By Hannah Dykstra After a very wet and cool winter, we are now beginning to welcome the joys of the sun that has been in hiding. If you have spent a summer in Redding, chances are that you’re preparing for it like it’s the zombie apocalypse. Kiddie pools, otter pops and ...
Written by Nash Woods Sometimes being healthy isn't fun. Be honest, eating a pint of whatever protein powder based ice cream replacement that is popular that month will never replace the satisfaction that you get from Ben and Jerry. It's hard to see the payoff when some sadist has their elbow ...
@communityacupuncture will be holding a cupping fundraiser for the NSCF Team to help get them down to Del Mar for the California Regionals. Monday May 8th we will have two time slots from 9-11a and 3-5p at Northstate. If you always wanted to try cupping, here is your chance. Open ...
Attend The 2 Week Group On-Ramp Class – The cost is $100 and the schedule for the next On-Ramp is as follows: Session 1: Monday April 24th Session 2: Wednesday April 26th Session 3: Friday April 28th Session 4: Monday May 1st Session 5: Wednesday May 3rd ***We offer both a 9AM and a 6:00PM for ...
Written by Hannah Dykstra We’re often instructed to “stretch and mobilize,” but what does this actually mean? Not only for athletes, but for any human function, maintaining mobility is important to human performance and health. For the highest level of competing athletes, this may mean optimizing a competitive ...
Written by Sarah Loogman The first world is one of luxury and convenience. The way we live our lives is so intimately woven with the desire for ease and efficiency that aspects of our lost humanity have gone unnoticed, or in the very least the root cause unidentified. ...
Written by Nash Woods It is not uncommon for CrossFitters to be relatively weak in the deadlift. Many write it off as a dangerous movement and opt out of the risk involved in lifting heavy weight against the perceived rewards. Although the thought is correct that you do ...
Really excited that Northstate CrossFit will be sending a team down to the California Regionals this year! Out of 175 teams that registered we came in 13th! That spot may move up once the individual scores are removed. The Roster is @cristajorgensen @anna_rollins4 @hannah.dykstra @brittany__williams @jonjorgie @asalisbury01 @josh_sherman7 @richiecarrel #crossfit #nscf ...
Congratulations to Stephanie Miller for taking 1st at her powerlifting meet this weekend. She had a 771# total, 292 squat, 143 bench, 336 deadlift at 139lbs. #badass #2for2 #powerlifting #crossfit #nscf #squat #bench #deadlift #momstrong #millertime
Written by Hannah Dykstra CrossFit puts a high value on functional movements that use the body as a whole versus segmenting body parts into isolation training, the classic "body building" routine. This emphasis trains greater measures of athleticism by applying exercise to movement in ways that may mimic patterns of ...
Written by Sarah Loogman Although much of the fitness world has conceded that the kettlebell swing is a low back and shoulder exercise, proper understanding of the mechanics involved in swinging a kettlebell demonstrate that it should, in fact, be an exercise for the glutes and hamstrings while ...
Adrenal fatigue is a general idea for a collection of signs and symptoms that results when the adrenal glands are at dysfunctional operating levels. Most commonly identified through prolonged periods of high stress, physical fatigue, or feelings of depression, this syndrome is often hard to identify as it has no obvious signs such as those of a physical illness, like the common cold or flu. The effects that stressors have on our body are dangerously powerful and a person can experience the devastating effects of adrenal fatigue simply through “overdoing it” – a common state of high-level athletes or even top level businessmen, though not limited to. The havoc that this can cause in an individuals life can be detrimental to mind, body, performance and relationships.
The adrenal glands are small glands located just above the kidneys that play a vital role in hormonal balance and responses to stress. The glands act by secreting particular hormones, 
or ”chemical messengers,’’ that travel throughout the bloodstream enabling proper functions of the body. A few main hormones produced by the adrenal cortex are:
Mineralocorticoids/Aldosterone) – The purpose of this hormone is the maintenance of the body’s water to salt ratio which regulates blood pressure. A deficiency in the proper function of aldosterone causes the kidney to lose excessive amounts of sodium and water, leading to dehydration and the symptoms that accompany it.
Glucocoticoids/Cortisol – Cortisol is the hormone involved in stress response and regulation of metabolism. Cortisol mobilizes amino acids into the blood and liver which stimulates the liver to convert the acids to glucose (energy production fuel), then stimulating the proper use of this glycogen in the liver. Fatty acids are mobilized and used as fuel for energy and counteracts the inflammatory response. This proper cycle maintains the body’s resistance to physiological stressors which stabilizes mood and emotions.
Most active adults participate in a broad range of psychological and physiological demands including family responsibilities, stressful jobs, relationship dynamics, lack of sleep, financial struggles, dieting and emotional stress. All of theses stressors trigger our adrenal glands to produce bouts of hormones in order to balance the stress to health ratio. These secretions of hormone release give us energy upon waking and keep us alert throughout the day, but when out of nature’s balance, can wreak incredible damage on an individual’s wellbeing.
When we face these stressors on an everyday basis, our adrenal glands are forced to 
constantly sustain high levels of cortisol and will eventually reach a point where their ability to support stress becomes impaired. Not only does this dysfunction among our adrenals affect our short-term response to stress, but it also inhibits our adrenals ability to balance and produce other hormones such as DHEA, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
There are a few symptoms associated with adrenal fatigue that are commonly ignored, but can be vital signals from your body alerting you of detrimental fatigue.
These symptoms may include:
Unfortunately, adrenal fatigue hasn’t been used an official diagnoses in conventional western medicine, but it is greatly spoken of through alternative practices. If you’re reading this list of symptoms and you feel you may be experiencing adrenal fatigue, there are a few steps you can take to heal yourself naturally.
DIET
Remove foods that are hard to digest, highly processed and contain toxins or chemicals. Foods that fall under these categories have potential to be extremely harsh on your adrenals.
Foods to avoid:
Foods to add:
SUPPLEMENTS
STRESS REDUCTION
Despite western stigma with mental health, strong evidence supports the conditions associated with adrenal fatigue and the recovery methods listed above. Aggressive and ambitious personality types and also the simple nature of our culture are more prone to these symptoms which are only made worse by barreling through. If the symptoms of adrenal fatigue sound familiar, practice some healthful adjustments to your lifestyle and gain a more joyful and fulfilling life!
Written by Sarah Loogman Just like that, the CrossFit Open is upon us once again with a brutal couplet to start off 2017. With an ascending ladder of dumbbell snatches mixed in with burpees over the box, this is a mental mastermind's dream and the hyper strategists nightmare. 17.1 is simple ...
Written by Sarah Loogman When it comes to the world of supplements, there is an overwhelming stack of pills and powders lining the shelves that advertise great promise of weight loss, muscle gain and more. The newly inspired fitness activist or big dream athlete often get lost ...
