cross fit
- Thread starter Ann Marie
- Start date
RapidBreath
Cathlete
I know that Bob on Biggest Loser is into Cross Fit. Its more of a drill based, high intensity workout, a lot of high impact, they are shorter quick workouts. I have heard a lot about them, I'm not as much of a fan of brutal workouts so its not my thing, personally. I have heard that they aren't what we would call balanced workouts, anybody can open a crossfit without necessarily being 'certified' as a trainer, in other words they may or may not be good like Cathe. That said, if you want to try it, why not? Its just like any other super intense workout: listen to your body. I hear that the camaraderie of the thing is very motivating.
If you try it, tell us if you like it.
Alisha
If you try it, tell us if you like it.
Alisha
Stebby
Cathlete
I bought a 4-week membership to a CrossFit gym through Groupon last year. The "WOD" (workout of the day) portion was about 15 minutes long, but that wasn't the whole class. This particular gym had one-hour classes and my membership allowed me 3 classes per week (which suited me fine - this maxed me out and I found I didn't have the capacity to do any other workouts during that month). We would start with a 10-minute warmup, then do the WOD, then do 5 sets of heavy lifting for the Body Part of the Day (each set 8-10 reps, with 1.5 minutes' rest between sets), then 20 minutes of cardio (running outside, or rowing machine/stationary bike), then a cooldown.
The WOD was always written up on the white board on the main gym wall. There would be 5 exercises. We had to go through all 5, 3 times, as fast as we could, taking rests when we needed to but keeping them short, as we were being timed. One example of a WOD might be 10 jumps (or step-ups if you can't do jumps yet) up and down on a plyo box, followed by 15 pushups, followed by 20 walking lunges holding medium weight dumbbells, followed by 15 reps incline bench press, followed by 20 situps.
The Body Part of the Day would cover one of the major muscle groups. Typical exercises might be back squats, deadlifts or shoulder presses at a given percentage of your one-rep max (I don't remember the percentage they used anymore).
It was a great workout, but CrossFit seemed to be expensive - at least in my area - and anyway, I always find myself coming back to home video and Cathe.
Stebby
The WOD was always written up on the white board on the main gym wall. There would be 5 exercises. We had to go through all 5, 3 times, as fast as we could, taking rests when we needed to but keeping them short, as we were being timed. One example of a WOD might be 10 jumps (or step-ups if you can't do jumps yet) up and down on a plyo box, followed by 15 pushups, followed by 20 walking lunges holding medium weight dumbbells, followed by 15 reps incline bench press, followed by 20 situps.
The Body Part of the Day would cover one of the major muscle groups. Typical exercises might be back squats, deadlifts or shoulder presses at a given percentage of your one-rep max (I don't remember the percentage they used anymore).
It was a great workout, but CrossFit seemed to be expensive - at least in my area - and anyway, I always find myself coming back to home video and Cathe.
Stebby
I know that the CrossFit in my town has a website and you can check the WOD out on that. I have done that a few times and have done a few things I have seen done on the videos they post.
I haven't tried CrossFit, I worry about the high impact of all the exercises. I feel like, for me, that it will eventually take a toll on my body. Not to mention that here it is $100 a month! For some that may not be much. But I always think about how many new DVD's I could buy, or new equipment I could buy every month for my home gym instead!
My mom works with a girl that has been doing CrossFit for a while now, and this girl says that she feels strong and is in good shape, but she has no endurance. She tried to run a 5k and was breathless and tired by the time she was done.
I haven't tried CrossFit, I worry about the high impact of all the exercises. I feel like, for me, that it will eventually take a toll on my body. Not to mention that here it is $100 a month! For some that may not be much. But I always think about how many new DVD's I could buy, or new equipment I could buy every month for my home gym instead!
My mom works with a girl that has been doing CrossFit for a while now, and this girl says that she feels strong and is in good shape, but she has no endurance. She tried to run a 5k and was breathless and tired by the time she was done.
My brother is a certified CF trainer and he's in excellent shape! He's written up some workouts for me with modifications on the impact and they're great! I think with any type of workout, you get out of it what you put into it. CF has gotten some bad press about it being unsafe, but it really depends on the quality of the gym, the quality of the trainer and the smarts to listen to your own body.
My brother used to do your typical "guy" workout, ie. some jogging/running for cardio and alot of time lifting heavy in the gym. He now works out 30 minutes a day max, still lifts heavy for his body part workouts and is in the best shape of his life. He has really cut down on his body fat and looks great! (with no diet changes, he has always eaten fairly clean) It was hard for him to give up his traditional style of working out but once he got into CF he's never looked back. He's also been injury free.
My brother used to do your typical "guy" workout, ie. some jogging/running for cardio and alot of time lifting heavy in the gym. He now works out 30 minutes a day max, still lifts heavy for his body part workouts and is in the best shape of his life. He has really cut down on his body fat and looks great! (with no diet changes, he has always eaten fairly clean) It was hard for him to give up his traditional style of working out but once he got into CF he's never looked back. He's also been injury free.
lioness
Cathlete
I do not belong to a Crossfit gym but I was introduced to CF in 2006 by a trainer. I have been doing Crossfit-style workouts for years. I pull many of the workouts I do from their website (or from the affiliate websites) and do them at home. If I don't have the equipment I'll sub (for rowing for example, I will run). I love the shorter intense workouts. I don't do them super fast nor do I find them to be high impact. I work at my own fitness level. I really love challenging myself with their workouts.
Stebby
Cathlete
I've seen a few comments about CrossFit being high impact but this wasn't my experience. I myself can't do many high impact activities such as running - when that was the "cardio assignment", I just walked. The trainer/owner at the CF gym that I went to always provided low-impact alternatives. I would classify the workout as high intensity rather than high impact.
Stebby
Stebby