Anyone here do Crossfit?

shaywallis

I had no idea how many people were so "anti-crossfit" Crossfit is not "extreme". My goodness, I've been pregnant 4 years in a row, my youngest was born 5 months ago and I do crossfit 5 times a week. My coach is awesome and takes time with each and every person to work on form and technique. Everything can be scaled down to your specific level. Earlier this week we did a WOD where we had to do 5 rounds of 3x deadlifts and some other things. I did the first two rounds with 95# deadlift. After that I asked for him to lower the weight because I knew my form was going to get sloppy. I knew those two rounds were my limit. Ive even had them ask me in the middle of a WOD if I wanted to just stop there and be done for the day. No one can push you past what you are capable of. They encourage you but they don force you.

With that said, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my CF box!!! Everyone is uplifting and great to be around. I love the sense of community with CF. Like everyone has said, look around to find a good box. All of them have different pricing. The one I go to is $100/mo. If I was to do personal training sessions 5 times a week like I'm going now, that would be $200 a month!! In my eyes CF is cheap compared to paying for a personal trainer.

neverstray

I had no idea how many people were so "anti-crossfit" Crossfit is not "extreme". My goodness, I've been pregnant 4 years in a row, my youngest was born 5 months ago and I do crossfit 5 times a week. My coach is awesome and takes time with each and every person to work on form and technique. Everything can be scaled down to your specific level. Earlier this week we did a WOD where we had to do 5 rounds of 3x deadlifts and some other things. I did the first two rounds with 95# deadlift. After that I asked for him to lower the weight because I knew my form was going to get sloppy. I knew those two rounds were my limit. Ive even had them ask me in the middle of a WOD if I wanted to just stop there and be done for the day. No one can push you past what you are capable of. They encourage you but they don force you.

With that said, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my CF box!!! Everyone is uplifting and great to be around. I love the sense of community with CF. Like everyone has said, look around to find a good box. All of them have different pricing. The one I go to is $100/mo. If I was to do personal training sessions 5 times a week like I'm going now, that would be $200 a month!! In my eyes CF is cheap compared to paying for a personal trainer.

This thread is tame. There are some CF threads that get down right nasty about it. There are many big time haters. I've seen several CF threads that had to get locked down because they get so heated. You have no idea. Lol.

fatalis_vox

I, personally, love my Crossfit. I'm not really "extreme" anything. I'm 5'1 and kind of squishy around the midsection. I did crossfit for almost a year while back, and loved every day of it. Then I moved, and had a really hard time finding a good place to go or good people to surround me.

Now I'm deployed and there's actually a gym at this location that is dedicated to crossfit--Perks of being here include free crossfit with professional, certified instructors who also happen to be in the military, and are willing to put in the one-on-one time with anyone who wants it. I've did it for two months before a physical issue made me unable to go to the gym for a few weeks--And I hate being away from it.

It IS intense, but I love the intensity. I love really sweating. I love the endorphin rush that come from really pushing myself. I love finding my limits--And then smashing through them and getting better. I suffer from insomnia and migraines--And the crossfit helps me with both. I haven't had a migraine since I started working out like this again. I love the balance that it gives me through the rest of the day.

I don't know how much scientific foundation this has, but I -feel- like it jump-starts my metabolism when I do it first thing in the morning. It's also great for stress relief--I can look at the bar, or whatever, and tell it that it will not defeat me. Make it a metaphor for anything else that is holding me back, and it keeps me going.

As I said, I'm not extreme. I need one-on-one help. I need help with new exercises (or ones I haven't done in a while) and I need to be shown the proper form sometimes. A couple weeks ago, we spent an entire hour just working on getting the form right. I've got the arms of a girl. But this makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something, and I can feel myself getting stronger when I do it regularly.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

HelloDan

It's just circuit training, but glorified with a lot of publicity and backing behind it, making it popular. However, just like any gym or trainer, there are good and bad crossfit boxes out there. It's up to the trainee to make sure they pick a good one, although for complete rookies, obviously this is not easy, as they have no basic training knowledge.

Personally it's not for me, but if it gets more people into fitness and being healthy, it is a good thing in my book.

ChaseAlder

My husband and I both do Crossfit. We love our box! The atmosphere is motivating and the athletes are all really skilled and strong. The people who run it watch each person individually and scale the workouts per their perspective capabilities... they seem to know exactly how much weight you need after watching your form.

