Crossfit?
helenmelon17
Posts: 12 Member
Hi guys, was wondering if anybody was into crossfit and would recommend it as a good way of keeping fit, and getting leaner and stronger?
By the end of April I was in decent fitness and was regularly dancing, going to the gym and doing metafit classes, but after 5 months or so of relaxing and doing very little exercise and eating lots of junk (I did spend three months in the USA) this summer I am looking to kickstart my routine again. I've gained around 7lb which isn't too much, and I am back on eating well now (mostly) and I started back at dance last week (I dance with my university society, nothing professional, just for fun really).
I have a wedding in November that I already have my dress for and at the minute it is small and won't do up all the way. Ideally I'd like to lose around 10-14lb and I have just under two months to do so.
Anyway, one of my friends at university is really into crossfit and she is in amazing shape. One of the most muscular yet feminine girls I know, she's stunning. We were talking about it today and it does sound great. However I have a very busy schedule at the moment with Uni, studying, my job, dance and church and I'm not sure if I'd be able to fit it all in. I'd love to be in great shape though and feel like crossfit is a lot more helpful that just doing it yourself at the gym as they coach and encourage you through everything. It's also quite expensive at around £65 a month for my nearest centre.
If anybody has any advice, that'd be much appreciated. I really would like to burn fat and build some more muscle again, as earlier this year I was getting in the best shape I'd ever been in in my life. I I still have a lot further to go though and I think that crossfit may be the answer.
By the end of April I was in decent fitness and was regularly dancing, going to the gym and doing metafit classes, but after 5 months or so of relaxing and doing very little exercise and eating lots of junk (I did spend three months in the USA) this summer I am looking to kickstart my routine again. I've gained around 7lb which isn't too much, and I am back on eating well now (mostly) and I started back at dance last week (I dance with my university society, nothing professional, just for fun really).
I have a wedding in November that I already have my dress for and at the minute it is small and won't do up all the way. Ideally I'd like to lose around 10-14lb and I have just under two months to do so.
Anyway, one of my friends at university is really into crossfit and she is in amazing shape. One of the most muscular yet feminine girls I know, she's stunning. We were talking about it today and it does sound great. However I have a very busy schedule at the moment with Uni, studying, my job, dance and church and I'm not sure if I'd be able to fit it all in. I'd love to be in great shape though and feel like crossfit is a lot more helpful that just doing it yourself at the gym as they coach and encourage you through everything. It's also quite expensive at around £65 a month for my nearest centre.
If anybody has any advice, that'd be much appreciated. I really would like to burn fat and build some more muscle again, as earlier this year I was getting in the best shape I'd ever been in in my life. I I still have a lot further to go though and I think that crossfit may be the answer.
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Replies
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If your goal is to be in good physical shape then give CF a shot, just try and vet the different boxes in your area for the best coaches so you are taught properly and can avoid injuries. CF coupled with good nutrition and you'll be able to manage your weight as you want to.0
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helenmelon17 wrote: »Hi guys, was wondering if anybody was into crossfit and would recommend it as a good way of keeping fit, and getting leaner and stronger?
By the end of April I was in decent fitness and was regularly dancing, going to the gym and doing metafit classes, but after 5 months or so of relaxing and doing very little exercise and eating lots of junk (I did spend three months in the USA) this summer I am looking to kickstart my routine again. I've gained around 7lb which isn't too much, and I am back on eating well now (mostly) and I started back at dance last week (I dance with my university society, nothing professional, just for fun really).
I have a wedding in November that I already have my dress for and at the minute it is small and won't do up all the way. Ideally I'd like to lose around 10-14lb and I have just under two months to do so.
Anyway, one of my friends at university is really into crossfit and she is in amazing shape. One of the most muscular yet feminine girls I know, she's stunning. We were talking about it today and it does sound great. However I have a very busy schedule at the moment with Uni, studying, my job, dance and church and I'm not sure if I'd be able to fit it all in. I'd love to be in great shape though and feel like crossfit is a lot more helpful that just doing it yourself at the gym as they coach and encourage you through everything. It's also quite expensive at around £65 a month for my nearest centre.
If anybody has any advice, that'd be much appreciated. I really would like to burn fat and build some more muscle again, as earlier this year I was getting in the best shape I'd ever been in in my life. I I still have a lot further to go though and I think that crossfit may be the answer.
