Gym vs. Cross fit advice

[nolipoli]

Seriously though, Crossfit may not be perfect, but it has swept the world and gotten a lot of people off the couch.

 

That has to be a good thing, right?

 

On the not perfect thing...

 

I do believe that Crossfit is lacking on the endurance side, if it is all you do.

 

If you are running or cycling any kind of distance it will improve your Crossfit by improving your endurance, and if you are Crossfitting (or Gyming) it will improve your cycling and running by improving your strength.

[kennyg]

Seriously though, Crossfit may not be perfect, but it has swept the world and gotten a lot of people off the couch.

 

That has to be a good thing, right?

 

On the not perfect thing...

 

I do believe that Crossfit is lacking on the endurance side, if it is all you do.

 

If you are running or cycling any kind of distance it will improve your Crossfit by improving your endurance, and if you are Crossfitting (or Gyming) it will improve your cycling and running by improving your strength.

 

You right no-one exercise regime will cover all basis,

yes cross-fit has its place.

 

No its not for everyone, my only issue is the justification of the type of exercise and the lack of control and form.

( I am a personal trainer and have coached). ( I studied 2 years and still don't believe all my input is 100% accurate), apparently you become a cross-fit coach in a couple weekends.

 

Sorry for R800 bucks, a PT will do 4X45min, and help you with a focussed cross training program. Your injury risk is lower, the third party "should" genuinely be interested in your well being, and if qualified through the right channels can actually help with a power and correction.

 

Yes a strong ( Fit) individual will generically do less damage but a professional cross fit athlete will have weeks on the top step for long , similar to our Rugby players.

[Squier]

Check this out. Seems to have some good reviews and you can do it at home. Just need the proper motivation!This guy makes a lot of sense but is not an endurance sport proponent. You need to find a balance between performing well on race day and over-training. Also, don't screw up your family life by being all about training and not enough about family, sex with your wife and the like!

www.maxworkouts.com

Good luck!

 

Did you buy this? Have you used it?

 

I like the guys view on exercising, but I'm not willing to drop R500 to find out what it actually entails. It could just be a nice sales pitch to rake in some dough, without much substance.

[dave303e]

So I was flicking channels on the weekend, and I know it is not friday but.....

 

 

How stupid is Reebok claiming their champion as the fittest man on earth... Really? Best crossfitter yes, but fittest on Earth? 

[Vetplant]

So I was flicking channels on the weekend, and I know it is not friday but.....

 

 

How stupid is Reebok claiming their champion as the fittest man on earth... Really? Best crossfitter yes, but fittest on Earth?

I had the same argument with my colleague who happens to also own a Crossfit "Box". He couldn't see the issue.

 

Like saying, Usain Bolt is the fastest man on earth. It is true, but only in very specific circumstances. Even that Hassan lady will beat him on a given day over 5000m...

[stefmeister]

So I was flicking channels on the weekend, and I know it is not friday but.....

 

 

How stupid is Reebok claiming their champion as the fittest man on earth... Really? Best crossfitter yes, but fittest on Earth? 

Do you perhaps mean the best at exercising?

 

Reebok only became relevant again because of crossfit, so they're obviously drinking the koolaid.

[Shebeen]

So I was flicking channels on the weekend, and I know it is not friday but.....

 

 

How stupid is Reebok claiming their champion as the fittest man on earth... Really? Best crossfitter yes, but fittest on Earth?

kwagga smith will eat him for breakfast

[WrightJnr]

I have a different view. We must not confuse fit and healthily. Chris Froome may be fit, but I don’t think he is at all healthy for example. At the end of the day, unless you are being paid to do something you should strive for the healthy option. This is where something like CrossFit does have a good case. The combination of exercises, both body weight and lifting and the short but reasonably ok cardio work make it a healthy option in my opinion.

 

But I always end up with the same conclusion. “Everything in moderation”. Work, Eat, Play & Sleep constantly in moderation and differently. Change your patterns, sports you play, foods you eat etc. and I believe you will be better off for it. Too much of anything is not good for you.

[dave303e]

crossfit healthy? 

 

Obviously you have not seen the horrible form of lifts which often lead to injury or read anything on rhabdomyolysis.

[Ettas]

I used to own a box and I still train at that same box. 

 

 

crossfit healthy? 

 

Obviously you have not seen the horrible form of lifts which often lead to injury or read anything on rhabdomyolysis.

