CrossFit

girlwithcurls2

My daughter has been a member of one for a few years, since starting her first job. We worked out together over Christmas break when she was home, and holy smokes, that girl is strong. She was catching eyes of people in my gym. One guy, 92 years old, came over to tell her that he was "impressed with how you're throwing those things around" (dumbbells). He wanted to know what she was training for and she said, "I don't know. My life, I guess!"

loveisapineapple

Totally not for me. I hate the teamy atmosphere, I really don't need strangers to clap or cheer for me - I am not a 'woohoo' kind of person. I also hate having to get into groups as an adult, and the Crossfit gym I went to always had group activities (sharing the bar for deadlifts in groups of three etc). Plus the periodisation only really worked if you did the amount of days that everyone else did. So if the norm was Mon/Tue then Thurs/Fri and I did Mon/Wed/Fri the periodisation wasn't optimal.
I did like the olympic lifting though, that is something I haven't done before and I enjoyed.

GiddyupTim

My understanding is that Greg Glassman founded Crossfit because he looked around at the non-sport, exercise community and he saw weight lifters who were so bulky that they were lumbering and inflexible, and runners who barely broke a sweat before five miles of road work but had so little strength they had to drag the newspaper in from the porch.
So, he thought, let's devise some workouts where you combine cardio and strength training, where you lift some heavy weight, then run around the block, etc., etc.
After all, shouldn't one prefer to be well rounded?
He used a lot of gymnastics movements because that was his own personal background.

I think a major reason it has become so popular is because it gets excellent results. People see improvements in their abilities and their physiques. These improvements are largely due to the group atmosphere of Crossfit gyms. You are working out next to somebody, which is a naturally competitive situation, which pushes you to work harder than you would otherwise, the same way a personal trainer or a coach does.
Many people like that competitive atmosphere and camaraderie.

There is a famous story about how Crossfit caught on, which says a lot about what Crossfit is about.
There was a video put up on Youtube recording three women -- who are famous in the Crossfit world now -- going through a workout called "Nasty girls." (Google "Youtube, Crossfit, nasty girls," you'll find it.)
The workout is three rounds of: 50 air squats, 7 muscle-ups on gymnastics rings, and 10 hang power cleans.
One of the women, in particular, really struggles at the end. She gets hung up on the last round of muscle-ups. She is grimacing and shaking out her hands and failing just about every other time she tries to get up. She looks incredibly distraught, as the other two have already finished.
Her last set of hang cleans is unadulterated misery. She almost falls over on the last few reps, with the weight on top of her. She is crying she is so frustrated. When she finally finishes, someone has to hug her while she sobs.
You wouldn't think that would be much of an advertisement. A lot of people don't like that kind of thing. They'll say: Oh, that's not good! That looks painful. And her form on her muscle-ups and hang cleans was horrible. She could have really hurt herself!"
But surprisingly, many people did not respond that way -- women particularly. They said: "Cool! I want to test myself like that." And that single video, according to the lore, helped launch Crossfit to the popularity it has today.

vggb

I have a friend that has been doing crossfit for a year now, she is 71. She loves it and goes 5 days a week and wants to go 6. Good for her. She enjoys the social aspect the most.

But I finally had to tell her that the stories she tells me about her workouts makes it sound miserable and unpleasant! She is always in pain, she has to go home and ice her hip, then heat it and repeat, this is always. Today she was telling me about the pain in her arms and how she couldn't do or lift certain things because of it. Also, she isn't gaining strength, in fact she has a hard time lifting or doing anything that involves a little weight. Could it be age, maybe, but wouldn't the aches and pains abate just a little after time?

It just doesn't sound fun at all. Maybe it's the gym, but she works out with the owner so after reading a lot of the posts here, maybe he's not so good either.

panda4153

My best friend has done CrossFit for years both him and his wife, they love it. I think it’s like any other type of workout, on some level you have to like it to be able to stick with it. It’s definitely not for me. I like to workout alone. I prefer more moderate steady pace workouts and for lifting a moderate progressive program. I used to be a competitive swimmer but I was a distance person not a sprinter and I hate any kind of HIIT workouts. For me CrossFit would be miserable. I fully support anyone doing something they love to stay active and fit though.

riffraff2112

I enjoy watching people do cross-fit, especially the documentaries. I don't think I would enjoy the workouts myself. Cross-fit just seems a little too much for me. Might be an age thing, but I am a tad intimidated by it. Maybe if I am looking for something new one day, and a friend can drag me there...I might give it a whirl.

gunderw59

I have been doing CrossFit for 9 months. Originally I was simply hoping to start living a healthier lifestyle. At 60 yrs old it was that or lots of medication for health issues. I started at a morbidly obese weight of 285 and was amazed at how encouraging the gym members were. I was brought along very slowly at first and learned a lot about scaling each exercise to my particular ability level. I was amazed how addicting it has become for me and how much i've learned and improved in this short time. I may be one of the lucky ones who just wondered in to a very good box for any fitness level but I would encourage anyone looking to improve their health and self esteem to at least give it a try. It has literally changed my life !! P.S. I'm new to the site any of you guys who would like to add me as a friend that would be great !!

mmapags

Neither love nor hate it. If it fits your goals, preferences and training style, great!

psychod787

cwolfman13 wrote: »

Onedaywriter wrote: »

Love it or hate it? Why

Indifferent...not my bag though.

same... I also worry about injury.

