July 29, 2010 Reasons Why You Should Crossfit and New Recipe from the Primal Diet
Max Push Jerk/ Max pullups
THE TOP 10 REASONS EVERYONE SHOULD BE DOING CROSSFIT
1. CrossFit emphasizes intensity, and intensity is what creates results:
Intensity, of course, is relative, allowing everyone to train at a level appropriate to their own physical and psychological limitations. Most traditional exercise programs promote low to moderate intensity. Ever heard the myth that, to burn more fat you need to workout at a lower intensity?… this is horribly misguided information that continues to be spread even while current scientific research has found that shorter duration, higher intensity exercise is in fact better for you. Intensity is not something to be afraid of. It is the magic. It’s the secret ingredient that will change your life.
2. CrossFit creates ATHLETES, not bodybuilders:
Through the emphasis of high power functional movements over low power isolation ones, you’ll be training your body not to just look better, but to WORK better. The irony about that is, when you take the focus off of vanity and put it on performance, your physique responds like never before. CrossFit promotes functional exercises by emphasizing the movements which create better core strength, stamina, coordination, agility, and balance to name a few. You’ll begin to focus less on trying to “look fit”, and more on ACTUALLY becoming fit.
3. CrossFit workouts are competitive events:
This friendly competition motivates people like nothing else. Whether you’re competing with your own previous score, or competing with a friend in class, you will be shocked how much more fun this makes working out. This is especially true if you’re a former athlete who thinks he or she has lost that competitive drive. CrossFit will awaken something inside of you, and the feeling is addictive and amazing.
4. CrossFit is the new definition of fitness:
Decades, and billions of dollars later, and not one “leader” of the fitness industry has been able to define fitness, until now. CrossFit has defined fitness as “an increase in work capacity across broad time and modal domains”. What this means is that the fittest people on earth should be great in everything, but specialize in nothing. Read the “What is Fitness” article on the right for more on this breakthrough idea.
5. CrossFit is not just fitness, it’s a community:
Sure, it may seem intimidating at first, but you’ll quickly realize how supportive the CrossFit community is and how this is just part of the thread that binds it together. You will never have to workout alone again. Not only will you benefit from expert coaching and a huge online community to discover and share stories with, but you’ll also develop relationships in the gym that truly make training fun. This encourages consistency, which is extremely difficult to find in other programs. The people in your affiliate become your teammates, and you’re likely to bond quickly with anyone you meet at the bank wearing a CrossFit tee shirt. People are passionate about this for a reason, it’s up to you to find out what that is.
6. CrossFit produces MEASURABLE results:
Unlike most other fitness programs, when you do CrossFit, you will have measurable and repeatable data to prove you are getting fitter. Intensity equals POWER. And power is generated by moving a load quickly. This means you can score a workout and repeat it at a later time to measure the work produced. Not only will you see and feel improvements physically, your score will demonstrate it.
7. CrossFit prepares you for ANYTHING:
CrossFit trains multiple metabolic systems, as opposed to just one like in most sports. There are three metabolic pathways that produce the energy to perform any activity: the phosphagen, glycolytic, and the oxidative systems. Most programs focus on one or two of the systems making you a specialist, but weak in the others. CrossFit trains you to become a well rounded athlete, spending time in all three time domains and improving your work capacity in any activity that you do. Soooo… the next time you encounter a bear you’ll have a choice. You could either take the bear down in one swooping lash, wrestle with it until it is too fatigued to fight back, or run away from it for hours on end… phosphagen, glycolytic, oxidative.
8. CrossFit promotes long term health:
Functional movements are named as such for a reason. They make us more functional. They help us move more efficiently and prevent injuries in our everyday lives. Combined with a diet that promotes longevity and performance, you will feel better, perform better, and have more energy even as you get older. This truly is the closest thing to a fountain of youth that we have.
9. Your weaknesses can not hide from CrossFit:
The workouts will keep you honest and force you to attack your weaknesses, making you a better all around athlete. This is something that nearly everyone avoids when training on their own, which severely limits progress. In other words, don’t be afraid of your weaknesses, or exercises that you “hate”, face them head on with relentless determination and you will get results you never thought possible.
10. CrossFit is life-changing:
The results you see from Crossfit transfer over to other aspects of life. The confidence that it delivers will allow you to perform activities you never thought possible. Not only will you feel better physically, but most people notice changes in their performance at work, at home, and in their relationships.
Coconut Shrimp and Chive Mayonnaise
Appetizers are one of the great pleasures in life that can quickly get out of hand. Noshing before a meal is a relaxing social ritual, but it’s also a true test of self-control. It’s entirely too easy to pop an entire meal’s worth of finger food in your mouth before the main meal is even on the table.
A wise solution to this dilemma is to follow the advice that mothers everywhere preach to their children: moderation in all things. Or, (no offense to Mom) you can deal with your cravings for finger food a little more creatively. Why not turn finger food into an entire meal?
Coconut Shrimp meet all the requirements for irresistible and guilt-free finger food: a little salty, a little sweet, crunchy, and flavored with a satisfying amount of healthy fat and protein. Serve the shrimp with a plate of raw vegetables and you’ve got yourself a meal - no utensils required. And because no finger food is complete without something to dip it into, a bowl of chive mayonnaise served on the side is a must.
Coconut Shrimp
Ingredients:
- 24 raw shrimp (41/50 count per pound) or 12 large spot prawns (if you’re not in the mood for shrimp, strips of chicken or turkey can be easily substituted)
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 – 1 cup organic virgin coconut oil for frying
Directions:
De-vein and peel shrimp, leaving tails on. Combine coconut in a bowl with almond flour and salt (if the coconut flakes are fairly large, consider throwing them in the food processor for a minute for a smoother texture). Whisk eggs in separate a bowl. Drag the shrimp through the egg then the coconut mixture so each shrimp is well covered. Starting with 1/4 cup, heat the coconut oil in a pan. Drop a pinch of coconut into the pan – if it sizzles, the oil is hot enough.
Fry the shrimp in batches until the outside is browned, about 3-5 minutes a side. If the oil becomes dark and/or starts to smoke, clean out the pan and start with fresh oil. Coconut Shrimp taste best when eaten immediately.
Chive Mayonnaise
Ingredients:
- 1 cup coconut oil
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/4 tsp salt, or more to taste
- 1 tsp lemon, or more to taste
- 1 tsp chopped chives
Directions:
The first step is making sure the coconut oil is not solid or milky in color. It should be in liquid form and completely clear. To achieve this, melt very slowly on the stove and let cool, or set the jar of coconut oil in a bowl of warm water for several minutes.
If you’ve never broken a sweat in the kitchen before, you’ve never tried whisking mayonnaise by hand. Give it a try – it’s fun and will give your arms a surprisingly good workout (if you must, you can use a food processor or blender instead).
Whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly add the oil, 1 teaspoon at a time, as you whisk. As the color of the yolks becomes lighter and the texture thickens you can add 1 tablespoon or more of oil at a time. Transforming the yolks and oil into mayonnaise will take about five minutes of whisking. At the very end, whisk in salt and lemon then add chives.
As a dip, the chive mayo is best used right away, as it will solidify somewhat in the fridge. If you’re worried about raw eggs, try this method with partially cooked egg yolks instead.
Serve with Coconut Shrimp and enjoy!
