Author Topic: CrossFit--Worth the cost?  (Read 27599 times)

thurston howell iv

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Re: CrossFit--Worth the cost?
« Reply #50 on: December 11, 2013, 12:56:29 PM »
Well, let's see...

Disclaimer: I'm not one of those hard core gym rats that log every rep and every calorie. I used to do that a long time ago and it was a good method. These day's I'm too busy, too distracted, and have too much on my plate. So, I go, I hit it hard and go home.

That said, combined with a half-assed variation of the paleo diet, I've dropped about 25lbs. (I should probably have lost more but I feel like I've packed on a little more muscle all over.) So, it's still a win in my book.

As for my numbers, some are pretty good, some not as good. As a point of reference, you have to know that my home gym is on an upper floor so I can't drop weights, and since I do not have a squat rack I was always limited to what I could put over my head. Additionally, years of poor form had hurt my knees. I was still strong enough to squat a decent amount of weight but I could never go real heavy at home. Since starting CF (we've been there for about 6 months- with a few weeks missed here and there due to scheduling issues) my form has improved and I again feel comfortable in the 300lb range. Goal is over 400. (like I used to do when I was younger)

We don't have a bench at the box so I have not bothered with that at home either. Yet my check has gotten noticeably thicker.

OHP was around 150 when I started. Increased it to 175 over the summer. Last time I tried to max it was at 195 and I think I had a little more left.

My max power clean was 175 and I think I might be able to do 195 if I'm fresh.

I have no idea on the snatch. (I'm usually trying to remember which one that is) :)
 
Front squat is terrible- I still don't have the "correct" shoes so I try to do it shoeless. I can get close to 200 but it's not comfortable.

Running? - I avoid it. Actually, I've improved a bunch. I don't know the time. I'm usually concerned with breathing. Recently, I had been adding an 800m run after each wod. Then it got too cold and I've slacked off.

Deadlift was 305 when I started. This summer I was at 365lbs. I'm probably closer to 400lbs but I cannot remember my most recent numbers. Shooting for 500!

Pull ups have improved - Other day I did 25 in a row unassisted with minimal kip (I have terrible coordination and it's still challenging to me but it's getting better)

Pushups- I've always been good with those. Yes I can do more now but it not something that was ever tough for me.. Hard part is when my shoulders are sore- then it's hard.

Additionally, I can climb that stupid rope now and do hand stand pushups!!

Aside from just getting better numbers, I feel better. I feel stronger. I love that feeling of having left it all on the floor! After a 10 hour day of sitting at a desk, getting to just go all out and really move is something I look forward to. Yes, I'm sore, yes, it's expensive & yes, it's an extra trip I have to make. However, I am pretty satisfied with the results thus far.

One of the problems with the gym at home was that you could always make an easy excuse. DW would argue with me about how many of what she was willing to do and then leave. (example: she'd want to quit with 20 air squats) When we go to the box, there is no argument. She does the work and scales if necessary. (now she'll do 150 air squats- it'll be slow but she'll do them.)  That goes the same for me too.   I've always been bad with endurance. Now I'm starting to build it.

DW has lost over 20lbs and 2 or 3 dress sizes. (this was within the first few months) I am told that this is good. (Being a guy, I have no idea how the dress sizes work). All of her "numbers" have increased and I think it's the overall feeling of strength that is what is empowering.

In addition to the extra strength and weight loss, my back pain has diminished greatly so that's a plus as well.


Early retirement or a million in the bank does me no good if I don't take care of myself now while I'm still relatively young. I want to be able to enjoy it when I get there... So, this is a price we're willing to pay.  (at least for now- maybe when we have mmm money, we'll look at building our own set-up like mmm is planning to do)



« Last Edit: December 11, 2013, 01:05:39 PM by thurston howell iv »

jba302

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Re: CrossFit--Worth the cost?
« Reply #51 on: December 11, 2013, 01:18:44 PM »
Croc - I agree with you. In fact I was expecting this for pretty much everyone that does CF per the WOD-
Over all I would call it a bit of a wash with CF athletically./quote]

Thurston's results are atypical from the solely crossfitters I know but I think he is not a normal crossfitter either, at least from what his numbers suggest. People that come in from other backgrounds do a hell of a lot better than beginners. I'm curious about his lifting background and if he has a high vertical which would explain a bit.

