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CrossFit
moe0303
Posts: 934 Member
Since it's popping up in another thread and we surprisingly don't have a CrossFit thread in this section yet, I figured I'd start one so people could get their crossfit bashing/promoting jollies in. Do you love or hate crossfit? Why? Try not to be *kittens*.
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Replies
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I enjoy it. I started off hating it because of the cult-like following of the people involved, but once I started doing it, I found I really liked the format. Of course, I've had good coaches throughout my whole experience...plus I'm smart enough to govern myself when I feel form starting to slip. I understand it isn't for everybody. I also understand that a lot of people tend to evangelize it. Usually evangelists breed opposite evangelists. Thus we have the crossfit wars. Have fun.3
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Hate crossfit cuz I'm contrarian!! LOL2
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*slow drum beat* you can feel the hostility on both sides stirring......4
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queenliz99 wrote: »Hate crossfit cuz I'm contrarian!! LOL
Wouldn't the crossfitters be the contrarians? They seem to be the minority.0 -
afwatson15 wrote: »*slow drum beat* you can feel the hostility on both sides stirring......
I know. I'm an instigator.0 -
queenliz99 wrote: »Hate crossfit cuz I'm contrarian!! LOL
Wouldn't the crossfitters be the contrarians? They seem to be the minority.
Are they? Whatever they are, I'm the opposite. Im a three toed sloth1 -
I don't even know what CrossFit is. Circuit training with cult-like atmosphere? I don't workout in public so I never run across CrossFit.0
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I enjoyed it, and really liked a number of the people I met too. I am currently not doing it, because I don't currently have time for it often enough to justify the cost, but I could see myself doing it again. I was lucky enough that the place that I happened upon near my residence had good instruction and focus on form.0
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Man, I feel weird posting a serious answer after we have three-toed sloths.
Disclaimer: I've never tried it. I'm not opposed to trying it, but my employer pays back 80% of my gym membership fees and wouldn't do that for a CrossFit box. I'm perfectly happy with conventional lifting + running right now.
I like what it's done as far as getting people active. Women who would never have touched weights before see CrossFit champions on the covers of fitness magazines and want to look like them. People new to fitness feel supported and encouraged by the group they work out with. Compound lifts are trendy. There's a focus on overall fitness, so strength, cardio, agility, and power are addressed.
I don't like how common it is for proper form to not be taught. Squats and deadlifts are technical, and injuries happen when instructors throw barbells on people's backs and let them just go for it. It's hard for one or two instructors to watch a large group of people and make sure everyone is doing everything safely. These aren't just flaws of CrossFit, though - plenty of gyms have trainers that don't have a clue, and group fitness classes are often too crowded for instructors to ensure proper form. CrossFit takes a beating because it's popular.
Some of the stupid human tricks are weird - is there really a point to walking on your hands? Is that a functional movement I need in real life? Some seem downright dangerous - I think I remember a video where a couple of guys were throwing a loaded barbell back and forth.
I feel yuck about boxes not having A/C (I'm in Texas, that can end badly) and workouts being structured so the technical lifts are at the end instead of the beginning. So unnecessarily dangerous. These things seem box-dependent, though.
Generally, I think it's a good program that gets called out on its flaws disproportionately. There's a lot of good, responsible instructors out there, and there's a lot of people who are getting in shape who would have kept sitting on their butts or listening to Tracy Anderson without CrossFit.8 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »I enjoyed it, and really liked a number of the people I met too. I am currently not doing it, because I don't currently have time for it often enough to justify the cost, but I could see myself doing it again. I was lucky enough that the place that I happened upon near my residence had good instruction and focus on form.
The cost is definitely the biggest drawback to me. Then again, it's all open source information, so you could technically do it for free. I think there have been a couple of CF games participants who worked out of their home gyms.
Of course the motivating atmosphere is kind of the biggest benefit.1 -
Plus without CrossFit, how would I get to ogle Camille Leblanc-Bazinet?
