Is Crossfit alone enough?

[fixationdarknes]

I haven't lifted for almost 6 months now. And sadly, I still stand without a gym. I decided that instead of not doing anything until I get a gym (which could very well end up being 6 months from now), I would try out some Crossfit.

I checked out some of the CF training days, and was kind of worried that it might not be enough standing alone as it is...

e.g. Sunday 060416--> Front Squat 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 reps

-Is Crossfit supposed to be a standalone training program, or is it meant to be added to an athlete's daily routine that he already does (e.g. martial arts, swimming, rock climbing)?

-Perhaps I should incorporate more stuff along with Crossfit WoDs? Or is it alone enough to do?

[MixmasterNash]

He's alive!

I haven't lifted for almost 6 months now. And sadly, I still stand without a gym. I decided that instead of not doing anything until I get a gym (which could very well end up being 6 months from now), I would try out some Crossfit.

*** who needs a gym to work out? ***

I checked out some of the CF training days, and was kind of worried that it might not be enough standing alone as it is...

*** it definately is enough for almost anyone ***

e.g. Sunday 060416--> Front Squat 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 reps

*** Those a maximal weights, with a goal of a PR ***

-Is Crossfit supposed to be a standalone training program, or is it meant to be added to an athlete's daily routine that he already does (e.g. martial arts, swimming, rock climbing)?

*** either one! ***

-Perhaps I should incorporate more stuff along with Crossfit WoDs? Or is it alone enough to do?

*** go for it, but just try the WODs for a while ***

Crossfit is weight training, among other things, and you need some basic weight equipment for many of the WODs.

[Sensei]

-Is Crossfit supposed to be a standalone training program, or is it meant to be added to an athlete's daily routine that he already does (e.g. martial arts, swimming, rock climbing)? -Perhaps I should incorporate more stuff along with Crossfit WoDs? Or is it alone enough to do?

Enough for what? It really depends on your goals. If you are looking to increase your limit strength, then it's probably not the best plan.

[Anthony]

Crossfit is a great foundation, but a lot of people use it in combination with specific sport training. You can't look at one workout and decide whether it is enough or not. Try it for 2 months with honest enthusiasm and dedication and then you'll have your answer.

[Anthony]

If you are looking to increase your limit strength, then it's probably not the best plan.

Limit strength in what? I think more people should work on their foundation before trying to focus on specific lifts. But that's just me.....

[Sensei]

Limit strength in what?

Limit strength as in a 1RM.

I think more people should work on their foundation before trying to focus on specific lifts. But that's just me.....

I understand your point, but if I was training someone who was weak to begin with and wanted to become a PLer, I certainly wouldn't have them do the WODs.

[MixmasterNash]

someone who was weak to begin with

This sounds like a perfect candidate for a varied, fitness oriented program like crossfit, even if they wanted to become a powerlifter.

I wouldn't train a beginner with any sort of specialized program like a powerlifting routine.

[Sensei]

This sounds like a perfect candidate for a varied, fitness oriented program like crossfit, even if they wanted to become a powerlifter.

I wouldn't train a beginner with any sort of specialized program like a powerlifting routine.

Geez Mix, I figured you knew me better than that. Of course not! Who the hell would put a beginner on a specialized PL program? Or the WoDs as is (edit) for that matter?

[fixationdarknes]

Alright I'll try out the WoDs for a while. CF actually sounds really exciting and I can sort of see the benefits they would have.

I can see my strength, endurance, and GPP increasing...but one question still rises to mind...

-What if my goal was to get big? Honestly I'm not solely focused on any one particular area at this point, but can one pack on muscle mass from something like CF? The little voice in my head is saying no, because it doesn't seem like enough workload to actually stimulate a whole lot of muscle growth...but I'd like to pose that question to WBB.

[MixmasterNash]

-What if my goal was to get big? Honestly I'm not solely focused on any one particular area at this point, but can one pack on muscle mass from something like CF? The little voice in my head is saying no, because it doesn't seem like enough workload to actually stimulate a whole lot of muscle growth...but I'd like to pose that question to WBB.

If you eat to caloric surplus and do the WOD's, you'll gain muscle.

[MixmasterNash]

Geez Mix, I figured you knew me better than that. Of course not! Who the hell would put a beginner on a specialized PL program? Or the WoDs as is (edit) for that matter?

Well, I'm sure you will torture them with windmills in any case.

[Canadian Crippler]

All the "top" crossfitters have deadlifts in the 200s and 300s tops and squat of similar proportions. If you compare strength (maximal strength specifically) and overall size from Crossfitters to guys on this forum, the guys here will win for the most part. If you're looking to be big and strong, I don't recommend Crossfit. I'm not saying it's bad to toss WoD's in, but solely Crossfit won't get you where you want especially since I always remember your goals as being "big and strong".

[fixationdarknes]

So should I still put it on my priority list to get a gym and do weight room work? Honestly I still want to put on some decent size, while increasing strength/endurance/GPP.

[Meat_Head]

Deadlifts in the 200-300 range? There are some strong sumbiatches in Crossfit, you gotta deadlift pretty big to do **** like 225x20 reps...

But anyway, if your goal is mass and strength with endurance/gpp, do some basic heavy lifting in addition to Cross Fit. 5x5, 3x3, etc.

