Crossfit

Read this:

http://slavenation.com/index.php/2009/07/23/cultfit/

And this:

http://www.sweatpit.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cult

Can you get in shape doing Crossfit? Yes.

Are there better, more efficient, less risky training methods out there that will do the same thing? Yes.

Summary: No periodization, no progression, sketchy trainers and gyms, overpriced, no real purpose save getting better at Crossfit.

There's nothing new in Crossfit. The exercises they use have been around for many years, used by Oly lifters, powerlifters, and strongmen. Crossfit brands itself as this ground-breaking methodology, while it's really just an inferior mish-mash of plagiarized training techniques cobbled together in random fashion.

Try it if you wish, but proceed with caution. Good luck!

cross fit gets a bad name IMO cross fit is good if done correct but most cross fit have such bad form curved backs deadlifting. cross fit is about lifting as fast as you can IMO form is KEY. If done safe with proper form its good

Try it! just be aware of your form and make sure you rest or modify based on your own personal needs!

I've been doing crossfit for almost a year now. I LOVE it. Yes, there is the potential for injury, but anytime you workout or train there is that same potential. Make sure to find qualified and helpful instructors. At my box they stress form first and are constantly watching you to make sure you're doing it right. They are really great about modifying workouts for beginners too. The first week is always the hardest - I was so sore I could hardly move by Friday. After the first week I would still be sore, but not in such a debilitating way.

I think its most important that you find a good box that you really like. I look forward to going because all of the trainers and people who work out there are amazing and its almost like a second family. Everyone is really encouraging and helpful and that makes a huge difference.

those that believe that Xfit is a function of "overall" fitness are sadly mistaken. Most strength training regimens target two areas of focus. A bodybuilder usually can produce high amounts of strength with aesthetics. A Sprinter, strength with endurance. A powerlifter, strength with speed. But what can a crossfitter do, in the elite tier?

it is a haphazard way to train...beautiful to recruit overall fitness, terrible to engage in any serious progression.

I've never done Crossfit, but I do consider myself a powerlifter in training - hoping to compete in the fall. I definitely see the appeal of Crossfit, just not right now.

What is your definition of overall fitness? And of "serious" progression? Increasing weight moved in the big three lifts? Jumping higher? Running faster? If you're an Oly lifter, you just wanna Oly lift better. Sprinters want to run faster. Bodybuilders want to look bigger and more cut up. Powerlifters want to move more weight. Crossfitters just want to do a bunch of different things better - why is there no merit in that? Like others have said, it's all about your goals.

Plus, what are your definitions of speed and endurance? I would say that sprinting is a combination of speed and explosiveness, and powerlifting strength and explosiveness. And bodybuilding, at least at a non-elite level, is in my experience primarily high amounts of aesthetics with strength... :P

Again, this thread is full of people who have never done CrossFit bashing CrossFit.

They can read the hell out of an article, though. I gotta give 'em that.

haha, someone should warn them about eye strain! ;-)

My husband tried for months to get me to join Crossfit. I had watched the Crossfit games and was terrified to try it. However, I finally gave in and went to a beginners class in late February and started to seriously train in March. It has made a world of difference in my overall confidence and I am definitely seeing results. In fact, I went up 10lbs on my deadlift today and was high on that accomplishment all morning.

I am certain there are bad CF gyms out there - but, there are bad personal trainers at every gym as well ( LOVE when a trainer suggest that I lift light and do more reps - **eyeroll** or suggest quarter squats). You have to choose wisely. The coaches at my box are well trained and stress form at EVERY workout. They know the athletes in their class and would never recommend that a person lift a weight if they cannot do it with proper form. Do some research before you go and visit several boxes in your area.

Lots of luck!

I started crossfit about 3 months ago. I LOVE it however I have not seen any weight loss or inches lost.
This has been discouraging me greatly. Has anyone else had an issue like this?

How is your diet? My weight is the same but I def see a difference in the way my body looks. I haven't measure yet.

I'm in my 4th week of CrossFit training. I hate that I love it so much. My orientation workout was a 1/2 Chelsea... I thought I was going to die... but I didn't. I've been a 5 day/weeker @ 5am since. Yes it's very hard, but it works. Is it for everyone? No. But you have to at least try it for more than a single intro WOD. Of course you will be sore if you haven't exercised in years, but then you'll be sore doing ANY exercise.

1) Anyone who bashes CrossFit and hasn't truly given it a 12 week trial run should be ignored. They are either just spouting the crap their Globogym Bros come up with, are close-minded semi-pros, are hypotrophy addicts, or are 'professional trainers' afraid of losing their livelihood. I can quote articles all day long about how marathon running is so bad for you or how bodybuilding makes you just a balloon animal version of yourself... all show and no go. But I say to each his own, pick your sport and excel at it. Don't think CrossFit is a sport? Go to a local competition and try and place. You won't. People used to laugh at snowboarding and now it's in the Olympics.