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I'm a fan of the competitive nature it has, yet we all cheer each other on. I love the community. I also enjoy a lot of the movements you don't do in a conventional gym. Sure handstands are not essential but its like play for me. I grew up fascinated by gymnastics and Circus de Soleil so to be practicing some handstand push-ups I feel empowered.1
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FWIW, every CF box I have ever been to always teaches propper form for any of the lifts or movements Every class that has them. In other words, if deadlifts are on the schedule, proper form is taught reach and every time. Of course, this is only true of my experience which includes 4 different boxes.mskessler89 wrote: »Man, I feel weird posting a serious answer after we have three-toed sloths.
Disclaimer: I've never tried it. I'm not opposed to trying it, but my employer pays back 80% of my gym membership fees and wouldn't do that for a CrossFit box. I'm perfectly happy with conventional lifting + running right now.
I like what it's done as far as getting people active. Women who would never have touched weights before see CrossFit champions on the covers of fitness magazines and want to look like them. People new to fitness feel supported and encouraged by the group they work out with. Compound lifts are trendy. There's a focus on overall fitness, so strength, cardio, agility, and power are addressed.
I don't like how common it is for proper form to not be taught. Squats and deadlifts are technical, and injuries happen when instructors throw barbells on people's backs and let them just go for it. It's hard for one or two instructors to watch a large group of people and make sure everyone is doing everything safely. These aren't just flaws of CrossFit, though - plenty of gyms have trainers that don't have a clue, and group fitness classes are often too crowded for instructors to ensure proper form. CrossFit takes a beating because it's popular.
Some of the stupid human tricks are weird - is there really a point to walking on your hands? Is that a functional movement I need in real life? Some seem downright dangerous - I think I remember a video where a couple of guys were throwing a loaded barbell back and forth.
I feel yuck about boxes not having A/C (I'm in Texas, that can end badly) and workouts being structured so the technical lifts are at the end instead of the beginning. So unnecessarily dangerous. These things seem box-dependent, though.
Generally, I think it's a good program that gets called out on its flaws disproportionately. There's a lot of good, responsible instructors out there, and there's a lot of people who are getting in shape who would have kept sitting on their butts or listening to Tracy Anderson without CrossFit.
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Generally I think that Crossfit has become the whipping boy of the fitness industry.
I do admit that it's funny, but at the same time I think that Crossfit tends to get some things very right even though they also get some things very wrong, IMO.
Random notes:
1) I don't tend to agree with how some things are programmed (or lack of programming perhaps). A bit more structured overload and a LOT less randomness would probably benefit people for strength and hypertrophy.
2) Performing technically complex movements at high levels of fatigue is a good recipe for injury.
3) Certain sub cultures seem to wear injuries like a badge of honor but in fairness that's not a judgement that can extend to all of crossfit.
But what they get right:
a) Social support and community. This is freaking HUUUUUUGE and obviously they do it well, because every crossfitter to ever exist tells you they crossfit. (lol)
b) They are bringing barbell lifting to the mainstream. Another huge plus.
c) They are getting people to train hard using a variety of modalities.
In my opinion crossfit is definitely a huge net-positive, even though I do still make crossfit jokes
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I think overall crossfit is a good thing because it is promoting fitness.
That said, to be honest, I just cringe when they call their facilities boxes. Maybe that is partly because the local Crossfit organization charges $150/month, though.0 -
FWIW, every CF box I have ever been to always teaches propper form for any of the lifts or movements Every class that has them. In other words, if deadlifts are on the schedule, proper form is taught reach and every time. Of course, this is only true of my experience which includes 4 different boxes.mskessler89 wrote: »Man, I feel weird posting a serious answer after we have three-toed sloths.
Disclaimer: I've never tried it. I'm not opposed to trying it, but my employer pays back 80% of my gym membership fees and wouldn't do that for a CrossFit box. I'm perfectly happy with conventional lifting + running right now.
I like what it's done as far as getting people active. Women who would never have touched weights before see CrossFit champions on the covers of fitness magazines and want to look like them. People new to fitness feel supported and encouraged by the group they work out with. Compound lifts are trendy. There's a focus on overall fitness, so strength, cardio, agility, and power are addressed.
