Starting Crossfit?

lat3ralus65

So I started C25K a few weeks ago in an attempt to get active and lose a few pounds and, despite my lifelong hatred of running, I'm really enjoying it and find myself looking forward to each day of it. Now that I have the ol' exercise juices flowing, I want to augment the running with some other workouts. The gym never works for me - I need structure, which is why C25K has been working for me so far, and at the gym I just feel like I am aimlessly lifting things - so I was thinking of trying Crossfit this summer. I'm just worried I'm not in sufficient shape to be able to handle it. I've never been particularly athletic (I can't even do a pullup), and I haven't done strength training with any sort of consistency or structure since high school, when I lifted for football.

Have any of you started Crossfit from a similar situation as myself? What were your experiences?

mindidily

Not me, personally, but my husband did. He was in ok shape. It's like any other program; do it to the best of your abilities and you'll get better as you go. He had to take a safety class first to show him how to properly do the exercises ahead of time. But it works well for him. He looks amazing.

ilovedeadlifts

the weights will be light at the start and you'll become accustomed to it.

but I have to ask WHY????

you're basically overpaying for poor programming and a bad group training session.
you'd be much better off (and safer) joining a gym and learning to do barbell lifts, and looking up a good program like stronglifts, starting strength, or 5/3/1.

crossfit is full of injuries because the instructors can get certified in a weekend, the whole program (or lack thereof) isn't thought out, it's totally random. and they do lifts for large numbers of reps that weren't meant to be performed in that fashion.

ATLMel

the weights will be light at the start and you'll become accustomed to it.

but I have to ask WHY????

you're basically overpaying for poor programming and a bad group training session.
you'd be much better off (and safer) joining a gym and learning to do barbell lifts, and looking up a good program like stronglifts, starting strength, or 5/3/1.

crossfit is full of injuries because the instructors can get certified in a weekend, the whole program (or lack thereof) isn't thought out, it's totally random. and they do lifts for large numbers of reps that weren't meant to be performed in that fashion.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, at all. I'm just curious about this as the trend is getting pretty hot here.

What makes you say the program is random?

What types of crossfit lifts do you think are damaging?

Aren't all crossfit instructors required to be certified personal trainers?

_Amy_Budd

I don't know why people get all crazy negative about CrossFit... I think it's a great program. Quick, intense workouts, lifting heavy while getting the heart rate up, and a really wonderful group atmosphere of encouragement. Many at my box are uber-fit - I am *not* - but they help me modify and scale every workout to my abilities, helping me to push myself without over-reaching. It's been great for me.

I would be happy to elaborate if you want to send me a message.

Thanks,
Amy

ilovedeadlifts

What makes you say the program is random?
You have completely random WODs. There isn't an area for progression where you're shooting for a heavier weight, you're constantly trying to be faster and get one more round or beat your previous time. which leads to bad form.
It's just poorly thought out.

What types of crossfit lifts do you think are damaging?
Snatches done with bad form for high reps.
C&Js done with bad form for high reps.
deadlifts done for high reps & speed.
When you start doing AMRAP in a set time, you sacrifice form, and that gets people hurt.
Athletes are at risk for Rhabdomyolsis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhabdomyolysis

Aren't all crossfit instructors required to be certified personal trainers?
As far as I know they just have to get a crossfit certification. I could be mistaken here though.


I've actually been to and worked out at a crossfit facility and from my experience, it could be fun, and appealing to someone, but there wasn't much room for progression. You basically work hard to be mediocre at everything instead of being good at something.
Our "warmup" we did at that gym was dangerous IMO. there wasn't a light dynamic warmup, it was a 6 minute balls to the walls circuit of planks, box jumps, and wall ball that would send a beginners heart into unsafe levels pretty quickly. (this was a class for people who had never done crossfit so its safe to assume the majority of people were fairly new to fitness)
I just dislike it. Lots of athletes are injured because it's so poorly thrown together.

ATLMel

What makes you say the program is random?
You have completely random WODs. There isn't an area for progression where you're shooting for a heavier weight, you're constantly trying to be faster and get one more round or beat your previous time. which leads to bad form.
It's just poorly thought out.

What types of crossfit lifts do you think are damaging?
Snatches done with bad form for high reps.
C&Js done with bad form for high reps.
deadlifts done for high reps & speed.
When you start doing AMRAP in a set time, you sacrifice form, and that gets people hurt.
Athletes are at risk for Rhabdomyolsis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhabdomyolysis

Aren't all crossfit instructors required to be certified personal trainers?
As far as I know they just have to get a crossfit certification. I could be mistaken here though.


