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This month, we’ll take an in-depth look into the relatively new fitness training experience that’s catching on quickly among the fitness world: CrossFit training!

What is CrossFit?

CrossFit is a mixture of weight lifting, running, gymnastics, aerobics, and sports. Basically, CrossFit is a sport that revolves around getting fit, with the goal of strengthening each participant’s overall athletic capabilities in order to handle anything that life throws his or her way – like breaking up a bar fight or surviving a zombie apocalypse for example.

How does CrossFit work?

The basis of CrossFit centers around a series of exercises that are done in timed intervals. One minute you could be doing dead lifts, the next could be pull-ups, then maybe some jumprope or burpees. The intervals aren’t long, but the intensity is through the roof! The goal is to squeeze out the maximum reps with good form in each workout. Each exercise targets a specific muscle group and you perform this exercise until either you’ve reached the time limit or you’ve reached your own physical limit. Then, you switch to a different exercise that targets another muscle group and max that out while the first muscle group recovers. This mixes the concept of “muscle confusion” with the concept of “maximum reps” to get results that are quick and long-lasting. It’s an adrenaline rush like no other!

Like most sports, CrossFit is designed to have more than just one person engaging in the activities. This is because part of the way CrossFit is so effective is because everybody is pushing themselves and each other to get the most possible reps in each timed set. But that doesn’t mean that the point is for everyone to compete against each other (though it happens all the time – especially among friends), but rather you are competing against yourself with the support of others who are going through the same intense training that you are. If you’re not doing an exercise correctly, they have trainers that will step in and help you get the form down. The form is extremely important because of the high level of intensity, and it is why you are not encouraged to do full-blown CrossFit training at home alone. Some of these exercises, if not executed correctly and done repetitively with high intensity, could lead to injury.

Is CrossFit training for me?

CrossFit training can be utilized by both the beginner and the veteran of the fitness world, but the ultimate decision lies within you.

Do you like to workout in a group or alone?

CrossFit training is perfect for those who don’t mind working out with other people. But while some people love the supportive environment of CrossFit training, others prefer to exercise by themselves at home. If you don’t like to work out in a group environment, then CrossFit is not for you. But if you like the idea of a fitness support group who will be sharing the pain and the gain with you, then give CrossFit a try!

Are you training for all-around fitness or are you trying to target one specific muscle group?

CrossFit is an all-around workout that strengthens your entire body from your core to your upper and lower body parts. CrossFit alone will not make you into a professional power lifter or condition you to run ten miles a day. But if you are looking to improve your overall fitness capabilities, then CrossFit may be for you.

Are you just trying to get in shape or are you training for a particular sport?

CrossFit may help you get in shape, but if you want to compete competitively in a specific sport like long-distance running or soccer, then you will get more out of a private coach who will give you exercises that specifically aid in that sport. For example, a long-distance runner and a soccer player use different specific muscles. While the runner focuses on long muscles and stamina, the soccer player will work on smaller muscles for short bursts of speed and powerful strikes. Meanwhile, CrossFit will strengthen one’s overall fitness in a broader category, meaning that sport-specific muscle groups will be overlooked. So if you’re trying to become a better soccer player, you will get more out of hiring a soccer-specific trainer, and maybe doing CrossFit on the off-season to stay in shape.

Where can I CrossFit?

CrossFit training has caught on quickly and is now a popular form of alternative fitness. There is likely to be a local CrossFit Gym in your area, and often times they let you attend the first class for free, just to try it out. An esteemed, professional CrossFit Gym usually has information about their coaching staff on their website, so you can check out who you will be working with and what their qualifications entail. If you aren’t satisfied with your initial choice of CrossFit Gym, don’t give up! There’s bound to be another CrossFit Gym in your area that’s willing to give you a free trial.

If you are an experienced CrossFiter and know what you’re doing, we also offer CrossFit equipment here at Fitness Direct for use in a home or commercial setting.

For more information:

Check out the official CrossFit website at CrossFit.com for everything from FAQ’s and tips for first-timers to local CrossFit Gym directories and events. For CrossFit Equipment Click Here.

So what’s your New Year’s resolution? If it has anything to do with getting in better shape AND feeling better, then explore some beneficial tips that might make your waist line love you again!

Below are five great ways to incorporate appropriate diet and exercise into your daily routine in 2013. Make it another splendid year to remember.

Get More Involved With Organics

Everyone knows that filling the body with organic and natural foods is incredibly beneficial; supplements simply don’t supply the body with everything it needs because the body can never truly absorb all of their nutrients and vitamins. Organic foods such as nuts, berries, dark leafy greens and foods rich in omega fats like salmon are a great way to get on the road to a healthier life. Grains, beans, and hot peppers are also a great addition to your diet. Consider this; one wouldn’t put regular gas in a mustang would they? So why put anything in the body that doesn’t benefit it? The answer is simple; it’s not a good idea! Instead, fill the body with fresh organic foods and it will run like a thoroughbred!

Eat Less More Often

It’s seems like eating more would cause a person to gain weight right? This simply isn’t true. The idea is if someone enjoys three small meals a day and adds three healthy low calorie snacks in between, each of those sittings tells the body it’s not going to starve. If one waits until 2pm to eat each day, chances are they will struggle with obesity. The body will hold onto fat cells like it’s going out of style and it seems that no matter what is consumed, the body will not only store that fat but hold on to what its already got. This makes losing weight next to impossible. Add more healthy snacks and see a dramatic increase in metabolism and weight loss.

