Any info on Crossfit???

[tman666]

I don't get why you make these negative comments about CF. What exactly is misguided about it? It's just a different way of doing things. After being a gym rat for, oh, literally, 17 years, I can tell you I've improved more in the past MONTH than I did in all the years before combined. That's saying something.

 

I'm happy for you that you've been making some great improvements.

 

I'm just expressing my opinion based on my own experiences. I actually thought about not posting in this thread at all (obviously I did, against my better judgment). I'm tired to trying to push an anti-CF agenda though. If it's working for you and others, that's great. This is the kind of topic I'd rather discuss with someone over a beer and a few hours than on an internet forum, primarily because of the propensity for it to become a complicated subject.

 

Believe it or not, my own training and many of the ideals that CF pushes are really not that different. You and I both lift heavy weights. We both fight tooth and nail for our gains. We both try and push ourselves to be better each and every workout.

 

We could go back and forth all day on every little detail, but it doesn't matter in the least. You're doing something that's working for you. It's just like you were saying: you can't argue with results.

[spinningwheels]

Okay--I am going on Tuesday. The owner did tell me that he likes clients to commit to a specific schedule. I would like to go two nights a week for the awhile and then add a Saturday session when the weather gets too bad here to work out myself outdoors like I do now. Will two nights a week be too little? Do you go way more than that? I am busy the other nights with my family obligations so I really can only fit those two nights in. Mon/Wed or Tue/Thur. Then Saturdays in a few months. Will it get me results and allow me to build my stamina?

[Star Gazer]

Honestly, yes. I think 2 nights a week won't be enough to get results with CF, or any other program for that matter. CD advocates AT LEAST 3 days a week, ideally up to 5. To really see results, they suggest 3 days on, 1 day off, 2 days on, 1 day off, repeat.

 

With 2 days, I wouldn't waste my time or their energy. Wait until you can commit to at least 3 days.

[spinningwheels]

Crossfit won't be my only activity. On off nights I walk an hour with the dog and on weekends I will still be biking until the weather turns. I also on the weekends work with free weights and ball at my home.

[on edge]

I'm just curious, how much does a crossfit membership cost?

[spinningwheels]

They have different packages you can buy. I called a few different places. Upwards of $100 a month. It works out to be around $10 a session if you commit to 3x a week at the place I'm trying out. So, it is inline with my personal trainer. I pay $20 a session because I buy in bulk!

[Star Gazer]

Crossfit won't be my only activity. On off nights I walk an hour with the dog and on weekends I will still be biking until the weather turns. I also on the weekends work with free weights and ball at my home.

 

I don't think it matters. You really need to commit to AT LEAST 3 days a week to see benefits/gains from CF. Otherwise, you're wasting your time and money.

 

Once you get into CF, you'll see why. Walking your dog for an hour will feel like sitting on the couch once you're actually doing CF.

 

As for cost, most CF's do monthly memberships, and drop-in fees (meant for visitors from other gyms really, not for the supplemental occasional workout). The cheapest monthly membership in my area is $125, and that's at my gym. Others are $145-160. If you're going as often as you should, it should be less than $10 a session.

[spinningwheels]

I went to my first session today! It was awesome and I totally felt my legs hurting as I was leaving the gym! I can't believe I was able to do what I did, and I can't believe my workout was less than an hour! That I can definately commit to doing 3x a week! My workouts with the trainer on average were almost two hour--way too long!

 

Hopefully this really works! The people there were amazing and so encouraging and also in great shape! I can see what people mean by a cult enviroment, they seem adicted--but in a good way! My only big concern is the focus on alot of squots/lunges..my legs are very muscular and I would really like to slim them and not bulk them up. Will my legs get bigger?? I am going back Thursday, I will probably be in pain tomorrow. I

[johan]

I've read that Crossfit leads to excess weight around the midsection. It's also apparently especially hard on your spleen.

[spinningwheels]

Really?? Bigger midsection? Everyone but me in my session (about 15) and the people I saw leaving before and coming in for the later class had six pack abs!

 

Anyone else here this?

[USMCHokie]

I've read that Crossfit leads to excess weight around the midsection. It's also apparently especially hard on your spleen.

 

Really?? Bigger midsection?

 

No...unless you too are being sarcastic...

[Star Gazer]

I went to my first session today! It was awesome and I totally felt my legs hurting as I was leaving the gym! I can't believe I was able to do what I did, and I can't believe my workout was less than an hour! That I can definately commit to doing 3x a week! My workouts with the trainer on average were almost two hour--way too long!

 

Hopefully this really works! The people there were amazing and so encouraging and also in great shape! I can see what people mean by a cult enviroment, they seem adicted--but in a good way! My only big concern is the focus on alot of squots/lunges..my legs are very muscular and I would really like to slim them and not bulk them up. Will my legs get bigger?? I am going back Thursday, I will probably be in pain tomorrow. I

 

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY!! I'm SO glad you liked it!!! I had the hardest WOD yet (for me) tonight... at one point, I thought I couldn't go anymore, but I just pushed through. And now, as I sit here relaxing on my couch, I want more, more, more!!! I love all the CF peeps. I just LOVE hearing everyone say, "Great job tonight, [insert name]!" It's like an inspiring family... I made a new friend there, and she and I are bonding pretty quickly. I just cannot say enough good things!

