Jump for Joy (and your health)

Jumping rope may look innocent and childish, but be warned, It'll turn boys to men and men to beasts. For some, jumping rope may conjure up images of being whacked in the face in third grade by that bully, but your all grown up. Time to face those fears.

Jumping rope is one of the best cardio exercises you can do, and it's low impact if done correctly. It burns just about as many calories as running and instead of being like a hamster on a wheel it forces you to focus on what your doing, stimulating the central nervous system and improving hand eye coordination. Its a budget friendly workout that can be done in a small space.

Jumping rope may sound like it could get old after a while, but its up to you to keep it interesting. if you can jump normal without interruption, try alternating legs, once you get that, try cross overs, then high knees. The options are limited by your imagination.

What if you haven't jumped rope in 20 years? Well, I got your back. Choose a jump rope that reaches your armpits when you stand on it. This can vary depending on your personal preference. When you go to a store, try one out. Don't be embarrassed, its your right as a consumer. What's the worst that could happen? You have to buy it? Keep the receipt and return it the next day. You-1, THE MAN-0.

Shoes? That's up to you. I like to go in some chucks or barefoot to stimulate more muscles in my feet. This can be rough for beginners as you will most likely slap the shit out of your toes once or twice, but work your way up.

How do you jump rope? Again, I got you. Try to "be light". Bounce on the balls of your feet and keep those knees bent. Tighten up your midsection and use a mainly wrist driven rope turn. Keep your body tight. A loose execution means wasted energy on your flailing arms and dangling legs.

That's it. Pretty simple, but can totally kick your ass. A few more things to remember; make sure you have a decent amount of room to jump. I dont get it, but jumping rope makes alot of noise and its obvious to everyone that your spinning a whip-like rope at a high speed, yet I am amazed at how many people will walk right into it. So it's like driving, you can be as careful as you can, but its the other idiots you have to watch for.

Happy jumping!

Workout of the Day:

3 Rounds for time

Row 500

50 Double unders (or 100 single turns)

25 Situps

America's Love

We need it to get through a rough morning, we need it as an afternoon pick-me-up. Its benefits are amazing and 56 percent of people take in the benefits everyday. Coffee is by far the the most popular beverage in the world, besides water. For those of you drinking it just for the pick-me-up may be surprised to know that coffee is actually a very healthy drink. That doesn't mean go crazy and get a venti, vanilla soy, double shot, decaf, no foam, extra hot, peppermint white chocolate mocha with light whip and extra syrup. Part of dieting is sensibility. Keep is simple, stick with black coffee. Coffee has unfortunately evolved to this sugar laden, fat contaminated caloric monster of a drink. At most, honey or whip cream should be all you put in your cup to really help you enjoy the positives without canceling them out with crappy additives. Its health benefits include lowering the risk of diabetes, parkinson's disease and colon cancer. In fact at least six studies show that people who drink coffee regularly are up to 80 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's.
Where do the benefits come from? Caffeine. New batches of Parkinson's medications now include doses of caffeine related substances due to this research.
Caffeine is also a very useful tool for boosting athletic performance. Caffeine stimulates the brain and nervous system and tells them to do things differently, telling your body to ignore fatigue and recruit extra muscles.
Coffee sounds perfect, but its not for everybody. In some people it can cause nervousness, hand trembling and rapid heart rate. Pregnant woman, heart patients and people at risk for osteoporosis should stay away or limit their coffee intake.
So, drink up and enjoy the healthy benefits of a fresh cup of coffee as well as the morning pick-me-up.

WOD:

Run/walk a 5K