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Is crossfit the fastest way to get fit?

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Well with exercising if you put work in, you get work out. With Crossfit you're getting pushed, which is helping you put in more work.

Crossfit works for you, so keep doing it! The "fastest" doesn't matter. Working out is a persistent life-long thing. Eventually you'll get comfortable OP (since you're not an athlete) and in 7 years you'll still have to work out.
 
Its from my personal experience.

But like i said, it's mainly the instructor over your head and the other people in the gym that you try to compete with. I'm not saying that going to a regular gym isn't as good. It just wasn't as good for me. I'm the kind of guy who needs someone to push me.

With your use of the word "you" I read it as "this is commonplace". If it works for you that's awesome though. Some people respond really well to the motivation for sure.
 
Crossfit or no crossfit, 5-6 workouts per week is going to yield results, especially at the beginning.

Was gonna say this. Especially if you are just starting out, newbie gainz.

I personally don't know if I can stomach the cost, around here it's about 100+ per a month, when I went to the gym it was $15 a month.
 
Sounds like OP just needed to workout with a group and needed the discipline and guidance


I used to do it but stopped as I didn't want to risk injury, yes have proper form... but way too many opportunities for a major fuck up
 
There are better ways to get fit, but Crossfit is an option.

Imo do a beginner strength program with plyometrics and sprints added for better progression and results.

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i don't understand how people know immediately the guy is doing crossfit. i know the implied joke is because "haha he is doing crossfit look how dumb he is."
does crossfit encourage people to put way too much weight on at the beginning when they can barely move the bar or something?

The workout of the days sometimes/a lot give a weight on a barbell exercise that is usually too difficult for the average crossfitter (especially the ones that just do wods). I checked it the other day to see what it was and it had bench press for reps at 225lbs supersetted with other stuff all for time.

Lack of progression on WODS (seemingly random), little emphasis on form, and low barrier of entry to be a crossfit coach/open a box. 2 of those issues are kinda fitness issues in general and are exemplified in crossfit because of everything else.

Crossfit also really loves Olympic Lifting which are extremely technical lifts. Unless someone goes beyond the WODs and does more they will de-train fast on those movements. The Stress Recovery Adaptation curve for technique is the shortest meaning you start to decline in skill after a certain point. Accidents happen but not teaching someone how to do something right especially like a snatch, deadlift, squat etc they can get get hurt trying to do more than they can handle.

Crossfit has some really good athletes that compete in it, but it also attracts a bunch of dumbasses who will inevitably get hurt because of dumb coaches and big egos. Better programming and higher standards for coaching would make a big difference.
 
Its from my personal experience.

But like i said, it's mainly the instructor over your head and the other people in the gym that you try to compete with. I'm not saying that going to a regular gym isn't as good. It just wasn't as good for me. I'm the kind of guy who needs someone to push me.

you can get training sessions at most gyms if you need someone to push you or help you with something.
it also depends on what your goals are. if it is just to lose weight at the moment, then crossfit sounds like something you enjoy and is beneficial to you. i personally go to the gym for >functional strength but i had brought my weight down considerably before starting SS and then had to start eating a lot more than i had for a while to keep up with it.
 
CrossFit is for naturally athletic people. People who have never been obese. I like to refer people here as a starting point when they ask:

http://suppversity.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/from-16-to-8-body-fat-in-10-weeks.html

I'm not a fan, mainly because of idiots doing crazy shit in the gym, but it certainly has a place if you know what you're doing / go to a decent trainer. Most trainers though..... yeah, you want someone decent, let's leave it at that.

General rule for getting in shape. Count calories and lift weights. Easy. Nothing special at all.

I really don't agree with your first sentence. Everything I've done in Crossfit is capable of being scaled down to whatever level the athlete is at. My wife went from never lifting weights ever into crossfit. She just started with very low weights and simpler movements that eventually led up to her learning more complicated things like clean and jerks or snatches.

I mean, it has to be a good gym with coaches/owners who actually care and want to help people. But I wouldn't say Crossfit is only for natural athletes.

I'm a small guy. 5'8" and 135lbs, and after a year, I'm finally consistently hitting the weight amounts prescribed for women on olympic lifts, lol. I had done squats, deadlifts and bench presses before, so I didn't start at such a low level on those. But it feels great making that progress!
 
What exactly is Crossfit? Anything special that would make it stand out from regular workout routines? Can I get my swole back?
 
There are better ways to get fit, but Crossfit is an option.

Imo do a beginner strength program with plyometrics and sprints added for better progression and results.



