Tuesday 27 January 2015

Is CrossFit the Right Fit for You?

CrossFit has become the single most popular type of workout in the country over the last few years. Walk down any street and you'll easily recognize CrossFitters by their "WODKILLA" T-shirts and their bulging muscles. ("WOD" means "Workout of the Day," and "WODKILLAS" are those that excel at the WOD.)

But is CrossFit the right workout for everyone?

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Who Should Do CrossFit?

Athletes: If you are an athlete, doing CrossFit will help you to improve your overall conditioning. You have no doubt trained for your particular sport, but CrossFit increases muscle strength and endurance as well as your cardiovascular endurance. The high-intensity workouts are ideal for those who want to perform better athletically.

Veteran Lifters: If you've been lifting weights and hitting the gym for a few years, it may be time to up the intensity of your workouts in order to get better results. Your years of experience will reduce your risk of injuring yourself during your WODs, and your muscles are already accustomed to hard work.

Average Joe: For those new to regular workouts, CrossFit can be a good option provided you are in decent shape. You should be able to run a mile in no more than 10 minutes, and you should have a decent BMI. As long as you aren't too overweight, you can get ripped and in shape in a short time using CrossFit.

Who Should Avoid CrossFit


Beginners Over Age 40: If you're over the age of 40 and new to the world of fitness, CrossFit is going to be very tough on your bones, joints and muscles. You run the risk of serious injury if you're not careful. Even if you're a serious athlete/lifter, once you hit 45 or 50 you need to consider reducing the intensity of your workouts. There are always exceptions to every rule, but most people over the age of 45 or 50 may want to consider switching back to regular gym sessions.

Overweight/Obese: We're not talking about people who could stand to lose a few pounds, but those that are 10, 20 or 30 pounds overweight. If you're very overweight, trying to start out with CrossFit can just be too hard on your body. You should use regular gym sessions to help you get your body in better shape, and only make the transition to CrossFit once you know your muscles, joints and bones can take a pounding.

Those With Health Conditions: Not every health condition or disorder will make it dangerous for you to do CrossFit, but anything that causes weak joints, muscles or bones can increase your risk of injury. Those with autoimmune disorders may find it too hard to keep up with the CrossFit workouts, and people with fatigue-related disorders may pass out from the exertion. (It's for these reasons that CrossFit trainers recommend consulting a doctor before trying CrossFit.)

Here are a few more people who should avoid CrossFit--not for health reasons, but for personal reasons:

The Loner: Prefer to work out alone? CrossFit isn't for you!

The Newbie Who Needs Personalized Help: It's a one-size-fits-all workout with no focus or attention from the trainer, (although at most boxes , this is available in down time )

Source : Andy Peloquin /FitDay

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