Tag Archive for: Maia K

by FCF athlete Maia Kurnik
MPH, Registered Dietitian, ACSM-Certified Exercise Physiologist

Faster than a speeding sneeze cloud (ew)! Stronger than your boss’ germy handshake (remember handshakes?). Able to stop a stampeding rhinovirus with a single cell! Protecting you in planes, trains, and automobiles…

It’s your IMMUNE SYSTEM! *Trumpet fanfare*

Your immune system is a silent superhero – defending your body against infectious bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other invaders right this very moment. An impressive collection of tissues, cells, and proteins, your immune system wields physical shields, as well as chemical and guerilla warfare, to keep you healthy. It’s the hero we deserve and the hero we need during a global pandemic.

Your body is well-equipped to fend off most bugs that would seek to make you sick, but it could use a little extra help from a trusty sidekick armed with the following five immune-boosting habits:

1. Wash your hands and avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth.

Seriously. Just do it. Many diseases, not just COVID-19, are spread by not washing our hands. Our skin forms a physical barrier against harmful bugs, but our eyes, nose, and mouth are weak points in that armor where viruses and bacteria can enter. Handwashing can reduce respiratory illnesses, like colds, by 16 percent to 21 percent in your community1,2.

Pro tip: Sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” the “Alphabet Song,” or “Happy Birthday” twice through while annihilating your germy foes with warm, soapy water. As Kanye West says, “Every superhero need his theme music.”

2. Get enough sleep.

Experts agree that most adults need at least seven to nine hours of sleep per night3.  Studies show people who don’t get enough quality sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus like the common cold4,5. Furthermore, getting enough sleep can help you recover faster if you do get sick6. To make your Fortress of Solitude more conducive to sleep, avoid electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime, finish exercise and your last meal three-ish hours before bedtime, and develop a consistent and relaxing bedtime routine7. This is especially important for my swolemates trying to get those gains. Your body releases growth hormone in the deepest stages of sleep, which is critical for building muscle mass. Get enough Zzz’s to hit those Kg’s. 

3. Manage your stress.

Chronic stress is your immune system’s kryptonite. Stress weakens your immune system by reducing the number of white blood cells available to fight off infection8. Meditation and deep breathing help to counteract the effects of stress by reducing cortisol, a stress-related hormone, and improve mental focus10,11.

Try this simple, one-minute meditation: In a comfortable seat, breathe in for four counts, pause, and breathe out for four counts. Repeat the cycle and notice where you feel your breath – your nose, your chest, your belly. 

Now is the time to make stress management habits into a regular practice. Like your glutes, these habits work better the more you use them. Journaling, yoga, petting cute dogs, listening to music, breathing, connecting (virtually) with loved ones, exercise… pick a few that feel good and make them a daily habit. In addition, set down social media, turn off the news, and unfollow your weird uncle who keeps posting inflammatory BS. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life, honey.

4. Nourish your body.

One of the most frequently asked questions I get as a dietitian is, “What specific food can I eat to ________?” But, just as Captain America couldn’t defeat Loki and his Chitauri army alone – he needed the whole Avengers team – no single food is super all on its own. Similarly, individual nutrients from a variety of whole foods work together to defeat bacteria and viruses. Meet your own Immunity Avengers12:

  • Brightly colored fruits and veggies provide vitamins A and C, in addition to dozens of other phytonutrients and antioxidants. For the most benefit, eat from the entire rainbow of colors each day. 
  • Protein is a necessary building block for your body’s defenses. Food-forms of protein are best, and most of us can get by without shakes, bars, or powders. Eat a protein-rich food at least 2-3 times each day.
  • Zinc is an immune-boosting superhero found in oysters, chicken, beans and peas, almonds, cashews, yogurt, and oats13.
  • Stay Hydrated to keep every component of your physiology running well. How much is enough? Drink ‘til you pee nearly clear

The goal here is progress, not perfection. It’s a weird time right now, so your eating habits might feel a little off, or you might notice yourself snacking more than usual. That’s very okay, and very human. Focus on one or two small ways that you can nourish yourself well today. 