You are probably part of the unlucky few that have stepped into a badly run crossfit box or you watch "bad form crossfit" videos on youtube. As for Rhabdo, I have only known one person to get it (not at our box, but not that it matters). 

 

In a well run Crossfit box you will be taken through an introduction program to get you used to movements, you will always warm up properly, you will be shown movements, they will be drilled into you, form will be encouraged over weight and reps, and coaches will correct bad form. If this does not happen get another box. 

 

It is a bit of a conundrum because there are unsafe crossfit boxes out there, but while normal gym goers are curling and doing leg extensions crosfitters are snatching, cleaning, doing pull ups, walking on their hands, pulling sleds, squatting and pressing all with other like minded people who push you to be better. While training in a conventional gym can make you strong, it is much more difficult than doing it in a crossfit box, especially if you don't know what you are doing. The numbers don't lie.

 

A distinction should be made between competitive crossfit and doing crossfit to get fit. When we fall off our bikes and break a collar bone we say it is part of the sport, same goes for people who compete in crossfit and push themselves to the limits every day. 

 

Find a good box and don't let your ego get in the way when a girl squats more than you. 

 

As for the Kwagga comment, Matt Fraser will have him for breakfast. 

[Vetplant]

I used to own a box and I still train at that same box. 

 

 

You are probably part of the unlucky few that have stepped into a badly run crossfit box or you watch "bad form crossfit" videos on youtube. As for Rhabdo, I have only known one person to get it (not at our box, but not that it matters). 

 

In a well run Crossfit box you will be taken through an introduction program to get you used to movements, you will always warm up properly, you will be shown movements, they will be drilled into you, form will be encouraged over weight and reps, and coaches will correct bad form. If this does not happen get another box. 

 

It is a bit of a conundrum because there are unsafe crossfit boxes out there, but while normal gym goers are curling and doing leg extensions crosfitters are snatching, cleaning, doing pull ups, walking on their hands, pulling sleds, squatting and pressing all with other like minded people who push you to be better. While training in a conventional gym can make you strong, it is much more difficult than doing it in a crossfit box, especially if you don't know what you are doing. The numbers don't lie.

 

A distinction should be made between competitive crossfit and doing crossfit to get fit. When we fall off our bikes and break a collar bone we say it is part of the sport, same goes for people who compete in crossfit and push themselves to the limits every day. 

 

Find a good box and don't let your ego get in the way when a girl squats more than you. 

 

As for the Kwagga comment, Matt Fraser will have him for breakfast. 

You seem to have a nice balanced view of things (No I am not being facetious)

 

Where do you stand with regards to the supposed title of "The Fittest Man on Earth"?

 

Who of the following athletes would you consider "The fastest man on Earth"?

-Donovan Bailey

-Usain Bolt

-Wayde van Niekerk

-David Rudisha 

-Lewis HAmilton

-Kitty O'Neil

-Andy Green

I could go on, but you get my point, it is a very vague claim.

 

As has been said before, the title "Crossfit Games Champion 2018" would be much more accurate and appropriate.

 

I would go as far as to say there is a good chance that Rich Froning is actually still better at crossfit than Matt Fraser at this stage.

[Ettas]

You seem to have a nice balanced view of things (No I am not being facetious)

 

Where do you stand with regards to the supposed title of "The Fittest Man on Earth"?

 

Who of the following athletes would you consider "The fastest man on Earth"?

-Donovan Bailey

-Usain Bolt

-Wayde van Niekerk

-David Rudisha 

-Lewis HAmilton

-Kitty O'Neil

-Andy Green

I could go on, but you get my point, it is a very vague claim.

 

As has been said before, the title "Crossfit Games Champion 2018" would be much more accurate and appropriate.

 

I would go as far as to say there is a good chance that Rich Froning is actually still better at crossfit than Matt Fraser at this stage.

 

It is a very vague claim and every year rookies end up on or get close to podiums, which shows you that they are only scratching the surface, but the top tier guys are extremely fit and extremely strong. I do think that their definition of fitness is as close as anyone has ever gotten. 

Being proficient in the ten physical skills below makes you fit, according to CrossFit:

Strength

Stamina

Endurance

Flexibility

Power

Speed

Coordination

Agility

Balance

Accuracy.

 

Would love to see Matt Fraser and Rich Froning go head to head in a competition.  

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

It is a very vague claim and every year rookies end up on or get close to podiums, which shows you that they are only scratching the surface, but the top tier guys are extremely fit and extremely strong. I do think that their definition of fitness is as close as anyone has ever gotten. 

