wall balls

Farm-to-Table Restaurants

By ITP student Uran Piedra
Beka recently posted an awesome blog with a great listing of places to get locally-grown groceries. There are so many reasons to eat locally-grown or locally-sourced food, but if you’re feeling lazy, hate cooking, or simply don’t have the time, you can still get your farm-to-table fix. Atlanta actually has a number of really yummy restaurants that serve local food. So pick one from the list below, and dig into some backyard deliciousness without the hassle of cooking. If you know of any others, share the knowledge with your fellow CFMers in the comments!

Midtown:
Empire State South
Bantam + Biddy
Ecco
Westside:
Miller Union
Abattoir
Bacchanalia
Yeah! Burger
Buckhead:
Holeman & Finch
Farm Burger (also has locations in Decatur and Dunwoody)

Early registration perks for the CFMakeover

Our Fall challenge starts October 1, and just to sweeten the deal, we have a few bribes to entice you to get in the game early!
Register by next Tues, 9/24 AND you get the following perk:Gold members – one 15-minute skill session with Coach Lis or Coach Beka, to work on a skill of your choice.
Silver, Bronze or Basic members – free Open Gym access in October. You can attend CFM’s Open Gym sessions WITHOUT using one of your weekly visits. Open Gym times are Tues 8-9p, Wed 8-9p, Sun 1-2p.
Local non-members – free CFM yoga in October (classes are Thurs 8:15p & Sun 6p)
Remote non-members – one 15-minute nutrition consult with Coach Beka.
*These perks are not interchangeable (in other words, no, a Basic member can’t opt instead for a skill session).

Check out CFMakeover details here.

Coach-in-training Tirzah leading Bob L and Shri through power cleans.

Today’s schedule

6a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
7a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
12n: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
5p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
6p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
7p: All Levels CrossFit- Raul
8p: Open Gym – Raul

Workout of the Day

A. Deadlift: 4×4 workups (add 5# from last DL workout)
B. 6 rounds for time: 10 wall balls 20/14
10 lateral box jumps (5 L/5 R)

And coming tomorrow…

A. Weighted pull ups: 4×4 workups
B.As many rounds as possible in 10 minutes:
3 Power Cleans @ 55% of 1 RM
5 Pull Ups
10 Push Ups
15 Air Squats or 1 round of “Cindy”

WED 09.18.13 Farm-to-Table dining Read More »

Schedule updates

Effective immediately, the Tuesday 8p class will now be Open Gym (apparently the 8p Tues time slot is unpopular w our advanced athletes :)). Join Lis for skillwork, strength work, to make up a recent WOD, or do another workout of your choosing. Other open gym sessions continue on Wed nights at 8p with Raul & Sundays 1-2p with Dyer. The coach on duty is there to help you with whatever you choose OR we can give you some ideas!
8AM CLASSES will continue through the end of the month on TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS only. Attendance average is currently TWO in those classes… it needs to be 3+ to stay on the schedule. So if you like it, GET TO IT!
REMINDER that yoga classes are included in your membership, and do not count toward your weekly class limits. So join Samantha Thursdays at 8:15p and Monica Sundays at 6p to get some great mobility & stretching, as well as balance & meditation work! And speaking of yoga…

Yoga and YOU

By Coach Amy (did you know she’s also a certified yoga instructor???)
Balancing the role of CrossFit coach and yoga instructor gets tricky sometimes.
I try not to get too preachy about how and why yoga can benefit your body AND your movements (especially in an overhead squat!) so luckily I came across this blog post that will preach at you for me. Yay!
Specific mobility work, like from the posters on the wall behind the rowers (yeah, those things) is always good. But just like when we’re on our own to choose what to do, we do what we know we’re good at and we avoid what we’re not. You know you do it.
You check the blog the night before, see burpees, and skip the WOD. We’ve all done it.
But rarely is a yoga class itinerary posted; you just gotta show up and let go. So, my less-than-zen friends, my challenge to you is this: for the next month, double your yoga intake. Hit the CFM classes on Thurs & Sun nights!
And if you’re a regular yogi but just do power classes, try something different.
Restorative. Gentle. Yin. Something!
Heck, I’ll even come to the gym and show you some stuff. Like the article says, understand the importance of doing what you suck at. And if that’s yoga, lay out your mat and just breathe.

Danny & The Chief

Today’s schedule

6a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
7a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
8a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
12n: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
5p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
6p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
7p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
8p: Open Gym- Lis

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. 10 mins double under skill work OR mobility
B. Every min on the min for 15 mins:
Complete 2 power cleans & 10 double unders
*Go as heavy as possible on power cleans. Sub 10 tuck jumps for double unders.
C. 2:00m hollow rock test (ONLY if you didn’t do it yesterday)

And coming tomorrow…

A. Deadlift: 4×4 workups (add 5# from last DL workout)
B. 6 rounds for time: 10 wall balls 20/14
10 lateral box jumps (5 L/5 R)

TUES 09.17.13 Yoga & YOU Read More »

CFM events this weekend

Join your friends tonight for happy hour at the Nook, on Piedmont Park, from 6-8pm.

And… SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!
Support CFM at the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s Streets Alive event this weekend, as Peachtree Street is shut down to motor vehicle traffic from 2-6pm. CFM will be there all day at 13th & Peachtree, with free workouts on the half-hour led by our awesome Coaches in Training. Our very own DJ POB will also be playing some tunes for us!

What: Streets Alive – Peachtree
Free WODs & tunes and other fun… take out your stress by flipping a tire, pulling a sled or swinging a sledgehammer! Come celebrate our active Midtown community.
Where: 13th & Peachtree
Who: the CFM community & anyone who wants to try a free workout. All ages, abilities & skill levels are welcome!
When: 2-6p Sunday. Free WODs at 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30p.
Attire: CFM gear… REPRESENT!
Afterward: Yes, we know the NFL season also kicks off Sunday. We’ll head to Taco Mac to catch the later games.

CFM coaches representing for Kill Cliff’s website photo shoot on Thursday (Cassie, Lis, Beka, coach-to-be Becca).

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. 10 min mobility work
B. Goat Work: 10 min to work on any skill you choose!
C. Grace
30 clean & jerks for time 135/95#

And coming tomorrow…TEAM WOD

A. Make up a lift you missed earlier this week.
B. In teams of 3-4…
Rotate through all four stations TWO TIMES-
1. Row 300m
2. 30 kettlebell swings
3. 30 wall balls
4. 30 box jumps
C. EXTRA CREDIT CASH OUT: 50 barbell roll outs OR 3:00 plank hold

Sunday Schedule

12n – All Levels CrossFit w Dyer
“Massengills”
As many rounds & reps as possible in 10 minutes of:
2 Power Snatch @ 75% of 1 rep max
4 Box Dips, or Stationary Bar Dips, or Strict Ring Dips
8 Burpees
Rest 5 minutes
4 – 100 foot prowler shuttles (50 feet out/50 feet back) as heavy as possible – Not for time

1-2p – Open Gym w Dyer

2-6p – Join CFM at Streets Alive on 13th & Peachtree.
Free all-levels (newcomers welcome) workouts at 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30
Or just come out to pull the sled, swing the sledgehammer, flip the tires!!
Wear your CFM gear and bring your friends!

6p – Yoga w Monica back at CFM

FRI 09.06.13 Happy Hour today & Streets Alive Sunday! Read More »

Deadlifting to “Failure”

By Coach Dyer
We’ve been doing max reps to failure on deadlift recently. This can be dangerous if you are not checking your form on every rep. For most, technical failure on the deadlift occurs several reps before you simply can’t lift the weight. Most commonly, the back becomes too fatigued to maintain a proper position and begins to round. As soon as you feel your back start to round on these deadlift sessions, you’ve reached technical failure and you should stop even though you might possibly pull out another rep or two. These lifting sessions are training, not tests. There’s no glory in injuring yourself just to put an 11 instead of a 9 on the board for your last set. Stop once you hit technical failure and save your back so that you can come back to fight the next day.

Strength cycle adjustments

Each week, you’ll adjust your weight on a lift based on the last time you did that lift. Here’s how to adjust this month:
If you did less than 5 reps, drop 5# on a DL or squat. Drop 2.5# on press (strict or bench).
If you did exactly 5 reps, keep weight the same and shoot for a PR on reps (6+).
If you did 6-9 reps, add 5# total to DL or squat. Add 2.5# to press.
If you did 10-13 reps, add 10# total to DL or squat. Add 5# to press.
If you did 14+ reps, add 15# total to DL or squat. Add 10# to press.
Warming up for Helen on Saturday.

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. Deadlift: 5-5-5+
B. Every min on the min for 16 mins: Even – 8 Lateral box jumps
Odd – 10 wall balls 20/14

And coming tomorrow…

A. 3 sets max ring rows.
Rest/mobilize 5 min between rounds.
B. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 reps of:
Russian KB Swings 2/1.5 pood
Ring Dips

WED 8.14.13 Deadlifting to “failure” Read More »

STRONG! screening & PRIDE fundraiser is this Fri!

Help us support the Atlanta PRIDE committee as we celebrate our new Olympic Lifting coach Cheryl Haworth. Get your tickets here – NOW just a $5 donation to join the fun!

POSE Running seminar is this Sat, Aug 17

Join Coach Amy for an hour of skills & drills practice to make you a more efficient runner! Register here today for the Early Bird $15 price.
Congrats to all who finished this summer’s To Helen Back Challenge! Our prize winners are Chris H (not pictured), Anastasiya, Ellen, Dave, Tirzah, Allison J, Brianne & Stuart. Thanks to VitaCoco, Big Peach Running Co, Parq, Rira & the Nook for donating prizes!

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. Back squat: 5-5-5+
B. Hang snatch
3-2-1-3-2-1
C. Tabata air squat (hold bottom of squat on rest) then Tabata push ups (hold top of push up on rest)

And coming tomorrow…

A. Deadlift: 5-5-5+
B. Every min on the min for 16 mins:
Even – 8 Lateral box jumps
Odd – 10 wall balls 20/14

TUES 8.13.13 STRONG! screening Read More »

The next Cocktails for Midtown is tonight!

Join your CFM friends tonight at Front Page News on Crescent Ave, from 6 to 8pm for a little post-Fran refreshment!

Body composition testing

Every quarter during Quarterly Progress Check week, we bring out the DUNK TRUCK to measure your body composition. This is the best way to measure your physique changes as you morph into a CrossFitting MACHINE! The truck will be parked across the street from CFM, testing clients every 15 minutes from 4 to 6:30p. Tests are $30 and include accurate body weight & body composition measurements. Register here.

Quarterly Progress Checks & Baseline retesting is coming soon…

Lots of important testing dates this month! If you miss a day, we’ve got plenty of make-up opportunities! Here’s another update on our upcoming testing days & options:
Sun, July 21-Sat, July 28th: Quarterly Progress Checks*:
Retest your Baseline WOD this month! Instead of testing in regular classes, like we’ve done in the past, you’ll be able to come in during any of the following times to retest your Baseline time with one of our coaches or Instructor Training Program students. This doesn’t count against your class limits for the week.
Baseline testing:
Sun 7.21 1-2p w Dyer
Mon 7.22 6p w Justin
Mon 7.22 8p w Carlos
Tues 7.23 6p w Ian
Tues 7.23 7p w Urán
Fri 7.26 6p w Tirzah
Sat 7.27 9-12n w Cassie & Beka
Sun 7.28 1-2p w Dyer
Here’s another look at the upcoming Quarterly Progress Check programming:
Mon 7.22- 5 rounds for time: 7 handstand push ups, 14 pistols, 21 double unders
Tues 7.23- Olympic Total (1 RM Snatch + 1 RM Clean & Jerk)
Wed 7.24- 1RM Weighted Pull Up & For time: 250m row, 15 kb swings 70/53, 25 burpees, 15 kb swings, 250m row
Thurs 7.25- As many rounds & reps as possible in 20 minutes of: 20 thrusters 135#/95#, 20 pullups, 20 burpees
Fri 7.26- CrossFit Total (1RM Squat, 1RM Press, 1RM Deadlift) & AirDyne 1 min max calories test
*Makeup Days will be Sunday, 7/21, Saturday, 7/28 & Sunday, 7/29.

Cheryl Haworth will be running Olympic Lifting Open Gym again on Saturday, 7.28, for anyone who wants to do Olympic Total that day with her!

We’re also maxing on front squat, overhead squat and bench press this month, so if you miss/missed that day, make it up at Open Gym!
Ellen showing off some great pull ups during Helen prelims.

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. Back Squat 3-3-3 @ 80%
B. “Fran”
21-15-9
Thrusters 95/65
Pull ups

And coming tomorrow…

A. Strength make up day: Pick a PART A that you missed from last week’s programming.
B. In teams of 3 or 4:
Station 1- 50 situps
Station 2- 50 double unders or 150 singles
Station 3- 50 wall balls 20/14
Station 4- 400 m run
Station 5- 50 air squats
First athlete starts at station 1. Second athletes moves to station 1 once first athlete goes to station 2. Athletes can’t advance stations until station in front is clear. Time is called once the last athlete finishes Station 5.

ALSO THIS WEEK: Saturday Open Gym with Dyer & Lis from 12n-2p

FRI 7.12.13 HAPPY HOUR TONIGHT! Read More »

Who’s sore?