I don't like how common it is for proper form to not be taught. Squats and deadlifts are technical, and injuries happen when instructors throw barbells on people's backs and let them just go for it. It's hard for one or two instructors to watch a large group of people and make sure everyone is doing everything safely. These aren't just flaws of CrossFit, though - plenty of gyms have trainers that don't have a clue, and group fitness classes are often too crowded for instructors to ensure proper form. CrossFit takes a beating because it's popular.
Some of the stupid human tricks are weird - is there really a point to walking on your hands? Is that a functional movement I need in real life? Some seem downright dangerous - I think I remember a video where a couple of guys were throwing a loaded barbell back and forth.
I feel yuck about boxes not having A/C (I'm in Texas, that can end badly) and workouts being structured so the technical lifts are at the end instead of the beginning. So unnecessarily dangerous. These things seem box-dependent, though.
Generally, I think it's a good program that gets called out on its flaws disproportionately. There's a lot of good, responsible instructors out there, and there's a lot of people who are getting in shape who would have kept sitting on their butts or listening to Tracy Anderson without CrossFit.
Not my cup of tea, but I am not a hater either. Apparently there are some bad boxes out there though. I recently saw an orthopedist about a neck issue. When I told him I lifted, he asked if I had been doing Crossfit. He said guys my age who first get into Crossfit are always coming in with weird injuries.0 -
I've never been a crossfitter, but some friends have, and seem to benefit. Personally, I strive not to critique others' modes of activity unless I understand them quite well (because a freakin' lot of people think really silly things about mine).
What I think causes some hostility is that some (presumably small) fraction of crossfitters get kind of holier-than-thou and evangelical about it, and get others' backs up by making silly comments about modes of activity they themselves don't understand very well. (Like a small segment of vegans do, on the WOE front; and like that wet-behind-the-ears crossfit kid is doing over on the other thread).
Any/all of that sort of "my tribe is better than your tribe" nonsense kinda puts me off. Those who indulge in it cause trouble for the more sensible people in their home tribe, out in the bigger world.3 -
I've been going to crossfit classes for a few years and I really enjoy it. I haven't reaped all of the benefits of working out, such as weight loss, but I've lost a lot of fat and have gotten stronger than I could have possibly imagined. Thankfully, I attend a very good box/gym with trainers who are patient, smart, and encouraging. I work out with some of the nicest people I've met. They push me when I am lazy, give me hugs and praise when I do well, and help me stay focused when I have a bad day. I like the format of the workouts. Ive been to a few boxes/gyms and I feel the one I attend is the most organized and challenging.
it's not for everyone, but it works for me! anything that keeps me moving!0 -
Pros
Crossfit classes when programmed properly (combined with diet) will most definitely get you fit...like really fit.
People tend to get pigeon holed into the type of fitness that they enjoy. Crossfit (being a general prepardness program) targets many different areas of fitness such as strength training, cardio etc. It forces participants to hit areas they might skip if they were working out in a regular gym or alone (I mean who would row a 10K by choice....no judgement).
Crossfit has helped people to become more comfortable with the idea of women lifting weights, being strong, and feeling comfortable in their own skin. I've seen this newfound strength translate to other areas of life for many members, especially the women.
The hardest part about any gym routine is finding consistency. The community aspect of Crossfit keeps people coming back and that's a fact. You go to the classes and socialize and people question and are concerned when you aren't there. Nobody at Planet Fitness gives AF if you're not there to jog on the treadmill.
There is great value in having trainers constantly around you to help you with form critiques and skills IF they are good and knowledgeable trainers.
Cons
Specific strength/fitness goals can often be achieved more efficiently through other means. You'll get strong from crossfit, sure. However, you won't get THE STRONGEST or THE FASTEST. There are reasons why the programming of people who train for competitive Crossfit doesn't look anything like what you would see in a typical Crossfit class.
There are plenty of "coaches" who have no idea what they're doing. They push members too hard or too fast or don't even know what proper form should be. This most definitely can lead to unnecessary injuries.