I've actually been to and worked out at a crossfit facility and from my experience, it could be fun, and appealing to someone, but there wasn't much room for progression. You basically work hard to be mediocre at everything instead of being good at something.
Our "warmup" we did at that gym was dangerous IMO. there wasn't a light dynamic warmup, it was a 6 minute balls to the walls circuit of planks, box jumps, and wall ball that would send a beginners heart into unsafe levels pretty quickly. (this was a class for people who had never done crossfit so its safe to assume the majority of people were fairly new to fitness)
I just dislike it. Lots of athletes are injured because it's so poorly thrown together.

Apologies to the OP for the thread jack....

Thanks for the response; this is the kind of info I was looking for.

The AMRAP in a set amount of time thing turned me off when I was looking into this a month or so ago (the $200 monthly fee on top of the $150 On Ramp course was another turnoff).

It does look like a lot of fun but seems to me it doesn't leave a lot of room for other aspects of fitness or even a lot of variety. I hadn't even considered the lack of progression. I like to see progress in measurable amounts (run faster, longer, lift heavier).

withervein

Elements of Crossfit are good for many people. Encouragement, breaking barriers, recording work and breaking PRs are all things that can help a person SEE the improvement in their health and push them to greater heights.

Not all of any workout program works for everyone.

I prefer my weights heavy and slow with good form, I prefer my calisthenics to leave me in a puddle on the floor (burpees with a kettlebell, I love/hate you).

Doing sets of sprints for time is awesome, especially when the third sprint is 2 seconds faster than the first one.
Doing sets of weights for time is not, especially when I can't stand up straight the next day.

While I'm fine with being mediocre at a lot of stuff, I don't want to be the best at exercising, which seems to be a goal of Crossfit.

twinmom01

I will tell you my experience...

I am far from being uber fit - I had been working out for a good year before I did it - 1-2x's a week at the gym with some cardio and weight circut and 2x's a week kickboxing class...

I managed to snag a Groupon to my Box so it was an easy and inexpensive way for me to try it out...

I love it - I love my box - the trainers are all great (and certified personal trainers...not that that paper means much either IMO) and want to help you NOT push you (i.e. why push someone to the point of getting hurt - that means they won't be able to come to classes and speak poorly = less money coming in the door).

I do alright - I have yet to do a pull up unassisted (I use big rubber resistance bands to help me) and honeslt doubt i ever will - but I try...and that is what is important to me...

As for bad form and what not - that is a personal issue - I know my coaches would rather see proper form rather than lifting heavier weights....same goes for the WODS where you have AMRAP - you aren't trying to beat someone else it isn't a race...it is about building your endurance....

I will say JUST LIKE ANY OTHER EXERCISE - there are good instructors and bad instructors...and with the popularity of crossfit there are bound to be some boxs pop up where the management and instruction is questionable.

Your best bet is to ask around and see where the boxes are in your area - ask people who go there if they like it and what the classes are like.

We have a few in my area - the one I go to limits class size to 6 people...most time i go there are only about 4-5 people - last Friday there was only 2 of us...the other one in my area have class sizes up to 20 people in a class...I know I would not like that and would feel quite intimidated...

Some people say it can be cult like - and I can see that - I go to class, get to hang out with some awesome people of all shapes, sizes and abilities - who are all very encouranging - who cheer you on - who slap your back and say "next time" if you feel you have failed at something...of course I want to keep going back - who wouldn't - now I am well aware not all boxes ae like this - I guess I found myself a good one.

It can be expensive - I pay about $130/month for 10 classes - my contract is up at the end of the month and I dont' think i am going to renew right now - they are moving to a new space in June so instead of being 5 minutes from my house they will be 20 minutes - but mainly because my daughters begin summer swim team- so practice every evening and a meet every week - I simply don't think I will have time to get to classes at the times they have them in the evenings (my husband works out at the local Golds in the mornings - so going to the morning classes are out for me)

marquezzy

I think it all depends on the CrossFit gym you choose to join. At my box in San Francisco, the instructors place a major emphasis on good form for all movements. The class sizes are relatively small so you get called out on bad form quickly and encourgaged to drop weight if you're struggling to do the movements correctly. The class is usually divided into a strength session and a met-con session so you get to work on quality heavy lifts and get a good metabolic work out.

The key is not to get caught up in the competitive AMRAP stuff. You always try go as quickly as you can but never sacrifice good form. If you have to slow down, take rests, or lower your resistance then by all means make the adjustment to do the workout safely and effectively.

Now there are some boxes that I have attended where the focus of the gym is on the fire breathers who are total beasts and the beginners are neglected but that's something you have to go and check out for yourself.