CrossFit

butler879

Just joined a CrossFit gym... Wow I was humbled. It makes P90x look like a warm up. I would definitely recommend CrossFit to anyone who is in shape and wanting to take their fitness to the next level.

GoldenGirl1979

i've seen the crossfit games & those ppl are total BEASTS!! so i take my hat off to you sir!! the crossfit gyms in my area have community workouts on saturdays, so i'm gonna go & check it out one of these days!

thecrossfitter

Just got back from my crossfit gym! I started in August at 3 days a week, and have been up to 5 days a week for a month now. I am in love

XFitMojoMom

Search the groups - were are there! Crossfitting for 18 months!
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/99-crossfit-love

Health_Gal

While Crossfit does have some good basic exercise routines, they also have WOD that are filled with lifts and other exercises that most people never heard or and don't know how to do safely. I do understand the benefit of having a lot of variety in our workouts, but the extreme nature of the Crossfit program has made me not want to even consider participating in it.

I am sure some Crossfit programs are fun and the coaches make sure that people are not doing more than is safe, but from all I've heard, those gyms are in the minority. The majority of Crossfit gyms seem to focus more on military style extremism, with Cossfit participants, proudly showing off photos of bloody and blistered hands after a weight lifting routine, and making others that didn't do quite as much damage to their body to get through a workout feel inadequate.

I feel the Glassman guy that started Crossfit is the inspiration for much of this extremism, especially when he makes statements such as

"It can kill you," he said. "I've always been completely honest about that."

See "Getting Fit, Even If It Kills You" http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/22/fashion/thursdaystyles/22Fitness.html?pagewanted=all

It's sad that something that could have done as much good as a exercise franchise that offers a lot of variety has become so much less effective at helping people with their fitness goals than it would have been without the extreme workouts and tough guy attitudes.

HOSED49

RachelSNO.....have you actually attended any Crossfit Gyms? I was just wondering as this is the second time I know of youve posted this exact same response...I actually prefer to try something before I have any comments about it to anyone. You do state that the extreme nature of Crossfit has made you not even want to consider it, but I 'm sure alot of people on this site had the same reservations about P90x or Insanity or whatever other workouts are out there....
Like I said , I prefer to make recommendations about something based on personal experience. Everyones entitled to their opinions, I just feel that opinions are better formed from experience.

UponThisRock

delete

XFitMojoMom

don't feed the troll.

Health_Gal

Besides what I wrote in that message, I know enough people that were at a higher fitness level that me that got involved with Crossfit and got injured in the first month or two, or felt the program's workouts were too extreme for their needs and left it before they got injured, to think it is something I would want to do.

Just this morning, I heard about another person I know that was injured trying to do some kind of a box jump in a Crossfit workout.

My life does not revolve around jumping on and off tall boxes, so why would I want to risk injuring myself doing it?

HOSED49

Besides what I wrote in that message, I know enough people that were at a higher fitness level that me that got involved with Crossfit and got injured in the first month or two, or felt the program's workouts were too extreme for their needs and left it before they got injured, to think it is something I would want to do.

Just this morning, I heard about another person I know that was injured trying to do some kind of a box jump in a Crossfit workout.

My life does not revolve around jumping on and off tall boxes, so why would I want to risk injuring myself doing it?

Box Jump- traditionally a 24" jump onto a platform, more extreme is 36" platform
Simply from a standing position jump on top of the box and stand up pushing your hips forward then jump back down and repeat.
Why do it..to push yourself beyond what you believe your body can do and what your mind limits you to do

withervein

Folks, it seems the Kool-Aid is flowing in both directions. Love Crossfit or hate it, please leave the sniping at the door.

snkeller24

As it was stated before - crossfit is not for everyone. If you don't take the time, check your ego, and learn the correct movements you can injure yourself. Same with Zumba, Insanity, P90x, walking your dog.

This isn't a place to go and bash peoples choices; unless you personally experienced crossfit you can not accurately argue your point.

Go run on a treadmill.

rachmaree

I've just done one month of crossfit, and I must say... I really enjoy it, and love the way it challenges me. It's intense, fun, varied, and efficient. I'm still doing a few 'normal' lifting days, but thinking I might try crossfit only for a month to see how I feel.

kitt8980

I have to say, I have also been doin Crossfit now for a mth and I am lovin it. I workout 5 days a wk and each day is different. The trainer I have pushes me each day and some days she will do the workout with me. We are somewhat startin to try and compete...even though I am not as advanced as she is...it is really fun. She doesn't have me do as much weight as she does. She has me try somethin light and then will add weight if it looks like that was to easy for me. She is gettin to know how far she can push me before there is any kind of problem. Now with the box thing...well let me tell you I am just tryin to get over my fear of jumpin up on it. My trainer started me out on the stairs then a small platform with a couple of weights on top. I look at the box each day....I can't wait till I can jump on it with no fear. Cross your fingers for me everyone. Everyone is right though you either love it or hate it...Let me tell you I am lovin every min of it.

