Crossfit for Heavier Beginners?
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JnineGains
Posts: 136 Member
Is it do able or should I wait until I drop some weight first?
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Replies
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It is doable! Most all crossfit can be scaled to accommodate anyones ability level. No better time than the present to get started!2
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It is definitely doable. Talk to and research the places you are thinking about going to and that should make you feel a bit more comfortable about starting. It's scalable for any fitness level1
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Do it!!1
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do it1
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Totally do-able. I don't CF anymore, but I did it for about three years and my gym had all types of people getting great workouts. You'll see a lot a people who have the typical "cf look", but you'll also see a TON of people who are older, heavier, more out of shape, or all three. Talk to the members of whatever gym you're thinking about and ask the coaches about their scaling. You can get a good workout as you are now, in whatever condition that is
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It's possible to scale it down, but then it's just circuit training, not CF (which is probably a plus). It's up to you to decide if you want to pay a crossfit premium for something that isn't crossfit.1
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I am 5"2" and 188 and 49 years old. I just started crossfit with my daughter. There are modifications for things you are not able to do yet. The box we go to has very helpful coaches and members. If you want to try it see if they have a free trial. That's what we did.
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You should absolutely give it a shot as you are right now!
Any good coach will be able to take the workout and 'scale' (adapt) it to movements that you can do at your current level of fitness.0 -
High-intensity is a fundamental part of crossfit. If someone can't do the intensity, then it's really just random circuit training.
It's like people saying they're doing "tabata planks".
Certainly if someone's goal is to do crossfit, it would be worthwhile to start there at a low level and work your way up. But if not, I was just pointing out that it's an expensive way to do basic conditioning.2 -
High-intensity is a fundamental part of crossfit. If someone can't do the intensity, then it's really just random circuit training.
It's like people saying they're doing "tabata planks".
Certainly if someone's goal is to do crossfit, it would be worthwhile to start there at a low level and work your way up. But if not, I was just pointing out that it's an expensive way to do basic conditioning.
Intensity is relative. Scaling allows the individual to perform at the appropriate intensity level for their fitness. It's not random circuit training. And crossfit is a lot more than just conditioning, there is strength work, depending on the individual box programming, it could be fairly significant.7 -
High-intensity is a fundamental part of crossfit. If someone can't do the intensity, then it's really just random circuit training.
It's like people saying they're doing "tabata planks".
Certainly if someone's goal is to do crossfit, it would be worthwhile to start there at a low level and work your way up. But if not, I was just pointing out that it's an expensive way to do basic conditioning.
Intensity is relative. Scaling allows the individual to perform at the appropriate intensity level for their fitness. It's not random circuit training. And crossfit is a lot more than just conditioning, there is strength work, depending on the individual box programming, it could be fairly significant.
Resistance and workload may be relative, but intensity is not. 80% intensity is 80% intensity-- for one it might mean lifting 50lbs and another 200lbs, but the effect on each body will still be 80%.
The only way you can "scale" the workload for someone who is less fit is to decrease the intensity and likely the volume. And once you do that---it's not crossfit. It's circuit training designed to condition someone so that they can do crossfit.
Crossfit defines itself as focused on "constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movement". Now a facility can expand its services to include other things as accessories to crossfit, but these are not unique to that business.
Again, I am only making the point that someone starting out who is likely not conditioned to do crossfit does not have to pay a premium to go to a CF facility to go through that conditioning process. (Actually I'm not even doing that anymore--this is just for fun).
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Crossfit is not defined by a particular intensity level, that's pretty laughable. 79% intensity, nope, not crossfit yet...80.5% yay! Welcome to crossfit!2
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High-intensity is a fundamental part of crossfit. If someone can't do the intensity, then it's really just random circuit training.
It's like people saying they're doing "tabata planks".
Certainly if someone's goal is to do crossfit, it would be worthwhile to start there at a low level and work your way up. But if not, I was just pointing out that it's an expensive way to do basic conditioning.
Intensity is relative. Scaling allows the individual to perform at the appropriate intensity level for their fitness. It's not random circuit training. And crossfit is a lot more than just conditioning, there is strength work, depending on the individual box programming, it could be fairly significant.
