Category Archives: Fitness

Are the Brits any good at Bobsleigh?

Posted on by fitbites
Adam Hames Team GB Bobsleigh Pilot
14 Aug

Are the Brits any good at Bobsleigh?  FitBites are excited to announce Adam Hames as our newest ambassador.  Adam Has some exciting credentials and is currently training hard for the 2022 Winter Olympics as Team GBs Bobsleigh Pilot. We fired a few quick questions at Adam.

Adam Hames 

I started my sporting career as a karate athlete at the young age of 4 and have amassed several British and English titles. I became Wado-Kai European Champion in 2014 at just 15 years old. I then made the switch to bobsleigh after attending an open trial at Loughborough University in the summer of 2015.

I have now competed all over the world for Great Britain including travelling to countries such as Canada, Norway, Austria, Switzerland and Germany where I finished 4th in the World at the  Youth Monobob World Cup (1-man bobsleigh).

I am now 18 and part of the senior GB team having made my 2-man debut at the British Championships where I finished a credible 6th last November.
Now I am training hard towards the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in hope to become the first British summer and winter Olympian.

Interview answers:

Q I expect you have been asked this many time but how did you become a bob sleigh pilot?

I attended an open trial at Loughborough University having heard them advertising for youth athletes to join the Great Britain Team. I turned up in shorts a t-shirt and a pair of old trainers to see everyone else kitted up in their best spikes and Lycra. I then passed all the sprint, pushing and jumping tests they put everyone through and progressed to the next stage of tests in Bath. I then impressed the coaches and became one of four boys selected to represent GB in the Omega Monobon World Series (1-man bobsleigh). I then went on to finish 2nd in my first international race in Lillehammer, Norway which is where my career kick started, I have then gone on to compete for Great Britain all over the globe including Canada, Austria, Germany and Switzerland to name a few.

Q It’s not a sport that you would expect the Brits to be any good at….are we?

Yes, at all levels youth, junior and senior Britain are consistently a top 10 team at all major championships. The GB1 4-man team piloted by recently retired John Jackson finished 5th at the Sochi Olympics.

Q What does a typical training day look like for you?

An average day for me consists of two training sessions, either a sprint, gym, swimming, karate or plyometric training. I’m currently still studying for my A-level exams and will be going to The University of Bath in September, so my training fits around my studies. As well as sport and school I also enjoy spending time with my family, friends and girlfriend.

Q What races through your mind when you’re are on the start line for a big competition?

Standing on the start line staring down the track in any competition is a nerve-racking feeling but the big competitions are completely different. I’m pretty good with handling adrenaline and nerves so most of the time the only thing going through my mind is being as aggressive and strong at the start during the push then as calm and collected to ensure I deliver a smooth fast drive down the track.

Q How do you relax when you are not training or studying?

Sport is a big part of who I am and what I’m about so if I’m not in the gym or at the track I enjoy playing other sports with friends such as football and badminton. I also enjoy spending time with my girlfriend who is incredibly supportive of my sport especially when it comes to going away for weeks on end competing abroad. Having a balance between social life and sport is incredibly important for me.

Q Which is your favourite FitBites flavour and why do you like them?

Definitely the apricot and spirulina flavour! I think FitBites are great as a pre work out snack to boost energy levels before a hard training session and that’s why I love them!

What Does a 12,000 Calories Olympic Diet Look Like?

Posted on by fitbites
michael-phelps_791133a
10 Aug

What Does a 12,000 Calories Olympic Diet Look Like?

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, just won his 20th and 21st gold medals. His training regime is outrageous, of course, but how does a man like Phelps eat? Apparently, he doesn’t eat anywhere near the legendary 12,000 calories a day mentioned during an interview in 2008. But what if he did? What does 12,000 calories look like? Fair warning to you all, it’s mostly not healthy — cramming in that many calories using grilled chicken and veggies is near impossible.
This is fairly close to what Phelps describes in his interview. We don’t recommend it, but if you’d like to see a guy eat all of this stuff in under an hour, be our guest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W83e-qSjH2U

Breakfast-

x1 Five-egg omelette (cooked in butter)
x3 French toast with powdered sugar
x3 Chocolate chip pancakes with maple syrup
x1 Bowl of grits (similar to oatmeal)
x3 Fried egg sandwiches
 Lunch-

x2 Ham and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise
1 lb of pasta (half a kilo)

Dinner-

1 lb of pasta
x1 12” pepperoni pizza

Add in however many calories you take in through drinks (the guy in the video downs two coffees and four Monster energy drinks.)
Phew! Dessert anyone?

What Should I Expect From a CrossFit Class?

Posted on by fitbites
crossfit
09 Aug

What Should I Expect From a CrossFit Class?

If you’re just about to head off to your very first CrossFit class, or you’re considering it, we’ve got a few tips and insights to help you hit the ground running. Lets start with some basics.

What is CrossFit?

CrossFit is the brand name for a type of . There are benchmark workouts, used to measure progress, but no two CrossFit workouts are ever exactly the same. Constantly varied, functional fitness, that’s the goal.

A typical CrossFit class is divided into three parts:

The warm-up

Most CrossFit boxes will, or should, take warming up seriously. When you go diving into barbells and burpees, swinging around and jumping on boxes, it’s a good idea to make sure your body is ready for it, no matter how experienced you are. CrossFit classes usually last an hour, and it’s common to spend up to twenty minutes stretching and doing dynamic warm-up exercises. We recommend getting fully involved in this part.

Strength

Next comes the strength element. It could be squats, pressing, deadlift, snatch. Every coach programmes differently, of course, but the strength portion of the class normally focuses on refining technique, and building strength in both volume, and working towards a one-rep maximum — a personal best.

The WOD

The Workout of the Day (WOD) or Metcon (metabolic conditioning) part of the class is where you get to test out your strength, stamina and skill. The combination options for WODs are endless, and really, that’s one of the main draws of CrossFit. If you’re someone who gets bored doing the same thing at the gym, rejoice, because with CrossFit, you’ll do something new every day.

Workouts might be 7 minutes long, or 30 minutes long, and structured either ‘for time’ or in an ‘as many rounds as possible’ way. A typical, mid-length WOD might look like this:

  • 15 minutes, complete as many rounds as possible:
  • 10 deadlift
  • 10 burpees over the bar
  • 50 double-unders with a jump rope

Some common CrossFit terminology:

WOD – Workout of the Day
AMRAP – As many rounds/reps as possible
Metcon: Metabolic conditioning (used to refer to the workout itself)
For time: Complete the workout as quickly as possible
PB: Personal best
1RM: One-rep maximum (most you can lift for one rep)
Box: CrossFit gyms are known as Boxes (because they used to be very small)
Percentage: Most strength work will be done using a percentage of your 1RM
Hero: Hero WODs are especially challenging, and named after deceased servicemen
HSPU: Handstand push-up
DU: Double-under (jump rope passes under your feet twice on every jump)
TTB: Toes-to-bar (a gymnastics movement)
Kipping: Using the hips to generate momentum on pull ups

How much should I expect to pay?

CrossFit memberships are more expensive than regular gym memberships, because you’re paying for daily professional programming and coaching, as well as the use of expensive equipment. Monthly memberships range from around £50 for 2-3 days/week, to upwards of £120 for unlimited.

What should I bring to my first class?

Nothing too fancy. You’ll need sturdy shoes, some water, a towel and some kind of recovery snack, like a protein shake, or something from the FitBites Online Shop.