Monthly Archives: May 2012

CrossFit for Hope

Posted by on May 31, 2012 Comments Off

On Saturday, June 9th, the CrossFit community will be doing a WOD in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a pediatric cancer research facility founded by entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962. I would like our affiliate to participate in the event, and pledge to donate $300.

What is the workout?  The format is the same as Fight Gone Bad, one minute at each element times 3 rounds, with a minute rest between rounds:

“Hope”

Three rounds of:
Burpees
75 pound Power snatch
Box jump, 24″ box
75 pound Thruster
Chest to bar Pull-ups

For more information on CrossFit For Hope, check here.

Please let me know if you are interested in participating.  I expect this workout to go at 2pm on June 9th.  Thanks, and hope to see you there!

Happy Wednesday :)

Posted by on May 30, 2012 Comments Off

Something to bring a smile to your face!

Why Squat?

Posted by on May 29, 2012 Comments Off

Why on earth do we spend so much time squatting?  Here is Dr. Mercola’s Story-At-A-Glance on the benefits of squatting:

  • Squats are mostly known as a leg exercise, but they promote body-wide muscle building by catalyzing an anabolic environment
  • Squats are also one of the best functional exercises out there, promoting mobility and balance and helping you complete real-world activities with ease
  • Squats also help you to burn more fat, as one of the most time-efficient ways to burn more calories continually is by developing more muscle
  • Squats have long been criticized for being destructive to your knees, but research shows that when done properly, squats actually improve knee stability and strengthen connective tissue
  • Squats are one type of exercise that should be a part of virtually everyone’s fitness routine, as they provide whole-body benefits
And, according to Greg Glassman, founder of CrossFit, “There is no better place to start an examination of functional exercise than by learning how to squat.”  He goes on to say, “Why squat? The squat is a vital, natural, and functional component of your being. In the bottom position, the squat is nature’s intended sitting posture. Only in the industrialized world do we find the need for chairs, couches, benches, and stools. This comes at a loss of functionality that contributes immensely to decrepitude. On the athletic front, the squat is the quintessential hip extension exercise, and hip extension is the foundation of all good human movement.” (Read Greg Glassman’s Squat Clinic). Keeping this in mind, how, then, do we get warmed up and stretched out enough to perform a proper squat? Check out Matt Kahler from CrossFit Envy as he explains squat mobility:

By improving our squat mechanics, we will benefit both our athletic performance, as well as our ability to function in everyday life.  Let’s get squatting!

Your Morning Joe

Posted by on May 27, 2012 Comments Off

I often wonder if my morning cup of coffee is doing me good or harm.  So I was intrigued by Brian St. Pierre’s article All About Coffee.  In this article he shares:

* whether coffee boosts the metabolism,
* who should drink it, who should avoid it,
* how much coffee is too much,
* and how coffee drinking can impact your health

He writes:

Coffee is the second most popular drink in the world, trailing only water and, debatably, tea.

Caffeine, a key component of coffee, is a controversial compound. With 90% of North American adults consuming caffeine daily, it is the world’s most consumed psychoactive drug – and coffee is the delivery method of choice.

Perhaps that’s why, in the fitness world, we’ve traditionally viewed coffee with some suspicion.

But is coffee really bad for us? Should we give up our beloved cuppa joe? If it’s bad, why does it feel so good?

Read the full post here.  I was happy to see that, in moderation (1-3 cups/day), coffee can aid mental and athletic performance (yippee!), as well as possibly help prevent such things as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disease.  Good…I’m enjoying my morning cup of joe as I write!  And while enjoying your morning coffee, watch this motivational video from the 2010 CrossFit Games.

Green Smoothies…Controversial?

Posted by on May 23, 2012 Comments Off

Okay, who doesn’t think green smoothies are the healthiest things going?  I know I tend to think of them as a healthful drink, although I do not drink them myself.  However, some new information from Sarah at Healthy Home Economist suggests otherwise.  According to her, when consuming frequent amounts of raw leafy green veggies such as kale, spinach and swiss chard, health problems can occur over time.

“The vegetables used in green smoothies are almost without exception high oxalate foods.  Over time, a high oxalate diet can contribute to some very serious health problems particularly if you are one of the 20% of people (1 in 5) that have a genetic tendency to produce oxalates or if you suffer from candida or other fungal challenge.   In those cases, a high oxalate diet can deal a devastating blow to health.”

Please read her full post here.  Obviously not everyone will agree with her, however, I do agree with her…the healthiest diet is a traditional diet.  Foods prepared and eaten the way they have been prepred and eaten for thousands of years.  If the foods you are currently eating have just recently been ‘discovered’ (think soy milk), or are being consumed in vast quantities (think juices, smoothies, nuts…I’m guilty of this one myself), it might be time to reevaluate what you are putting into your body.  And check out her video on what foods you should be incorporating into your diet.

 

Jog For The Bog

Posted by on May 22, 2012 Comments Off

“Burns Bog is the largest raised peat bog on the west coast of the Americas and is in danger of being developed” (Burns Bog Conservation Society).  The Conservation’s mission statement?  To “Save the lungs of the Lower Mainland.”

What can we do to help?  Join CrossFit South Delta as we participate in their Jog For The Bog on Sunday, July 29th.  If interested, you can register online at the above link, or talk to myself or Jeordie.  Let’s do it people!!  We can get out, enjoy some exercise and fun, and participate in a good cause all at the same time.

Update on yesterday’s post…my sister tried the soaked oatmeal using lemon juice and found it to be too lemony.  So, adjust amounts according to taste.  I personally would recommend using yogurt, kefir or whey to soak your oats!

Enjoy :)