solid alternative to working out at the gym… And it takes only a little effort to master it. Boxing fitness, the new muscle building, toning, and weight loss method.

Top 6 Health Fitness Tips to Get You in Perfect Shape

Achieving peak fitness will improve your mind, body and health. And these Physical Fitness tips will help you to achieve awesome results.

Cross-Train: Cross training involves using multiple types of exercise in one workout. Its great because you dont have time to become bored, every single muscle in your body is used and it reduces the risk of injury.

Try Something New: When youve performed the same exercise routine for a while, it can become a bit stale. When this happens, one of the best fitness tips is to incorporate something new into your workout routine.

You could become involved in a team sport, invest in some high quality home fitness equipment, or DVDs, or try a new outdoor activity. Doing this will give you renewed enthusiasm and prevent you from giving up on your fitness regime altogether.

Adjust Your Fitness Plan According to the Native Season: If youre not careful, the weather can really play havoc with your fitness plan. Running may not seem so appealing in the hot sun, or the freezing winter. And dark winter nights may make a journey to the gym seem suddenly unpleasant.

One of the top fitness tips shared by those who are dedicated to regular fitness is to plan ahead for the season. Think about what you could do to adjust your fitness plans for the weather, and put them into play long before you think about giving up.

Dont Skimp On Stretching: When youre short on time, its all too easy to skip stretching before and after your workout routine. Dont be tempted to do this yourself, as the results could be fatal.

Missing one stretching session could result in an injury that could ruin your fitness plan for weeks. And while youre unable to exercise, the body youve worked so hard for will deteriorate.

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