Guys, I know there are a ton of crossfit threads on here but I need to share:
I thought crossfit was for the birds. I have been in decent shape all my life, and in the past 4 or 5 the best shape of my life. I got into serious weight training overseas and really started eating healthy. What I’m trying to say is I’m not new to conditioning, cardio, or strength training. I’m not even new to the idea of crossfit, alot of it is very similar to unit PT.
But I am getting my ass KICKED. I am hurting in places I didn’t even know I had muscles (deadlifts are obliterating my lower back). My traps are always sore.
Keep in mind, I’ve done deadlifts and shrugs as part of a weight training regimen before. But I’ve never done 100 deadlifts in a workout before crossfit, and I’ve never done “snatches” which really work your traps.
My quads, hamstrings, shoulders, literally everything from my neck to my ankles is sore by the end of the week. I’m a believer. I wonder why people still aren’t a fan?
Not everyone has the same goals. Some people are trying to gain massive size and don’t want to burn the calories on high intensity training when they’re trying to devote them to muscle mass increase. Other worry about pure power as opposed to over all fitness. I’ve done cross fit and I understand it’s value to certain goals. But I train cardio when I want to train cardio and when I want size and strength I go heavy and hard with a lot of rest in between sets. Different strokes for different folks.
When I have plenty of time like stuck on a navy vessel for 2 months on a MEU I do 2 hours of heavy lifting 30 minutes of running and a crossfit test work out like 30 hang cleans for time or 15 power cleans 15 burpees X 3 for time. 5 days a week.
Different goals, knowing being sore from “my neck to my ankles” is not a reflection of productive workout or even a good idea in most cases, wanting to avoid various exercises that are known to be high risk to joints, knowing already how to put together effective programs that have cross training elements, knowing CF has it’s pros and its cons, etc, etc.
If you like it and it works for you for your goals, great, but many of your more respect coaches are not big fans for above reasons, and others. Some comments with link to an excellent review of CF:
I agree on the kipping pull ups. I understand the concept but would rather isolate with dead hangs.
As far as the oly lifts for time I disagree. Yes you definitely can hurt yourself doing that. But by the same token you can hurt yourself doing basic 5x5’s with plenty of rest in between if you’re trying to pull too much weight. Most of those “for time” programs are very light weight even for an average lifter. If you’re used to doing compound lifts 30 power cleans at 135# for time isn’t very dangerous except for the skin burned off your thumbs.
I know there is a lot of hate for Crossfit, but I always consider the source. Most of the hate comes from the community that has lost the most income from the inception of Crossfit, and that is the personal training community.
It is not a great regimen if you are looking for a specific fitness goal like powerlifting or marathon running, but if you’re looking for a great overall workout its hard to beat with instructors who know what they are doing.
Like all fitness routines the individual performing the workout should stay within their limits. People become injured from all aspects of physical training and it is certainly not limited to Crossfit.
I have no “hate” for CF, justy legit comments/concerns, and those I know who have major criticisms of various aspects of CF have not lost a penny to CF. If it works for you, and fits your goals, drive on.
By no means was that comment directed towards you Will.
I’m speaking of the communities who don’t discuss the differences between the approaches, but rather talks shit about Crossfit and the people who do it.
I believe it boils down to the competence of instructors/trainers on both sides of the fence. If you have a piss poor Crossfit instructor or personal trainer you will end up injured or not improve performance.
Something that always escapes people, all gyms aren’t equal. I train at a level 2 gym, with two of the best trainers on the east coast PERIOD. I wouldn’t train anywhere else and I can for free and without the 20min drive.
You can open a gym as a level 1, but that doesn’t mean you should nor should you train at one. YYMMV
Don’t worry, my Brother in Law got me into Crossfit and he and the guys that have been doing it religiously are in serious good shape. I’m a believer.
I’m normally open to both sides of a debate, but every time I have ever been confronted by someone who told me crossfit was a joke/sucked/whatever it has been by some 20% body fat meat head who lives in the gym at the bench press and staring at himself in the mirrow while he does ice cream scoop curls.
At the other end of the spectrum are the “I run 50 miles a weak but I can’t pull my own body weight up” guys.
Am I doubting there are other methods to a healthy, well rounded workout besides crossfit? Of course not. But I worked out solid “meat head” style for 7 months, had a seriously good diet, and I didn’t see the results I’ve seen in 4 months of doing crossfit.
I’m in the Marine Corps so obviously I run to stay in shape as well as lift. And again not knocking crossfit because while not for Me religiously I dabble. I would just like to impart some experience. While on my last float on ship me and some other infantry Lts would compete on some of the crossfit competitions because I do bodybuilding workouts and the others did crossfit. I’m 5’7 195 around 12-14%BF and have been labeled a bit of a meat head. The best of the cross fit crew were 6’0-6’2 185-200 no body fat. On the 30 power cleans for time with 115# I smoked them because I was simply reverse curling the weight while they had to do proper form after the first 12 reps. On 15 hang cleans and 15 burpees X 3 for time it was closer but I still did it faster due to the ease of the hang cleans. Please don’t take this as an argument because I like aspects of crossfit. For the meatheads out there I say try it. Especially some of the under 3 minute tests as described here.
What really sold me on crossfit is the fact that I hate running.
I was running constantly trying to keep my PFT down while I was in. As I’m sure you’re aware, a 300 PFT for lieutenants is the norm, not the exception. Aside from that, a run time above 22 minutes is flat out unacceptable.
With crossfit I can still do a killer 3 mile run and not have to beat up myself doing hardcore runs all over base.
My CO was the same way. Now, I have to give it to the meatheads (I mean no offense, its just easier than saying “The hardcore weight training guys”) they “look” the part. Most crossfitters while in shape don’t necessarily have the meathead look. That can come in handy when dealing with stubborn GySgts
If you’re looking for a competition that’s a little more in-depth in terms of the strengths Crossfitters are looking for, I’d say do the Murph WOD with some guys that have done CrossFit for awhile. It’s much more difficult, takes more endurance, and you won’t have an edge due to your lifting experience. The RX workout is:
1 Mile run
100 Pull ups
200 Pushups
300 squats
1 Mile run
All while wearing a 20lb vest.