Resistance and workload may be relative, but intensity is not. 80% intensity is 80% intensity-- for one it might mean lifting 50lbs and another 200lbs, but the effect on each body will still be 80%.
You're confusedThe only way you can "scale" the workload for someone who is less fit is to decrease the intensity and likely the volume. And once you do that---it's not crossfit. It's circuit training designed to condition someone so that they can do crossfit.
If 80% intensity for A is walking 100 meters and picking up a broom stick 10 times and 80% intensity for B is sprinting 400 meters and snatching 100 kilos 10 times
That's called scaling intensity.4 -
[/quote]
If 80% intensity for A is walking 100 meters and picking up a broom stick 10 times and 80% intensity for B is sprinting 400 meters and snatching 100 kilos 10 times
That's called scaling intensity.[/quote]
100% agree with this. We had two brand new people join our group yesterday, and Toes 2 Bar were in the WOD. Both of the newcomers needed to scale, one subbed V-ups and the other hanging knee raises. Just because they could not do the T2B because of the difficulty of the movement did not mean they didn't participate in CrossFit. They were both drenched in sweat and on the floor like the rest of us at the end of it. I sure wouldn't tell them they did it with 'low intensity'.2 -
Crossfit is for everyone no matter what your level of physical fitness is at the current time. All the workouts are scaleable to enable you to push yourself to your maximum whatever that may be. Do not be intimidated by those that are deadlifting 100kg when you can't (yet!) Crossfit is about giving your all whatever that may be. and the next time giving your all, and the next time etc etc until you can deadlift 100kg and the newbies are looking up to you. Crossfit is constantly varied functional fitness. its also so much more than that: its community, its family, its having the box cheer you on to finish the WOD, its everyone celebrating your PB and its the social BBQs outside of the box.3
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stanmann571 wrote: »
High-intensity is a fundamental part of crossfit. If someone can't do the intensity, then it's really just random circuit training.
It's like people saying they're doing "tabata planks".
Certainly if someone's goal is to do crossfit, it would be worthwhile to start there at a low level and work your way up. But if not, I was just pointing out that it's an expensive way to do basic conditioning.
Intensity is relative. Scaling allows the individual to perform at the appropriate intensity level for their fitness. It's not random circuit training. And crossfit is a lot more than just conditioning, there is strength work, depending on the individual box programming, it could be fairly significant.
Resistance and workload may be relative, but intensity is not. 80% intensity is 80% intensity-- for one it might mean lifting 50lbs and another 200lbs, but the effect on each body will still be 80%.
You're confusedThe only way you can "scale" the workload for someone who is less fit is to decrease the intensity and likely the volume. And once you do that---it's not crossfit. It's circuit training designed to condition someone so that they can do crossfit.
If 80% intensity for A is walking 100 meters and picking up a broom stick 10 times and 80% intensity for B is sprinting 400 meters and snatching 100 kilos 10 times
That's called scaling intensity.
No, that is setting different workloads to achieve the same intensity for persons of different fitness levels.
Workload and intensity are two different things. The words are not interchangeable.
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Because I was curious about this discussion and wanted to learn more about the distinctions being discussed, I found a few interesting articles.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/545984-relative-vs-absolute-exercise-intensity/
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/what-is-training-intensity.html/
ETA: I think if you want to try Crossfit, then do it, OP. I have never done Crossfit before, however, so I can't offer specific advice about the workouts.1 -
Crossfit is not defined by a particular intensity level, that's pretty laughable. 79% intensity, nope, not crossfit yet...80.5% yay! Welcome to crossfit!
" Bike, run, swim, row, etc, hard and fast. Five or six days per week mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. " --Gary Glassman
Maybe he doesn't know what Crossfit is either.1 -
Crossfit is not defined by a particular intensity level, that's pretty laughable. 79% intensity, nope, not crossfit yet...80.5% yay! Welcome to crossfit!
" Bike, run, swim, row, etc, hard and fast. Five or six days per week mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. " --Gary Glassman
Maybe he doesn't know what Crossfit is either.
You aren't supporting your case.
100% intensity for a person of low fitness is still 100% intensity...for them. What particular movements they do or pace at which they are able to perform them, is going to be vastly different from someone who is highly trained. That doesn't mean they aren't trying or working out with intensity. I don't know how to make it any simpler.6
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