If the post title wasn’t a dead giveaway, I recently had the pleasure of attending a Crossfit level one certification. It was phenomenal. After hearing about it for about a few years, sneaking in an occasional Crossfit workout, and then dabbling in it for the first half of this year I was ready to take [...]
How fitting is it that the best lift for busting us out of the recession is called ‘The Bear’? If everyone did ‘The Bear’ the world would be a better place. Healthcare costs would plummet, nutritional supplement sales would stimulate the economy, and people would look sexier – spend more money on dates and eventually raise healthy, economically fit children of their own. But I Digress…
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Here are seven silly fitness mistakes I’ve made and most likely repeated over the last ten years. Hopefully you can nip a few of these in the bud and boost that intelligent fitness curve of yours. No Warm-up – I used to just waltz into the weight room with a big smile and start lifting. While my enthusiasm was laudable my muscles and joints were probably not enthused at all. Raising your core temperature with a few |
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minutes of light cardio will make your muscles more pliable. A couple of lighter sets before your working sets will help prepare your central nervous system for the workout ahead. Much smarter than hoisting the heavy stuff right off the bat.
| This is it…THE Intelligent Workout. Setting Goals, Picking a Program, and Fueling Your Workout are All Integral Pieces of The Fitness Pie but None of It Would Mean Squat if You Never Take Action and Hit The Weights. As The Bodybuilder Bill Pearl Once Said “You Keep Talking About the Best Exercises and Training Programs… I’ll Be In The Gym. It’s Legs Tuesday.” | 
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| Here is a workout program focusing on general health and fitness along with stamina and endurance. The keys for this type of workout are that your repetitions are relatively high, your weights are relatively light, and your rest periods are around 30 – 45 seconds. You will be performing 1-2 very light warm-up sets before each exercise and then three regular weight working sets. |  |
| The old school stretching methodology to simply extend your muscles and hold can be relaxing but it is not going to help your performance. Several studies show that doing static stretching before activity causes your muscles to perform at a lower level and may even increase the incidence of injury. These kinds of stretches should be reserved for after a workout or just before bed since they help relax your muscles – not prepare them for a vigorous workout. |  |
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Move: Joker’s Droop / Gorilla Hang
How To Perform: Grab A Pull-up bar with one arm and hang.
When To Perform: End of a Back or full body workout for a great stretch as well as a grip and forearm strengthener.
| My passion for health and fitness was ignited with a trip to the doctor’s office. I was so intrigued by the Men’s Health magazine they had in the waiting room that I came back after my appointment to finish the rest of it. Later that week I went to the library and checked out every back issue of Men’s Health that they had on the shelves, about five years worth, it was glorious. Over the next month I bombarded myself with all the weight training books and fitness publications I could get my hands on. Whenever I was seen doing a new move in the gym or talking about fitness one of my friends was quick to jest with a “Where’d you learn that? Men’s Health?” Chances were I actually had. |  |
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