5 Things to Know Before Your First CrossFit Workout

Not many of us know what it actually means. We will throw light on what are the things you should know before your first CrossFit workout.

You must have come across the term CrossFit several times when you were working out in the gym. Even though most of us know that this term – CrossFit is related to exercises, We can bet not many of us know what it actually means. Here, in this article, we will explain what is meant by a CrossFit workout, and we will also throw some light on what are the things you should know before your first CrossFit workout.

What do you mean by CrossFit Workout?

The CrossFit workout is popularly known as the sport of fitness. This is because this sport involves high-intensity functional movements. It is a conditioning program designed to increase strength. These programs are used to train people who are deployed in the police or army. CrossFit workouts ensure that people who practice them are physically fit to do any exercise. The exercises that are a part of the CrossFit workout session are extremely challenging and varied. It aims at building a body that is physically capable of doing anything and everything. The best part of a CrossFit session is that it can be customized based on the exercise style that works best for individuals

Things to know before your CrossFit workout

If you are a beginner, you might be wondering whether a CrossFit workout would be suitable for you or not. CrossFit workouts are suitable for anybody and everybody, provided you keep the following things in mind. CrossFit is not a training that can be done in a hurry; it is highly rigorous and can increase the risk of injuries if the necessary precautions are not taken. The following tips will help you get over the initial obstacles you face in a CrossFit workout session and help you enjoy the health benefits of a CrossFit workout.

Drop-in First

Drop-in First

Every gym has its own vibe. Some send in positive vibes, while some send in negative vibes. If you really wish to enroll in a CrossFit workout session, you should make it a routine to step inside the gym ahead of your time. It will help you analyze the environment of the gym. We recommend that if the people who are training in the gym don’t welcome you warmly and feel you are getting into everybody’s way, you should instantly look for another place to start your CrossFit sessions.

Wear clothes that are comfortable and lose

Wear clothes that are comfortable and lose- CrossFit workout

CrossFit workouts involve a lot of moving. Therefore when you are getting ready for your first CrossFit workout session, make sure you are wearing loose clothes that are comfortable and can easily move with your movements. It helps trainers see your movements and analyze whether you are doing it right. You should also ensure that the clothes are not oversized because clothes that are too big cover your body so that it becomes way more difficult to pinpoint if your body positions are incorrect during the session.

Choose the right pair of shoes

Choose the right pair of shoes- CrossFit workout

CrossFit workouts involve a lot of leg movements and require you to balance your body during the sessions. Therefore you should make sure you wear the right shoes. When it comes to doing workouts, everybody prefers wearing sneakers instead of sandals. But, if you are a first-timer and have recently been introduced to the gym, you might not be aware that there are multiple types of sneakers available in the market specially designed for doing a particular task. For example, if you are thinking of jogging, there are sneakers available specially designed for jogging. Similarly, it would help if you chose training shoes instead of running sneakers when doing CrossFit workouts.

Stick to light meals

Stick to light meals

It is essential to feed yourself before you hit the gym for a CrossFit session. Doing a session empty stomach is not a good idea. CrossFit workout sessions require a lot of energy. Having a meal that is too heavy might make you feel uneasy. Similarly, if you are doing a CrossFit session empty stomach, you will end up draining your energy levels. Therefore we recommend you have a light meal that has a little bit of carbohydrates and protein. A small filling meal would be just the right fuel for your workout sessions.

Be prepared to learn something new every day

CrossFit sessions involve varied movements. This means one day, you could be lifting barbells, and the other day, you could be swinging kettlebells; it is not the usual set of exercises; therefore, if you have never done CrossFit exercises before, you should tighten your belts to try something new every day. Variety is what makes these sessions fun and interesting. You should keep an open mind and be ready to learn new exercises when you join these sessions.

CrossFit is a team sport

CrossFit is a team sport

Unlike regular workouts done in the gym, which can be done alone, CrossFit is a team sport. It is not something for loners. You can expect your teammates to hang around you post the sessions. And, in case you are done with your workouts early, you can lend a hand to others to help them complete their sessions. If you are a person who loved playing in teams as a child, this sport is something that you are going to really enjoy. If you are totally new to this, you don’t need to worry at all. During your sessions, you will definitely meet like-minded people who are going to be awesome supporters.

Conclusion

Therefore, if you are newly introduced to CrossFit workout, you need to keep the flowing tips in mind before you head for your first CrossFit workout session. Firstly, make sure you are the first one to drop in inside a gym. It helps you gauge the environment of the gym. We advise choosing a gym for doing CrossFit exercises that send in positive vibes to you the day you enter.