[Canadian Crippler]

Deadlifts in the 200-300 range? There are some strong sumbiatches in Crossfit, you gotta deadlift pretty big to do **** like 225x20 reps...

For one, I don't see many guys there who can do that. Secondly, that usually doesn't equate to a max more than mid or high 300s. Especially for those guys who are used to that rep range, they probably are not even there yet.

I don't see the point in doing CrossFit unless you're a soldier, cop, firefighter, mixed martial artist, or in certain sports.

[Clifford Gillmore]

For one, I don't see many guys there who can do that. Secondly, that usually doesn't equate to a max more than mid or high 300s. Especially for those guys who are used to that rep range, they probably are not even there yet.

I don't see the point in doing CrossFit unless you're a soldier, cop, firefighter, mixed martial artist, or in certain sports.

Explosive fitness strength and conditioning. Its a lifestyle training for anyone and everyone, If you want to get fit quickly - crossfit will do it.

[Meat_Head]

It covers so many diverse aspects of fitness, I think it could help any athlete or anyone interested in fitness. I agree many of the workouts require quite a bit of training to be effective, but many of them don't. And dude... if you can deadlift 225lbs 20 times, you can max out at 350-400lbs no problem unless you have some very specific muscle fiber distribution. Strength endurance still requires maximal strength.

[Canadian Crippler]

If you can deadlift 225lbs 20 times, you can max out at 350-400lbs no problem unless you have some very specific muscle fiber distribution. Strength endurance still requires maximal strength.

I forget the guys name, one of those dudes in all the videos, but he did 225 for 15-15-15 or something like that. It said somewhere his max DL was 365. Not to mention how long these guys have been training for.

[Meat_Head]

That's realistic, but I have to say that if he took the time to do a serious max strength mesocycle, he would add alot of weight to that quickly simply from neural adaptions. I agree that most of those guys have freakish levels of strength/endurence that take a long time to develop, but alot of their workouts can be toned down and altered to fit a beginner.

[Canadian Crippler]

Yeah, it would still depend on his goals though. My pullup numbers flew up when I did CF and they have dropped since I stopped. However my strength in all other aspects slowed down completely as it was an overload to do CF and weight training.

[dw06wu]

Well first off, Everett did a 300+ something clean and jerk, so there is an example right there of someone who can probably deadlift at least in the 400s. Anyway, CF is great for GPP, but as far as getting bigger, I really think you would need to add at least some sort of 5x5. The WODs usually don't take longer than 30 minutes. I just go to the gym, do the WOD, rest for 5-10 minutes and start throwing some plates around. I've kept my size pretty well, but our situations differ in that I'm trying to get as light as possible to drop weight classes.

[Anthony]

Limit strength as in a 1RM.

If you're a PLer peaking in strength, crossfit won't help your 1RM. But if you're an average joe that does bench and bicep curls, you can be damn certain that crossfit will help your 1RM in a variety of lifts.

I understand your point, but if I was training someone who was weak to begin with and wanted to become a PLer, I certainly wouldn't have them do the WODs.

My point is that most people focus on specialized programs way too soon. Crossfit is a GPP program. GPP programs are good. Maybe you view 1-2 of the workouts and think it's all cardio, but we've been through this before. They do a very similar amount of ME work compared to PL programs, ALONG with a bunch of other stuff.

[Anthony]

All the "top" crossfitters have deadlifts in the 200s and 300s tops and squat of similar proportions. If you compare strength (maximal strength specifically) and overall size from Crossfitters to guys on this forum, the guys here will win for the most part. If you're looking to be big and strong, I don't recommend Crossfit. I'm not saying it's bad to toss WoD's in, but solely Crossfit won't get you where you want especially since I always remember your goals as being "big and strong".

You're talking out of your ass. All the "top" crossfitters rarely post their times. Josh Everett is 185 and has a 575 deadlift. Kelly Moore is 118lbs and pulls over 315. And there are plenty of others.

[Anthony]

So should I still put it on my priority list to get a gym and do weight room work? Honestly I still want to put on some decent size, while increasing strength/endurance/GPP.

Crossfit IS weight room work. Deadlifts, squats, front squats, overhead squats, cleans, jerks, snatches, chinups, dips, etc. Those are the foundations of the routine. If you eat a calorie surplus and hit the WOD hard, you will gain muscle. After you build a strong foundation (and crossfit will certainly help you build a strong foundation) and you want to improve a few of your lifts even more so, you could incorporate some ME/5x5 work. But starting out, I think CF is plenty.

[Canadian Crippler]

You're talking out of your ass. All the "top" crossfitters rarely post their times. Josh Everett is 185 and has a 575 deadlift. Kelly Moore is 118lbs and pulls over 315. And there are plenty of others.

I was referring to that dude in all those videos. Josh Everett didn't build a 575 deadlift doing Crossfit and we know that. I'm referring to the guys that I see in all the videos, and I remember 2 or 3 of them posting DL maxes at sometime somewhere. One was 365, and that was the guy who did 225 for 15-15-15. The other was high 200s. Those numbers aren't very impressive from maximal strength standpoint.

Crossfit IS awesome, if it relates to your goals. Should fixation do it? He mentioned to me that he wants to do BJJ I believe, so yes he should. Should I, some member named "WannaBeMassive215" or a guy looking to be big and have big numbers do it? No, we really shouldn't. Atleast not primarily.