5. Trust in the power of lifestyle habits, not supplements.

Put down the “immune booster” supplement. While it could help, it’s no match for the evils of poor nutrition, chronic stress, and not enough sleep. Here’s the truth: not all supplements are created equal, and very few are tested for safety and efficacy. Instead, make handwashing, quality sleep, stress management, and solid nutrition daily habits. With these powers combined, your immune system can shine like the superhero it is!

References

  1. Rabie T and Curtis V. Handwashing and risk of respiratory infections: a quantitative systematic review.Trop Med Int Health. 2006 Mar;11(3):258-67.
  2. Aiello AE, Coulborn RM, Perez V, Larson EL. Effect of hand hygiene on infectious disease risk in the community setting: a meta-analysis.Am J Public Health. 2008;98(8):1372-81.
  3. Watson NF, Badr MS, Belenky G, et al. Joint Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society on the Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: Methodology and Discussion. Sleep. 2015 Aug;38(8):1161-1183.
  4. Cohen S, Doyle WJ, Alper CM, Janicki-Deverts D, Turner RB. Sleep Habits and Susceptibility to the Common Cold. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(1):62–67. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2008.505
  5. Ibarra-Coronado EG, Pantaleon-Martinez AM, Velazquez-Moctezuma J, et al. The Bidirectional Relationship between Sleep and Immunity against Infections. J Immunol Res. 2015 Aug; 678164
  6. Imeri L and Opp MR. How (and why) the immune system makes us sleep. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2010 Mar; 10(3):199-210
  7. “Healthy Sleep Habits.” Sleep Education. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Web. 10 Oct 2018. http://sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/healthy-sleep-habits
  8. Sorrells SF and Sapolsky RM. An Inflammatory Review of Glucocorticoid Actions in the CNS. Brain Behav Immun. 2007 Mar; 21(3):259-272.
  9. Vitlic A, Lord JM, Phillips AC. Stress, ageing and their influence on functional, cellular, and molecular aspects of the immune system. Age (Dordr) 2014; 1169–1185. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4082590/
  10. Vago DR and Silbersweig DA. Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness. Front Hum Neurosci. 2012; 6:296 Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2012.00296/full
  11. Eckberg DL. The human respiratory gate. J Physiol (2003); 548(2): 339-352.
  12. “Protect Your Health with Immune-boosting Nutrition.” Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Web. 17 Oct 2018. https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/preventing-illness/protect-your-health-with-immune-boosting-nutrition
  13. “Zinc.” Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Web. 17 Oct 2018. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/

Maia transitioning from the pullup to the dip

CrossFit WOD for Thursday 3/12/2020

30 ring muscle-ups for time -OR-
50 bar muscle-ups for time -OR-
100 pullups for time

Post time to whiteboard! Post-workout will be a 5-way shoulder stretch and extra mobility depending on attendees needs.

READ: With Crowd Restrictions to Slow Coronavirus, Inslee Uses Emergency Powers – The Seattle Times
WATCH:

From 20.1’s Friday Night Lights

The CrossFit methodology is simple: constantly varied, functional movement executed at a relatively high intensity.

Today we’ll talk about the importance of variance. The basic understanding is that you exercise to achieve certain goals: it could be losing bodyweight, gaining strength, increasing flexibility, preparing for specific sport or activity, and execute activities of daily life without issue. To achieve these goals we need to understand what stimuli illicits the proper and favorable response. Rather than putting that responsiblity on you, we simply test you a handful of ways every day.

Each workout is meant to illicit a certain response: do you have cardio? Long-lasting stamina? Are you coordinated and flexible enough to do an overhead squat? How about 15 in a row? Which sets of combinations do you excel at? Which ones do you fail at? Phyiscally/mentally/emotionally- it all matters because we get to find the holes in your ‘fitness armor’… and guess what makes you more capable at taking life’s beatings?

Could you help me move a 400lbs couch this Saturday up four flights of stairs?

We want you to be able to say YES to life and that means not being picky about the multitude of ways you train. Many of you who are active enough (4-6x/week in or out of the gym) are probably exposed to a variation of physical challenges to truly change your body when coupled with solid nutrition and lifestyle habits. If not, don’t fret- we just have to be more realistic about your goals and expectations.

Show up when you like the workout. Show up when you don’t. Put in the effort and you’ll achieve more than you think!