Since it is a team sport, the people in the gym participating in the session should be warm, friendly, and supportive. Also, make sure you had a light, nutritious meal before the workout session, and wear training shoes instead of regular sneakers paired with clothes that are neither too tight nor too loose. It helps you move freely during your workouts. If you follow these tips, we are surely overcoming the initial obstacles while doing CrossFit exercises will be a piece of cake for you.

What Women Should Know Before They Start CrossFit?

CrossFit for women is quite popular because it improves their overall fitness and also helps in improving their cardiovascular health.

CrossFit is a training philosophy that trains people of all shapes and sizes and helps them in improving their cardiovascular health. It also improves their overall fitness in an encouraging but tough environment. It includes varied and high-intensity movements. Crossfit for women has been slowly gaining popularity.

Should Women Participate in CrossFit

Women CrossFit Exercises

If you are a woman, you will be happy to know that CrossFit attracts both men and women equally. The number is almost equal. Therefore you will also be able to get both male and female CrossFit coaches in equal numbers.

Understanding What Happens in a CrossFit Class

Before you start a CrossFit class, you should know what exactly happens in it. You can check out the discussion below to understand what happens in a CrossFit class.

Mobility Work and Warming up

The class will begin with a warm-up, followed by some stretching and mobility work. Mobility work is the movement that is done with the joints and also the ligaments. These help in ensuring that they are moving properly and also help you to understand the range of motion.

The warm-up session will be different each day. The coach will help you to get a clear understanding of the various exercises. They will guide you, instruct you, and will also provide you with proper feedback.

Skill Training and Strength Exercises

The CrossFit workout is divided into two parts – metcon portion and strength training. For the strength training part, the coach first talks about the right technique and might then provide you with a demo where you will understand how it is done. 

Here the coach will also explain the various scaling options as everyone will not be able to lift the same amount of weight. The trainer will also help you correct the exercise form when needed, and will also encourage and push you to do better. But they will ensure that you do not overdo the exercise.

Metcon or Metabolic Conditioning

Metabolic Conditioning might include several exercises. It could include anything starting from burpees to rowing, running, wall balls, air bikes, and others. Each day it is very different. Even for this, the coach will provide you with a demo.

Cooling Down

Once your group finishes, you will have a cool-down session and after that your workout for the day is over.

Things You Should Know Before You Start CrossFit

CrossFit is extremely important for both men and women. If you are a woman planning to start CrossFit, you should go through the points mentioned below:

Cross Fit is Everything 

The best part about CrossFit is that it is different every day and therefore this can never get boring. Here you will be challenged to perform certain movements that will get translated to real life and some others like handstand push-ups that will not get translated to real life. Doing this will help you to develop strength, endurance, aerobic capacity and you will also have a lot of fun with it.

Need Not be in Shape

Cross Fit is substantially scalable. If you are unable to do a handstand push-up or a regular push-up, you will be asked to perform scaled-down movements by your trainer. This will help you to get prepared for the more difficult versions of the training. So if you are a woman who has never tried working out, then CrossFit is certainly the best option to start a fitness regime.

It Boils Down to your Coach

You should be aware that all cross gyms are not equal. We can take the example of a cross-fit lift called the snatch. Learning the correct Snatch technique is one of the hardest skills to master. A snatch is a combination of the squat and the overhead squat. Bodybuilders rarely do the overhead squat. The snatch requires the athleticism of gymnastic type movement and requires you to lift the weight overhead and hold the weight in position while your arms are almost straight overhead and pushed back slightly.

We Suggest Using the Jefferson Squat

CrossFit Training

The Jefferson was given some popularity of late by bodybuilder and Mr. Olympia competitor Kai Greene. According to Kai Greene, doing very lightweight Jefferson Squats at the beginning of his leg workout helps him to lift the weight from the bottom position of a squat.

Many promising bodybuilders like Jean Pierre Fux, Johnnie Jackson have got with weight more than 600 pounds in this position and have seriously hindered their careers. The reason for recommending champion bodybuilder, Kai Greene’s use of Jefferson squat is that his leg development is thicker than a tree trunk. The muscular definition is his legs are more detailed than a road map and he has remained free of injury despite handling weights over 450 pounds for repetitions. 

