Crossfit advise

gsop22
gsop22 Posts: 84 Member
Hello all,

So I am joining my local Crossfit Box in December. I had wanted to join sooner but November is not a great month for me to start the foundation classes. Wanted to prep a bit before I start so I can hit the ground running. Any comments or advise. I am new to Crossfit and have been reading up on it for a bit, would love to lift heavy. Anyone can read my profile to see my fitness level. I have been doing a few thing to get back into shape but any advise is welcome. I do go to the gym about 2-3 times a week and have been running 3 times a week. Started participating in obstacle races and doing daily squats, pushups, pullups and burpees.

I had completed Insanity a few months ago and and after trying to figure what to do next I stumbled on Crossfit and realized there was a box about 1.5 miles away from my house. From what I see so far I think they workouts will fit my style and am hoping to love it. Although, no one I know knows anything about Crossfit.

Thanks for any advice, and anyone is welcome to FR me as I would like some Crossfit MFP friends.

Replies

  • Tobi1013
    Tobi1013 Posts: 732 Member
    Went back and found a few old threads here in the group that have lots of good advice:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1092517-walk-me-through-it

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1090762-advice-for-the-newbie-please

    Best of luck to you!!! I'm guessing that you are gonna fall in love with CrossFit!! Feel free to send me an FR!!
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    Hello all,

    So I am joining my local Crossfit Box in December. I had wanted to join sooner but November is not a great month for me to start the foundation classes. Wanted to prep a bit before I start so I can hit the ground running. Any comments or advise. I am new to Crossfit and have been reading up on it for a bit, would love to lift heavy. Anyone can read my profile to see my fitness level. I have been doing a few thing to get back into shape but any advise is welcome. I do go to the gym about 2-3 times a week and have been running 3 times a week. Started participating in obstacle races and doing daily squats, pushups, pullups and burpees.

    I had completed Insanity a few months ago and and after trying to figure what to do next I stumbled on Crossfit and realized there was a box about 1.5 miles away from my house. From what I see so far I think they workouts will fit my style and am hoping to love it. Although, no one I know knows anything about Crossfit.

    Thanks for any advice, and anyone is welcome to FR me as I would like some Crossfit MFP friends.

    You are probably better prepared than I was. Prepare to have your *kitten* kicked royally for a few weeks. Then you will start to adjust.
  • Dmkolls
    Dmkolls Posts: 150 Member
    Welcome, and let us know when you've fully drank the Kool-Aid! It's totally worth it!
  • MUALaurenClark
    MUALaurenClark Posts: 296 Member
    No amount of prepping will prepare you for it :) I love seeing "gym junkies" - guys who think they're super strong because they have a great body, come in and get their *kitten* handed to them on the first class.

    My only advice is try to build up your respiratory endurance between now and then...running at a good pace for like 2+ miles but also doing shorter runs like sprint intervals.
  • christy_frank
    christy_frank Posts: 680 Member
    I think you'll love CF and be fine. Your endurance will help you immensely. I saw your row time, unbroken push-ups and Burpees & squats.

    I've been going to CF 1.5 years. I go 5x/week and love it.

    I would only recommend watching some utube videos on some of the movements. Snatch, Thruster, Power clean, Muscle Ups, jerk, split jerk.

    Realize that it is addictive!!!

    Best of luck!
  • ascrit
    ascrit Posts: 770 Member
    Hello all,

    So I am joining my local Crossfit Box in December. I had wanted to join sooner but November is not a great month for me to start the foundation classes. Wanted to prep a bit before I start so I can hit the ground running. Any comments or advise. I am new to Crossfit and have been reading up on it for a bit, would love to lift heavy. Anyone can read my profile to see my fitness level. I have been doing a few thing to get back into shape but any advise is welcome. I do go to the gym about 2-3 times a week and have been running 3 times a week. Started participating in obstacle races and doing daily squats, pushups, pullups and burpees.

    I had completed Insanity a few months ago and and after trying to figure what to do next I stumbled on Crossfit and realized there was a box about 1.5 miles away from my house. From what I see so far I think they workouts will fit my style and am hoping to love it. Although, no one I know knows anything about Crossfit.

    Thanks for any advice, and anyone is welcome to FR me as I would like some Crossfit MFP friends.

    My advice is very simple; don't let yourself feel intimidated. Everyone had to start somewhere and everyone was a newbie at one point. I know a lot of people think that you have to be fit already when you do CrossFit for the first time but that isn't true. All you need is a good work ethic and an open mind.

