Yellow and Red Cannas

 The pics come from my last year’s archives. The cannas grow at Bogor Botanical Gardens (Bogor, West Java, Indonesia).

Today's Flowers

Unsure what CrossFit Training is? Check Out This Awesome Tutorial!

In recent years working ours has gotten more popular than ever. This is, of course, amazing. Not only you get to have a wonderful body by working out but you also do wonders for your inner being – your confidence, your attitude, the way you carry yourself and of course for your health.

However, with all the new programs emerging and all those workout plans that aren’t custom designed but rather a part of a group program it may get confusing what is what and which trainings will actually help your body reshape and become what you hoped it would be.

 

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What is CrossFit, anyway?

One of the most recommended workouts by experts is CrossFit. The definition of CrossFit that you’ll find anywhere on the internet is "Constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movement."

When broken down into segments, this quote translates into:

Constantly varied

CrossFit is absolutely amazing because it is designed in such a way that it doesn’t let your body adapt to a single workout but it keeps changing which puts your body under a positive pressure and leads to weight loss and body re-shaping.

High intensity

Most people have a misconception of what an “intense” workout means. All of you probably expect veins popping in your forehead and neck, immense sweating and probably the need to grunt and scream at the top of your lungs. Well, this is where you are wrong. Not always is intensity so painful. Intensity is all about the act of creating power where power is treated as a force multiplied by distance divided by time. Meaning, intensity/power is how much weight you can move in the shortest amount of time and over the longest distance.

When it comes to CrossFit, the goal of the training is to create people who can move more weight, flip a tire faster, run farther, do more push-ups and all while maintaining proper technique and form, of course.

Functional movements

As humans, we are built for functional movements. This type of movement is completely safe and natural and it’s something we do every day – pulling ourselves up, squat, deadlift, etc.

Unlike most gym workouts performed on machines and gym equipment, CrossFit engages your whole body. CossFit is not a workout that holds one part of your body in one place while the other part of your body is fully engaged. Cross fit doesn’t isolate one muscle leaving your body unbalanced with useless strength. CrossFit movements promote neurological and hormonal responses which consequently lead to actual strength, better health, actual core stability, agility, and flexibility.

CrossFit can be scaled to anyone’s body, any age, and any level of fitness.

What do I expect on my training?

Just as with any other group training you will be expected to show up on time in your clothing for fitness and CrossFit so that the whole group can start working out at the same time. CrossFit workout sessions take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. There are instructors leading the training, walking around helping out and keeping track.

CrossFit gyms usually split the classes into three or four sections:

A warm up

CrossFit sessions are pretty intense and dynamic and so are the warm-ups. This won’t be your typical gym jogging on a treadmill for 5 minutes, but jumps, jump rope, jumping jacks, squats, lunges, push ups, pull ups.  Anything you do during a warm up compliment the movements you’ll be doing in the workout that day. 

Strengths and skill work

Depending on the workout your trainer set for the day, you’ll be instructed certain workouts. For instance, if it’s a strength day, you’ll work on strength movement like deadlifts and squats.  If it’s not a strength day, you’ll focus on other things as instructed.

THE WORKOUT OF THE DAY:   A certain number of reps of particular exercises will be set for you to do as quickly as possible. You may also have a time limit set to do as many of a certain exercise as possible.

Stretching and cool down

This is how your workout ends. Either individually or as a whole group you get your cool down time to come to. It’s not unusual for certain people to puke after a CrossFit workout as it can get extremely intense.

You should consult a gym instructor before joining any program, laying out your expectations so that he/she helps you chose the program best suitable for you. Know this, though - you can’t be wrong with CrossFit, that’s for sure. 

Looking to Lose Weight? Here are Some Herbal Remedies and Supplements that May Help That!

Weight loss seems to be the one thing every single person on the planet is talking about! And it’s not just people are talking – they are also looking for easy ways to lose all the extra body fat by taking various pills, drinks, shakes, etc.

While all nutritionists and doctors will tell you the best way to lose weight is to start watching your diet /changing your diet from unhealthy, fast food and candy based to cooked meals, dark whole grain bread and veggies/ and start working out, being impatient is one of the traits of human nature which is why we are always looking for an easy way out.

Some of the products out there are pretty unhealthy and definitely not helpful, while there are others that may just help a bit. These products are based on herbs and while they don’t have a medical research background, many who have consummated them are extremely happy with the results.

These are the herbal remedies and supplements for weight loss.

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Aloe

You probably use the term “aloe vera” as most of the people out there. This is a plant related to cactus. Herbal weight-loss products feature oral forms of aloe vera. Pay attention to the label and you’ll see most of the weight-loss products related to aloe vera marked as "internal cleansers." Unfortunately for all of the weight loss enthusiasts, aloe supplements aren’t effective for permanent weight loss. Taking oral aloe can lead to side effects such as electrolyte disturbances, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and decreases in potassium. This is why we would always advise taking oral aloe in moderation as it is likely unsafe.

5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)

You’ll probably find 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is found in some over-the-counter weight loss formulas. At a certain point, this extract from a West African plant seed has become popular among people trying to lose weight and little they know that it contains an ingredient that is linked to a rare and potentially deadly blood disorder. And, even though it is out there on the market, studies show that it has not been proven to be an effective weight-loss agent. Experts say it should be avoided until more is known.

Chitosan

This dietary supplement is made from chitin. Chitin is a starch found in the skeleton of crab, shrimp, crab and other shellfish which is why there is a concern that people with allergies to shellfish may develop allergic to chitosan too. Chitosan is a herbal supplement that will help weight loss, although in a small amount. It works by binding with fat in fatty foods. Then, it moves those fats through the digestive tract, and passes them out of the body in bowel movements. Meaning, it “stops” the fat from being able to be absorbed.

If you implement a calorie-restricted diet and take Chitosan, you may lose weight. However, you may lose weight with a restricted diet only. If you take Chitosan only, without watching what you eat – you won’t lose weight.

Pyruvate

During the digestion of carbohydrates and proteins is when pyruvate is formed in the body. Research shows that this herbal supplement may potentially have an effect on helping you shed pounds. Pyruvate is in many different types of foods, including cheese, red apples and red wine where it is found in the form of pyruvic acid. Pyruvate appears to be safe.

However, talks of its potency to decrease appetite, boost metabolism and aid in weight loss (for sure) need further study.

Dandelion

Dandelion is a natural diuretic. This means you will have the need to urinate more often than you normally would and this is how it causes weight loss. The thing with diuretics, however, isn’t that you are losing fat from your body but the extra water. Dandelion potentially causes allergic reactions in many people.

Cascara

Cascara mostly used as a laxative for constipation. Disturbances in electrolytes (such as potassium and sodium) have been known to appear during the misuse of this herb. Cascara is only marketed as a dietary supplement.

Regardless of “helpful” herbal aids in weight loss, we’d always suggest eating in moderation, working out, finding a vitamin shop online to get the vitamins you need and you’ll see results in no time.

While most herbal supplements will trick you into thinking you’ll lose weight more easy, thing is – you won’t or will the results be really short. So, stick to a routine that best fits your body and don’t rely much on weight loss stimulants.