Crossfit
- Thread starter ApplePC
- Start date
Crossfit can be good or it can be dangerous, it's a fine line. Some of the lifts take perfect form to execute safely, combine this with too many reps and you have a potential recipe for disaster if you get your form off. If you have a good instructor you'll have better luck. Given how easy it is for someone to get certified there are some very inexperienced trainers.
Do your homework
twoton
Superior Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2011
- Posts
- 7,862
- Media
- 1
- Likes
- 8,378
- Points
- 268
- Location
- Mid Atlantic
- Sexuality
- 99% Straight, 1% Gay
- Gender
- Male
I agree with Spoiler.
I did Crossfit for a few years by following the mainsite WOD. I never went to a Crossfit "box" (ugh, I hate that word). In my opinion it can be freakishly good but there are dangers and after the first few months there is a definite plateau in your progression. One thing I couldn't tolerate at all is the cultish community. There's a saying, "The worst part of Crossfit is Crossfitters."
Crossfit as a business/organization is notoriously, rabidly protective of its brand and has a zero-tolerance for anyone who questions it. It's borderline paranoid and identifies anti-Crossfit conspiracies everywhere.
Other than that, I encourage you to try it. I did it all on my own and loved it for a while. I still do that kind of workout but settled into my own homemade routines.
EDIT: Maybe try this: look at the mainsite WODs and try those for a while on your own using whatever equipment you can find. If it seems like too much or too dangerous, substitute something else. Do a test on your own before you commit to a membership.
I did Crossfit for a few years by following the mainsite WOD. I never went to a Crossfit "box" (ugh, I hate that word). In my opinion it can be freakishly good but there are dangers and after the first few months there is a definite plateau in your progression. One thing I couldn't tolerate at all is the cultish community. There's a saying, "The worst part of Crossfit is Crossfitters."
Crossfit as a business/organization is notoriously, rabidly protective of its brand and has a zero-tolerance for anyone who questions it. It's borderline paranoid and identifies anti-Crossfit conspiracies everywhere.
Other than that, I encourage you to try it. I did it all on my own and loved it for a while. I still do that kind of workout but settled into my own homemade routines.
EDIT: Maybe try this: look at the mainsite WODs and try those for a while on your own using whatever equipment you can find. If it seems like too much or too dangerous, substitute something else. Do a test on your own before you commit to a membership.
The fact is there are just as many other ways to get in shape- if you like a cultish type atmosphere and lots of encouragement while working out in a group setting then it may be for you- However doing Olympic style lifts as fast as you can is very dangeorus and not recommended yet this is a big part of crossfit- does it work? yes- does going to a regular gym and doing weight training and doing cardio work just as good- yes- the choice is yours- Different strokes for different folks!
AlteredEgo
Mythical Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2006
- Posts
- 19,167
- Media
- 37
- Likes
- 26,267
- Points
- 368
- Location
- Hello (Sud-Ouest, Burkina Faso)
- Sexuality
- No Response
I think if I didn't have my own sports I was already I to (swiming, running, Kung fu) I wouldn't bother with Crossfit. I'm built for the long haul. I'm an endurance athlete. I never thought of myself as someone with explosive power or instant (or even any) speed. When I run or swim, I do it for distance, not time.
I don't like Crossfit as a corporation. They don't give a shit about us, and the last Games literally almost killed the women who inspired me to get into weightlifting in the first place. So. Fuck those guys. And yeah, the um...enthusiasts are very culty, and kind of snobbish. Consequently, I drive past a lot of boxes to get to mine, where the folks are humble, sweet, hardworking, and encouraging. It's like a family picnic with weights.
There are big, friendly dogs, and babies, and music. It's surreal. But there are also coaches right on top of you if your form is not razor sharp. New members can only do beginner classes, which only have ten people max. I didn't show for a couple of weeks because of family problems, and a coach called to check on me. There are always events being planned and executed. Some are fitness oriented, and some are just fun nights out, or huge BBQ gatherings. It's just nice people busting ass together. And my times? Turns out I'm becoming capable of explosive power and speed. I honestly didn't know I had it in me.
