Type of training for me?

[wynterskye]

Hey guys i was reading a thread in chat forum and something caught my attention: Crossfit training. No offence to those who are, but it is not my goal to be a bodybuilder or powerlifter, i just know you guys are intelligent and dedicated and have alot of knowledge that i could benefit from. I just want to be in shape, muscular, and in good health. And crossfit seems to be more for me, at least according to my minimal reading. The guys seem small (in comparison to bbers or plers) but they are strong as oxen. I didnt know if once i get in decent shape if crossfit training is a good effective avenue for me. On the page it says the goal of crossfit is strength, but there workouts seem puny. All body wait and stuff. Im not knocking those who do it, 100 pullups and etc is very difficult and i know i can not do that but without heavy weight is it really that effective, or is it like p90x where it will just lean you out and help you do more pushups and pullups but not actually make any lifts stronger.

i know i used to do lots of lat pulldowns, could do like 25 at bodyweight, tried a pullup and i did 1 7/8 of a pullup. i wouldnt want to do all this bodyweight crossfit stuff and have the same pulldown/pullup issue in the end!

Thanks

Wynter

 

[training700]

It also depends on gym you are involved with some do a lot more heavier workouts and others more bodyweight and distance running.
It is a good way to be reach an all around fitness. Can do a couple days a week of crossfit plus weight workouts if wanted. Negative is some of the crossfit gyms are freaky expensive

Sent from my DROID3 using EliteFitness

 

[moya]

crossfitters arent that strong imo.... i know my sister's trainer competes at the crossfit worlds (his name is jeremy kinnick) and im about 50lbs lighter than him and i can lift more than him on most lifts...
they are well rounded though; good at everything, but not really great at anything; i guess they are better than most at the olympic lifter- but nowhere even near the level of an olympic calibur weightlifter...
you can get into great shape with it...
powerlifting as well; that all depends on what weight class you are in... per my avi, most lightweight powerlifters stay in shape year round...
just pick up some heavy shit, then repeat; cant go wrong...

 

[midevilironsmasher]

Powerlifting and strongman circuit training will get you big and keep you fit. There is like 3 crossfitter's at the top level that are strong compared to the rest. One of them was a prior strongman.

 

[wynterskye]

thank you for the reply guys. I like how you put it Moya. lift something heavy and repeat. nice and simple works for me mate! i tend to overthink things sometimes, and with all the modern knowledge and workouts, diets, supplements, steroids i think people believe theres a science to it more than there really is.. not to discredit hardcore athletes like some of yourselves. at your level it is definitely a science of compounds and lifting and dieting. but for the average guy like myself lift heavy and repeat is really all i need to know.

i do think that one day though i might do like Training700 said and later down the read get into lifting and crossfit because i would like to have a good overall fitness, but not aspiring to be competitive or anything i think that would be good for me.

Is there a powerlifter workout routine that is decent for beginners? i would like to become strong indeed. that is my number one goal, size is not. if i do get bigger then great. if not i wont be disappointed. obviously muscle will grow but im more concerned about strength and overall fitness

thanks for the help guys

Wynter

 

[wynterskye]

i forgot diet is also another thing i do need to understand, not just lift and repeat, just to clarify. i have been in that forum getting advice and asking questions. my current goal is cutting. im about 25% body fat and horrible at cardio. but im getting there guys. thanks

Wynter

 

[moya]

for better diet help, check out our diet forum...
but for a quick start i like a ratio of 50 protein/ 30 fats/ 20 carbs... many on here have used those macro guidelines for cutting with great success...

obviously for cutting you must be in a caloric deficit; and strength gains come best on a caloric surpluss, and even better with more carbs than that... so it will be best to pick a goal first, and cutting down to around 15% or less would be the best choice imo....

as far as routines, check the 'sticky' above... i like the 5x5 for beginners myself... dont mess with it, it works the way it is designed... also you will want to add cardio, im not a fan of running myself but its really up to you, and when cutting, more is better, period. ...like above, keep it simple but work hard...

 

[wynterskye]

Thanks for the help Moya. I was trying to say that I have been getting help in the diet forum. When I wrote 'lift heavy and repeat is all I need to know' I was just trying to clarify I was not neglecting diet.

I will look Into the 5x5 routine this evening. My current issue is a partner, and my lack of exp. my age is the same as my bf, 25! It is going down though. I just met a guy at the gym who is getting into regional bodybuilding comps and he has taken me on as a partner, otherwise I have no one. In college no one has time. He critiques technique and really motivates me to give my all, lift my heaviest, train my hardest. But, I have to do his routine which is 1 body part a day.

Mon- chest
Tue- back
Wed- legs
Thu- shoulders
Fri- arms
Sat- core
Sun- off

Cardio every day before hand, plus getting a more active life outside the gym in my spare time. Cardio is a pain for me, I loathe running but I'm doing it and it is improving. I work my hardest and I know I'll see results, it's just that this routine is tailored to him. More show less strength but he does help me with heavy weights to get strength. 4-5 exercises, 3 sets per exercise. Reps usually 10-12 first set, 6-10 second set, 4-6 or failure third set.

So I have been doing that routine for 2 weeks now. Is this still alright to continue or should I go on my own and switch to 5x5 for the best benefits?

Thanks

Wynter

 

[Buildingup24]

You can accomplish your goals for general fitness, size and strength by doing something like 5/3/1 with hypertrophy assistance (Boring but big template)

The thing is CF is, outside of the price, a lot of them are not well instructed from my own oberservations.
Also, it doesnt have a linear progression which bothers the hell out of me.
If you do something like 5/3/1- BUY THE BOOK ITS WORTH A READ---its 4 days a week and then 1-2 days you can do CF type WOD as conditioning. (Just be careful with things like high rep cleans and such, OLY lifts require proper form and with high reps, that deteroriates.

Last thing, those guys look fit because they tend to eat a calorie reduced diet. So low bodyfat + some muscle makes you look like that.

 

[themondtster]

The things I've heard about CrossFit is finding a knowledgeable and qualified traineris key. When doing some the Olympic lifts you need to be taught proper form or you could end up hurt. Now I do think if you found the right person and gym(box) it would very beneficial to help you loose weight and build some muscle. A lot of the things they do resemble The German Body Comp by Charles Poliquin for recomposition. They just tend to add more body weight stuff and things like rope climbing. I've read through reviews and peoples blogs and a lot of overweight and out of shape people start out and just start at a beginners level. Then when you're at a comfortable weight and shape then start to mix in strength training like the 5/3/1 mentioned above. I myself really want to get some proper training in cleans, snatches, and etc. so I can do them heavy.

So my opinion would be to look into it and and see if its something you would like to do. And by look into it go to the place, talk to the trainer, see if he has qualifications or what's his background, how does he train beginners, etc. Then make your decision.

Like Moya said it makes you an all around average athlete and get you in shape.

Also you can go the other route. Do the 5*5, get your diet on point, and do a lil extra cardio on your off days. Should get you in shape just as well.

This way would tend to be more affordable gym wise. As you can get 24hr. gym membership for a lot less then the crossfit membership.