CrossFit WOD for Monday 10/21

as many reps as possible in 20:00
5 chest-to-bar pullups
10 hand-release pushups
15 medicine ball cleans, 20/14/8lbs

Post total reps completed to whiteboard!

FOUNDATION BARBELL – Week 4/4

This week we 1-rep maxes in Powerlifting! Test out your back squat, bench, and possibly deadlift this week in classes. Olympic Weightlifting will find themselves testing snatch and clean & jerk doubles, while finding a rep-max of pretty high-percentage squats.

*READ: What Is Fitness by Greg Glassman – CrossFit Journal
ALSO READ: Prilepin’s Chart – 70’s Big
WATCH: 20.2 Mat Fraser & Patrick Vellner in Miami – Buttery Bros

Continuing yesterday’s muscle-up subject today we focus on the ring muscle-up.

There are two particular versions done on rings: the STRICT muscle-up and the KIPPING muscle-up. Both are fantastic and both are used regularly in CrossFit workouts.

The strict muscle-up is a high-skill movement. Unlike the bar muscle-up this requires independent control over both shoulders and arms and the strength is even more apparent since you can’t rest your torso on the bar. If the shoulders, specifically the rotator cuff, aren’t strong and flexible the muscle-up isn’t a real possibility for use in workouts until that baseline fitness is achieved. With focused practice of positioning, transitions, and coordination it increases your chances of being able to complete a rep.

Take Maia for example:

What you don’t see in the video above is the practice put in to check the box on this particular goal. Hours upon hours of reps upon reps resulted in this success, but there were plenty of missed reps. Plenty of frustrating sessions of practice. Plenty of times that “it was this close!” (Password for the video link is ‘foundation’)

Maia not only worked on strict and kipping pullups and dips- she started her gym sessions attacking her mobility issues (and still does every day). She asked questions and worked on the drills and skills necessary to prepare the body to do this kind of work. Once the strength and flexibility foundation was laid, we started using some of Carl Paoli’s drills for smoother transitions. After some time we allowed her to attempt full reps on her own, but also came in to assist as needed. Eventually the above rep happened on a Saturday morning during a CompEx session. Perfect practice makes perfect.

Come learn from the dude direct at FCF on Saturday 11/9 at 12pm. It’s open to everyone who wants to be able to do or teach the skill, now or waaay later in the future. Register here: https://freestyleconnection.com/course/muscle-up-master-class-seattle-wa/

CrossFit WOD for Thursday 10/17

3 rounds of
5 muscle-ups
15 single leg squats, one leg
20 toes-to-rings
30′ handstand walk
20 toes-to-rings
15 single leg squats, other leg
5 muscle-ups

Rest 1:1 or alternate rounds with a partner. Post fastest time to whiteboard.

HIIT Class at 12pm, 6:30pm

READ: 5 Tips to Get Your First Muscle-Up with Carl Paoli – Breaking Muscle
WATCH: Kipping Swing Length for Bar Muscle-Ups – Invictus

We had six athletes competing at the 2019 Cascade Classic presented by Riot Athletics at Magnusson Park this weekend. Our Team took third in their division!

Devin the Engine, Zheng the Firecracker, Maia the Beast, and Bobby Long Legs

CrossFit WOD for Monday, August 23rd

back squat
bar/5, 50/5, 75/5, 85/3, 95/1+

Kinda ANTAGONIZING

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 handstand pushups
50-45-40-35-30-25-20-15-10-5 double unders

1 rope climb or 6 side-to-side pullups to start each round. Post time to whiteboard!

READ: The 2019 Cascade Classic Leaderboard – The Cascade Classic
WATCH: Ground Game – The Ready State (formally known as MobilityWOD)

Maia and Kyle working on some single-arm kettlebell Z-presses

CrossFit WOD for Wednesday, August 14th

Z-press 8×4

for time:
9-15-21 push jerk, 70/45kg
18-30-42 knees-to-elbows

ARTICLES

+ Six Reasons You Must Practice Lunges Daily – NDTV
+ Dr. Amy West on the CF MD-L1 & How Sex Difference Shape Performance, Recovery, and Rehabilitation – Empowered Health