I don't like Crossfit as a corporation. They don't give a shit about us, and the last Games literally almost killed the women who inspired me to get into weightlifting in the first place. So. Fuck those guys. And yeah, the um...enthusiasts are very culty, and kind of snobbish. Consequently, I drive past a lot of boxes to get to mine, where the folks are humble, sweet, hardworking, and encouraging. It's like a family picnic with weights.
There are big, friendly dogs, and babies, and music. It's surreal. But there are also coaches right on top of you if your form is not razor sharp. New members can only do beginner classes, which only have ten people max. I didn't show for a couple of weeks because of family problems, and a coach called to check on me. There are always events being planned and executed. Some are fitness oriented, and some are just fun nights out, or huge BBQ gatherings. It's just nice people busting ass together. And my times? Turns out I'm becoming capable of explosive power and speed. I honestly didn't know I had it in me.
I've been doing crossfit for more than three years and I still love it. But then again, it's not for everyone. I suggest that you give it a try and find out for yourself. After going through the first trial, I nearly died because of the intensity of the metcon but that didn't stop me. Others might say crossfit is "cultish" but I'd rather call it a sense of community. Friendships and acquaintances are developed because the group classes are smaller and tight.
twoton
Superior Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2011
- Posts
- 7,862
- Media
- 1
- Likes
- 8,378
- Points
- 268
- Location
- Mid Atlantic
- Sexuality
- 99% Straight, 1% Gay
- Gender
- Male
I take a live and let live attitude about Crossfit. Unfortunately, Crossfit doesn't take the same attitude. Example: how many people suffer injuries while Crossfitting? You. Will. Never. Know. Corporate quashes any attempts to study the injury rate. And when something bad happens, Corporate backs away and blames it on poor coaching at the affiliate.
Take rhabdo, for instance. Crossfit takes credit for educating people about this life-threatening condition. The irony is the reason Crossfit educated people about it is because it was happening to Crossfitters. No one heard of it before because no one needed to hear of it before.
What they can't quash is the Founder's early quotes in places like the NYT, where he said things like, "If you're afraid of breaking your neck and dying, then we don't want you," and "If you want to learn to drive fast you have to be willing to crash into the walls."
Suffice to say, many, if not all, of the exercise experts who were early supporters of Crossfit are no longer affiliated with it. The people who are left at Corporate appear to be loyal Crossfitters who have survived based on their loyalty, not necessarily their expertise.
Take rhabdo, for instance. Crossfit takes credit for educating people about this life-threatening condition. The irony is the reason Crossfit educated people about it is because it was happening to Crossfitters. No one heard of it before because no one needed to hear of it before.
What they can't quash is the Founder's early quotes in places like the NYT, where he said things like, "If you're afraid of breaking your neck and dying, then we don't want you," and "If you want to learn to drive fast you have to be willing to crash into the walls."
Suffice to say, many, if not all, of the exercise experts who were early supporters of Crossfit are no longer affiliated with it. The people who are left at Corporate appear to be loyal Crossfitters who have survived based on their loyalty, not necessarily their expertise.
AlteredEgo
Mythical Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2006
- Posts
- 19,167
- Media
- 37
- Likes
- 26,267
- Points
- 368
- Location
- Hello (Sud-Ouest, Burkina Faso)
- Sexuality
- No Response
I feel like Crossfit is not for people who aren't educated about fitness, sports nutrition, and general wellness. As a diabetic, I can't eat enough carbs for most intense workouts. I do them anyway, and accept the disorientation that follows hard work for me. But I approach my training personally, and do not just swallow whatever I'm told. If you don't know enough to be able to make these kinds of choices for yourself, and you end up at a box where the coaches only know their way, and require your implicit trust and compliance, you can harm yourself.