Being proficient in the ten physical skills below makes you fit, according to CrossFit:

Strength

Stamina

Endurance

Flexibility

Power

Speed

Coordination

Agility

Balance

Accuracy.

 

Would love to see Matt Fraser and Rich Froning go head to head in a competition.  

A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one

 

In this sense, I think CrossFit has a point. Yeah, none of these guys will be able to excel solely at olympic lifting (apart from Tia-Claire Toomey), triathlon, cycling, running, swimming, sprinting, calisthenics, functional movement and so on, but the fact remains that they are good at ALL those things, at the same time. That requires an immense amount of fitness, strength, agility & flexibility, not to mention training and mental fortitude. 

 

Fittest on Earth? Of all those competing at Crossfit (which is a kaaaaaakload of people) - hell yes. Of everyone else? We'll never be sure if there's another Matt Fraser / Rich Froning just out there not doing this or just doing it in his own way. But that's not the point. And that's why I think the title is well earned.  

[Vetplant]

Heptathlon athletes are exceptional in that they perform exceptional feats over a wide range of disciplines, yet they are not recognized for their versatility whereas a specialist like Usain or Wayde gets tons of recognition for being a specialist.

 

Crossfit is going to have a challenge if it wants to go mainstream and catch the attention of the normal sports fan. But maybe it doesn't want to, maybe it is happy with getting the attention of crossfitters worldwide.

 

I am not against crossfit, did it myself for 2 years and saw the benefit for me personally. 

 

I am just thinking as a sideshow sport, if it wants to go mainstream it would definitely have to do something drastically different.

[TheEd]

My personal reasons for not being into crossfit are as follows:

1. This is probably the most important one, but being married to a physiotherapist I've had to endure many a lecture on how bad crossfit is for you, despite the fact that I'm not even a little interested in crossfit.  I can go into all the details, because I actually paid attention, but I won't as it's been mentioned (bad form, intensity, reps, effectiveness, etc).
2. I know of a gym nearby where the crossfitters were banned, due to their open use of steroids and also encouraging others to use steroids.  I acknowledge the fact that this might be an isolated case, so I won't generalise.
3. Again risking a generalisation, all the people that do crossfit that I have personally met are arrogant, full of themselves and try to convince you why crossfit is better than your current exercise regime, even if it's not relevant.
4. I know of a few biokineticists that advise their clients not to compete in crossfit events disguised as "fitness events".  Following the wife's logic, I'm assuming the same reasons apply...
5. I have yet to see a box that is free from braces (ankle, knee, elbow, wrist, etc.) and/or strapping, as I've noticed that there's always at the very least one person (usually more than one) sporting a brace/support/strapping.  This creates the impression, even if only perceived, that people doing crossfit gets injured either easily or regularly, which also supports the wife's arguments...  The reason I'm mentioning it is because I go to a gym, I work out in the morning peak time and I very rarely see a brace/support/strapping.  The obvious exception being "kidney belts" which should be standard for anyone into weights, crossfit or otherwise.
6. Financial concerns and the uncertainty if it will actually be beneficial to current goals are legitimate to anyone, in my opinion.

That being said, I'm an extremely anti-social person, so I probably won't meet (or possibly won't be patient enough for) someone to prove otherwise.

 

Should crossfit be banned and its advocates hanged, drawn and quartered?  I don't think so!  Surely there are people that are actually paying attention to what they are doing, doing it properly and not being rude about it.  Just because I haven't met them, doesn't give me the right to dismiss crossfit in its entirety.  If it gets you off the couch and being even slightly healthier, then why not?  Here's a thought though:  mutual respect!  To each his own.  Don't try and force your views on someone else.  They might not be informed and you might not know their end goal.

 

As for its relevance to cycling, I don't think it's the best choice, as most training advice points to one day proper strength and weight training a week to aid cycling.  But it might also be better than nothing...  Or trial and error until you find something that works (like I usually do)!

 

Didn't want it to sound like a rant, but it does kinda... 

[Chris_]

I'm sorry you've had such a poor experience of crossfit. I'm not calling you out on it but those are some awful sounding humans/stories you've encountered.

 

I don't 'do' crossfit anymore but I did for years. It was the best part of my day back then. I made a really good bunch of friends at the class after work and it became my 'therapy' after a long day. It was just a chance to train hard, talk rubbish and unwind (ironic I know).

 

I tried to keep up crossfit while training for Ironman but it becomes unsustainable. I still miss it.