Giving crossfit a shot!

Adam Burella · 04-02-2005, 10:20 AM

I'm a university student from Ontario, Canada and I just wanted to stop in and say hi. I've been lurking for awhile on this message board and finally decided to give crossfit a shot. I've been doing abbreviated full-body programs for several years doing compound movements and olympic lifts. I also tried to add in sprint intervals for cardio but it always was the first to go when I got busy.

I like to read about the science behind training and from the first time I came across this website I thought it was a great concept. I'm having a hard time giving up the regular progression and concentration in strength movements but I definitely need to increase my fitness (not just my strength). The first two WODs kicked my ***.

I look forward to conversing with everyone here. There seems to be a ton of knowledge and maturity on this board.

William Hunter · 04-02-2005, 12:03 PM

Welcome Adam.

You'll find Crossfit's approach so varied that it will, in short order, expose your weaknesses. You can then work your weaknesses in addition to the WOD, or tailor the WOD to allow you bring your weak areas up to speed. For example, my biggest weakness is lack of pure strength. Whenever weights are called for, I tend to slow down a bit so that I can lift an amount as close to Rx'ed as possible. I GTG some heavy lifts on the side. The only WOD's I'm not blown out of the water are the 5k's and 10k's (just partially blown out of the water).

Enjoy!

Steven Stackpole · 04-02-2005, 01:35 PM

Hey Adam
I'm from Ottawa, and have just finished my 3rd month on crossfit.
You'll get all your questions answered here.
Enjoy
Steveo

Adam Burella · 04-02-2005, 02:27 PM

Hey guys, thanks for the welcome.

Steven: I'm in Kingston during the school year and Hamilton during the summer(1 more year to go!). How are you adapting to crossfit? Seeing a lot of improvements in any specific areas?

Steven Stackpole · 04-02-2005, 04:34 PM

Hey Adam
I'm seeing improvements in all areas.
The best advice I can give you is just to forget everything you had thought you knew about Physical Fitness. Do the workouts, just as they are written. If you take part in any other sports, do them on top of the workouts. I was pretty skeptical when I started, but had nothing to lose. 3 mos into it, and I'm seeing numbers like I've never seen before. I could give you some numbers, but for the most part, they're irrelevant. I was never a slacker, but lacked the knowledge, and background to devise a program to really push myself.
I could give you lots more info. if you want, but won't bore you for now. My advice, forget bicep curls, cable crossover rows, and whatever other garbage you see going on in the gym. Give Crossfit 3 or 4 mos., push yourself hard and fast. You wont be disappointed
Steveo

Kawika Harbottle · 04-06-2005, 03:29 AM

I think over-half the difficulty in doing CrossFit is learning or improving the quality compound lifts and weightlifting (aka olympic lifts). From reading the opening thread-post, looks like you might have already stomped onto decent ground with exercise education. But trying to steer away from workouts you used to do, which is voluntary when you think about it, is very similar to the philosophy of "Empty Your Cup".

Adam Burella · 04-06-2005, 06:12 PM

I started crossfit with a sore throat and probably went too hard. It doesn't help that I'm doing school around the clock and its even cutting into my sleep. Ended up with this really bad cough. My chest wall is physically sore now from all the coughing. I decided to take some days off and recover (need to be healthy for the exam period). Next week I'll ramp up the intensity slower.

Hey Kawika:
That's a really good point. The problem is I'm having a hard time recovering from the crossfit workouts as is. Also, I barely have the time to do 2 hour long workouts a week and making crossfit work is going to require some sacrifice already. Maybe I'll experiment with more lifting in addition to crossfit this summer when I have some more time. I'm considering doing some gymnastics classes too.

Adam

Dan Silver · 04-07-2005, 04:09 AM

"There seems to be a ton of knowledge and maturity on this board."

Apparently you haven't seen my posts.

Good to have you.

-D.

Beth Moscov · 04-07-2005, 09:04 AM

Hi Adam,

Dan is our token goofball. He isn't representative. No one else here ever laughs or jokes. :biggrin:

Welcome to Crossfit. It is a great community as well as fitness program.