I do not compete with my classmates, even though I have a very competitive nature. This has a humbling effect. I compete only against myself, push only as hard as I can tolerate. Coming from an endurance background, Crossfit's high-intensity approach felt counter-intuitive at first. In endurance sports, you always hold back until the end. In crossfit, you give it your all the entire time. I simply don't do that. That approach is incorrect for a body I've trained to tolerate moderate difficulty over long stretches of time. So, while the warmup exercises can be challenges in and of themselves, I give limited resources to them, and push through the actual WOD only moderately until it is half over, at which point I switch to beast mode and power through. This is not the recommended approach, but it is what works for me. The only time I go balls to the walls from the word go, is when I'm doing a time trial to see my improvements.
Know your body, know your goals, and read about the science that pertains to your goals. Pay special attention to nutrition. Paleo and primal lifestyles are largely accepted to be the best approach for this activity, but make sure that is actually the best approach for YOU. Ask questions. If something hurts, ask to be taught a modification. Test your coaches. Do something sloppy and see how long it takes someone to correct you. If they aren't paying enough attention to you, switch to another class, or a better box. Be in charge of yourself. That's my best advice.
I do not compete with my classmates, even though I have a very competitive nature. This has a humbling effect. I compete only against myself, push only as hard as I can tolerate. Coming from an endurance background, Crossfit's high-intensity approach felt counter-intuitive at first. In endurance sports, you always hold back until the end. In crossfit, you give it your all the entire time. I simply don't do that. That approach is incorrect for a body I've trained to tolerate moderate difficulty over long stretches of time. So, while the warmup exercises can be challenges in and of themselves, I give limited resources to them, and push through the actual WOD only moderately until it is half over, at which point I switch to beast mode and power through. This is not the recommended approach, but it is what works for me. The only time I go balls to the walls from the word go, is when I'm doing a time trial to see my improvements.
Know your body, know your goals, and read about the science that pertains to your goals. Pay special attention to nutrition. Paleo and primal lifestyles are largely accepted to be the best approach for this activity, but make sure that is actually the best approach for YOU. Ask questions. If something hurts, ask to be taught a modification. Test your coaches. Do something sloppy and see how long it takes someone to correct you. If they aren't paying enough attention to you, switch to another class, or a better box. Be in charge of yourself. That's my best advice.
They are franchises. You have to find one that suits you with the style they train in. I checked out one that was super elitist and when I asked about cost I was told that I must not be really serious about fitness.
Then I found the Crossfit I go to now. The owner is a surfer and I joke with him that he runs a Zen crossfit, but he is very concerned qith working at your fitness level, and makes you practice lifting pvc pipe until he is comfortable with your form so that you don't hurt yourself. It's an intense workout, and since my job is very physical, I found that the emphasis on lighter weight and greater range of motion feels incredibly natural and amazing.
Then I found the Crossfit I go to now. The owner is a surfer and I joke with him that he runs a Zen crossfit, but he is very concerned qith working at your fitness level, and makes you practice lifting pvc pipe until he is comfortable with your form so that you don't hurt yourself. It's an intense workout, and since my job is very physical, I found that the emphasis on lighter weight and greater range of motion feels incredibly natural and amazing.
The number one thing I like about Crossfit: RICH FRONING
AlteredEgo
Mythical Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2006
- Posts
- 19,167
- Media
- 37
- Likes
- 26,267
- Points
- 368
- Location
- Hello (Sud-Ouest, Burkina Faso)
- Sexuality
- No Response
I have friends who do cross fit and love it. It is highly regimented. It is tough but each person can determine their own intensity to some degree. And they out new members through a sort of boot camp experience. The group culture is cohesive and keeps many people highly motivated. It is also expensive compared to gym membership. I enjoy a self guided approach to exercise so I have not done crossfit. But I used to go to a gym colacated with a crossfit operation so we shared the same locker room. And the crossfit guys strongly endorsed the program and were always trying to get the noncrossfiters to join.