The Key is in the Progression

You have to keep a score of how many full rounds and the number of reps you completed in around. If you completed three rounds and you did six reps on the fourth round, you score 3+6. This is your AMRAP score. AMRAP is short for as many rounds as possible or as many reps as possible.

There is also an EMOM or every minute on the minute score. The EMOM workout challenges you to perform a given number of repetitions for a certain exercise within 1 minute. The remaining time within the minute is the time given to you for your recovery. Then you start again at the beginning of the next minute with a different exercise.

A round in CrossFit is a group of exercises that make a workout. RFT stands for rounds for time. Your RFT score is the amount of time it took you to complete the entire workout. 20 minutes and 12 seconds to complete the rounds means that your RFT score is 20:12.Use these parameters to track the progression of your workouts. Focus on making small improvements in your workouts.

Maintain a Training Diary

Rather than leaving your progression to the vagaries of your memory, we recommend that you keep a training and diet diary to keep track of the progress you make. Arnold Schwarzenegger used to maintain a training diary and also included how he felt, what he ate etc. and he is someone we can follow to reach our physique goals. Since the cross-fit workout is more of an athletic functional workout, we recommend that you spend 5 minutes after your workout to note the details of your workout in your training diary.

Work on your Grip Strength

We recommend that you use chalk as your palms will be used to grip the heavy pair of kettlebells, pull-up rigs, rowing machines, etc. apart from the heavy barbells and dumbells. Use chalk to help maintain friction as your hands get sweaty and slippery. However, chalking your hands can only get you as far as the other person. Almost every CrossFitter does it. We recommend that you work on your grip strength separately for 5 minutes at the end of your workout to give you a competitive advantage. 

Stimulate, Recover and then Stimulate Again

It is normal to get sore when you do a new workout. Make mental notes of your muscular imbalances and work on correcting them. Ensure that you do not get so caught up riding the weight-loss bandwagon that you do not feed your body adequately. Stay away from the mentality of torturing yourself. Get adequate sleep. Make smart food choices. Eat healthily but eat well. 

Summary

Your body is a resource. Have long term goals. Break them down to smaller goals. Building a palace takes time and effort. So stay away from things that abuse your body and build the palace of your dreams. Stay consistent and focus on making small improvements.   

TOP 3 HEALTH BENEFITS OF CROSSFIT WORKOUT – SHORT INVESTMENT, GREAT RETURN

Have you started your CrossFit training? If not, start today! Know about these health benefits of CrossFit workout and enjoy good health.

Health benefits of CrossFit workout have risen as one of the most popular topics in the recent past. For the past 18 years, the California-based workout program has hit the fitness industry with an emphasis on the Olympic weightlifting and interval training. Despite the fact that not everyone can avail the exercise, CrossFit is a workout for those who already possess expertise in the aerobics and strength. So, let’s have a quick look into the CrossFit benefits.

TOP 3 HEALTH BENEFITS OF CROSSFIT WORKOUT

Below are the topmost health advantages of CrossFit workout that we may enjoy while exercising. If you are eligible for the workout, you will certainly enjoy all the benefits.

1. INTENSITY

Undoubtedly, CrossFit is a fast-paced and intense workout. It can take as less as 15 minutes a day since the 15 minutes will be a compact and constant movement. Three to four routines can be included in the workout like squats, jogs, or burpees. The main idea is to do those exercises time and again within the time you set. It burns the calories and system in a positive manner. An immense amount of intensity is definitely the foremost health benefit of CrossFit workout.

2. MOTIVATION

Though intensity is the main key of CrossFit workout, the motivation that the workout nurtures can never be denied. The motivation comes from pushing yourself inherently. You push yourself to the limit with everything in you. While every individual wants results, nobody wants to put effort. You can sneak a longer break than required or cheat reps in the regular gym, the CrossFit workout is designed to get the best out of you.

3. TIME EFFICIENCY

Along with the health benefits of CrossFit workout, you will also be time efficient while availing the technique. Since it takes hardly 15-20 minutes of time, you can do a lot of exercise in the very short while. And you will burn more calories in the very short time than you can burn in a regular workout!

Your health is the most beautiful asset you have. You need to preserve your health and fitness in order to enjoy life to the fullest. Since you have read the health benefits of CrossFit workout, you should always give it a shot to make yourself fit by investing 15-20 minutes in a day.

Star Mark Fitness Studio offers the best CrossFit workouts under the topnotch supervision. In case you want to get the best fitness services, feel free to contact us.