EricMurano

RachelSNO.....have you actually attended any Crossfit Gyms? I was just wondering as this is the second time I know of youve posted this exact same response...I actually prefer to try something before I have any comments about it to anyone. You do state that the extreme nature of Crossfit has made you not even want to consider it, but I 'm sure alot of people on this site had the same reservations about P90x or Insanity or whatever other workouts are out there....
Like I said , I prefer to make recommendations about something based on personal experience. Everyones entitled to their opinions, I just feel that opinions are better formed from experience.

I have nothing to say about Crossfit (I've heard the term but I've not looked into it) but I have to disagree with the premise that you have to have experienced something in order to have certain opinions about it. You don't have to have done crack to have an opinion about it. You can say it's bad but not that it's more fun than heroine. (Bad analogy but you get my point).

Health_Gal

. Now with the box thing...well let me tell you I am just tryin to get over my fear of jumpin up on it. My trainer started me out on the stairs then a small platform with a couple of weights on top. I look at the box each day....I can't wait till I can jump on it with no fear. Cross your fingers for me everyone. Everyone is right though you either love it or hate it...Let me tell you I am lovin every min of it.

Of course, it's up to you if you want to make something like box jumping a goal (or accept it as a goal the Crossfit organization assigned you), but very few of us have any reason to jump on high boxes during our daily lives.

I have done boot camp type classes at the YMCA, and at no time was I required to jump on and off a box. But if they asked me to, I would refuse and ask for a substitution activity. To me, the risk of injuring myself attempting it -- which would make it impossible for me to exercise or go about my other daily activities, would far outweigh any satisfaction I might get from achieving such a goal. To me, it's not so much about overcoming fear as it is about common sense and deciding which risks are worth taking and which are totally unnecessary. And some fears are very healthy, because they keep us from taking unnecessary risks.

I know people that got injured pretty bad attempting the Crossfit box jumping thing. They used to think Crossfit was the greatest thing ever and they now wish they had never heard of it. One gal I know had been training for a half marathon all summer, but after she injured her leg jumping boxes at Crossfit a few months ago, she was walking with crutches on race day and not able to participate. She is still mad at herself for letting that Crossfit coach talk her into box jumping when she KNEW it was a bad idea.

You might want to read about what happened to some other Crossfitters that attempted box jumping on the web page linked below before you decide this really is a fear you want to overcome.

http://www.crossfitbrandx.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/14417/

And here is a blog by someone that is now facing surgery because of Crossfit

http://theprimordialwingnut.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/crossfit-is-dangerous-or-how-to-love-a-slap-repair/

snkeller24

"crossfit box jumping thing" ... it's called plyometrics. It's not just a crossfit thing - it's a strength and conditioning for athletes.

The thing with CrossFit is it's scalable to anyone of any fitness level. If you can't jump up onto a 20 inch box, you use the 12 inch box.

There is risk in anything you do.

Health_Gal

I don't care what they call box jumping, who started it, or why they do it.

It is not necessary to jump on and off boxes to increase your strength and conditioning. There are many safer ways to do that

Making box jumping scalable only means that the coach is gradually trying to get to you to take more and more unnecessary risks.

Like I said in the other post, I know people that actually DID get injured trying to jump on and off boxes. They didn't think it was a good idea to attempt it, but because the Crossfit coach said to, they thought they had to do it. Now they wish they never heard of Crossfit or that pushy coach and had listened to their own common sense instead.

staceyb2003

I'm not in cross fit but my trainer has me doing those box jumps. I was a little nervous at first, but you start out at what you can do. I know some people who train with me just do steps till they get the courage to jump. I don't find them intimidating at all now. I've always been interested in cross fit though. I think the work outs that we do with our trainer is similar. I like that it's different every time, keeps it interesting.

Health_Gal

Well, I hope you don't smash up your legs and have to go to the emergency room to get a big gash sewn up like a lot of other people did that tried it.

I would NEVER let a coach convince me that box jumping is a good idea!

garlic7girl

I would love to but expensive and they gyms are so far from my home. Bummer.

Health_Gal

Crossfit is overpriced, dangerous hype.

You're better off with the YMCA, Planet Fitness, or something like that. Or if you can afford it, a personal trainer. If not, there are always good workout DVDs.

"Getting Fit, Even If It Kills You" from the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/22/fashion/thursdaystyles/22Fitness.html?pagewanted=all

midwifekelley2350

RachelSNO.....have you actually attended any Crossfit Gyms? I was just wondering as this is the second time I know of youve posted this exact same response...I actually prefer to try something before I have any comments about it to anyone. You do state that the extreme nature of Crossfit has made you not even want to consider it, but I 'm sure alot of people on this site had the same reservations about P90x or Insanity or whatever other workouts are out there....
Like I said , I prefer to make recommendations about something based on personal experience. Everyones entitled to their opinions, I just feel that opinions are better formed from experience.

what he said!

p0stdramatic

I wish we had a CrossFit gym here. The closest one is in Rogers, which is about 2 hours away.