Brush Up On Fitness

There are so many avenues these days that one can take to learn more about proper exercise and nutrition. Employ technology already sitting at the fingertips. If you’re reading this you have a computer of some sort, so use it as an aid in finding out what regimen is the best to suit your needs! Magazines are also a great way to absorb quality and trending tips. Subscribe to a health magazine and read it every month. You’ll get a lot more out of your workouts if you know what you’re doing! Fitness knowledge is fitness power!

Make a Fitness Friend

Find a buddy to work out with. This is great because you know that if you’re doing this alone there’s a tendency to slack off or get stuck in the same routine. Call up the BFF and get fit together!

Incorporate Body Exercises into Sitting

If you have a job where you sit all day, you know that this isn’t good health-wise, so try incorporating simple body weight exercises throughout the workday. Your body needs to move so make sure you get up from your computer at least once every 30 minutes. Incorporate a few pushups, squats, jumping jacks or sit ups. This will re-energize you and help your blood to keep moving! There they are, five magnificent and easy to incorporate tips for the New Year! What are you waiting for? Get moving and get healthy!

As a new year approaches, it seems as though our waste lines tend to expand along with our holiday shopping budgets. During the holiday season, desires to get fit often conflict with our need to overindulge in the holiday season and its festivities.

As endless cakes, pies, the neighbor’s extra thick brownies, grandma’s fudge, and plenty of candy start streaming through everyday existence, these five tips will keep health conscious inviduals on the ball.

1) Total Body & Compound Exercises

When it comes to working out for slimming purposes, nothing beats total body muscle recruitment mixed with compound exercises that challenge the body’s internal balance and stabilization mechanisms.

The idea is to take 3 full-body exercises like burpees, dumbbell squat to shoulder presses, and planks, and combine them into one hardcore series of movement. This type of training raises the metabolism and keeps it high for hours on end; a perfect counter to tons of extra holiday calories.

2) Efficiency & Equipment

The holidays are extremely busy and demanding, therefore it makes sense to get the most out of workouts. Turn the typical 45-60 minute workout into an intense 20 minute fitness bonanza through great equipment. Crank up the resistance on the elliptical trainer, reach for higher elevation, and get lots more work done in half the time.

3) Complimentary Proper Nutrition

In between mom’s home cooked pecan pie with double chocolate ice cream, eat lots of lots of high fiber fruits and vegetables. This will help the body rid itself of bulky calories, enhance the digestive system, and provide regulatory assistance to control blood sugar levels. Snack on deep green broccoli, all kinds of berries (especially raspberries and blueberries), leafy raw spinach, or an apple.

4) Flexibility Is Key

Most people equate stretching to warm ups and cool downs, so getting into the habit of stretching typically promotes lots of extra exercise. For many, the act of stretching gets them in the mood for sweating, burning calories, and resistance training.

It also ensures that muscle tissue is the proper length, and will respond more efficiently to stress, strain, and working out in general.

5) Trending Fitness for the Holidays

Trends don’t lie, and what consumers are saying is that they’re done with the Lone Ranger gym routine, and want to get in-shape with others in a fun class setting where an instructor takes the guess work away, and always provides a high quality workout.

New types, niches, and shades of training are popping up all the time. They’ve got more personality, and offer a wider array of variability than the traditional industry standard.

Navigating through holiday temptation can be easily countered with a dash of preparation. When adhered to on a regular basis leading up to and through the holidays, these tips make it a breeze to keep the pounds off through the holiday season so the New Year is begun on a good note and solid footing.

Not all aspects of a home gym have to cost a lot of money. Of course, it is entirely possible to spend thousands of dollars on the perfect home gym for you, but you can also work out using affordable items. One of the best ways to work out is to get involved with a local sports team – in this way you can make friends and have fun engaging in some friendly competition at the same time! It’s important to take the time to look for affordable ways to work out, and in today’s tough economy it’s often necessary to save as much money as possible!

An excellent and affordable addition to any home gym should be a good mat. Now, you might wonder why exactly you’d need a mat in a home gym, but the reality of the situation is that a mat can make many forms of exercise easier on your body. Stretching out while sitting on a mat is a great way to give your body the comfort it needs so that you can focus entirely on your stretches.

There are also many ways to work out for cheap that are helped by the presence of a mat. One of these is yoga – yoga can make for a wonderful way to tone muscles and help balance, and you can do it entirely free. The only piece of equipment you’ll need is a mat so that you do not accidentally injure yourself while going through the poses.

The best news of all is that mats are entirely affordable. They can be bought from Fitness Direct for as low as fifty dollars, and they’ll make all the difference in the world to your exercise regimen. We guarantee it! Check out our offerings on mats at Fitness Direct here: Fitness Direct Exercise Mats. We guarantee these mats will fit the bill and help you work out even harder!

If you’re building your own home gym, consider the benefits inherent in an elliptical trainer as well as Exercise Equipment – Ab Machines, Treadmills & Home Gyms from Fitness Direct! You’ll get top line equipment at competitive prices. Plus, you can follow Fitness Direct on Twitter for info on upcoming sales and regular fitness tips!