Want to crush your fitness goals in 2025? At Sand & Steel, we’ve seen firsthand what makes people succeed—and what holds them back. This isn’t just about showing up; it’s about embracing a transformation. Based on over a decade of coaching experience, here are the top six traits you’ll need to thrive in our gym: a positive mindset, a focus on overall health, coachability, a willingness to tackle weaknesses, unwavering consistency, and setting realistic goals. Ready to unlock your full potential? Keep reading to discover how these traits can help you achieve lasting results.
Paul Roberts
Should I Invest in a Personal Trainer?
Hitting the gym solo can be a great starting point, but if you’re serious about achieving your fitness goals efficiently and safely, investing in Sand and Steel’s Personal Training is a game-changer. We handle the programming and the customization. We teach you how lift properly and scale the workouts to your level. We provide you with professional-athlete level workouts that are adjusted and modified to fit your body at your fitness level.
This article, fully cited with recent research papers, explores the scientifically-backed benefits of personal training vs going solo. Personal Training is an investment in your body and your healthy…. get started today!
Recovery and Movement Therapy for the CrossFit Athlete
Mobility and Rehab Training
Imagine moving with effortless fluidity, recovering quickly from intense workouts, and consistently hitting new PRs. This isn’t a fantasy; it’s the reality for athletes who prioritize recovery and movement health. This post is your comprehensive guide to the world of recovery and movement therapies, exploring everything from foam rolling to IASTM, so you can unlock your body’s full potential and reach new heights in your CrossFit journey.
Gear Up for CrossFit: Your Ultimate Guide to Essential Equipment
The 15 Most Important Pieces of Gear for CrossFit
Walking into a CrossFit box for the first time can be overwhelming, especially when you see the array of gear people are using. What’s essential? What’s optional? This listicle breaks down the must-have and helpful equipment for CrossFit, demystifying the gear and helping you make informed decisions about what’s right for you. Whether you’re a seasoned CrossFitter or just starting out, this guide will help you gear up for success.
What to Expect in Your First CrossFit Class
Three thousand classes endured. Eight thousand classes coached. Since 2008, I’ve lived and breathed CrossFit. I’ve witnessed transformations, celebrated personal bests, and guided countless individuals through their first CrossFit experience. If you’re curious about what awaits you in your first class, you’ve come to the right place. This isn’t just another generic overview; it’s a firsthand look at what you can truly expect, straight from someone who’s been in the trenches (and on the coaching floor).
Toes To Bar (T2B) – 6 Tips and Progressions
Toes to bar is one of my favorite core exercises in CrossFit, but it took me a long time to really master it. This article features demonstrations on all the progressions for toes to bar, plus eight great tips to help you improve and also protect your hands.
CrossFit Shoe Guide
This in-depth CrossFit Shoe Guide will help you make the right decision as to which shoes / sneakers are best for your CrossFit classes. Whether you are just starting out or been CrossFitting for years, this guide provides a great deal of first-hand information not available anywhere else. Inside, we review seven types of shoes for CrossFit: trainers, lifters, inserts, hybrids, road running shoes, trail running shoes, and barefoot shoes. We cover the categories and provide you with specific model recommendations based on our experience.
Three Keys to Improving at CrossFit
Improving your health through CrossFit is a long term commitment. Like all forms of fitness, CrossFit takes consistency and practice to get it right. A great coach can go a long way to helping you make the right decisions early on. But with the adrenaline flowing and loud music pumping, even the best intentioned CrossFit athlete can make the mistake of prioritizing intensity over proper mechanics and rigorous consistency.
Weight Loss Challenge Spring 2023 Results
We are proud to introduce our five weight loss competition finalists. Win or lose, all five of these competitors took home better health, more energy, and better fitness. Please read about their journeys, and come vote for a winner at the 2023 Weight Loss Challenge Finale. 10AM, Saturday, April 1, 2023.
Sickness Wellness Fitness
Way back in 2016, Greg Glassman published this simple chart, and to be honest it never made any sense to me. It was in my CrossFit Level 1 manual and I had seen it referenced from time to time in the CrossFit Journal. Greg’s visualization could have been better, but his point couldn’t be any more profound. Fitness and Wellness can be measured based on a Sum of health markers. The higher the sum, the greater your level of fitness and wellness.
How to Get Better at Running for the CrossFit Athlete
Straight-up and unabashed Coach Paul answers the tough questions about running for the CrossFit athlete. Questions like: whether you really need to run to do well in CrossFit. Or, whether CrossFit will help you run better. Plus, Paul shares some of his best videos and tips on mobility for running and running technique, including his top 18 Stretches and Mobility Drills for Running.
FBI PFT Physical Fitness Test
Preparing to pass the FBI PFT Physical Fitness Test? Coach Paul breaks down the test and offer some insight on training to get your best score
CrossFit – What it Means Join a CrossFit Gym
A video based guide for new members considering CrossFit
Reviewed: Haven Athletic Gym Bag For CrossFit and Trail Running
We reviewed the Haven Athletic gym bag for both CrossFit and Trail Running. This large duffle bag has built-in organizers, strong zippers, and non-collapsing design. Although expensive at $299, it makes no compromises in terms of equipment organization and protection. It easily is the finest gym bag we have reviewed.
We are proud to offer the Haven Athletic gym bag featured here as our grand prize for the 2023 Weight Loss Challenge.
Weight Loss Challenge Fall 2022 Results
We are proud to introduce our five weight loss competition finalists. Win or lose, all five of these competitors took home better health, more energy, and better fitness. Please read about their journeys, and come vote for a winner at the 2022 Weight Loss Challenge Finale. 9AM, Sunday November 20, 2022. Food and InBody’s will be served!
Nutrition Alexandria VA – 10 Rules that All Diets Follow
Nutrition Alexandria VA. We surveyed the top 100 selling diets and compiled the top 10 rules that all diets follow. Featuring a slide deck, infographics, videos and more. Get on the fast track with your weight loss journey.