NorthCascades

Not for me, but anything that gets people active is good.

AnnPT77

Neither. I think it's not for me for a variety of reasons (some physical limitations, some psychological disinclinations). Some of my friends have joined Crossfit boxes around here, love it, and have had really stellar results. Different things suit different people, and that variety makes conversing with others more interesting.

MikePfirrman

I respect those that do and I actually train very similar to how CF people train. I just don't want to honestly pay the price. It's very expensive and I can afford it, just don't want to pay that much to do what I'm capable of doing myself. But I've always been one to push myself really hard on workouts.

I think, much like Orange Theory, if you can't push yourself well enough, and you really enjoy group workouts and rah-rah stuff, it's great. I do marvel at how physically fit CFers are and regularly have competed against them in indoor rowing competitions, my main form of exercise. Sometimes I get crushed by them, sometimes I win a few.

Really strong CFers are fit. And I mean that as a compliment. It's the balance of power and aerobic endurance that they go for that I understand (loving rowing as I do) and respect. You concentrate just on one, the other suffers.

cgvet37

My Fiancee does it and loves it. I did a workout with her and hated it. I personally like power lifting. If you like it, it doesn't matter what others think.

ninerbuff

Every program out there IF taught correctly and performed correctly is beneficial. Whether it's Crossfit, yoga, pilates, kickboxing, barre, etc.
IMO it all depends on the instruction and how they handle safety.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Fit_Chef_NE

I notice that the Crossfit enthusiasts in this thread do not mention the credentials of the people who are instructing them. That concerns me quite a bit. If at all possible, find someone who actually knows how to do the lifts and exercises without causing long term damage to your body. It may feel okay now, but become a problem years down the road. I have heard a few horror stories about "Boxes" that are owned and run by people who have no more than a weekend class "certification" in any kind of fitness or health. No, it really isn't as simple as watching a youtube video and replicating it. A good trainer will be able to see any physical abnormalities you might have and help you balance out your body and improve stability before they even start you on a heavy lifting or cardio routine. From what I am reading in these comments, you have to tell them what limitations you have and make your own modifications. That is...problematic for me. I think it's a better choice for people who already know quite a lot about lifting, form and anatomy. And of course many locations are run by proper instructors who will do a great job. But as a whole, I can't feel good recommending Crossfit, especially to new gym goers.

cejaibe

Yes! I’ve been a crossfitter for 5+ years. I’m over 40 so body functionality/strength/flexibility are invaluable. I like being able to squad down to reach something in the the back of the bottom cabinet without having to crawl on the floor. I notice it in the garden too, I can Cossack squat around pulling for hours. And crossfit gives me confidence to try new things and be instantly good at nearly any water sport like paddle boarding and kayaking.

Dogmom1978

Personally, I think CrossFit is absolutely absurd. However, plenty of people hate hiking, rowing, walking, and lifting weights. So, if you enjoy CrossFit, more power to you. It’s definitely not for me though and I wouldn’t do it. I also wouldn’t expect someone who dislikes what I enjoy to suddenly like my fun stuff either though. 🤷🏻‍♀️

IronIsMyTherapy

Love the community aspect and diversity of exercise but not a fan of doing technical olympic lifts against a clock and I'd have to wear a mask before I was caught kipping. It's not for me but if you like it, have at it.

cejaibe

I just finished watching the games. What a beautiful finish. I cry at silly movies but this is a first for a CrossFit event.

rwecker5782

My daily life is fairly active, and after no "exercise program" whatsoever for over 15 years, I joined a Crossfit gym at 58 years old. I never got injured. I LOVED IT. I got STRONG and well rounded. Regardless of AMRAP, I purposefully did lifts and exercises as slowly as I had to to maintain form. I started "box jumps" using a few plates, and within one year was using regular boxes. I was able to do around 25 double unders uninterrupted. I was beginning to nail wall hand stands! I never was able to do unassisted pull ups or chin ups, but I was getting there. I made no real changes to my diet, and never saw big obvious visible changes to my body, and started feeling guilty about spending the money. I quit, thinking I would continue on my own at a less expensive gym. I soon stopped going there too.
This time around, now age 62, I am dieting NOW, and walking mostly, running a little, and I just got my speed jump rope. My plan is eat at a deficit and drop the weight FIRST. I plan to rejoin my Crossfit Box and build muscle I can SEE right off the bat. I am nearly there, I think about 5 pounds to go.

rwecker5782

My daily life is fairly active, and after no "exercise program" whatsoever for over 15 years, I joined a Crossfit gym at 58 years old. I never got injured. I LOVED IT. I got STRONG and well rounded. Regardless of AMRAP, I purposefully did lifts and exercises as slowly as I had to to maintain form. I started "box jumps" using a few plates, and within one year was using regular boxes. I was able to do around 25 double unders uninterrupted. I was beginning to nail wall hand stands! I never was able to do unassisted pull ups or chin ups, but I was getting there. I made no real changes to my diet, and never saw big obvious visible changes to my body, and started feeling guilty about spending the money. I quit, thinking I would continue on my own at a less expensive gym. I soon stopped going there too.
This time around, now age 62, I am dieting NOW, and walking mostly, running a little, and I just got my speed jump rope. My plan is eat at a deficit and drop the weight FIRST. I plan to rejoin my Crossfit Box and build muscle I can SEE right off the bat. I am nearly there, I think about 5 pounds to go.