Health_Gal

I am a runner, and I know some runners that decided to try Crossfit as a way of cross training. These were not weekend joggers, but people that run half marathons and marathons. Most quickly decided the Crossfit program’s workouts were too extreme for them. The WODs were making them too sore to do their best running. So they decided to go back to working with a personal trainer.

A few other runners decided to stick with Crossfit and see if they could get used to the workouts to the point they were not feeling so sore. Unfortunately, both got injured doing Crossfit WOD, and as a result, were not able to compete in some races they really wanted to run. After that, they also decided that doing Crossfit was counterproductive to their running goals.

So regardless of what the Crossfit leaders say, Crossfit does not always help people with their fitness goals. Sometimes it debilitates them with brutal workouts and sidelines them with injuries.

LisaCFSF

CrossFit rocks!!! Jus' Say'n! I have done P90X (man aerobics to CF-Lol) & Zumba and I love participating in a multitude of sports & activities... Different strokes for different folks. Some people run, others bike, swim, lift weights, rock climb, scuba dive, ski, wake board, etc. We're all different, that's what makes it interesting! Anyone can get hurt doing any kind of activity, some sports are more dangerous than others; that's life! I say do whatever makes you happy & don't knock the other guy just because they like something different than you do! :happy:

Health_Gal

If you do Crossfit, I hope you have really good health insurance. Because sooner or later, one of their extreme workouts will likely land you in the emergency room.

LisaCFSF

I thank you for your concern and I do in fact have excellent health insurance, thanks for caring! I also have an extensive background in physical therapy and I have an extremely knowledgeable (he has a degree in Exercise Science & Wellness) box owner/trainer who is adamant about proper technique & avoidance of injury. CrossFit also STRONGLY encourages modification & substitutions whenever necessary. Just because there are some negative examples/outcomes, doesn't mean that it applies to everyone. If you don't like or agree with it, just don't do it... Simple. Good luck with your endeavors in whatever sport or activity you so choose.

kitt8980

I completely agree with you there about how everyone does what they like and everyone is different. I have to say I have done the whole just running thing and I get tired of it. But with Crossfit, it is something different everyday and it keeps me wantin more. Just because I have a fear of somethin, does not mean I should not try to over come it. Like others have said you can get injured in anything you do. Cooking (burns, cuts), Walkin (slipin), Sleepin (fall off the bed, back or neck sore), typin on the computer (crampin in your wrist or fingers), Drivin (accedents). No matter what you do in life there is always a rist of injury. But it does not stop us from livin and tryin new things. So if we always have a fear and don't try to overcome it, then we will never learn and grow as individuals. By my goal bein the box jump thing (I know not the right wordin, but I like it...lol) it will help me to over come my fear and know that I can do just about anything I put my mind to. I really enjoy what I am doin and I know that there is a risk each day, but that is why my trainer is teachin me the right way to do it, to prevent injury as much as possible. I also really enjoy it and it is somethin I can take home with me and share with my family. So no matter how negative anyone is about this, it will not stop me from reachin my goals and doin what I want to do to better myself and my life. Love all the possatives that people do put out there.

Health_Gal

Running is only one thing I do. I do weight classes, kickboxing class, dance classes and some other things at the YMCA There are many ways to cross train, grow as individuals, challenge yourself, etc that do no involve paying money to the Crossfit organization.

While Crossfit talks about safety and modification, and some Crossfit coaches may be safe and responsible, the "do it or die trying" attitude" is very prevalent in the Crossfit organization, especially after people are finished with the beginner classes and graduate into the regular workouts. When pictures of blistered, bloody hands are posted on Crossfit websites and Facebook pages as "badges of honor," I know it's a place I would not want to spend my time and money

Besides, I refuse to take my marching orders ( workout instructions) from a character like Glassman that makes statements like this one, quoted from the NY Times article, Getting Fit, Even If It Kills You http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/22/fashion/thursdaystyles/22Fitness.html?pagewanted=all

Mr. Glassman, CrossFit's founder, does not discount his regimen's risks, even to those who are in shape and take the time to warm up their bodies before a session.

"It can kill you," he said. "I've always been completely honest about that."

Again, for most people, box jumping has no practical value, so why not find a goal to achieve or a fear to overcome that really does make a difference in your life?

moosenbratsmommy

CrossFit can be adjusted for beginners! i am female, 35 y/o, over 245 lbs and i crossfit! We have a CrossFit gym at work and the classes are at 5 and 6 in the morning, however i'm already at my desk by 5, so i miss the classes. I've learned moves watching videos and asking some of the crossfitters i know and adjusted to my fitness level.

get me on a treadmill and i can burn 1200 calories in an hour without running (losts of incline and a fast speed- plus i'm fat) but anywhere else i'm not motivated enough to do anything- however i enjoyed the dirty 30 yesterday and today's workout... and since i can't actually do pull-ups, someone showed me how to adjust and jump up from a 20" box- my arms feel it! i love crossfit... and my treadmill routine!