CrossFit

I've heard that there is a wide range of competencies between different CrossFit owners/trainers. Can you comment? I want to try it out but need to make sure I am working with a knowlegable trainer that can work with me so I get strong and not damaged. Any advice? I live in Georgia and there is a box within walking distance of my home.

Just a small checklist of things to look for from my own opinion:

-Some sort of beginners courses. I know this was mentioned, but I cannot stress this enough! I would strongly advise against going to a box that just throws you into the regular workouts. I had to go through 3 weeks and 10 classes that were each an hour and a half. Of course you can't learn everything in three weeks, but you can really get the basics.

-I would also advise to find a box with coaches that have MORE than only the crossfit certification as far as credentials go (this will be the case at the majority of good boxes!) Look for various degrees or other certifications involving weightlifting or other activities.

-The atmosphere of the gym. I personally would be miserable in a gym that was overly-competitive. Friendly competition is fun of course, but ultimately the box should make it about you the individual member and your own personal growth. I would hate to work out some place that coaches just yelled a time at me. I need positive encouragement! Speed and weight should never, ever be emphasized over form. EVER.

-Quality coaching. Even if you don't know what the correct form is yet, you can spot quality coaching by observing. Coaches should always go over every lift used in the workout that day and have members practice it with only the bar or what is light weight for them. They should make corrections before the workout begins (and if a member just can't get it they should be substituting!) They should also continue to make comments as necessary DURING the workout. Our coaches give us friendly reminders that they will personally come and take the plates off of our bar if they see us using poor form.

This is just a small list - but a good place to start.

Prices vary. Shop around. I pay $6.25 per hour session, which I deem as quite reasonable for personal training in a group setting but I understand and respect we all have different financial situations

Check it out and see what you think. Don't sign anything or commit until you can check it out and make an informed decision. If you find a quality box and you think it's for you, give it a go! It's the most positive community I've ever been a part of. I've never belonged to any workout facility where I walk in and see friends who know my name

(For reference, here is my history of workouts/facilities: Zumba, yoga (still do), hip-hop dance classes, boot camp classes, abs classes, college rec center, YMCA (3 times in 2 countries), personal training at Y (during 2 memberships; once in each country I belonged), globo-gym in my city, team sports in high school, intramural leagues in Chicago (still do), ballet modern and jazz dancing, running on my own (still do)... all that I can think of off the top of my head.)

Wow, small world... I just happened to come across this thread by accident, and had a major deja-vu - Just an FYI, the member "Rachelsno" is everywhere on this site, usually posting about things "she" doesn't agree with, which is many apparently. Always with a handy list of links and info about why you shouldn't be doing what you are doing to get in shape/lose weight. My advice to everyone is to ignore. It's sad this person has SO much time to be able to incessantly post and comment and reply and make it a mission to be negative about everyone elses choices. PLEASE, get a life whoever you are.

You know what, Anouje, I DO have a life! And for you to post that I, or anyone else "always" writes posts about things I don't agree with, or "always" does anything is an untrue statement.

There is nothing wrong with backing up one's opinion with links from websites where people can get more information.

BTW, Anouje are you one of those people that is crying over the fact that the FDA is taking action against those snake oil salesmen that promote the dangerous 500 calorie a day HCG diet scam? Is that why you are telling people not to pay attention to anything I post?

Thanks chrissyv1024!!!

I have never done it but would love to try. My gym doesn't offer that though

I don't think I mind Crossfit as much as I mind the people who Crossfit.
With that said, if someone is doing something that benefits their body I'm not going to bash them.
But why do 90% of Crossfitters wear calf tights? I would understand the recovery factor if it were an endurance sport.
I live in the largest military region. Tons of the people I know Crossfit. I personally can't see paying that much to go to a gym when the military already provides so many gym facilities (where they can do their WODs at). I guess it's to be around other guys wearing calve socks, that aren't really socks.

I'm a regular at a rock gym and dudebags come in all the time with their Crossfit 757 Tees on. They're looking pretty ripped, but then they get on the rock and owned by the sissy routes that the college barbie girls do. This is no exaggeration. (Just a note, Vibrams are NOT climbing shoes, they do the opposite of what actual climbing shoes do, and they smell.)
I recently ran a half marathon in atlanta on thanksgiving day. I was pacing my brother to pull in at the finish under 2hrs to set his PR at age 39. Half a mile into it a guy in his early 20s I'd say goes past us at a pretty good clip with his Local Crossfit Pride tee and calve tights with Vibrams (not going into the Vibrams and Crocs issues right now). Long story short at the 8.5 mile water station we passed him as he was grabbing his side and walking. We crossed at 1:57.xx, never saw him again.
I have been forced to do some Crossfit workouts by actual certified trainers in the military. They were good workouts. The funny thing was is that they told me I was doing the pull-ups wrong because I wasn't swinging my legs and that I was doing "traditional Pull-ups". My response was "I don't cheat on my workouts, I can handle 20 pull-ups straight."

I think Crossfitters just want rights as a special interest group so that can't be discriminated against, like gays and lesbians. (not saying crossfitters are or are not, I have no problems with anyone who is gay).

To each their own but don't try to push your beliefs on me.

Regardless of the workout you do it's all about the effort you put in.

Running has never injured me. Completed a 50k last weekend.

Have a Merry Christmas.

Brent

i found this amusing.

I don't think I mind Crossfit as much as I mind the people who Crossfit.

To be honest, I think this is the issue for me, too. That and the major issue of horrendous form.

That said, criticising it because of money isn't really relevant - the WODs are posted on the site for free and most can be done at home by anyone with a barbell/dumbbells and some lifting experience.

But yes, I think it's the attitude of the people who do it that annoys me. I actually have a very similar training philosophy to crossfitters - even though my main activity is biking, I like to be fit across the board (after spending too much time lifting weights bodybuilding-style and getting big but easily-winded). Now I do one day of bodybuilding-style weights, a day of yoga, a day of running, two days of cycling or spinning, a day of heavy circuit training, and I'll throw in time in the pool or on the ergo/elliptical whenever I feel like it. But it's the whole "We're elite athetes" and "You're doing it wrong" thing that gets on my nerves. That and the semi-culty vibe I get from it.

Still, each to their own. If people do it and it works for them, then more power to them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDDyxXyf6UU

those are axle or FAT BAR clean and jerks, and unless you've ever done them, don't knock their form. Lifting with a fat bar is very different then lifting with a regular O-Bar.

I actually asked my Crossfit Coaches about this video. Their first thought was the same as most... Horrendous... it's actually not technically a CF move--- it is a Strongman move. Our crossfit would never use that way of lifting-- just doesnt fit how we run. The only thing is that it is a crossfit gym who is doing it. Also--- even for strongman the form is actually pretty terrible from what I have been told by the powers that be (the coaches at my gym), and even though they were "under the supervision" of strongman coaches that doesn't mean ANYTHING.

I have found the culture of Crossfitters I know to be elitist and cultish.

I think RachelSNO needs to drink some CrossFit Kool Aid and put some rum in it while you are at it! But beware, you could fall off your chair and break your neck.

This lady is all over the boards with her gloom and doom. Hee! Hee!

I don't crossfit. I do some of the work outs occasionally, but I'm not a member of a box or anything. But please feel free to just lump all people together based on a few individuals.