It’s very easy to become addicted to the atmosphere that is CrossFit. It’s a community formed with members from all walks of life, united by one goal. That goal is to improve our health.
So let’s look at how to improve our health without over doing it.
Listen To Your Body
Most of us want to be the best. We want it all now, but often, it’s not possible. So set goals, set lots of them in order to reach your larger goal. It doesn’t matter if you’re not the best now. What does matter is that you are giving your best day in and day out. The bottom line is to train enough to reach your fitness goals, but not enough to cause overuse injuries or symptoms of over training. Don’t be afraid to take a rest day.
Get Enough Sleep
Get enough sleep as possible without getting fired or divorced. A good 9 plus hours of sleep a night, according to ‘Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar & Survival’ by T.S Wiley will help you lose weight, curb carbohydrate cravings, eradicate depressions, lower blood pressure and stress, reverse type II diabetes, minimize the risk of heart disease and help prevent cancer. It will also get you fired up for another workout!
Eat to Nourish Your Body
Nutrition is the foundation for not just CrossFit, but for your life. What you eat has a direct impact on your health and holistically, that’s your physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions. In CrossFit, we go by the prescription:
“Eat meat, vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar”
It simplifies the paleo diet, which brings us back to eating foods that primed us for hunting and gathering. These foods nourished our bodies, without digestive or other issues.
All macronutrients are also encouraged at each meal/snack. These are fats, carbohydrates and protein, which all play a role. Without fats for example, the vitamins A, D, E and K will not be absorbed from the rest of the foods you are eating.
Off course, there is not one diet that compliments one person perfectly, so it is up to you to listen to your body and experiment. Find out what works best for you to maximise your performance and recovery.
Play
Take some time out from work and your chores for some unstructured fun! Play releases endorphins and this counteracts the endless stimulation and stress thrust upon us by the digital age and consumerism. Play as much as you can outside, to get adequate sunlight, and hence Vitamin D. If possible, ditch the shoes completely. If you’re going to have to wear shoes, check out our Vibram range. The foot, being such a complex and versatile organ benefits greatly from being set free in these beauties! Whatever your idea of play is, as long as it is away from technology and bringing you back to nature, go for it!
So give these tips a go and work out what works best for you. Remember, the better your health, the better your performance not just in CrossFit, but in life.
Yours in CrossFit and Barefeet,
Barefoot Gen