This seems really hard core!!

In all seriousness, I think CrossFit is a good overall program but the overly "show offy" workout until you puke (they have even have a little mascot, Pukie) turns me off in a big way.

I'm far more impressed with the likes of Dana Torres ;-) (maybe she does CrossFit, who knows...)
 
Thanks for the FIY Gayle:) Be that as it may, I am a registered health care professional working in an atheletic based physiotherapy clinic and from that perspective could never endorse this kind of ballistic, joints locked and over extended type of workout. Hats off to those that love it, I'm sure they love it a lot!

Take Care
Laurie
 
I think everyone finds their own mode of working out that works for them, even if it's "dangerous" or "not healthy" for someone else. I'm impressed with the fitness level of the people I've seen in the Crossfit videos (and several of them are older than me and I'm going to be 38 next month) so one can't say it isn't effective. Now, it wouldn't be effective for me 'cause I would probably be puking at minute 5 if not before but to each his own. I've seen Crossfit videos where they teach form showing the right and wrong way to do a particular move, so I always thought they were big on form, depending on the workout. I think you can get ideas and modify or slow the pace down and still get a killer workout. They've got several video's that don't use all that equipment.
Angela
 
That link doesn't work on my computer either, so I searched on youtube and watched this one:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GEv_YOJKzws

The barbell scene. makes. me. cringe.

I think the ideas of muscle confusion and getting a cardio factor in are really great, and I don't doubt that there are professionals out there that could accomplish it with decent form, but obviously that's not gonna be the case with a lot of folks. Whoever the trainer was in the video letting that guy lift like that should be ashamed.
 
Nadja - That's what hang power cleans look like. That guy is not only the trainer, but owner of that gym as well.
 
Hi Gayle and Jane, thanks again for the feed back. First thing my brother said was to not be turned off by the videos and examples because the people in them have been doing it for years. It is hard no to because I keep holding my breath thinking someone is going to break something doing this stuff.

I do like the idea of trying to push myself and try something new. Thanks Gayle for all the video links. Honestly I don't think I would or could ever really try most of the exercises without modification. This would probably work really well if you had access to a cross fit personal trainer to make sure that your form is right? I don't do well however without someone telling me what to do. I can pop in a Cathe DVD and follow it through but I have a hard time going to a gym and telling myself to do 12 reps of this or that.

Any how, thanks everyone for all your feed back. I really value everyone's opinion. I am glad to know that I wasn't the only one who thought that Nasty Girl thing was just down right crazy and uber hard core!
 
Ok so people think that working out till you feel like puking is a good thing??? I'd think that would your body saying to you that you are over doing it for sure. I never feel like that when I work out unless I try to workout with a migrane and it gets worse. (I don't do that anymore)
I don't think I'd feel safe doing some of these exercises in the way they are without a trainer to make sure I'm doing it right though.. do most people who do crossfit do it at home alone or in a gym? I'm a bit confused how it works. My brother does it but I was thinking he just went to some website that gave him a daily list of exercises and did them. But I see there are gyms that are crossfit gyms also? just curious.
 
Hi Jess,

There are CrossFit affiliate gyms around the country that train people in this style. Like any good gym, the good ones have CF certified trainers. CrossFit has a system of certifications that are mostly open to anyone, not just trainers. The affiliates are listed on the CrossFit web site.

I work out solo (no affiliates near me :( ) at home or in the gym. Lots of people do it solo. Like I mentioned before, I started really slowly with some exercises, like the Oly lifts and have been conservative in adding weight, and watched a lot of lecture videos. I've also had the good fortune to get some impromptu critique from a knowledgeable trainer at the college gym I go to, so I feel better about where I'm going form-wise.

CrossFit has been described as something like open source software. The WODs and concept are free for the taking, and you can do anything you want with them to fit your needs. I think that's confusing to a lot of people.

Regarding puking - Cathe (IMAX & Boot Camp) and Cardio Coach have had me in dry heaves as much, if not more, than CF. It's all in how much you want to push yourself.
 
It is hard core. Too bad their form is terrible on the hang cleans. WAY too much knee with no hip movement. Terrible. They should be landing in a slight squat position (with hips back). And while I love the idea of circuits, doing explosive movements with heavy weights while tired (and IN FRONT of a med ball) is just plain dangerous IMO.

Carolyn
 
Hi Jess,

I went to a CrossFit affiliate gym, where one of the trainers was a CF certified trainer. The program was actually a boot camp workout and they incorporated CrossFit type workouts every once in while. We never did heavy lifting, handstand push ups or muscle-ups. I don't think anyone there could do a muscle-up, including the instructors!

Like Gayle, I workout solo incorporating the workouts that I find on the CrossFit website as well as the website of the affiliate gyms. I don't do lots of the heavy lifting, basically because I can't lift that heavy and don't want to hurt myself. The website is great for having demos of many of the exercises. You can do the workout as written or you can make substitutions for a particular exercise or piece of equipment. I don't have a rower so I may do jump rope or go running instead. As Gayle stated the WODs are free for the taking and you can anything you want with them.