melalvai

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Re: CrossFit--Worth the cost?
« Reply #52 on: December 11, 2013, 01:29:05 PM »
@melalvai: I don't want to be a party pooper, but generally speaking unless you are on steroids going twice a day to a gym would be bad for you.
Sorry, I didn't mean I'm doing crossfit. I'm just trying out all the classes. They are all different kinds and I do it at my own intensity because I don't injure myself. I won't always have time to go 2X/day. My point was to the OP's original question, which wasn't about the merits of crossfit but about the cost. In theory it's fine to say "save $$ skip the gym and go run for free" but in reality the gym can be a strong motivator and the cost is well spent if it saves you the medical costs of a sedentary lifestyle.

thurston howell iv

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Re: CrossFit--Worth the cost?
« Reply #53 on: December 11, 2013, 02:02:43 PM »
Thurston's results are atypical from the solely crossfitters I know but I think he is not a normal crossfitter either, at least from what his numbers suggest. People that come in from other backgrounds do a hell of a lot better than beginners. I'm curious about his lifting background and if he has a high vertical which would explain a bit.

Let me clarify:
I am less than a normal crossfitter. I am not fast, I am not terribly flexible, I'm not a gymnast. I'm older than the average crossfitter and no where near my prime and have limited endurance (although it's improving). I am not an athlete. Never was. I've lifted on and off since high school but was never a body builder type. No drugs, no supplements, just food and rest.

Not sure what high vertical is?  (Can I jump? barely. But getting better did 30" on the box jump.)


Sorry to hijack, OP//// Benefit worth the cost?  For me and DW? Yes... If you're on the fence, why not try it "seriously" for a month and see what you think?

olivia

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Re: CrossFit--Worth the cost?
« Reply #54 on: December 11, 2013, 03:12:53 PM »

The one question I would have here, are the regional level competitors doing the same programming as your general population?  I would think not.  At my box, and most other boxes that take competing seriously, there is separate programming people who want to compete.  This is mainly due to the fact that to be competitive you have different needs than you average crossfitter.  And the big secret to crossfit is....you don't become a top level competitor by doing crossfit style workouts.

Yep, our regional level competitors do the same programming, so people at all levels at our gym working out together, which I really like.  I wouldn't be that into a CF gym filled with 20 something meatheads.  We used to have separate programming levels, but since you can scale everything it didn't make much sense.  Our coach does add options to the programming to make it more difficult (for example, muscle ups instead of pull ups, heavier weights) but anyone who can do the harder stuff will do it, not just the regional level competitors.  My husband doesn't participate in competitions but he does the harder movements/heavier weights pretty often because he can do them. 

The regional competitors do extra workouts before the regionals, but the rest of the year they do the same WODs as everyone else.  And doing CrossFit definitely makes you good at CrossFit.  That said, I would definitely agree that the best CrossFit athletes have a different type of athletic background, like gymnastics, collegiate sports, etc.

_JT

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Re: CrossFit--Worth the cost?
« Reply #55 on: December 11, 2013, 08:34:08 PM »
The biggest difference for me when I was crossfitting 5x a week were in all areas of overall fitness. I dropped 25lbs, went from never being able to do a pull up to being able to crank out 5 or more, and went from never being much of a runner to being able to run 5 miles and not being tired at the end of it.

Now, I've always been relatively athletic (played football in college, intramural/league sports all throughout my 20s), but running for distance and lifting my bodyweight had always been weak points for me. Was it worth it while I was doing it? For sure. Has it been worth it since I've cut way back? Not for me, which I why I go a lot easier and just do bodyweight workouts at home, with some pull ups and kettlebells.

MrMyMoney

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Re: CrossFit--Worth the cost?
« Reply #56 on: December 11, 2013, 10:34:27 PM »
@melalvai: I don't want to be a party pooper, but generally speaking unless you are on steroids going twice a day to a gym would be bad for you.
Sorry, I didn't mean I'm doing crossfit. I'm just trying out all the classes. They are all different kinds and I do it at my own intensity because I don't injure myself. I won't always have time to go 2X/day. My point was to the OP's original question, which wasn't about the merits of crossfit but about the cost. In theory it's fine to say "save $$ skip the gym and go run for free" but in reality the gym can be a strong motivator and the cost is well spent if it saves you the medical costs of a sedentary lifestyle.

Fair enough, although in complete honesty, from my perspective, CF looks ridiculous. If you're willing to spend $150/mo for CF, I'd suggest you spend the same at another gym for a few months and a private trainer. I think you'd get a bigger bang for your bucks in the long run that way and can go back to CF if you don't like it.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!