10-15 pounds by November is going to be a long haul, unless you have a ton of water weight to lose 15 lbs in two months is hard. I agree with the other post CF is not what is on the website, and it is. The gyms that pay thousands of dollars a year for the Crossfit name vary. Try to find one that uses a linear progression style programming with a solid beginner program that will teach you the proper movements without a clock or competition mentality. Save competing until you can meet the strength, flexibility, and endurance abilities necessary to do it safely. One the other hand the "main site" is a sham with no programming and no real way to track progress.0 -
I love crossfit because it helps me to see results in a variety of ways. Weight coming off, body shape changing, and gaining strength.0
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I love crossfit! I just started at the end of august0
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Thanks for your help guys. I am gonna contact my local centre and give it a go. My friend who's already really into it has agreed to come along with me for the first session so I don't find it too daunting
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Crossfit is awesome! Just a heads up you usually get leaner but sometimes the scale wont move much. That is because you are also building muscle which is a good thing! I totally suggest you contact a gym and see about trying it. Some gyms offer a try it free class and then they have a beginning program that helps prepare you for the regular class. But depending on how your trainer/gym owner is I believe its worth the money! Be sure that they are paying attention to form and keeping you from getting hurt. Sometimes in crossfit they get all about how fast and forget the form which equals hurt. Good luck to you!
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Crossfit is awesome! For everyone and for every goal!0
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looney9708 wrote: »Crossfit is awesome! For everyone and for every goal!
So true! There are ways to modify or make it more intense so its for every level! And its know for making you overall stronger to do anything. I know a 65 year old that has been doing crossfit just so she could be able to lift heavy things around the house herself.0 -
Started crossfit two months ago and got hooked immediately. Not only from the aspect that it has helped me get into the best shape of my life but mentally it has helped to teach me that I can accomplish anything that I set my mind to even when you hit those moments when you feel like you can go any further. Good luck!0
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helenmelon17 wrote: »...eating lots of junk (I did spend three months in the USA)
What's that supposed to mean? lol
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I like crossfit...with some caveats. 1 it varies widely from box to box, a good box is great, a bad box is horrible. 2 adjust your ego to your fitness level, don't be afraid to push, but also don't be afraid to back off. 3 use open gym to work on things rather than relying solely on the wods. 4 work a lot of the movements strict if you want to gain strength, before moving on to some of the bizarre incarnations used to gain speed.0
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Every Cross Fit Competition I see on TV shows me people doing many many reps of an exercise with poor form just looking to get injured. Is this an exercise program for regular people looking to get/stay in shape?0
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Every Cross Fit Competition I see on TV shows me people doing many many reps of an exercise with poor form just looking to get injured. Is this an exercise program for regular people looking to get/stay in shape?
Crossfit should not be judged by what you see on tv during the games & competitions. That isn't what it looks life in real life with regular people.0 -
Every Cross Fit Competition I see on TV shows me people doing many many reps of an exercise with poor form just looking to get injured. Is this an exercise program for regular people looking to get/stay in shape?
Crossfit should not be judged by what you see on tv during the games & competitions. That isn't what it looks life in real life with regular people.
Agree.
1. The big competitions display competitors that train for the event that don't really use the traditional WODS to get in-shape; they train differently for competition. Many of the men and women you see that blow through the Power Snatch or Deadlift ladders have a background in competitive Olympic Lifting and / or Powerlifting, so it's not a good representation of your typical CF box.
2. Go to any gym and watch people doing more traditional strength training and let's talk about poor form and poor programming. As somebody said above, a good box is great and a bad box is horrible; just as a good trainer is going to be great and a bad trainer is going to be horrible.
There are a handful of exercises that CF uses that I don't like but by in-large CF has done a great thing for our society in that it's motivated people to get off their *kitten* and exercise and exercise intensely at that. Don't hate on CF in-general, hate on the bad coaches that run a box.0 -
Every Cross Fit Competition I see on TV shows me people doing many many reps of an exercise with poor form just looking to get injured. Is this an exercise program for regular people looking to get/stay in shape?
Crossfit should not be judged by what you see on tv during the games & competitions. That isn't what it looks life in real life with regular people.
You say this, yet during the broadcast, below the name of every competitor at every event is the name of the Crossfit organization they represent. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a full competition on ESPN, but do they have a disclaimer that says something to the effect of what you're saying?.........."even though ESPN calls this the CrossFit Games, this isn't what real CrossFit looks like in real life with regular people"0 -
Sam_I_Am77 wrote: »Every Cross Fit Competition I see on TV shows me people doing many many reps of an exercise with poor form just looking to get injured. Is this an exercise program for regular people looking to get/stay in shape?
