Balance

One of the 10 general physical skills of CrossFit is balance. How often do we train this? Oh, probably about every day; however, we probably do not even realize it. All functional movement requires some degree of balance. But does one movement require more balance than another? I would think so.

Take for instance, the air squat versus the snatch. The air squat requires us to maintain balance--keep the weight rooted in the heels, chest up, good lumbar, etc. However, the snatch requires much more from an athlete--as a matter of fact, the snatch requires competence in each of the 10 general physical skills. However, balance is by far one of the paramount skills involved in completing a successful snatch.

Check out the dude in the picture. His name is Philippe Petit, and he is most notably famous for his high-wire walk across the Twin Towers of New York City in 1974. Think you could do this? Not only would it take an immeasurable amount of balance, but it would also take a brass set of.....!!

I Love Chocolate Milk. Do You?

As athletes, are we not constantly searching for the next best thing to improve our performance (short of anabolic steroids, of course)? What will make me stronger? What will make me faster? What is the best diet? Do I need to take supplements? What about my recovery...what do I do about post-workout nutrition?

Ah-hah! Post-workout nutrition. We have heard (and probably tried) so many different methods: sweet potatoes, bananas, some "super-shake"---but what about just plain old chocolate milk? What's this you say, chocolate milk?!"

It has actually been proven that consuming chocolate milk, post-workout, replenishes glycogen stores just as effectively as most conventional "sports recovery drinks" that we find in the market today. In addition, chocolate milk provides essential nutrients that other sports drinks do not.

For more information, check out the following links:

Chocolate Milk May Help Repair Muscles, Restore Glycogen After Exercise

Medical News Today

My personal, first-hand experience goes like this...

For a time period of four weeks, I drank 8-12 ounces of low-fat chocolate milk within 30 minutes after my workout. It did not matter whether the workout was a met-con or a strength day--I drank the chocolate milk. After a few days, I felt a difference. The difference was the next day's workout: I felt great, absolutely recovered! The DOMS was still present; however, not as severe. But it wasn't the DOMS that I was worried about--it was my WOD performance. And I can honestly say, that consistent, post-workout chocolate milk consumption, had a positive and significant impact on my recovery.