The workout of the days sometimes/a lot give a weight on a barbell exercise that is usually too difficult for the average crossfitter (especially the ones that just do wods). I checked it the other day to see what it was and it had bench press for reps at 225lbs supersetted with other stuff all for time.

Lack of progression on WODS (seemingly random), little emphasis on form, and low barrier of entry to be a crossfit coach/open a box. 2 of those issues are kinda fitness issues in general and are exemplified in crossfit because of everything else.

Crossfit also really loves Olympic Lifting which are extremely technical lifts. Unless someone goes beyond the WODs and does more they will de-train fast on those movements. The Stress Recovery Adaptation curve for technique is the shortest meaning you start to decline in skill after a certain point.

Crossfit has some really good athletes that compete in it, but it also attracts a bunch of dumbasses who will inevitably get hurt because of dumb coaches and big egos. Better programming and higher standards for coaching would make a big difference.

work out of the day? lol i don't know anything about crossfit, but that sounds awful. you're only going to progress if you incrementally add weight from your starting point, i don't understand how they expect people to come in and bench 225 if they haven't been lifting for a few years...
 
What exactly is Crossfit? Anything special that would make it stand out from regular workout routines? Can I get my swole back?

CrossFit is honestly just a brand name that someone came up with for Cross-training, if I remember correctly. Olympic Lifts, Cardio/Endurance, Some Gymnastics.

It's like a franchise thing. Gyms have to pay money to use the Crossfit Brand. The one I go to doesn't use the Crossfit brand in its name, but the training and techniques are the same.

work out of the day? lol i don't know anything about crossfit, but that sounds awful. you're only going to progress if you incrementally add weight from your starting point, i don't understand how they expect people to come in and bench 225 if they haven't been lifting for a few years...

And as someone who does "Crossfit" (the techniques), I agree. Our WODs aren't set with specific weights. You're just expected to start somewhere, log your progress, and try to improve.
 
Been going to a pseudo crossfit place for half a year. Good coaches, and I'm a weenie so I know my limitations and don't do dumb stuff. Also have no competitive gene in me period lol.

In the end it all depends on the person. Someone like me kinda needs the 'schedule' and coaches/group of people to get in the grove. Going to the gym solo is where my 'laziness' kicks in quickly.
 
CrossFit is honestly just a brand name that someone came up with for Cross-training, if I remember correctly. Olympic Lifts, Cardio/Endurance, Some Gymnastics.

It's like a franchise thing. Gyms have to pay money to use the Crossfit Brand. The one I go to doesn't use the Crossfit brand in its name, but the training and techniques are the same.
Ahh, got you. Thanks.
 
Gymnastics it's better in every way.

Crossfit has terrible technique and form. Just look at the difference in these muscle-ups:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5LiHYe5WkA

To be fair these children would wreck the vast majority of adults in shape. Those muscle-ups do make me feel bad though

The problem with crossfit is that it varies wildly from gym to gym, I've never been in one personally but besides all the dumb gifs I have seen some small lessons filmed in crossfit gyms that were very useful and valued form over reps.
 
A personal trainer like hollywood uses is probably the fastest way but try and afford that.

A healthy diet and exercise will get you fit at whatever pace you set in general.
 
Gymnastics it's better in every way.

Crossfit has terrible technique and form. Just look at the difference in these muscle-ups:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5LiHYe5WkA
Hmm, these particular exercises seem to be harder for an adult who weights about 90kg compared to a more agile, feather-weight kid.

I mean, when i was a skinny kid, i could do like 25 pull ups in a row, without doing any exercise in my life, now i'm doing 10 in a row at best and i'm not even that heavy (i weight 76kg).
 
To be fair these children would wreck the vast majority of adults in shape. Those muscle-ups do make me feel bad though

The problem with crossfit is that it varies wildly from gym to gym, I've never been in one personally but besides all the dumb gifs I have seen some small lessons filmed in crossfit gyms that were very useful and valued form over reps.

Yeah they are some really good ones out there, they are in the minority though.
 
work out of the day? lol i don't know anything about crossfit, but that sounds awful. you're only going to progress if you incrementally add weight from your starting point, i don't understand how they expect people to come in and bench 225 if they haven't been lifting for a few years...

That's why you scale accordingly. No one expects someone their first Crossfit day to bench 225.
 
Find a place that only does "Bootcamp". Not crossfit. Kettlebells and body weight exercises are the way to go. Not crossfit.
 
I'd love to try it, but it's really pretty damn expensive. The two boxes I had a look at are both about €100-150€ a month (3 trainings per week). For this amount of money, I could get a six month membership at the closest gym.
 