Crossfit should not be judged by what you see on tv during the games & competitions. That isn't what it looks life in real life with regular people.
There are a handful of exercises that CF uses that I don't like but by in-large CF has done a great thing for our society in that it's motivated people to get off their *kitten* and exercise and exercise intensely at that.
Watching the CrossFit games has motivated me to say "nope, nope, nopiddy, nope.....big bag of nope"Don't hate on CF in-general, hate on the bad coaches that run a box.
Can I just hate that CrossFit refers to their gym as a "box"?0 -
I've been doing it for about a month now and love it. I played hockey growing up so it really reminds me of a great mix of strength and cardio that push your body. I'm not training for any type of games either so I really don't pay much attention to PR's or Metcom times...just get moving!0
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Mark Rippetoe put it best: Crossfit is fine "exercise" but it's not "training".
I prefer regular strength training over crossfit shenanigans.0 -
jeremywm1977 wrote: »Sam_I_Am77 wrote: »Every Cross Fit Competition I see on TV shows me people doing many many reps of an exercise with poor form just looking to get injured. Is this an exercise program for regular people looking to get/stay in shape?
Crossfit should not be judged by what you see on tv during the games & competitions. That isn't what it looks life in real life with regular people.
There are a handful of exercises that CF uses that I don't like but by in-large CF has done a great thing for our society in that it's motivated people to get off their *kitten* and exercise and exercise intensely at that.
Watching the CrossFit games has motivated me to say "nope, nope, nopiddy, nope.....big bag of nope"Don't hate on CF in-general, hate on the bad coaches that run a box.
Can I just hate that CrossFit refers to their gym as a "box"?
Yes, calling it a "box" is f'ing stupid.
I'm not into CF style of training by any means, primarily because the programming for strength is generally not there unless the coach is awesome at what they do.Mark Rippetoe put it best: Crossfit is fine "exercise" but it's not "training".
In-large that is true, but there are good coaches that do take the time to do real programming for strength with CF. I've listened to some interesting podcasts, so they're out there but probably the minority.0 -
OK so CrossFit isn't what is presented on TV as CrossFit. So what is CrossFit, how is it different that what is presented on TV, and why is it better than lifting, cardio and/or body weight routines?
Truly, I only know about it what I have seen.0 -
There's a crossfit group here: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/99-crossfit-loveSo what is CrossFit, how is it different that what is presented on TV, and why is it better than lifting, cardio and/or body weight routines?
I'm not an expert, but CF is both a national organization with a website and some coach training and a bunch of individual gyms (er, boxes) that are affiliated, but aren't really subject to much oversight.
The commonalities are that they are structured around WODs (workouts of the day) that tend to be an hour and involve warm up, some strength work, and then the WOD part, which involves doing a circuit or some such for a certain period of time, as many rounds as possible (say, for 12 minutes) or doing a certain amount and keeping track of the time. There are ways to adjust the workout or prescribed weights for people who can't manage them (banded pull-ups instead of pull-ups, the infamous kipping pull-ups).
The competitions feature people trying to win (so sacrificing form to speed) and extreme workouts (the stupid numbers of reps and the like). In theory (although some are good and some are not, so someone should be careful), people in an actual CF box should be watched and encouraged to focus on form, and the workouts should be more reasonable (but there are plenty that tend to be too high rep for the type of exercise, IMO, at least on occasion, and that includes some of the more famous named ones that will be done at various times throughout CF).
Other differences will relate to training/newcomer prep (some are really good and have good coaches, some are not), and to other offerings of the box.
I really like my, sigh, I'll just call it a gym (although it's not my primary way of working out), because it does have good coaching and knowledgeable people (I vetted this), and I wanted to learn olympic lifting and it was one good way of doing this. After the intro class, mine has a good olympic program with various 12-week progressions throughout the year and coaches who come to know you, but this isn't really CF. There's also a newer strength-based program/group that is similar for weight lifting.