I'm currently in a full leg brace after a knee surgery, but I still go and do what I can (strict press, pullups, pushups, wall balls with no squat, kettlebells, rowing without legs, etc.) It has been a life saver considering I usually stick to long distance running and I haven't been able to run since October.

Once I'm back on the road running, I'm going to incorporate at least three WODs into my weekly schedule. How awesome will it be to be strong AND fast?

Health_Gal

Unfortunately, Crossfit members can be very cult like in their devotion to the system.

I don't think that's very healthy, and it's not something you have to deal with at the vast majority of non-Crossfit gyms.

Come on Crossfit people, Crossfit workouts are just a bunch of random exercise routines some guy posted on a website. It's not the Holy Grail!

LBNOakland

A good trainer can help you get in shape without needing to be associated with a Crossfit affiliate. They can tailor an exercise program especially for your needs. On the other hand, Crossfit routines are designed for athletes that are already extremely fit -- as no one that isn't in top shape can even hope to perform the extreme workouts without MAJOR modifications.

While boot camp classes at non-Crossfit gyms can be good or not-so-good, depending on the coaching, at least they are not affiliated with an organization that has such an extreme view of fitness.

I would suggest that anyone interested in a boot camp class ask to watch a class to see (1) the fitness level of participants (2) the coaching style (3) the types of exercises they have the class do. Most people like being in classes where they are somewhere near the middle of fitness levels. That way, you aren't at the bottom and struggling to catch up, and you aren't so close to the top that you have nothing to strive for.

I guess it really depends on the trainer. My trainer tailors the workouts for each participant. He knows our weaknesses. He pushes my son to do the pull ups without a band. In the same workout, he tells me to do rows, not pull ups. He knows my ultimate goal is to be able to do a pull up but I am not there yet and he doesn't push me at all. He does encourage me to try and stays right beside me while I do. I enjoy the challenge and don't mind being "at the botton" because I know I am working my way up. It feels good to know he cares enough to pay attention to my weaknesses and help me work on them. We all started out making MAJOR modifications. No one was born an elite athlete. It takes hard work and determination.

Health_Gal

The point I've been trying to make about all this is there is NOTHING to be gained by joining Crossfit that you can't get in thousands of other gyms that are not using that brand name.

There are good trainers and bad trainers, and for a trainer to have a Crossfit certification really means very little. It just means they paid a fee to the Crossfit organization and answered some questions in a way Crossfit approves. It says nothing about their coaching skill or their ability to know if they are pushing a client to exercise beyond what is safe for them.

LBNOakland

Unfortunately, Crossfit members can be very cult like in their devotion to the system.

I don't think that's very healthy, and it's not something you have to deal with at the vast majority of non-Crossfit gyms.

Come on Crossfit people, Crossfit workouts are just a bunch of random exercise routines some guy posted on a website. It's not the Holy Grail!

Any exercise routine is random exercises some guy put together into a book or on a site. I am not cultic. I do other things, as well. I am certainly not going to bash anyone else's fitness choices unless it involves sitting on the couch, playing video games! LOL

CrossFit mixes it up, makes it interesting and challenging. Right now, I am working with a trainer who incorporates CrossFit. But when our time is up or I cannot afford him, it will be nice to have a website to turn to if I am being too lazy to come up with my own routine. I need that. I get a mental block in the gym, if I don't have a routine written down ahead of time. :ohwell:

jenny031477

Unfortunately, Crossfit members can be very cult like in their devotion to the system.

I don't think that's very healthy, and it's not something you have to deal with at the vast majority of non-Crossfit gyms.

Come on Crossfit people, Crossfit workouts are just a bunch of random exercise routines some guy posted on a website. It's not the Holy Grail!

Do you seriously have nothing better to do?

Nobody said it's the Holy Grail. Those of us who do it, like it. There is also NOTHING to be gained by joining a gym if that's not something that is going to keep you coming back to workout. I HATE big box gyms. They're not for me but I'm certainly not going to bash them because they obviously work for a lot of people.

We get it. You hate CrossFit and would never do it. Point taken so there's really no reason for you to keep coming back and bashing it.

mike_gee15

Wow, heated discussion lol. I just asked if ya'll do crossfit.. *awkwardly walks away*


I'm kidding, but I've incorperated some WODs into my training, I don't go to a box or anything like that but I know my olly lifts and skill sets are ok, not great. (No shoulder mobility for OH Squat), but I'll agree most people just want to get in shape and they go to the gym just for lifts, but I got to admit that doing these WODs have, I don't know, made me feel better. I wake up refreshed and go to bed feeling ok. My joints and shoulders aren't aching. I'm not hurting. I'm sore, as usual, but I feel good. I want to thank everyone for their opinions, kinda shocking knowing people disapprove of it, but I understand everyone is intitled to their own opinion.

