CrossFit for Fitness, Strength and Endurance

Crossfit is a new fitness concept that builds both aerobic capacity along with total body strength and endurance. Although it has been the staple training system for many police academies, marines, navy seals and other elite athletes for a long time, it has only recently gained popularity among the general public. Remember the chiseled bodies of the Spartans in the movie “300”. They were all trained using CrossFit concepts!

CrossFit combines various cross functional compound movements (multi-joint) into one workout that taxes the complete musculoskeletal system. Often times it will combine an aerobic type endurance exercise (like running, rope jumps) with a power movement (dead-lift, power clean, bench press). After all most of the physical challenges that one encounters in life are not isolation movements but total body movements, for example, lifting a heavy box off the ground challenges the core (back/abs), the legs, shoulders and arms, so why should your workout be any different. After all one of the goals of fitness is to prepare you to handle any physical challenge that you might come across without breaking the back or dislocating a shoulder. This is the primary reason why I love this concept of workout. I was introduced to this style of training at my gym by the crossfit coach and I thought I had done it all until I did CrossFit. 10 minutes of CrossFit and I was huffing and puffing like a steam engine. Obviously my endurance level was nowhere near even some of the women in this program. CrossFit is painful and not for the faint of heart but the rewards are enormous. You build speed, endurance, power and get in incredible shape too. CrossFit doesn’t even require the fancy equipment you see in the gyms these days. All it needs is a few free weights, a pull up station and determination. There are a lot of body weight exercises and some barbell exercises. More information about CrossFit can be found at http://crossfit.com/

Why is CrossFit so effective? First because it combines compound body moves it elicits a hormonal response that raises testosterone levels and human growth hormone (HGH) levels, both of which are necessary for maintaining a youthful body. Also since the workout always keeps changing the body never gets a chance to adapt so you are always gaining strength and endurance. If you are looking for a rapid way to increase your fitness level and endurance it behooves you to take a look at CrossFit. It might just be the ticket. Here are some of the typical workouts that CrossFit athletes do. Interesting right? At least I thought so :)


http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/LosAngelesCrossFit_EvaWOD.wmv
http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFit_NicoleLindaWOD.wmv
http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFit_ElizabethRxd.wmv