Winter's Coming. It's CrossFit Time!

It's official! Winter is on its way and before we know it Christmas will be here.  I've been getting everything done early this year including preempting my new years resolutions...

Rather than eating too much over Christmas and then feeling guilty and joining (another) gym in the new year, I'm actually doing it backwards. I'm going to get into great shape first and then pig out in December!! Great plan right??

So I've recently joined up for a CrossFit class. I've got all new workout clothes and new CrossFit Shoes (found here: powerliftingbelts.org/womens-crossfit-shoes). I've also gone super healthy eating! 

Now I'm not getting in great shape to go on holiday or because I've over indulged recently. No, I'm doing it to prepare for Christmas. Why? Because I know that I;m an absolute animal at that time of year. If it's not screwed down, I will eat it!

So this great plan of mine should actually help me when January comes. Sure I am planning to gain some weight over Christmas but I the job of burning it off will be far easier!

Yo might be asking why I chose to do CrossFit over some other sort of cardio.  Here's a couple of benefits that I enjoy:

1. Efficient: In a period of 15 or even 20 minutes, you are going to be asked to complete as many rounds of a particular circuit as possible. When it is finished, due to the strength and effort required , you will have burned more calories than if you did some normal exercise.
2. Dynamic Exercise: The workouts are often difficult to describe as they're so multidimensional. When you are doing CrossFit, you are not only going to be doing weightlifting or to scaling steps. This is not a simple circuit of the same exercise; it is a program that combines many distinct exercises that push all elements of the body to their limits. As they state, CrossFit's specialization isn't specializing. It's always shifting, that keeps your body and mind from becoming bored.
3. Lifestyle Advancement: Being surrounded by individuals invested in fitness and wellness, it's difficult to resist giving into a brand new life style habits. Before you know it you'll soon be trading your unhealthy snacks for something real and whole. Instead of meeting your buddies for lunch/drinks/coffee or junk food, you'll meet in the gym!
4. Motivation: The secret to CrossFit is your intensity, but it is kind of hidden because of the simple fact is that you are inherently pushing yourself to do the maximum you can through every exercise in the routine. Everyone wants results, but not everybody wants to put in the effort. At a standard fitness center, it's easy to cheat reps here and there or sneak in more of a break than is allowed, but due to the way the CrossFit exercise is tailored, there is no alternative other than to max out yourself.
5. Intensity: CrossFit is a rapid, extreme exercise which could be done in less than 15 minutes per day because this quarter of the hour will be a more intense, nonstop exercise session. It could just be four or three exercises, like burpees, a run and squats, but the concept is that you continue doing every one over and over through the session time. It is a super concentrated style of workout and it burns the body -- in a very good way.

Why I Meditate

If you didn't know, I'm a big fan of meditation.  Many people ask me why I am so in love it with.  Well below are some of my fave benefits that come from meditation:

Meditation training assists the body learn how to unwind, an advantage that lasts when it is time to go to bed. Additionally, it trains your mind to pay the eye on an object like the breath and let different ideas and feelings to float like clouds onto a nice moment. Additionally, there are guided meditations which are made to help with sleep. Harvard Medical School indicates that focusing on a term like"breathe in serene, breathe out pressure" beats counting sheep as it is time to sleep. 

Several studies indicate that mindfulness meditation may benefit individuals who struggle with anxiety, depression and anxiety problems. A study conducted in 2014 analyzed 47 mindfulness meditation trials that included around 3,515 participants. The analysis concluded that meditation is a practical tool which will help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. And not only do meditators feel a reduction in stress, their degrees of this"stress hormone" cortisol had gone down measurably.

One research conducted at Ohio State University revealed that routine mindfulness-based muscle relaxation exercises reduced the probability of breast cancer recurring. Another study saw that Alzheimer's effects on older patients actually lowered when relaxation and mindfulness exercises were practiced within the duration of one month and assisted improve patients' lymphocytes, those natural cells which enhance the immune system. As a result, the subjects shown better immunity to microbes and viruses.

Another advantage for those that practice meditation for health reasons is that mindfulness meditation was proven to help control blood pressure. A study in the British Medical Journal revealed that patients that practiced meditation-based exercises had substantially lower blood pressure compared to people in the control group. Experts think that meditation lowers the body's responsiveness to cortisol and some other hormones, which can be comparable to the way that blood pressure reducing drugs work. It is among meditation's excellent wellness benefits.

Hi There!!

Hello All and welcome to the Whitney's World blog.  I've wanted to get into this blogging thing for a very long time. I don't know why it has taken so long as its actually pretty simple. But anyway, I'll be writing some awesome posts soon to entertain y'all!!!