Archive for February, 2012
Welcome to The Sport Of Fitness
The world was introduced to The Sport of Fitness by a fleet of helicopters, trains and semi trucks carrying container boxes bearing the Reebok CrossFit logo across a myriad of global landscapes. This dramatic display of marketing brilliance announced to the world that Reebok was putting its soul behind this Sport of Fitness. On the surface the 10 year, $150 million dollar investment in the world’s fastest growing fitness community, by one of the world’s most recognizable athletic lines, seems like a perfect match. However, the partnership is not without its doubters from outside, as well as within the CrossFit community. Further examination of the new partnership reveals nearly as many questions as answers.
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Last week we made a post about Erin Lavoie, the Michael Jordan of Lumberjack Sports. It was one of our most-shared posts, and today we’re going to enlighten those of you who don’t know what Lumberjack Sports are. There’s just something about a hot lumberjack who cuts down trees faster than anyone in the world…
Explain what these Lumberjack sports are about and what events you compete in. What kind of equipment, etc?
I am called a Lumberjill. I compete in lumberjack sports, a sport derived from traditional logging. It is said that back in the day, loggers would sit around the logging camp and show off their skills and compete for bragging rights – or for the best bed, or who got to clean the out house, etc. Today, men and women from all over compete in competitions using some of the same skills that were used back then. The events I compete in are chopping, sawing (with a buck saw or a chainsaw), axe throw, pole climb, log rolling, and obstacle pole. The underhand chop is my best event. A block of wood, usually 11 inches in diameter, sits in a chopping stand horizontally. I get to stand on top of this block of wood and swing an axe, (so sharp you can shave with it) in between my feet. I chop half way through on one side then spin around real quick and smash through the back half. My axes weigh about five pounds and are specially ordered from New Zealand, then they are taken into the shop for many many hours to get the edge filed just right for the type of wood that I am chopping, and then it is fitted with a wooden handle, to fit my hands perfectly.
I cannot imagine how hard it is to be a woman and stand in the checkout line at the super market. While confined in that awkwardly narrow space, real women are bombarded by an endless array of rail thin waifs. Each picture presenting its lady as the very definition of beautiful. The media has declared that this is what real beauty looks like. They have found their story and they are running with it. But are they right? Is this look realistic for most women? More importantly, is it even safe for most women?
Fashion Has Lost Touch With The Real World
The word circling the internet is that most fashion designers now consider a size 6 woman to be “Plus Sized.” This declaration has started a fury of conversation about what is realistic, safe and attractive for women today. According to ABC News, twenty years ago there was an 8% disparity between the average woman and the average fashion model. Today that disparity is a whopping 23%. The women you see on the runway are not the same women you see at work, at the park or in your local fitness facility. Read the rest of this entry »
For our second PROGENEXperiment we whipped up a yummy mixture of PROGENEX Tropical Vanilla Recovery, blackberries, blueberries, and the staple of any flip, an egg. The egg actually fluffs the drink and makes it a little thicker. Be careful to only get the egg white when you’re making your own Black & Blue Flip! You can get all of our PROGENEXperiment recipes in our Recipe Binder on our Facebook page. And you can also check out our first PROGENEXperiment, the Coconut Bliss, for a truly #PROGENEFIED concoction.
Melanie Roach is no ordinary wife and mother. She is the wife of a four term Washington State Representative, mother of three young children (one of which is autistic), owner of a thriving business, and an Olympic Weightlifter. Melanie competed in her first weightlifting competition at the 1994 American Open, where she place 3rd. Melanie worked her way up to the number 1 ranked lifter in her division and was the first woman in US history to clean and jerk two times her body weight. With her Olympic dreams within reach Melanie tragically suffered a serious back injury just weeks before the Olympic trials in 2000. Never one to get down, Melanie quickly went to work helping her husband run for political office while starting her own gymnastics school.
Although Roach Gymnastics has over 500 students, Melanie never lost her yearn for competition. With the hope of making her Olympic dream come true, Melanie began training again in 2005. After undergoing a back surgery that was not available at the time of her injury Melanie was once again able to clean and jerk twice her body weight! At the age of 34, Melanie did get to see her Olympic dreams fulfilled in the 2008 Beijing Games where she placed 6th. In her weightlifting career Melanie won 7 US Championships. A friend introduced Melanie to PROGENEX and after testing it for herself she was so impressed she decided to write a thank you. Below is the email Melanie wrote regarding her experience with PROGENEX.