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04-02-2005, 10:20 AM	#1
Adam Burella Member Profile: Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Posts: 43	I'm a university student from Ontario, Canada and I just wanted to stop in and say hi. I've been lurking for awhile on this message board and finally decided to give crossfit a shot. I've been doing abbreviated full-body programs for several years doing compound movements and olympic lifts. I also tried to add in sprint intervals for cardio but it always was the first to go when I got busy. I like to read about the science behind training and from the first time I came across this website I thought it was a great concept. I'm having a hard time giving up the regular progression and concentration in strength movements but I definitely need to increase my fitness (not just my strength). The first two WODs kicked my ***. I look forward to conversing with everyone here. There seems to be a ton of knowledge and maturity on this board.

04-02-2005, 12:03 PM	#2
William Hunter Member Profile: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Rome GA Posts: 967	Welcome Adam. You'll find Crossfit's approach so varied that it will, in short order, expose your weaknesses. You can then work your weaknesses in addition to the WOD, or tailor the WOD to allow you bring your weak areas up to speed. For example, my biggest weakness is lack of pure strength. Whenever weights are called for, I tend to slow down a bit so that I can lift an amount as close to Rx'ed as possible. I GTG some heavy lifts on the side. The only WOD's I'm not blown out of the water are the 5k's and 10k's (just partially blown out of the water). Enjoy!

04-02-2005, 01:35 PM	#3
Steven Stackpole Member Profile: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ottawa ontario Posts: 276	Hey Adam I'm from Ottawa, and have just finished my 3rd month on crossfit. You'll get all your questions answered here. Enjoy Steveo

04-02-2005, 02:27 PM	#4
Adam Burella Member Profile: Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Posts: 43	Hey guys, thanks for the welcome. Steven: I'm in Kingston during the school year and Hamilton during the summer(1 more year to go!). How are you adapting to crossfit? Seeing a lot of improvements in any specific areas?

04-02-2005, 04:34 PM	#5
Steven Stackpole Member Profile: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ottawa ontario Posts: 276	Hey Adam I'm seeing improvements in all areas. The best advice I can give you is just to forget everything you had thought you knew about Physical Fitness. Do the workouts, just as they are written. If you take part in any other sports, do them on top of the workouts. I was pretty skeptical when I started, but had nothing to lose. 3 mos into it, and I'm seeing numbers like I've never seen before. I could give you some numbers, but for the most part, they're irrelevant. I was never a slacker, but lacked the knowledge, and background to devise a program to really push myself. I could give you lots more info. if you want, but won't bore you for now. My advice, forget bicep curls, cable crossover rows, and whatever other garbage you see going on in the gym. Give Crossfit 3 or 4 mos., push yourself hard and fast. You wont be disappointed Steveo

04-06-2005, 03:29 AM	#6
Kawika Harbottle Member Profile: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kane'ohe/Kahalu'u/Hilo/Mililani HI Posts: 433	I think over-half the difficulty in doing CrossFit is learning or improving the quality compound lifts and weightlifting (aka olympic lifts). From reading the opening thread-post, looks like you might have already stomped onto decent ground with exercise education. But trying to steer away from workouts you used to do, which is voluntary when you think about it, is very similar to the philosophy of "Empty Your Cup".

04-06-2005, 06:12 PM	#7
Adam Burella Member Profile: Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Posts: 43	I started crossfit with a sore throat and probably went too hard. It doesn't help that I'm doing school around the clock and its even cutting into my sleep. Ended up with this really bad cough. My chest wall is physically sore now from all the coughing. I decided to take some days off and recover (need to be healthy for the exam period). Next week I'll ramp up the intensity slower. Hey Kawika: That's a really good point. The problem is I'm having a hard time recovering from the crossfit workouts as is. Also, I barely have the time to do 2 hour long workouts a week and making crossfit work is going to require some sacrifice already. Maybe I'll experiment with more lifting in addition to crossfit this summer when I have some more time. I'm considering doing some gymnastics classes too. Adam

04-07-2005, 04:09 AM	#8
Dan Silver Departed Profile: Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 533	"There seems to be a ton of knowledge and maturity on this board." Apparently you haven't seen my posts. Good to have you. -D.

04-07-2005, 09:04 AM	#9
Beth Moscov Member Profile: Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boulder Creek CA Posts: 1,269	Hi Adam, Dan is our token goofball. He isn't representative. No one else here ever laughs or jokes. :biggrin: Welcome to Crossfit. It is a great community as well as fitness program.