CrossFit. What is it, and is it RIGHT for YOU?

CROSSFIT. You’ve heard the word, probably have been interested in finding out what it really is all about, and maybe, just a little bit intimidated to give it a whirl. Well, let’s delve into the world of Crossfit just a bit to discover whether or not it’s the fat loss and fitness solution you have been looking for.

THE HISTORY Crossfit as a business begins in 2000 when founder Greg Glassman kicked it off. Greg was a gymnast in his teen years and discovered that working his body in a variety of ways allowed him to be physically adept in many areas vs. those he witnessed who only trained in one. This modality of combining many movements into one workout is what led to the foundation of the Crossfit program.

The goal of the workouts is to allow one to make progress in 10 key areas:
cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance and accuracy.

This leads us to the WOD…

WOD stands for WORKOUT OF THE DAY. When you attend a Crossfit session, there will be a WOD posted somewhere…a white board, chalkboard, tv monitor, and this will be the workout you will complete that day. While some Crossfit locations (called BOXES) vary a bit in how they train, you can rest assured that most WOD’s will be similar in nature and combine some type of Olympic lifts utilizing barbells, dumbbells, or kettlebells as well as a series of bodyweight movements done for time. The goal is to use your entire body INTENSELY to gain muscle mass, strength, and lose fat. But what if you don’t know anything about any of these exercises?

One of the tenets of Crossfit is that it can be a program for any person of any age and any fitness level. Crossfit coaches are well trained and certified in a variety of exercise protocols and even the most intense WOD’s can be modified for beginners with little exercise experience…there are even CROSSFIT KIDS programs popping up all over the country as well to get the little ones involved in fitness at an early age.

What about FOOD?

Aside from just the exercise aspect of Crossfit, they also agree on a recommended eating plan as well to help support your fat loss and fitness goals. In a nutshell (pun intended) the program recommends meat, vegetables, little fruit, almost no starch, zero sugar (meaning added sugar/processed sugar) and plenty of nuts and legumes. The diet is recommended as a way to fuel muscle growth and support stamina while limiting the amount of existing fat or storing of future fat.

Want to check out a BOX?

IF all this talk about building muscle, losing fat, and getting super fit sounds pretty cool to you, then maybe it’s time to check out a Crossfit Box…and there are quite a few in the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho area to choose from. These are our favorites: