Functional Training

Functional Training has become a popular catch phrase in the fitness industry.  The term "functional training" can now be heard from not just personal fitness trainers; more examples would include: athletic trainers, yoga trainers, Pilates instructors and even group exercise instructors.

  Functional Training; what is it and why is it important?

  The general goal of Functional Training is to train the body using movements the body is biomechanically engineered to do in everyday life.

  Most individuals in our society don't live their lives using their bodies the way they are engineered to be used.  Our bodies are designed to move, to go hunt and gather food, and to avoid predators.  We're meant to walk, run, climb, lift, etc.  Unfortunately, the same prosperity that makes such a wealthy and successful society is what's slowly corroding our bodies.

We were not designed to sit on a chair behind a computer screen all day long; when we finally do get up and attempt to use our bodies in a "functional" manner, injury often results.

-Functional Training incorporates multi-planar movements.

-Functional Training typically requires more neuromuscular control than non-functional movements.

-Functional Training incorporates many full-body movements

-Functional Training is dynamic movement under control.

-Functional Training stays within the biomechanical limitations of the body

Weight Loss Challenge

Sign up now for this "Biggest Loser" style weight loss challenge!
Check it out!
http://events.stltoday.com/chesterfield-mo/events/show/132959025-west-county-weight-loss-challenge

Trail of the Week special

A great trail resource, Check it out!
http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/fitness/article_91de8027-89db-5921-916c-0cee7685d420.html

Indian Camp Creek Park Trail

Moonlight Mountain Bike Ride in Indian Camp Creek Park.  Check it out!

http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/fitness/article_a760c0d9-db40-5d6c-afc3-672aaae98eb0.html

Hiking blog- check it out!

http://www.motrekkers.com/

Community blood drives

Community blood drives

Like fine wine, man improves with age

Like fine wine, man improves with age

Dr. Donohue: Does creatine help athletes?

Dr. Donohue: Does creatine help athletes?

Gibbon slacklines

We love the Gibbon slacklines and know you will too!
http://www.gibbonslacklines.com/blog/

http://www.gibbonslacklines.com/

Slacklining ROCKS!

http://www.slacklineblog.com/

Check out more about slacklining, setting up a slackline and exercises you can do on a slck-line at http://www.befitstlouis.com/

Three treks, all tried and true

Three treks, all tried and true

60 treks for St. Louis-area hikers

60 treks for St. Louis-area hikers

BeFitStLouis is Growing

We are in the process of upgrading our navigation and some of the site graphics.  We hope that you find the changes to be for the better.  We appreciate your patience. Thank you!

Videos are coming

Thank you for all of the requests!  We will start our informational videos this week!
We will start our video series off with some great tips on incorporating resistance tubes into your strength training workout.

Thanks,
BeFitStLouis

Welcome to the http://www.befitstlouis.com/ Photo of the month for April 2010.

This month we have a great photo from Tower Grove Park in South St. Louis.  A great park in the city, it has some really beautiful architecture, world class plantings and nice paths for walking, jogging and skating.

Have you been to this park?  What do you think?

Thanks St. Louis,

http://www.befitstlouis.com/

Yahoo health article

I was reading a general fitness article on Yahoo today; it was accompanied by a video.  The video was helpful as the article itself was very poorly written. 

To sum things up: common sense goes a long, long way. 

Muscle is denser than fat; a pound of muscle "weighs" the same as a pound of fat... what would you rather have. 

Timing of your food intake is in fact important, however your overall nutrition decisions are of number one importance.  If you make solid nutrition choices through out the day, it gives you more flexibility for snacks and "cheats". 

When you are told "not to eat at night" what that means is watch your calorie/carb intake before sleeping.  If you are hungry before bed think protein; protein will keep your muscles fed while you sleep and tend not to get deposited as fat.

Remember eat a balanced diet, exercise and you do just about anything you want...with in reason. 

Facebook

Well, now that the site is starting to take shape it is time to get back to spending some time on our Facebook page.  It will have many pictures of the various fitness activies in and around the greater St. Louis area.

We will also be posting various events through Facebook.  We have access to many forums in which to keep you informed about what is going on and ultimately you will choose how we keep in touch.

As always we appreciate your participation.

Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be Fit St. Louis

http://www.befitstlouis.com/
YOUR Gateway to fitness in St. Louis.

Spring in St. Louis

BeFitStLouis would like to give a big welcome to a new spring season. Hiking is a great way to get out to see what a truly wonderful state Missouri is and spring time is the time to do it. There are few states in the country with more marked trails than Missouri. The city of St. Louis is not far from many great places to go hiking. You can get started on your hiking quest here; www.befitstlouis.com/Hiking.html

Thanks, www.befitstlouis.com/

BeFitStLouis ~ Training and Learning

I was doing research on functional training for my website www.befitstlouis.com/Core_Training.html when I came across something that I just had to add to the site. I found what is called a "slosh tube or slosh pipe" It is a pvc pipe 4" in diameter and 7' to 10' in length; the the pipe is capped on one end, filled about 1/2 - 3/4 with water and capped on remaining open end. The sloshing liquid moving back and forth in the tube creates a very difficult functional/core workout. Check it out!