Find a place that only does "Bootcamp". Not crossfit. Kettlebells and body weight exercises are the way to go. Not crossfit.

Do you have a reason for saying that or are you just echoing memes shared by gym bros?

Honestly. All gyms are different. I have no doubt there are crossfit gyms that are more "bro-y" and care more about getting crazy weights than learning proper form, but that's not the case for all of them.

Crossfit just teaches olympic lift techniques, some gymnastics and lots of cardio/endurance in a small class setting. That's all it is.
 
My girlfriend does crossfit so much it's had a real toll on her body

She's constantly seeing a chiropractor and RMT, she's currently recovering from a torn pec and last year, when in training for a comp, she was working so hard she stopped getting her period for a couple of months

I jacked my back up so much lifting weights that if I pick one up these days I get a tension headache that lasts for days, so be careful OP
 
Crossfit can be great if you have an awesome Box with real trainers. Otherwise, you're asking for injuries or worse.

Unfortunately telling which is good or bad is really hard for a novice. :/
 
I'd love to try it, but it's really pretty damn expensive. The two boxes I had a look at are both about €100-150€ a month (3 trainings per week). For this amount of money, I could get a six month membership at the closest gym.
What country is it? I live in Greece, the prices there seem to be around 60-70 Euros per month. Then again, 60-70 for a Greek is too much.
 
Essentially, consistent exercise is the fastest way to get fit. Crossfit helps to encourage this aspect with team support.

However, there are still plenty of people who find alternative and personal motivations.
 
Whatever personally motivates you to move your ass is the best workout. Also, progress is everything. Which is why Crossfit is not for me, because the muscle confusion philosophy makes it difficult to track my strength gains, while a consistent routine of the same main lifts is straightforward about it: I squat/bench/deadlift x amount of pounds more than last week, therefore I am getting more muscle/better posture/stronger bones. With crossfit you have different exercises every week, so I have no idea if my progress is consistent. But that is just what applies to myself, some people have freak gains on it, some others plateau quick and then give up.


Gymnastics it's better in every way.

Crossfit has terrible technique and form. Just look at the difference in these muscle-ups:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5LiHYe5WkA

Sadly, there are no gymnastics gyms for adults. And learning by yourself is very difficult, even dangerous, because gymnastics progressions are much more technical than most of the barbell techniques used in crossfit and in regular gyms.
 
CrossFit is honestly just a brand name that someone came up with for Cross-training, if I remember correctly. Olympic Lifts, Cardio/Endurance, Some Gymnastics.

It's like a franchise thing. Gyms have to pay money to use the Crossfit Brand. The one I go to doesn't use the Crossfit brand in its name, but the training and techniques are the same
.



And as someone who does "Crossfit" (the techniques), I agree. Our WODs aren't set with specific weights. You're just expected to start somewhere, log your progress, and try to improve.

So it's just a patented high level exercise on steroids (without the steroids)? Sounds like a scam.

Seems it would kill my little body frame.
 
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has to be up there.

It's like getting hit by a truck.

And then the truck driver gets out and chokes you to submission with your own collar.

In regards to CrossFit, all I know is that the 2 people I know who do CrossFit both told me they do CrossFit in the first conversation I had with them. So I guess it's true that the first rule of CrossFit is always talk about CrossFit.

Personally I like HIIT training, the occasional bit of lifting, bodyweight exercises and doing BJJ. You could do any of those 5-6 times a week and see results. CrossFit isn't magic, op is just doing a shitload of working out is all
 
As long as you're serious, any good routine will show you good results. Unless you are doing some body competition, the best route is always combat sports.

I went on a date with a crossfit girl a couple weeks ago. I actually had met her 1 year ago (saw how much she changed) and she has the dedication needed to thrive. The thing is her body became a bit disproportionate, and I dont have trust enough to blatantly tell her (nor it's my place to do it). She loves her "box", because she has 3-4 great female friends there (one of them, I have to say, has to be one of the hottest person I've seen) and a bunch of guys she met. I did my best to lead her to my friend who's a boxer and who would immediately help her to shape her body, but it felt kinda bad seeing a girl that has such strong will to become better and her fitness world is fucking crossfit.
 
It's a branded workout like any other. Everyone should just decide the tools, environment, and goals you want to achieve, and choose the workout plan that works best for you. If Crossfit's great for you, rock on. I like everything about it except the random daily workouts, training for competition culture, and the boxes that train bad form high rep motions.
 
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