Doing Crossfit Doesn't Get You Better at Crossfit?!

[@KariBoardman]

I don’t do CrossFit for competition. I do it for exercise and to be more functional in my 50s. I like the classes because I don’t like to think about what I need to do to exercise. But I’m Ok with progressing at my own pace. After 3 years I am definitely much more fit than when I started.

[@sportybeth]

Yeees!! See for this purpose it’s absolutely perfect

[@Agnes_Hodges]

The point of CrossFit is to be functional. If somebody wants to focus on cardio or strength, and they do that "outside of CrossFit" that is because they are wanting to be better on that one thing. Any actual CrossFitter knows that CrossFit encases a persons ability to be good in everything, not amazing at one thing. The point is never to be "the best weightlifter" or to "the best runner." That's why I CrossFit games they say "the fittest man on earth" vs. "the strongest" or "fastest." CrossFit it about fitness. Never in all my life doing CrossFit was I told to do something outside of CrossFit, because it was never my goal to be more focused on a single aspect of fitness. I want to be the fittest I can be, and that is what CrossFit will give you. P.S. Overtime doing CrossFit, you WILL get a strict pull up, because the constant change of movements strengthen the different muscles needed to progress. The constant "ring rows and no other ways to progress" only works if literally the only exercise you do is ring rows, which is the OPPOSITE of what CrossFit does.

[@sportybeth]

Sounds like you may have missed the point a bit. Many people don’t get better at CrossFit (and get to RX movements) just by doing the classes. A lot of people have and are regularly told if they want to improve something to add in extras. All of my clients are doing just that and there’s a reason I sell so many programs. I have hundreds of people on my strict pull-up program because CrossFit classes don’t get them there. I wouldn’t have got there without extra work either. Sure there’s other movements other than ring rows but they’re not programmed frequently enough to see good improvement because it has to fit with the class format and paused, tempo work and dumbbell accessories typically doesn’t fit with that. But I’m glad you haven’t had that experience. It must be great to just attend classes and know you’ll improve at the things you want to.

[@bennylush]

Hyrox just seems like the new crossfit. Surely it's just a WOD by another name? I don't do crossfit or hyrox so I might be wide of the mark. Isn't it all just circuits 🤷

[@sportybeth]

Hyrox is definitely a more accessible style of functional fitness in the same category as CrossFit. CrossFit is far more advanced skill wise and complex. If it was just circuits we’d all attend globo gym circuits classes. In CrossFit and hyrox you’re working towards more of a goal. But they’re similar types of exercises yes

[@bennylush]

​@sportybeth thanks for the reply.

[@Sinikiwe840]

I think it depends hey on a lot of factors really. I got better at most things by just going to class-the programming at my gym is progressive. My strength also got better that way. But I also had to change other lifestyle factors like changing to a high protein diet, sleeping more etc. That being said, I don't care about competitions nor the Open-so I am happy with my progress.

[@sportybeth]

That’s great! Sounds like it works perfectly for you!

[@Brimfulofbeauty]

My friend said hyrox has become a bit clique/competitive as you’re grouped into finish times now. Whereas before it was nice because it was just you against the clock.

[@andrewmcgaha9629]

Haha... I left a comment on that Reddit post. Let's just say, I think Crossfit was much different in 2015 for example. The experience was much more holistic. They started pushing personal training around that time and stopped doing individual programming as part of the monthly dues. Just my observation.

[@sportybeth]

Yes I agree with this! I started in 2016 and I’ve seen a shift since then

[@DevHazy]

We used to have such good coaches in my old gym. Gyms in Oklahoma do almost nothing besides metcon 😢😢😢😢

[@andrewmcgaha9629]

@@DevHazy I don’t understand why so many have moved from Warm up / review wod -> strength / skill -> Metcon to now just WU -> Metcon. There has to be a reason I see this at more boxes now

[@sportybeth]

I’ve seen this in some programming too. Some classes with just metcons. Seems mad

[@samuele.marcora]

Everybody knows that going beyond the beginner gains requires extra and more systematic and focused training. Yet many CF fanatics cant admit it because it goes against all the Glassman's bs they believed for years

[@sportybeth]

I think strength might be the exception at least for me because it features so often I get stronger without really even trying and I’m way stronger than I “need to be” even if we think about competitive CrossFit. But the scaled options for gymnastics and the amount of cardio is just not enough to get past that base level of being generally physically fit without extra work. I hear it from so many clients, some have even been doing cf for longer than me and still are no where near the gymnastics movements despite trying their best in classes. Yes the glassman evangelists hate the idea that it might not be the best way to improve 😂

[@samuele.marcora]

@@sportybeth CF is now definitely strength biased

[@jodyml6965]

What about the $$ aspect? Keeping people coming to CrossFit keeps the money coming in.

[@DevHazy]

This 💯💯💯💯💯

[@sportybeth]

It is pricey but for me it has been worth it because it’s essentially group personal training. But if that’s not what you want then that’s fine. Regular gym will do.

[@jodyml6965]

Interesting assumption, I did not mention whether or not I go to regular gym. I was just touching on the idea that all services have business model. It’ appears from your video, you were being dissuaded from doing activities outside of CrossFit and even “shamed”. A culture of this method is the only or superior method, can also be part of a business model.

[@lindsayb1731]

So true! Thank you for sharing! 👍

[@sportybeth]

You are so welcome 💕💕

[@travisjones3794]

This is a mic drop post. It’s the inevitable conclusion for anyone doing CrossFit giving serious thought to their fitness goals. CrossFit can be an entry path to fitness for the uneducated but if you actually want to make progress across any of the markers of fitness, it’s a very inefficient and often counterproductive use of time. I started CrossFit in 2009. Took a while to figure that out but in retrospect, I wish I would have pursued a progression-focused hybrid training approach from the beginning. That said, this required knowledge that I didn’t have. I did learn most of the oly lifts and got some exposure to things I didn’t know but it’s no substitute for a thoughtful programmed approach to fitness.

[@sportybeth]

Yeees!! I’m feeling similar. I’m thankful it taught me a sport that’s gym based that I enjoy. I’m thankful I learned Olympic weightlifting. But if I want to get better at certain things I’ve realised it needs a more focused effort.

[@wearetruth7116]

Crossfit starts and ends with nutrition. If your not willing to put in the hard yards then you certainly cant comment about crossfit as a whole.

[@danielfay]

Crossfit always fails with the low intensity stuff. Just doing high intensity work outs 3 times a week is going to result in hitting a plateau and leave you open to injuries.