    Good luck, I am rooting for you to do well!
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    Hello all,

    So I am joining my local Crossfit Box in December. I had wanted to join sooner but November is not a great month for me to start the foundation classes. Wanted to prep a bit before I start so I can hit the ground running. Any comments or advise. I am new to Crossfit and have been reading up on it for a bit, would love to lift heavy. Anyone can read my profile to see my fitness level. I have been doing a few thing to get back into shape but any advise is welcome. I do go to the gym about 2-3 times a week and have been running 3 times a week. Started participating in obstacle races and doing daily squats, pushups, pullups and burpees.

    I had completed Insanity a few months ago and and after trying to figure what to do next I stumbled on Crossfit and realized there was a box about 1.5 miles away from my house. From what I see so far I think they workouts will fit my style and am hoping to love it. Although, no one I know knows anything about Crossfit.

    Thanks for any advice, and anyone is welcome to FR me as I would like some Crossfit MFP friends.

    My advice is very simple; don't let yourself feel intimidated. Everyone had to start somewhere and everyone was a newbie at one point. I know a lot of people think that you have to be fit already when you do CrossFit for the first time but that isn't true. All you need is a good work ethic and an open mind.

    Good luck, I am rooting for you to do well!

    Totally agree. You will feel a bit intimidated when you walk in because there are going to be a lot of super-fit people doing things you couldn't possibly do.

    The vast majority of these people were once you and are going to do everything they can to help you get better. They know how you feel and are going to try to make sure you are comfortable, properly instructed in how to do things safely and that you have fun.
  • gsop22
    gsop22 Posts: 84 Member
    Thanks for all the advice and the links. I will try to build up my endurance in the next month with a bit more running and keep up with the gym. I will give an update on my experience once I join up.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    Welcome to CrossFit!

    The only thing I would add here is that if you can wear an HRM, do it. CrossFit burns vary greatly. To get your calories right you need to know what you are actually burning. Some of my CrossFit pals who don't log are always surprised when I tell them my HRM read out - they almost always overestimate the burn.
  • gsop22
    gsop22 Posts: 84 Member
    Welcome to CrossFit!

    The only thing I would add here is that if you can wear an HRM, do it. CrossFit burns vary greatly. To get your calories right you need to know what you are actually burning. Some of my CrossFit pals who don't log are always surprised when I tell them my HRM read out - they almost always overestimate the burn.

    Great idea. I have a polar FT4 and used it to track my Insanity workouts. Found it to be very helpful tracking calories and knowing if I was slacking during that day or not. I would love to see how many calories are burned during a crossfit workout. Thanks for the advice.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    Welcome to CrossFit!

    The only thing I would add here is that if you can wear an HRM, do it. CrossFit burns vary greatly. To get your calories right you need to know what you are actually burning. Some of my CrossFit pals who don't log are always surprised when I tell them my HRM read out - they almost always overestimate the burn.

    Great idea. I have a polar FT4 and used it to track my Insanity workouts. Found it to be very helpful tracking calories and knowing if I was slacking during that day or not. I would love to see how many calories are burned during a crossfit workout. Thanks for the advice.

    Glad to help! I start my HRM at warmup and keep it on through strength and the WOD. Usually clocks a full hour.
  • DaddyM1
    DaddyM1 Posts: 18 Member
    I think what get's most people is the level of intensity. It's certainly what got me.

    Being strong or having stamina by itself is not enough. It's that sustained max effort that really sets CrossFit apart.
  • gsop22
    gsop22 Posts: 84 Member
    Quick update. So I did my first crossfit (one day free intro) class this past weekend. I must say it was a great workout, at first I though the WOD seemed pretty simple but once I got to the end it kicked my *kitten*. This WOD was a combo of running and calisthenic type exercises. I was even a bit sore the next day. I signed up for the foundation classes which start Dec 2. So pumped up and thanks for all the comments and info.
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    I must say it was a great workout, at first I though the WOD seemed pretty simple but once I got to the end it kicked my *kitten*.

    Get used to this feeling. It is usually the ones that seem doable that have you cursing the coaches halfway through them.
  • ahemming1
    ahemming1 Posts: 93 Member
    It's great to see women who want to lift heavy. Learn correct form at the beginning and once you've mastered it, go for the weight! I see a lot of women in my box that never move weight...or do it very slowly because they are worried about looking like a guy! It's not going to happen. I lift as heavy as I can every time, without sacrificing form. Don't worry about being the last one done, either. It happens a lot, if you are pushing the weight. But, eventually, you'll love the results!!
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    It's great to see women who want to lift heavy. Learn correct form at the beginning and once you've mastered it, go for the weight! I see a lot of women in my box that never move weight...or do it very slowly because they are worried about looking like a guy! It's not going to happen. I lift as heavy as I can every time, without sacrificing form. Don't worry about being the last one done, either. It happens a lot, if you are pushing the weight. But, eventually, you'll love the results!!

    Exactly right. Unless you take testosterone suppliments you cannot get as muscular as a man. Physically impossible.