GeekyGirlLyn

I do Cross fit at a box. We sometimes follow the WoD and sometimes we just do that particular owners choice of WoD. We have open gym times as well which I have yet to take advantage of but should to get some weight work in daily more than the crossfit does for me.

I love my cross fit. Ive been making a habit of going steady at 5am for the last three weeks and my weight loss reflects that and some changes in my eating habits with some IF. No exercise system is the Holy Grail but ti works for me. I found doing Zumba boring and running on the treadmill did my head in even with music. I get a good weight workout and cardio workout 5 days a week and that works. Everyone needs to go with what works for them and if that Crossfit then good and if its not find something else. The whole of the type of workout shouldnt be vilified because some people take it too far. Every type has their fanatics, the obsessed, the down right weirdoes. Weight lifting. Zumba. Crossfit. Running. Playing with your hula hoop in the backyard. Every kind of workout has people who take it to extremes, doesnt mean its bad or should be knocked. Its what we make of it.

mrstravisjones

before crossfit, i couldn't walk up my 3 story townhouse without getting winded and having my knees crack. i could run up and down them 10 times over with energy to spare now.

i credit that to crossfit and crossfit endurance.

i was brought 'kicking and screaming' by my husband at first, and now i go twice as much as he does. i've never felt better about my health. i've been at it for 8 months now. and i've lost 20lbs, gained strength, and toned my body.

i'd say to anyone to give it a try for one month. if you don't like the way you feel and look, then go try something else.

but it is not for those who want to 'half-*kitten*' work out at a gym. you know the ones i'm talking about. if you're willing to push yourself, you will see results.

Health_Gal

mrstravisjone,

I am sorry to hear that your husband dragged you into Crossfit. Most Crossfit coaches push people MUCH too hard, which can result in all kinds of unnecessary injuries. Any reasonable exercise program could have gotten you into shape with much less risk of injury. If you didn't get injured doing Crossfit, you are lucky, because LOTS of people have. It is CRAZY what Crossfit expects people to do in those workouts, and trying to keep up with those expectations can cause injuries that can keep you out of the gym for weeks, if not months.

Responsible fitness coaches and personal trainers will tell you that it's much better to build up your strength slowly in a moderate fitness program as opposed to attempting a program as extreme as Crossfit that claims to get you in shape faster than anything else on the market.

No one would EVER convince me to join Crossfit. Even if the Crossifit box in your area has reasonable coaches, why contribute money to an organization that has such an extreme view of workouts that the founder doesn't mind saying that a Crossfit workout could kill you?

Especially when there are so many gyms and workout programs to select from that do not have such an extreme viewpoint.

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."

jenny031477

Running can kill you and injure you as well and yet millions of people participate. Hmmm, go figure.

Seriously, health_gal...go away.

LBNOakland

agree with luludee! Why visit a thread about crossfit if you don't like it?!?

MyEbonyEyes

I've been interested in trying it! Can anyone tell me a little about it?

jimmie65

Reading through this thread, it's interesting to see the different viewpoints.

What's disturbing, though, is the naysayer's perceptions. (BTW. I don't do Crossfit). They perceive Crossfit as a cult, where the participants think Crossfit is a "holy grail".

And yet I don't see that attitude from a single Crossfitter in this thread or anywhere else. Yes, Crossfitters are dedicated. And yes, they think Crossfit works (with good reason - it does work.) But when did being passionate about something become cultish? By that token, I must belong to a number of cults - Wendler 5/3/1 cult, bicycle to work cult, American bulldog cult, craft beer cult ... (ok, maybe the last one is a cult).

If something isn't for you, then it isn't for you. I don't do Body Pump or P90x, but I see my wife and others getting results from these programs. Same thing with Crossfit. It works, and it works well. Doesn't mean that I or anyone else have to do any of these programs.

Unfortunately, I think some of the negativity is an expression of a lack of passion. For some people, running someone else's passion down is a way to excuse their own lack of passion and dedication. It's a shame this forum has to be so negative toward anyone with any kind of passion.

jimmie65

I've been interested in trying it! Can anyone tell me a little about it?

Have you checked out their website? http://crossfit.com/

Health_Gal

Before you get involved with Crossfit, please do yourself a favor and check out this article from the NY TIMES. It is a very extreme exercise program with a high injury rate.

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."