 

Keep in mind that your 1:1 introductory workout is the literally easiest you'll do, but as much as the workouts get objectively harder, they will get easier for you because your fitness level will be improving. Also, the workouts will be crazy varied. It'll be months before you do the the workout you did today again. So there isn't really a "focus" on squats/lunges at all. If one day they do a WOD with a lot of focus on the legs/glutes, the next day might be tons of rowing, pushups, and ab work. Then the next day might be a light overall-body workout. It all balances out. Look at the whiteboards (they should keep the entire week's WODs up there as they happen) to see what I mean.

 

Finally, I think the whole "oh I don't want to lift heavy or weight train because I'll bulk up" thing for women is a complete myth. I've been weight training for YEARS and YEARS and have never bulked up, even with tons of protein and supplements. That said, if you have fat on your legs, at first they WILL get bigger because the muscle underneath (that's been lazy and underdeveloped) will get bigger, and thus push the fat out. Does that make sense? But then you'll slim right back down. The same is true with any other body part where you're carrying some extra chubb. For me, it's my midsection. Just be patient. It'll start coming off.

 

Congrats!! So excited for you!!

 

(And don't listen to Johan, he's just yankin' your chain! )

[johan]

Crossfit will fatten you right up.

[Chocolat]

I recently tried Crossfit. Hmmmmm....

 

I come at it as a person who is fit and has spent time in gyms, being active, etc.

 

The strength of the program is that it keeps you moving (good for aerobic conditioning) and the workouts are varied, so you are not bored for the most part.

 

There are two negatives, one of which is subjective and the other not.

1. The first is the semi-"cult" atmosphere. I personally don't enjoy programs in which athletes have an elitist mentality, nor do I need to be part of a "club" in order to be motivated. I could get over that, but it's negative #2 that bothers me:
   
2. In the effort to have you running about from movement to movement (or activity to activity), form is sacrificed. For instance, on one of the days I went, we ran 400 meters, then did 21 reps of kettlebell swings, then 11 reps of push-presses. This cycle repeated 3 times. The problem was that nearly everyone I observed was using poor form on the push-press due to fatigue. This is an injury waiting to happen. This happened on other days, too -- trainees simply could not maintain good form as they became fatigued.
   

What it comes down to is that achievement in the Crossfit world is measured first by time or rounds, with form taking a back seat. In my view, form should come first -- it's the foundation on which all other achievement is built.

 

In my opinion, there are far safer and smarter ways to get the weight-lifting and body conditioning benefits of Crossfit, and for a far smaller price! (I mention price only because I do not think it is a good value; had the program been well designed, pricing would not be an issue.)

 

Hope this helps someone!

[tman666]

I recently tried Crossfit. Hmmmmm....

 

I come at it as a person who is fit and has spent time in gyms, being active, etc.

 

The strength of the program is that it keeps you moving (good for aerobic conditioning) and the workouts are varied, so you are not bored for the most part.

 

There are two negatives, one of which is subjective and the other not.

1. The first is the semi-"cult" atmosphere. I personally don't enjoy programs in which athletes have an elitist mentality, nor do I need to be part of a "club" in order to be motivated. I could get over that, but it's negative #2 that bothers me:
   
2. In the effort to have you running about from movement to movement (or activity to activity), form is sacrificed. For instance, on one of the days I went, we ran 400 meters, then did 21 reps of kettlebell swings, then 11 reps of push-presses. This cycle repeated 3 times. The problem was that nearly everyone I observed was using poor form on the push-press due to fatigue. This is an injury waiting to happen. This happened on other days, too -- trainees simply could not maintain good form as they became fatigued.
   

What it comes down to is that achievement in the Crossfit world is measured first by time or rounds, with form taking a back seat. In my view, form should come first -- it's the foundation on which all other achievement is built.

 

In my opinion, there are far safer and smarter ways to get the weight-lifting and body conditioning benefits of Crossfit, and for a far smaller price! (I mention price only because I do not think it is a good value; had the program been well designed, pricing would not be an issue.)

 

Hope this helps someone!

 

Ding Ding Ding Ding!

 

QFT

[spinningwheels]

Well, I've gone a few times to Crossfit training now..I am sore in different places everytime and it is not boring. I love the fact that I can be in and out of the gym in 45 minutes and less --including changing clothes from work.

 

I can see how form might be an issue. But where I go the owner of the gym is a MD and the staff is diligent about watching form in the class. There is a great ratio of trainers to participants and they watch and instruct each and every time! If someone is doing it wrong they instruct on proper form or tell the person to stop and rest and re-instruct on the prope excersize!

 

I love it right now, but I also feel intimadated still. We had to partner up last night to count reps and I felt that I wasn't giving my partner my all but she was super supportive. It was more my insecurity than anything!