Crossfitters tend to get in the mindset that Crossfit is the best way or the only way for people to get fit. This is obviously untrue. I think so many people find a love of fitness for the first time through crossfit. This creates that sense of superiority because they think "I tried everything and this finally worked so it must be right for everyone"
The word box is dumb
Certain movements are dumb (I'm looking at you sumo deadlift high pulls and medicine ball cleans)
Overall I love crossfit and think it could be a good fit for many (but definitely not all). I've seen it impact people in amazing ways and I personally lost 70 LBS doing it. I guess my only real pet peeve is frequently when Crossfit is promoted to the masses it's with the super fit bodies of top crossfit athletes. Those bodies were not created with an hour crossfit class a day and it's generally not what you'll see at your typical crossfit gym. I really realized this when I switched from traditional crossfit programming to competition crossfit programming. It's almost purely strength training with a metabolic conditioning workout or two thrown in everyday. You lose much of that community experience that people love so much. I personally love training this way. I just feel so many people have gotten so fit from just regular crossfit classes...why not promote the average fit Joe? He's the one people will actually relate to anyway.
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I think that it gets people movingmoving, abs that's good . The high injury rate is concerning, but there's a lot of injuries in a number of sports, and more of an issue for people exercising that way and the corporate board /lawyers than the general uninvolved public.0
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I tried crossfit for the first time a few weeks ago, with my sister and two of her friends who crossfit frequently. We all did the same WOD, and I have to admit I did enjoy the way it was laid out. What annoyed me, though, is that the other girls didn't seem to worry much about form and were just trying to get through it as fast as possible. I understand the competitiveness of crossfit is all part of it, but I'm a stickler for form and took my time with some of the exercises. I kept up, but my own competitive side left thinking I would have gotten through the workout more times than the others by a longshot if they had used proper form on some of the exercises.
The kicker is there was a trainer there who tried to help one of the girls with her form, and instead of taking his advice, she got offended.
I agree with others that I love that it's gotten so many people to become interested in fitness, but I feel the competitive nature of it is the reason so many people end up with injuries. And just from my experience, that responsibility is on the individual, not the gym, but it's easy to get caught up in it.2 -
Keladelphia wrote: »Pros
Overall I love crossfit and think it could be a good fit for many (but definitely not all). I've seen it impact people in amazing ways and I personally lost 70 LBS doing it. I guess my only real pet peeve is frequently when Crossfit is promoted to the masses it's with the super fit bodies of top crossfit athletes. Those bodies were not created with an hour crossfit class a day and it's generally not what you'll see at your typical crossfit gym. I really realized this when I switched from traditional crossfit programming to competition crossfit programming. It's almost purely strength training with a metabolic conditioning workout or two thrown in everyday. You lose much of that community experience that people love so much. I personally love training this way. I just feel so many people have gotten so fit from just regular crossfit classes...why not promote the average fit Joe? He's the one people will actually relate to anyway.
Fitness marketing is a tricky thing. Everything I've ever heard about CrossFit from newbies is that it's HARD, and it sounds challenging enough that I, someone who runs and lifts regularly, would struggle with classes for the first week or few. Given how hard it is, I think CrossFit needs to promote a proportional reward to the difficulty level - in this case, if you go all-in, you *could* be this super-fit, ripped, competitive person. If the pinnacle of a really hard program was your average fit Jo/e, is that inspiring or motivating enough to keep going after the first workout or two kicks your *kitten*? Does that show the brand at its best? Let your average fit CrossFitters show up in testimonials and real life - people definitely connect to those. But if you don't show off your elites you imply that moderately fit is your upper limit, and that people will need to graduate from your brand onto something else if they want to get into super-amazing shape.0 -
mskessler89 wrote: »Keladelphia wrote: »Pros
Overall I love crossfit and think it could be a good fit for many (but definitely not all). I've seen it impact people in amazing ways and I personally lost 70 LBS doing it. I guess my only real pet peeve is frequently when Crossfit is promoted to the masses it's with the super fit bodies of top crossfit athletes. Those bodies were not created with an hour crossfit class a day and it's generally not what you'll see at your typical crossfit gym. I really realized this when I switched from traditional crossfit programming to competition crossfit programming. It's almost purely strength training with a metabolic conditioning workout or two thrown in everyday. You lose much of that community experience that people love so much. I personally love training this way. I just feel so many people have gotten so fit from just regular crossfit classes...why not promote the average fit Joe? He's the one people will actually relate to anyway.