Your first month of CrossFit can be full of muscle soreness. Here are some tips to help you through it:
1) Get moving: I know, it’s the hardest thing to do when your muscles are sore, but GET MOVING! Go for a walk or easy jog, come to yoga class (included in your membership – classes are Wed 12n, Thurs 8:15p & Sun 6p) or get back to the box for another workout (if you’re super sore, it’s okay to move at half-speed or modify the workout).
2) Hydrate! Drinking more water will help flush toxins and lactic acid from your body.
3) Eat well! The Paleo diet* is designed to reduce inflammation in your system. Increase the protein in your diet and cut out inflammatory food groups like processed carbs (grains & gluten & sugar), dairy and legumes. Unfortunately, that post-WOD beer also won’t speed your recovery (but it might temporarily numb the pain :)).
4) Use healthy supplements NOT pain killers! Ibuprofen and other pain killers can inhibit muscle growth and stress your liver. Instead, invest in some good recovery supplements like SFH Recovery protein, fish oil & the new Nighttime Recovery formula sold in the CFM Pro Shop. These will help reduce inflammation, increase muscle growth and speed recovery so you get back to 100% faster! Like all other SARMs, Ligandrol was developed to aid the treatment of medical conditions like osteoporosis and muscle wasting.
5) Use other recovery aids. Soak in a warm Epsom salts bath, get a massage and/or use a foam roller or lacrosse ball to help get the lactic acid and soreness moving out of your system.
Hang in there & keep up the good work. Your coaches are here to help. Let us know if you have other recovery questions!

*Food as Fuel class

Join Lis next Thursday night 6/13 at 7p for a free workshop to learn the details of the Paleo diet and get answers to all your nutrition & supplement questions.

Bridget hearts wall balls.

Workout of the Day

A. Deadlift:3-3-3+
B. Every minute on the minute for 10 minutes:
12 walking lunges (odd rounds)
10 hand release push ups (even rounds)
C. Planks: Accumulate 2 min each in center, left & right side plank

And coming tomorrow…Benchmark Friday

A. Back Squat: 3-3-3+
B. 10 min goat work
C. Annie:
50-40-30-20-10
Double Unders
Sit ups

Sub 3x singles for DUs

THURS 06.05.13 Who’s sore? Read More »

Bring-A-Friend Thursday!

There are still spots available in all classes this weekend. Email friends at crossfitmidtown.com to reserve a spot!

June updates

This update is headed to your inboxes soon, but I just can’t wait to tell you what’s coming next month… so you, our nine devoted blog readers, get to hear it here first!
We’re adding a Sunday 12n class. This will change our Open Gym session to 1-2p. So we’ll now have a structured Sunday class from 12 to 1 and an Open Gym session from 1 to 2.
Beginner classes will switch to Mondays at 8p, Thursdays at 8p and Saturday mornings at 9.
GYMNASTICS CLASS with Cassie is coming Tuesday nights at 8p!
AND we’re starting a Boot-Camp-style Park Program at Piedmont Park in mid-June. Stay tuned for more details.

Beka coaching the Murph crew through pull ups on Monday.

Yoga is tonight at 8:15p.

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. Back squat: 5-5-5+
As many rounds & reps as possible in 10 minutes of:
10 partner wall balls*
10 burpee leap frogs

*Ball doesn’t touch the ground on partner wall balls… one partner squats & throws it to target between two partners, other partner catches, squats and throws back up to target between partners, original partner catches and squats… etc

And coming tomorrow… BRING-A-FRIEND FRIDAY!

A. Weighted pull ups: 5-5-5+ OR Strict pull ups 5-5-5+ OR
Pull Up negatives 2 sets of 5, then burnout set of 5+ strict pull ups (in a band for set 3)
Partner Cindy:
As many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of:
5 pull ups (mod w partner assistance – no bands)
10 push ups
15 squats
One partner works at a time.

Guests are welcome to join us on Thursday, Friday & Saturday this week, if they reserve a spot in class by emailing us. Our CFM community looks forward to seeing you!

05.30.13 Bring-a-Friend Thursday! Read More »

NEW YOGA CLASS Sundays at 6p

Starting this weekend, Monica will be teaching yoga Sundays at 6pm at CFM! This expands our yoga offerings to three classes a week – Wed at 12n with Beth, Thurs at 8:15p with Laura, & Sun at 6p with Monica! Yoga is included in your membership. It DOESN’T count toward your weekly class limits, so you’ve got no excuse to skip it. Come on in and get your yoga on!