2) The point of CF is to make yourself a better version of you. To be better than yesterday. The only real competition is between you, your body, and the clock. The clock is just a measurement tool. I've seen a lot of posts about 'no progression'... where does that come from? Define 'progression' please. I do not think it means what you think it means. The WOD is not the end of the training. If you are stopping at just doing the WOD then you are wasting your time and money. My Box offers a M-W-F strength training component prior to the WOD. It also offers M-F Oly lifting classes with a nationally certified Oly coach. Yes the WOD may be 10-30 minutes, but there is nothing stopping you from doing strength work afterward to get you stronger.

3) There a crap-ton of bad coaches everywhere. Most are selling DVD sets. Like anything else in life you have to do your research before signing up at ANY gym. Ask questions. Is it a new Box or an established one? How many coaches? What are their other certifications? Do they promote safety above all else. Do they offer a free week trial? Even just watch a few WODs and focus on the coaches... are they attentive? Are they helpful? Are they correcting bad form? Are they encouraging? Do they explain Mods or scaling options to the WOD exercises? These are all things to look for in a good Box/Coach. I have yet to have any of our coaches refuse to help me or answer any questions or correct my form during a WOD or lifting session. They encourage and push, but keep form and safety paramount. They even teach us how to bail out of a squat, clean or snatch correctly so we don't get hurt.

4) Pricing. This will vary greatly by the Box's real estate location and their offerings. My Box for example is $150/mo unlimited... BUT that is for a 20,000 sq ft indoor gym and a 6000 sq ft outdoor space for tire flipping, prowler work, etc. Plus they offer a metCon class, daily WOD, Olympic Lifting, basic gymnastic coaching, rock climbing wall, free seminars and classes. So that's basically access to a coach 7 days a week. Do the math.

5) Injuries. Well hell, you can tweak your knee getting out of a pickup truck. Injuries occur in ALL sports, that's a fact. I know several bodybuilders who have torn a tendon or ripped a muscle loose during a workout so don't listen to the Bro on the hill crying out "CrossFit will tear your rotator...". The key to avoiding injury is to know your body and its limits. To be able to listen to it when it tells you it's in trouble. Those who try and lift too much weight with bad for will get hurt. Whether you CF or Oly or Bodybuild... the risk of injury is there. If you are Day 1 of CrossFit and you try and Rx "Fran"... you will get hurt. Why? Because you aren't ready to Rx ANY WOD on Day 1. Scaling and Modding are key to beginner CrossFitting. If your coach isn't offering Scaling or Mods then either ask or find a new Box. Ease into CF and always utilize the foam rollers! LOL

6) Anti-gloves. Please. I wear padded lifting gloves for my weight training and I have a pair of UA batting gloves for any monkey bar work. I'm in IT, an artist and I meet people daily. I can't have my hands all bandaged up and dripping blood and ooze every day. Do I wear gloves all the time in WODs? No. Only when I need them. Same for knees braces and joint braces. If I'm squatting... I'm wearing my knee braces. You don't like it or think I'm weak? I really don't care. I wear what I gotta wear to keep myself healthy. Plus several Elite CF Gamers wear gloves so...

Bottom line. Try it for yourself.

I'm wondering if anybody has tried it on here. It looks intense but worthwhile to me. Plus, I want to use it as a training mechanism of sorts for Tough Mudder.

You don't need CrossFit to handle a Tough Mudder, but if you DO do CrossFit you can definitely do a Tough Mudder. It's more about mental endurance and, for some, overcoming your fears than it is about being an athlete. Definitely do TM with friends though, it's much more fun. It's pretty likely there is a group at whatever CrossFit box you join that will be going, you'll make friends with them quickly enough and then you can do it together.

Love Crossfit. You can scale the workouts, it really is something any one can do. Don't be intimidated. And yeah, there's this:

"it's just a name. Do it on your own- or spend triple digits and go to a box. It doesn't matter. The workouts are good- but don't forget CrossFIt is JUST a name."

But I disagree. It's so much harder to get the motivation on your own, and not to mention, set up a home gym. Yeah, I do think Crossfit is pricy. But you get what you pay for.

crossfit is just a name.

Do some of their workouts on your own. They don't own burpees- oly lifts- muscle ups HIIT, Interval Circuit or AMRAP training....


it's just a name. Do it on your own- or spend triple digits and go to a box. It doesn't matter. The workouts are good- but don't forget CrossFIt is JUST a name.

*this.

"Crossfit brands itself as this ground-breaking methodology, while it's really just an inferior mish-mash of plagiarized training techniques cobbled together in random fashion."

This made me laugh...one of the fastest growing sports around being "inferior".

As my father has always said, don't knock it, until you try it.

Been doing it for over 4 months and it is something that I have never experienced. The rush you get during workouts is one of a kind and something that you cannot get while at a "regular" gym...and don't say you can.

The price? Try it and think of it as an investment in yourself..give it two months, if you really feel terrible about paying; then stop.