Crossfit

[Guest]

"the high volume of CF in a given day, particularly when it come to some of the olympic lifts and more complex moves opens a person up to a higher risk of injury. That's a fair criticism and something CF seems to ignore."

That is why you work according to your level of fitness. Most people starting out scale the workouts to their level...children, grandmas, and grandpas can do this program with great success...you work according to what YOU are able to do, no more.

Michael

[w8liftinmom]

To Natural Fitness,

One article against Olympic weightlifting isn't enough to prove that it is "dangerous" I'm sure there are just as many proclaiming it's benefits.

There is more than one road to health & fitness, some more efficient than others, some more intense than others, some geared more specifically to different populations.

Regarding Crossfit - there sometimes doesn't seem to be much structure, practicing gymnastics skills one day, olympic lifts another, running, low reps, high reps. BUT, varying workouts, practicing different seemingly unrelated skills, keep the mind and mind/body from boredom. I know all about the SAID principle. The body will still adapt using crossfit methods - maybe just not like the textbooks dictate.

Think outside the box and broaden your horizons.

[Guest]

Olympic lifts do not result in spinal hyper-extension. The Olympic press was responsible, and was discontinued after the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

http://www.chidlovski.net/liftup/a_demo_press_techniques.asp?lift=golovanov

[Larry the Cable Guy]

I've done thousands of Snatches and Clean and Jerks. How long does it take to hurt myself? Just wondering.

Also, is it possible Functional Training means something other than Balance Balls? You know, the last time I carried a couch up the stairs, it felt a lot like a deadlift. When I pulled it up explosively, so I could get my hands up it, it sure felt like an O-lift.

[needhelp]

Natural,

I'm new to all of this and you seem to be the most knowledgeable here. Does this Crossfit use bosu balls and balance balls in their workouts and if so why? What would you do instead, if anything? Thanks for the help.

[RunningWithScissors]

[quote]Its funny though how more and more Strength and Conditioning Coaches in the NFL and NCAA have decided to switch over from a functional style training program (that is supposedly superior) to a more rational High Intensity style of weight training( which is supposedly not very functional for the body compared to Olympic lifts). It must be because their information and research is woefully out of date are uneducated or they just haven't got a clue as to how to train properly and effectively. [/quote]

Most S&C coaches I know abandoned HIT style training long ago. Explosive lifting in all forms (DE or dynamic effort lifting (ala Westside Barbell), olympic lifts or variations and strongman exercises (tire flipping, keg and sandbag cleans) are standard fair for some of the best strength coaches in the game. Whose information is woefully out of date?

[NaturalFitness]

Hi needhelp, I don't know if I'm the most knowledgeable person on here nor have I ever proclaimed to be. This whole topic was started to let people know that you do not need to do olympic lifts to make your body more functional despite what all these experts claim, as any properly prescribed strength training regimen can help you accomplish this. Now if a normal strength training routine can do the same thing for you that olympic lifting can do with only 2-3 30-40 minute sessions a week compared to 5-6 days and is easier to learn then why would you bother with it. I understand and can agree with what "w8liftinmom" has to say 'there is more than one road to health and fitness" there's no doubt about that, but how many of these avenues put you at greater risk for injury?
You even said yourself, "there sometimes doesn't seem to be much structure" A program without structure, thats like a designing a building without a foundation. Sure it may not get boring but it would also be difficult to measure progress.

As for bosu balls and balance balls Im not sure if they incomporate it into their programs or not. These devices for desgined for rehab. Any normal person who uses them in hopes of improving athletic balance and co-ordination in their sport will be surely dissapointed. Take a skier for example who has been doing weight training on the bosu ball to improve his/her balance.
If balancing on the ball made you better at balancing on the slope, then the opposite would have to be true as well. Meaning that since you have excellent balance on the slopes, you should have no problem balancing on the bosu ball. Unfortunately if you try this you will see that you would struggle on the bosu, because
it is a totally different skill one to which must be practised to get better at. Skills will not transfer from one sport to another even if the skill is similiar. Balance is more of a genetic trait, this is why we cannot all become gymnists and why others are great at one sport but average at another even if both are practiced regularlly If you have injuries thats another story and topic alltogether then the these devicse may help bring back function to the injuried bodypart.

