ATHLETE IN PROFILE
Name
Cougar – aka Amy Q
How did I find Crossfit
Noticed Steve & Meghan’s Facebook posts; had been wanting to add variance to my current workout routine so I checked out one of the free Saturday morning classes
How long have you been with Crossfit
Since January… ?
What do you like about Crossfit
I like doing the workout in a group setting, and the encouragement and support that provides. I know for a fact that I’ve pushed myself harder and done more than I ever would if I was doing it on my own. You really end up taking ownership of and responsibility to your potential. I am so proud of how far I’ve come and what I can do
Proudest achievement so far
Doing a pull up on my own! I always believed pull ups were for boys; never thought my body would ever be strong enough!
Favorite exercise
Push up or squats. I was never strong enough or good at either. It feels so good to be able to do them now with perfect form. Very empowering.
Least favorite exercise
BURPEE – ugh just saying the word simulates wanting to vomit
Other hobbies
Spending time with friends, biking, shopping
What would you tell others about Crossfit
The question should actually be what DO I tell others about Crossfit, because I’ve been asked a lot lately what I’ve been doing, as people have noticed changes. I tell them that I’m part of this incredible community-driven class that challenges me and has launched me to a whole other level of strength and fitness that I never felt before and never dreamed I would ever achieve.
EXERCISE OF THE MONTH
KIPPING PULL UPS
NUTRITION ADVICE
CrossFit advocates a very healthy diet – eating fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, chicken, fish, turkey. In other words, REAL food.
Avoid sugars, processed foods, fast food, fried foods, etc. Pretty darn simple.
We all grew up with the food pyramid (sponsered by the Dept of Agriculture). No kidding !!! They recommend 6-11 servings of grains, bread, and / or cereal a day. Wow, lots of carbohydrates. I could see if you were really active, you’d need tons of carbs. But let’s face it, most Americans aren’t real active. Those who do not work out certainly do not need to injest so many carbs. Next are fruits and veggies – can’t argue with their advice there. Next, another problem – 2-3 servings of meat, fish per day ? Ummmm, hello, ever hear of protein ? That’s not enough protein to heal your muscles after a workout, not to mention maintaining muscles. Milk and cheese- 2-3 servings – yeah, sounds right. And the biggest whopper ? Using fats sparingly !!! Now, let’s be real – saturated fat, trans fat – yeah – those should be avoided. However, fat from olives and nuts and seeds is good fat and needed in your diet.
If you want to lose a little weight and be heatly, avoid the food pyramid.
Next month, I’ll delve into the Zone diet (which I try to follow).
MYTH OF THE MONTH
Women believing lifting weights will make them bulky
No, nope, nada. Not true. Lifting weights in CrossFit makes you look like this..
Top 10 Reasons Heavy Weights Don’t Bulk Up the Female Athlete
By Tim Kontos, David Adamson, and Sarah Walls
http://www.elitefts.com/documents/female_athletes.htm
Women do not have nearly as much testosterone as men
The perception that women will bulk up when they begin a strength training program comes from the chemically-altered women on the covers of bodybuilding magazines.
For women, toning is what happens when the muscle is developed through training
Muscle bulk comes from a high volume of work
Heavy weights will promote strength not size.
Bulking up is not an overnight process
What the personal trainer is prescribing is not working.
Bulking up is calorie dependant.
The freshman 15 is not caused by strength training
Most of the so-called experts are only experts on how to sound like they know what they are talking about
Coming soon – T-Shirts !!!!