Thank you so much for introducing me to the Progenex protein powder. I used it for recovery and to build muscle while I was preparing to compete in Olympic lifting competitions. In a sport of young 20 something’s I am proud to say at 36 I recovered like when I was in my 20’s in large part to the Progenex post recovery shakes I drank. I really like the flavor and the consistency is just right. Although I am not competing in the sport of weightlifting at this time, I am still very active. I am preparing to run a 5K in March and so I continue to use Progenex products to help with recovery. As a mother and business owner I am continuing to use Progenex protein powder for energy. I am amazed how great I feel as a business owner and mother of 4 who exercises every day! Thank you again! Melanie Roach 2008 Olympian, Weightlifting, USA
Luol Deng Is An NBA All-Star!
Luol Deng made history this week and Progenex is proud to be a part of it. Deng, a forward for the Chicago Bulls, is the first British citizen to be named to the NBA All-Star Team. A native of South Sudan, Luol moved to England in his early teens and represents Great Britain in international play. After being an integral portion of the Bulls run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011, Luol has earned his place amongst the NBA Elite with his first NBA All-Star nod.
Recognition Well Deserved
Widely considered to be the best defender on the league’s best defensive team, Luol is averaging 16 points and just over 7 rebounds a game and has the Bulls in position to push for the franchises 7th NBA title. His offensive numbers are made even more impressive by the fact that he continually draws the responsibility of defending the opponent’s top player. Luol is a force on both ends of the court and his prowess is finally being recognized.
Today marks the first installment of #PROGENEXperiments, where we will test the best (and worst) drink recipes that come our way. This is a participatory series, so we are counting on you to send us your ideas. Do you have a go-to drink that makes your mouth water just thinking about it? Have you ever wondered what bacon would taste like blended in your breakfast shake? Ever had a hankering for Bailey’s or rum but needed an excuse to drink it? Send us your most brilliant and craziest concoctions and we will put them to the test! Think Epic Meal Time, but with with much lower quality production and less YouTube views. The only rules in #PROGENEXperiments are: 1) must contain PROGENEX 2) must not contain anything that will kill us. Let the experiments begin!
by Michael Greeves
I declared bodybuilding dead a while back and I’m writing today to strengthen my case. Anyone that was interested in bodybuilding is now a hardcore MMA fan or aspiring mixed martial artist. Just look at the muscle magazines and you’ll see the covers now feature mixed martial artists more than elite bodybuilders. Major sports networks such as ESPN have ditched bodybuilding in favor or MMA events and CrossFit Games. That’s a good thing as the training routines of mixed martial artists and CrossFitter’s are far more applicable to real-world fitness than bodybuilding. In fact, bodybuilding sucks for MMA and practically everyone else seeking practical fitness.
Close your eyes and picture a sexy lumberjack (betcha never heard that before). Isn’t it hard not to picture a burly man in a red flannel and overalls? Scratch that mental image and substitute a beautiful woman who could just as easily be posing for a swimsuit calendar. Exit Paul Bunyan, enter Erin Lavoie – the Michael Jordan of lumberjack sports. If you’ve never had a Bikinis & Axes Calendar fantasy, you just might after today. There’s nothing wrong with Paul Bunyan, there’s just something much more right about picturing Erin Lavoie whenever you think of a lumberjack. Ok, technically she’s a lumberjill but that’s not the point. The point is that she’s really good at felling trees and looks good while doing it. How good is she? Let’s just say that the gap between Lavoie and the second-best lumberjill in the world is about as wide as Michael Strahan’s front teeth. Just as everyone always knew Jordan would be the best player on the court, there’s no disputing who rules the forest. But although Michael always had style and flair, even MJ never looked this good doing his thing. Read the rest of this entry »
As anyone who knows a CrossFitter can attest, their dedication is hard core and borders on an obsession. For some of us the hardest part of CrossFit is not the physical training, but trying to keep our obsession from annoying our friends and family. WOD Diaries from 4 Reelz Productions is a hysterical glimpse at life inside the CrossFit world. The preview covers the most widely known CrossFit stereotypes and does it in hilarious fashion. For the crew of CrossFit High Voltage, CrossFit isn’t a fitness program, it’s a way of life.
Nobody Is Safe
From the affiliate owner charging fees that would be a rent payment every month, to a moonlighting Zumba instructor being chastised by a fellow CrossFit coach, everyone is fair game. Have you ever struggled to explain to your friends what a Read the rest of this entry »