NO CLASSES AT CFM SATURDAY!

We’ll hold ONE WOD Saturday at 10am over at the Piedmont Park Active Oval. So come for that OR PLEASE join us for the entire Field Day, Saturday morning from 9a-12noon. All proceeds benefit Strong4Life. Email Tirzah if you’d like to volunteer or if you still want to register a team.

Field Day will happen RAIN OR SHINE!

Stay tuned to the blog this week for announcements & the CFM Facebook page Sat AM for updates. If necessary, we’ll relocate the games back to CFM.

Speaking of the CFM Facebook page…

Did you know we film a new silly dance video to post on YouTube for every 100 new fans we get on Facebook? Welllll, we’re hoping to score ONE THOUSAND…1,000… FANS before Saturday so that we can enlist the help of our new student Antony (He’s a breakdancer. How cool is that?) to make the BEST VIDEO EVER at the Anniversary Party. Please help us recruit more fans. Share the CFM page on your FB page and help us break the 1000 mark!

ANNIVERSARY PARTY SATURDAY 7-10p AT CFM!

Here’s why you should come:
These guys will be here from 7 to 9p dishing up some BBQ for ya (paleo & not-paleo options available :)). We’re picking up the tab from 7 to 8, so get here early!

Yoga today at noon!

Rowing class tonight at 7p

Here’s the rowing WOD:
1 x 5 min at 2k split time
2 x 4 min at 2k split minus 1 sec
3 x 3 min at 2k split minus 2 sec
2 x 2 min at 2k split minus 3 sec
1 x 1 min at 2k split minus 4 sec
Notes: Rest 1:30 between each segment. If you do not know your 2k split time, it’s ok. I will work with you to figure out a good pace for the workout.

Workout of the Day

20 min to find 1-rep max bench press THEN…
2 min to find max standing broad jump THEN…
2 rounds:
1 min max plyo push ups
1 min max overhead lunges 45#/25#

No rest between movements/rounds.

And coming tomorrow…

A. Pull ups: Weighted pull ups – 5-5-5+ at 75% of last week’s 1 rep-max OR
Negatives 5-5-5
Rest 3 minutes between sets
B. As many rounds & reps as possible in 10 minutes:
5 ring dips
5 wall balls 20/14
5 box jumps 24/20

WED 05.08.13 Sunday Yoga! Read More »

Welcome to Christine, Jared and Ricky!

Competition Meeting Thursday at 8

Some of you got a taste of competition this weekend and you’re ready for more! Others were unable to join us this weekend, but still want to compete down the road. Regardless of where you fall, if you’d like to consider competing again, and potentially join Team CFM for the CrossFit Games Open season (starting in February), join us Thursday at 8pm in the box for a meeting to discuss plans, brainstorm some ideas/schedule options, and get organized for upcoming competitions.

Yoga tonight & tomorrow

CFMers, get your yoga on! Join Monica tonight at 8:15 for yoga, suitable for all experience levels. Bring your yoga mat if you have one. Otherwise, we have a few spares for you to use. Beth’s class also continues Wednesdays at 1:15pm. Class attendance for CFM students counts as one of your weekly visits. OR CFM students and visitors are also welcome to join yoga classes for a $15 drop-in fee.

Hydrostatic body composition testing

Body composition testing has been rescheduled for Wednesday, October 17 from 4 to 7pm. Tests are $30. Sign up for your time slot at the box or by emailing Courtney. Bali has offered a complimentary test to those who were scheduled on the original day.

HOODIES!

Just in time for the amazing fall weather, we’re ordering hoodies this Friday… $45 for American Apparel navy blue front-zip hoodie. The design is below. We’ll be taking pre-orders for these, and only ordering a limited quantity beyond that. If you wish to order a hoodie, please email us with PAYMENT METHOD (CC on file, or bring cash or check to the box) AND SIZE (unisex XS-2XL… extra charge may apply for 2XL) by Friday at 2pm.

Chicken Legs & Midtown Get-Downs: Richie, Vabs, Woody, Courtney, Don, Dan, Carlos & Lis

Workout of the Day

A. 5 sets: 1 Power Clean, 1 Push Press, 3 Push Jerk (do not drop bar between reps). Rest 2 min
B. Deadlift:6-5-4-3, 3min rest
C. Row or Run: Row 500m or Run 400m, rest 90sec, then Row 500m or Run 400m again (don’t mix it up…row & row or run & run ONLY)

TUES 10.09.12 Read More »