Fitness marketing is a tricky thing. Everything I've ever heard about CrossFit from newbies is that it's HARD, and it sounds challenging enough that I, someone who runs and lifts regularly, would struggle with classes for the first week or few. Given how hard it is, I think CrossFit needs to promote a proportional reward to the difficulty level - in this case, if you go all-in, you *could* be this super-fit, ripped, competitive person. If the pinnacle of a really hard program was your average fit Jo/e, is that inspiring or motivating enough to keep going after the first workout or two kicks your *kitten*? Does that show the brand at its best? Let your average fit CrossFitters show up in testimonials and real life - people definitely connect to those. But if you don't show off your elites you imply that moderately fit is your upper limit, and that people will need to graduate from your brand onto something else if they want to get into super-amazing shape.
Yeah, I think you're probably right. I don't know much about marketing. That being said, one of the coolest things about the program is that everybody does the same work out (for the most part). I may be slower and weaker than most of my classmates, but at the end of the work out, they are no less tired than I am. As above average athletes, I am inspired by their performance, that isn't so uncommon. But the crazy thing is that sometimes, they are inspired by mine. No matter what level you're at, you can always try your hardest, and that's what the CrossFit culture celebrates.
I also wanted to thank everyone for their thoughtful, objective and measured responses. I don't think there has been a single point made that I personally can't agree with.0 -
Generally I think that Crossfit has become the whipping boy of the fitness industry.
I do admit that it's funny, but at the same time I think that Crossfit tends to get some things very right even though they also get some things very wrong, IMO.
Random notes:
1) I don't tend to agree with how some things are programmed (or lack of programming perhaps). A bit more structured overload and a LOT less randomness would probably benefit people for strength and hypertrophy.
2) Performing technically complex movements at high levels of fatigue is a good recipe for injury.
3) Certain sub cultures seem to wear injuries like a badge of honor but in fairness that's not a judgement that can extend to all of crossfit.
But what they get right:
a) Social support and community. This is freaking HUUUUUUGE and obviously they do it well, because every crossfitter to ever exist tells you they crossfit. (lol)
b) They are bringing barbell lifting to the mainstream. Another huge plus.
c) They are getting people to train hard using a variety of modalities.
In my opinion crossfit is definitely a huge net-positive, even though I do still make crossfit jokes
i pretty much agree with this ...
although, some of the moves they have people doing seem to be lacking form ...like Kipping Pullups...0 -
oh, and it seems like a rip off to me ..$200.00 plus a month for a membership???1
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Generally I think that Crossfit has become the whipping boy of the fitness industry.
I do admit that it's funny, but at the same time I think that Crossfit tends to get some things very right even though they also get some things very wrong, IMO.
Random notes:
1) I don't tend to agree with how some things are programmed (or lack of programming perhaps). A bit more structured overload and a LOT less randomness would probably benefit people for strength and hypertrophy.
2) Performing technically complex movements at high levels of fatigue is a good recipe for injury.
3) Certain sub cultures seem to wear injuries like a badge of honor but in fairness that's not a judgement that can extend to all of crossfit.
But what they get right:
a) Social support and community. This is freaking HUUUUUUGE and obviously they do it well, because every crossfitter to ever exist tells you they crossfit. (lol)
b) They are bringing barbell lifting to the mainstream. Another huge plus.
c) They are getting people to train hard using a variety of modalities.
In my opinion crossfit is definitely a huge net-positive, even though I do still make crossfit jokes
i pretty much agree with this ...
although, some of the moves they have people doing seem to be lacking form ...like Kipping Pullups...
I knew we would eventually get to kipping. While not a CF expert by any means, the kipping pull up requires a definite form and technique. It is similar in concept to a clean or jerk.0 -
Timed olympic lifts is my sticking point. I would do anything for fitness, but I won't do that.
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