1 point that I don't think he been made: it is crazy expensive. Depending on where you live and what you are spending now, but it is upwards of $200/month unlimited and like 115 for 2 classes a week by me.
Buy a package at first to see if you like it before you sign up for long term.
I tried it last year and liked it. Some of the people are crazy, but most were pretty cool (like the real world). My main issue was the timing. My schedule isn't consistent with when I get out of work and my wife has her pure barre time in the morning, so I am at home. I could make the class thing work, so I stopped.
But I have recently began the WOD thing on my in between days at the gym after my cardio to mix it up some. There are a couple good apps. One is random WOD that you can limit down to the type of workout you want, and it will spit out a routine. The other is myWOD which has a database of YouTube videos as tutorials. I found a beginner routine on mens fitness to work in as well.
Buy a package at first to see if you like it before you sign up for long term.
I tried it last year and liked it. Some of the people are crazy, but most were pretty cool (like the real world). My main issue was the timing. My schedule isn't consistent with when I get out of work and my wife has her pure barre time in the morning, so I am at home. I could make the class thing work, so I stopped.
But I have recently began the WOD thing on my in between days at the gym after my cardio to mix it up some. There are a couple good apps. One is random WOD that you can limit down to the type of workout you want, and it will spit out a routine. The other is myWOD which has a database of YouTube videos as tutorials. I found a beginner routine on mens fitness to work in as well.
AlteredEgo
Mythical Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2006
- Posts
- 19,167
- Media
- 37
- Likes
- 26,267
- Points
- 368
- Location
- Hello (Sud-Ouest, Burkina Faso)
- Sexuality
- No Response
Good point. It is $155/month at my box, but $115 for military and vets and their spouses, teachers, cops, and firefighters. There is a discount for couples. There are also discounts if you commit to three, six, or twelve months. Membership there is for unlimited group sessions, and unlimited access to the lifting corner, which also has a rower and an Assault bike, and unlimited use during open gym. The corner is on a first come basis, as are all the equipment during open gym. There are classes nearly every hour Monday through Friday, with open gym for two hours midday, an intro class on Saturdays, a beginner class in the evenings before closing, and a yoga class on Sundays. Because there are so many classes, class size is small. There are never more than 12 of us in the 5AM class I currently attend, and often there are only two or three of us. The class twelve hours later is packed though. They sometimes use the whole entire box, so I would estimate that class holds 30- 40 peeps. There are clinics every few weeks which cost extra. The clinics I have seen offered are rowing, Olympic lifting, and jiu-jitsu. There is also sports massage.
The box either sponsors or co-sponsors sanctioned and non-sanctioned lifting and crossfit events. There are also casual get-togethers such as barbecues, bar hops, pot luck dinners, camping trips, fishing trips etc. Last month a group went down to NC to camp and go mudding. This week there is a girls night out. Last weekend there was a fundraiser for a sick member of another local box.
The box is also involved in charity work every month. Last month we provided 86,000 gallons of drinking water to someone or other. This month is barbells for boobs, as well as a drive for food for food banks for thanksgiving. The boxes which collect the least have to do a burpee for every pound of food and baby supplies provided by the winning box. So, it is expensive, but it can also be very rewarding in addition to the workout.
Then again, you have to choose carefully. Like I said I drive past a lot of other boxes to get to mine. The box nearest my house does no charity, no events, doesn't team up with other boxes, and has huge class sizes. Plus, the coaches are kind of fat. They seem to know lots about Olympic lifting, but I can't see them telling me how to stay lean and healthy when they all look like impending coronaries. I don't want to be more fit than my coach. I also hurt myself at that box, something I've never worried about where I am now, because even if the coach leading the session somehow misses that my form is flagging, some other coach materializes and corrects me. One thing I would like to see them add is the ability to schedule a one-on-one coaching session. I feel like I could make much faster progress if I could spend an hour a week or even half an hour just practicing certain skills with feedback and correction without having to move on to the next thing. Sometimes, if I show up for open gym, that happens spontaneously, but I know I'm wrecking that coach's own agenda. Still, they all seem to love to help. I cannot stress enough that all boxes are not equal. Don't assume the new one across the street can help you reach your goals.