The WODs are fun and sub well for exercise but not training -- more like a circuit training type class, but with the opportunity to do more barbell stuff. A lot of people enjoy it because it's a pretty fun workout, feels hard, and generally is very friendly/done in a community atmosphere. "Boxes" often have various social activities too -- IME it's different than a gym in that way, and I bet for a lot of people that's really motivating. It's not the best way to actually follow a strength program, for sure, unless your facility has a separate program of this type (many do, I think many people who start CF end up really loving that side of it more than the WODs). And you really do have to be careful because of the quality differences and see if people are being taught properly.0 -
helenmelon17 wrote: »...eating lots of junk (I did spend three months in the USA)
What's that supposed to mean? lol
There is so much more fast food available and much bigger portions in the US! I was also on the go a lot so it was difficult to cook and prepare my own food. So the junk food of course draws you in.0 -
Mycophilia wrote: »Mark Rippetoe put it best: Crossfit is fine "exercise" but it's not "training".
I prefer regular strength training over crossfit shenanigans.
21st Century, Mycophilia!
My son, 21 years, does Crossfit. He deadlifts over 450 pounds and backsquats above 300 pounds and can clean-and-jerk 185 pounds.
I'm pretty sure Crossfit has been "training" for him. Oh, and by-the-way, he can run and has a pretty awesome vertical leap too -- unlike your bodybuilders!
I have watched those Crossfit competitions too. The thing that strikes me about them is how all the competitors look like super-heroes, with cut abs and big shoulders.0 -
It depends what your goals are! Crossfit is total body with strength and cardio mixed in. If your goal is to be in great shape and look good do crossfit..if you want to 'bulk' up then lift heavy.Mycophilia wrote: »Mark Rippetoe put it best: Crossfit is fine "exercise" but it's not "training".
I prefer regular strength training over crossfit shenanigans.
21st Century, Mycophilia!
My son, 21 years, does Crossfit. He deadlifts over 450 pounds and backsquats above 300 pounds and can clean-and-jerk 185 pounds.
I'm pretty sure Crossfit has been "training" for him. Oh, and by-the-way, he can run and has a pretty awesome vertical leap too -- unlike your bodybuilders!
I have watched those Crossfit competitions too. The thing that strikes me about them is how all the competitors look like super-heroes, with cut abs and big shoulders.
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antennachick wrote: »
It depends what your goals are! Crossfit is total body with strength and cardio mixed in. If your goal is to be in great shape and look good do crossfit..if you want to 'bulk' up then lift heavy.Mycophilia wrote: »Mark Rippetoe put it best: Crossfit is fine "exercise" but it's not "training".
I prefer regular strength training over crossfit shenanigans.
21st Century, Mycophilia!
My son, 21 years, does Crossfit. He deadlifts over 450 pounds and backsquats above 300 pounds and can clean-and-jerk 185 pounds.
I'm pretty sure Crossfit has been "training" for him. Oh, and by-the-way, he can run and has a pretty awesome vertical leap too -- unlike your bodybuilders!
I have watched those Crossfit competitions too. The thing that strikes me about them is how all the competitors look like super-heroes, with cut abs and big shoulders.
It is what you want and crossfit is good and preparing people to do crossfit. The ideas that constantly varied exercises are what produce high level fitness has been pretty roundly rejected by both established strength and conditioning professionals and by tops Crossfitters. Almost all top lever Crossfitters now work through a periodization cycle developing, strength, then Olympic lifting skill, then cardiovascular capability, and then peaking for an event, like the games. Comparing what is done at most gyms (boxes), or on the website, to what the guys and gals on ESPN do is like..... Saying all bodybuilders can't run because Jay Cutler (former Mr. Olympic) weights over 300 lbs.0 -
I have seen many people injured from crossfit0
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It is a great way to injure yourself.0
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I agree with what all the positive people here have said. I started crossfit last Decmeber, 3 months after having weight loss surgery. The changes in my body shape and strength have been amazing!! I feel better than I ever had post any workout - including months I worked with a trainer. I haven't lost a ton of weight, but I have lost amazing amounts of fat mass and built a ton of muscle. You need to research your coaches and where you want to take classes before you start. Too many upstarts jumping on a bandwagon for money, not for fitness or the actual principals of crossfit. It has been life saving for me. To all of the naysayers - don't talk smack about anything if you haven't actually tried it yourself. Opinions about something you haven't tried are uninformed and do not help people trying to make a decision based on the experiences of others.0
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Actually, there is no evidence that people who do Crossfit are any more prone to injury than people who do any other form of strenuous activity. And, when people have attempted to collect fair and accurate data on injury rates they have found that the injury rate is about the same as for any type of weight lifting in the gym, and less than for running or any type of active sport. The injury rate found in one of those studies was 3.1 injuries per 1,000 hours of participation. That was no different from the rate for Olympic lifting, powerlifting, and general fitness workouts. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24276294)0
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