CrossFit

[reefermadness]

Originally Posted by Myka

Well, I did my first CrossFit intro session on Sept 12th, then did my On-Ramp classes for two weeks Sept 16-27th and for the two weeks since, I have been going to the "box" 4-5x per week. I lost a couple pounds and an inch from my hips. Moreover, I already feel much stronger. I can do 3-4 strict chin-ups with a red band, and I squeezed out a single strict pull-up with no bands today too, and I've never been able to do that!

great work....now drop and give me 20. haha. But what no kipping pull-ups?

Here is something I hope you dont see at your crossfit gym...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8up6...embedded#t=206

and on the flip side a good motivational video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8up6...embedded#t=206

[Myka]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

But what no kipping pull-ups?

Maybe next week...

Here is something I hope you dont see at your crossfit gym...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8up6...embedded#t=206

I'm no expert by far, so I probably don't see everything that is wrong in that video besides massive fails. I've never seen anyone do that weird grip change mid-lift (is that because they are using an axle bar?) or rest the weight on their belly. I see a lot of spotters at my gym which I don't see in the video. I see people fail, but never as messy as it looks in that video. I know my gym has modified some workouts to make them safer for the average person. The really technical stuff is only done by people with experience and the strength to do so. I've been told by several trainers in different classes "You're not going to go past ____ weight until you can nail the technique every time." or "The exercise is done until failure, but I don't want to see anyone here fail." or "Failure means you can only do 6 of the 8 reps."

and on the flip side a good motivational video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8up6...embedded#t=206

This is the same vid as above.

[reefermadness]

Sorry..... lots of crossfit motivational videos out there I'm sure you've seen some. Here is the link I meant to post though.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zvqNHDTf8Y

[Myka]

Well, I've been going to CrossFit now for over 4 month, and still loving it. I recently found out that the gym I go to isn't a typical CrossFit gym as it is not dedicated to CrossFit. There are other group classes available too; Powerlifting, Olympic Weightlifting, Gymnastics, Endurance, Mobility (stretching, rolling, etc), and Sport (for the competitive CrossFitters). The membership for this gym allows me to go to whichever classes I want to. Next week I start Powerlifting three days a week, and then I will be doing the CrossFit class followed by Mobility two days a week. I'm going to do the full Powerlifting phase (3 months) and then I will probably go back to just doing CrossFit.

I'm getting stronger. I can bench 90 lbs, deadlift 185 lbs, and back squat 155 lbs. It's very self-satisfying to see the numbers slowly climb higher.

[Aquattro]

Good job!!

[mseepman]

Wow Mindy. That is impressive! No doubt you'll be teaching the class before long.

[reefermadness]

Originally Posted by Myka

Well, I've been going to CrossFit now for over 4 month, and still loving it. I recently found out that the gym I go to isn't a typical CrossFit gym as it is not dedicated to CrossFit. There are other group classes available too; Powerlifting, Olympic Weightlifting, Gymnastics, Endurance, Mobility (stretching, rolling, etc), and Sport (for the competitive CrossFitters). The membership for this gym allows me to go to whichever classes I want to. Next week I start Powerlifting three days a week, and then I will be doing the CrossFit class followed by Mobility two days a week. I'm going to do the full Powerlifting phase (3 months) and then I will probably go back to just doing CrossFit.

I'm getting stronger. I can bench 90 lbs, deadlift 185 lbs, and back squat 155 lbs. It's very self-satisfying to see the numbers slowly climb higher.

Dang Mindy those are great lifts for someone who is fairly new to power lifting/those lifts. Sounds like a pretty cool gym.

[sirruckus]

the break down of cross fit:

the good:

good for loosing weight, and just increasing your athletic abilities, satisfying those people who think anything is "boring", team atmosphere, new challenges every work out. no other sport has introduced as many people to the barbell as crossfit.

the bad:

not a efficient tool for training (training is the repetition of a similar workout to train something, i.e. increase bench press), the not so good coaches outweigh the good coaches by quite a bit (getting a certificate within a week of going to a seminar doesn't make you a good coach), injuries are quite common - many people go home thinking they did great and they really took it to their back, little do they know - they should be taking a week or two off to let their actual injuries heal. most of the works outs aren't new, but just simply advertised by crossfit.

in the end - if you enjoy it and see results you like, there is nothing wrong with doing cross fit, or any other fad (because crossfit is just that, something else will come along). Just be safe, and do your own studying of what is correct form for exercises that can really hurt you - dead lifts, squats, cleans & jerks etc. (because if most people have just walked off the street with little to no previous training and haven't been reamed out for crappy form multiple times, chances are your coaches aren't looking at form close enough).

[Myka]

Thanks for the comments guys, although my own comments were really more of a "Hey this is pretty cool!".

Originally Posted by reefermadness

Dang Mindy those are great lifts for someone who is fairly new to power lifting/those lifts. Sounds like a pretty cool gym.

Yeah it is a pretty cool gym! I'm sooo not a gym person, but I really get motivated with the group classes. The gym just moved to a new location before Christmas, now sporting 17,000 square feet!

Originally Posted by sirruckus

the break down of cross fit:

the good:

good for loosing weight, and just increasing your athletic abilities, satisfying those people who think anything is "boring", team atmosphere, new challenges every work out. no other sport has introduced as many people to the barbell as crossfit.

the bad:

not a efficient tool for training (training is the repetition of a similar workout to train something, i.e. increase bench press), the not so good coaches outweigh the good coaches by quite a bit (getting a certificate within a week of going to a seminar doesn't make you a good coach), injuries are quite common - many people go home thinking they did great and they really took it to their back, little do they know - they should be taking a week or two off to let their actual injuries heal. most of the works outs aren't new, but just simply advertised by crossfit.

in the end - if you enjoy it and see results you like, there is nothing wrong with doing cross fit, or any other fad (because crossfit is just that, something else will come along). Just be safe, and do your own studying of what is correct form for exercises that can really hurt you - dead lifts, squats, cleans & jerks etc. (because if most people have just walked off the street with little to no previous training and haven't been reamed out for crappy form multiple times, chances are your coaches aren't looking at form close enough).

I have nothing to compare to the gym I go to, but having said that all the trainers/coaches are weightlifters or competitive Crossfitters that have been lifting for years. They focus VERY MUCH on technique and get people to do slightly different exercises if they are not able to do the movement properly. Also, when we are doing "1 rep max" workouts that are typically done "to failure" we get cut off as soon as our form starts to wane. I've heard every single coach there say many times, "NO UGLY LIFTS!". Also, if you've only been to the gym for a few months they won't even let you do a "1 rep max". Everyday I see coaches telling people that's their last lift, but people know this too, and always agree or stop themselves. Same as if we are doing "Wall Ball" and the prescribed workout is 14/18 lbs (women/men), many people will choose lighter balls.

I went to a Powerlifting competition recently and I saw a couple scary lifts. I don't see that at the gym I go to.

If anyone is interested to see the gym (biggest CrossFit gym in Canada, 5th largest in North America) or the workouts, here's the gym I go to: www.synergystrength.ca