The fitness boot camp that I attended was a great experience for me. I pushed myself beyond my limits and got good results and lots of ideas of how to design workouts. I love the feeling of pushing myself to my limits and sometimes beyond. I have never done any puking, although I have been close both when I went to the fitness boot camp and with my own workouts. For me, this is due to extreme heat as I live in the South and often contend with 95+ degree heat and humidity. I actually did a 5K two weeks ago and felt like puking for the last mile or so. It was a late evening race with 90+ degree heat.

We all need to be careful when working out. I remember when Taebo came out and there were reports of people injuring themselves. I have never injured myself doing CrossFit workouts. It's all about working hard, smart and knowing your limits. I think most people realize that. I have gotten sprained ankles by doing power walking and by step workouts.
 
I guess I still don't get the puking.. I work out hard. (hey I do cathe!) I often feel quite winded after cardio to where my chest "hurts". Or so sore after lifting I have to sit and wait a few minutes for the burning to subside. But if I started feeling like I was going to puke I'd quit. ? I can see how being hot can affect you though. I wait till the evening when DH turns on the AC and I put a fan on me. I feel "faint" if I work out when it's warm and tire more easily it seems. We leave the AC off during the day and its usually 85 in here. I'm sweating now. ugh. And the AC only gets put to like 78 so the fan helps.

Anyway. thanks for explaning it. I guess If I didn't already have a ton of DVD workouts that I enjoy I would possibly consider working out that way. I like more "one-on-one" though even if it's a dvd talking to me. lol. I can't get to a gym either right now.
 
I have to confess, I've puked at the gym a couple of times. Haven't done it in years, but in college I trained w/one of the linebackers & our leg workout was killer. It made me hurl on more than one occasion. Of course being 25 years old I thought I was the coolest chick at the club & was SO proud, especially b/c I jumped right back into the workout. Naturally we modified our favorite Ahnold saying--"I have no fear of fainting at the gym"--to "I have no fear of puking at the gym." }(

Anyway, I popped back into this thread b/c I just discovered a crossfit gym literally blocks from my house. Jeez, the closest health club is like 15 minutes away, yet I have a crossfit gym about 30 seconds from my driveway. It's called Run Jump Lift. I'm off Friday, I think I'll pop in, check it out & give y'all my report. ;)

Oh good, I can still edit. So I'm perusing their website, & the routines actually look like a lot of fun, & not at all dangerous:

The Scaling of WODs (Workouts of the Day) allows each Athlete to

control the intensity and challenge

of her/his exercise.

Read the example and then watch the video linked at the end of this page
Skip Text & Jump to Video (Window Media Player)
Skip Text & Jump to Video(Macintosh)
Here is an example:
For this example we will use the workout we call
‘GingerBread Man - Catch me if you can !’
This workout is designed to be performed on a 1/4 mile track
using KettleBells, an ABMat, a pair of Parrallettes, and a Medicine Ball

The GOAL is to complete this workout as quickly as possible
There are 3 Rounds
For each round the Athlete will perform:

400 Meter Run
30 KettleBell Swings 50lb
30 AbMat Crunches
30 Back Push Ups
100 yard OverHead Medicine Ball Throw 20lb

scaling allows 3 different Athletes to train at 3 different levels

Athlete 1. Josh - 17 year old Varsity Wrestler

Athlete 2. Mary - Josh’s Mom, moderately conditioned 50 year old,
active teacher

Athlete 3. Jennifer - 44 year old inactive novice, 40 lbs overweight

All 3 athletes can finish this workout inside of 30 minutes

Josh the most fit of all 3 will perform the tasks as prescribed -

(using the prescribed distance of 400 Meters, 50lb KettleBell, & 20 lb Medicine Ball)
Mary will scale down just enough to remain competitive

running the 400 Meters but choosing a lighter 25lb KettleBell
and a 12 lb Medicine Ball
Jennifer the newest and least familiar with the moves

will scale her work down by the largest degree
running 200 Meters cutting all of her reps to 20
using a 20 lb KettleBell and an 8 lb Medicine Ball
Because the work was scaled to each Athlete’s level of fitness, the result was a competitive workout where each athlete pushed the other to perform well.
By the way, Mary finished first, Josh second and Jennifer close behind.

At Run Jump Lift we always finish as a TEAM.
No Athlete is left behind.
And NEVER do we allow negative comments.
Be prepared to be part of the TEAM.

Please select the following link to watch a really great video illustrating the concept of Scaling Workouts. This video is from one of the BEST exercise sites in the world. I can not say enough about the contribution Crossfit has made to the Fitness Industry.

CrossFit’s scaling a Workout Demo (Window Media Player)
 
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