What I would suggest is for you to do a full body routine where all the major muscle groups are worked with a combo of compound movements and isolation movements 2-3 sets each in 2-3 times per week in order to acquire proper technique. Once you have the hang of it, split up your routine and concentrate more on different bodyparts do more exercises but only do one set of each exercise. Add variety to your workouts but keep something the same so that you can clearly measuer progress.
If your interested in trying the crossfit program make sure you do it at there facility and not at your local health club.

Hope this helps.


NaturalFitness

[Guest]

Well im not against any particular training, the way i see it is just get out and move your body in some way. Focus on cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility, stay active, be aware of your diet, and use some sort of meditation or stress reduction method...all these things will benefit your life.
I have played many sports, used various training methods etc most coaches do use olympic style lifts along with other training methods...you just can't beat them for power, bulk, explosiveness, and quick results. For optimum performance, IN MY OPINION, i would learn to SAFELY use olympic lifts in short intense workouts. I have done HIT training, and i have done Crossfit training, as well as many other types of workouts. I can tell you this...the people in Crossift are no joke...those guys and gals are in probly the best shape of anyone i have ever known. When i was on their program i could do things that i just was never able to do before with any other training method. I was never stronger, or faster, and i never got gassed or wore out in any way, no matter what i did...it was amazing.
I am just now beginning to train again after a long lay off, but i can tell you i most definatly will be looking into Crossfit as well as some other methods.

Just get out and move your bodies, you can't go wrong when you watch your diets, stay active, and reduce stress.

J

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[edited by moderator]

[GuestFit]

I just wanted to let people know that this program is a bit overhyped and is certainly not the holy grail to fitness. It's nothing more than an intense conditioning program. If your looking for Physical muscular changes then this program isn't the best. It will get you strong to very strong but very little muscle unless your genetically gift to grow large muscles to begin with.
Now if your job requires you to have massive strength then great, it will help you out for sure, but so will any other strength training program.

Funny how on their site they tell you its designed for Police Academy's Military Personal, martial artists etc... What they don't tell you is that most of the people getting results are fairly fit to begin with and have better than average genetics, meaning that they do not represent the norm or average type trainee's. Another problem the program has is that its a fixed style program meaning, everyone does pretty much the same thing, this could be optimally for some but sub-optimal for many others and doesn't take into account Individualism.

The key to getting great results on a fitness program are to find a program that will deliver optimal results, not just good results. You can get good results from just about any fitness program you apply yourself to, but to get optimal results thats another story altogether and most Personal Trainers haven't got a clue on how to maximize the results for each individual.

This is the problem with the Health and Fitness Industry to begin with. Everyone has a magical workout, take the informercial of a popular training program that is currently causing waves. The program is very intense in nature and certainly will give everyone results, however who will obtains optimal results from it? Pretty much the same people who you see on the informerial. Thats because for every 100 people who try the program 2-3 will get best results and the rest will get average. In fact the program is so intense I bet that out of 100 individuals who try the program not even half will finish.

This Crossfit program does have some pros with it but has many flaws as well(one of the biggest is that it has much too high a volume for the average individual) however it is a good start but you will never reach your full potential with it. Now if conditioning is what your after then you will probably be satisfied.

If your trying to improve you physique and esthetic look, then you for the most part will be disappointed, unless your one of those lucky few. If you fall in the average area then you will get average results.

Ladies and gentlemen there is no perfect fitness program, because fitness is all about Individualism. If you enjoy CrossFit great then continue at it, but if you hate it or don't believe your getting the results you deserve then don't keep sticking to it in hopes that one day the program will deliver. When something works it works quickly. If it's not working now then it will most likely not work 3 months down the road of a year down the road, stop wasting your time and just do something else.

[Masta Disasta]

I've been training crossfit and eating paleo in Ireland for 6 months now.
I'm 5f9 broad and hadnt done much work in years. Used to play rugby and soccer.

When I started I was 19stone. I'm now 14 stone and am fitter and stronger than I've ever been. I've tried many other methods of training, non have works as efficiently.

I can beat people in sprints who've been playing football and running for years. My long distance running is faster despite not having actually done any with crossfit.

I'd try it before making long winded assessments about something you've never tried. That's what morons do. And a couple of the contributors on here sound like grade A morons.