The box either sponsors or co-sponsors sanctioned and non-sanctioned lifting and crossfit events. There are also casual get-togethers such as barbecues, bar hops, pot luck dinners, camping trips, fishing trips etc. Last month a group went down to NC to camp and go mudding. This week there is a girls night out. Last weekend there was a fundraiser for a sick member of another local box.
The box is also involved in charity work every month. Last month we provided 86,000 gallons of drinking water to someone or other. This month is barbells for boobs, as well as a drive for food for food banks for thanksgiving. The boxes which collect the least have to do a burpee for every pound of food and baby supplies provided by the winning box. So, it is expensive, but it can also be very rewarding in addition to the workout.
Then again, you have to choose carefully. Like I said I drive past a lot of other boxes to get to mine. The box nearest my house does no charity, no events, doesn't team up with other boxes, and has huge class sizes. Plus, the coaches are kind of fat. They seem to know lots about Olympic lifting, but I can't see them telling me how to stay lean and healthy when they all look like impending coronaries. I don't want to be more fit than my coach. I also hurt myself at that box, something I've never worried about where I am now, because even if the coach leading the session somehow misses that my form is flagging, some other coach materializes and corrects me. One thing I would like to see them add is the ability to schedule a one-on-one coaching session. I feel like I could make much faster progress if I could spend an hour a week or even half an hour just practicing certain skills with feedback and correction without having to move on to the next thing. Sometimes, if I show up for open gym, that happens spontaneously, but I know I'm wrecking that coach's own agenda. Still, they all seem to love to help. I cannot stress enough that all boxes are not equal. Don't assume the new one across the street can help you reach your goals.
- Joined
- May 16, 2009
- Posts
- 10,648
- Media
- 4
- Likes
- 45,905
- Points
- 693
- Location
- New York (United States)
- Sexuality
- 99% Straight, 1% Gay
- Gender
- Male
Ms. A / E, Those 3 lines about your workouts are the most erotic way I have ever heard anyone explain exercise.
Thank you
twoton
Superior Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2011
- Posts
- 7,862
- Media
- 1
- Likes
- 8,378
- Points
- 268
- Location
- Mid Atlantic
- Sexuality
- 99% Straight, 1% Gay
- Gender
- Male
It can be prohibitively expensive, which is one reason I never seriously looked into it. On the other hand, if you really are getting almost one-to-one training, which is possible, then it might be worth the money.
I'm not sure how many "boxes" are near here. At least one of them used to offer free Saturday classes for interested "drop-ins." I didn't want to feign interest in joining and never went Plus, sometimes you see those pics of outdoor WODs, with Crossfitters walking on a public sidewalk with weight plates over their heads, stuff like that. Not for me. No way.
On the other hand, free drop-ins are probably a great way to test out the culture without much investment on your part.
- MP15,
I've been doing the boot camp classes for two weeks now, and I love it. The instructors I have are encourage you to push yourself, but go at your own pace. It's very thorough, and I'm exhausted after every session.
At the Crossfit I'm at, the instructors do stretching exercises and go through each new exercise carefully so that we don't injure ourselves.
At the Crossfit I'm at, the instructors do stretching exercises and go through each new exercise carefully so that we don't injure ourselves.
twoton
Superior Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2011
- Posts
- 7,862
- Media
- 1
- Likes
- 8,378
- Points
- 268
- Location
- Mid Atlantic
- Sexuality
- 99% Straight, 1% Gay
- Gender
- Male
Outside Magazine has done a few articles on Crossfit. Most of them are critical but not all are. This one is: www.outsideonline.com: Is CrossFit Killing Us?
