Personal Training
Crossfit Craziness
Last night, I was standing around with some of the other trainers at my gym and we were stricken by a scary, scary sight. There was a young man (mid 20’s) doing some of the most horrendous barbell hang clean and presses I have ever witnessed. He clearly had joined the “Crossfit Cult” and labeled as ‘one of those guys who has no idea what the hell he is doing” Each and everytime he pulled the barbell up to shoulder height, we cringed, and then when he proceeded to throw the loaded barbell over his head, back arched and almost falling over, we cringed even more. I am sure he threw down the barbell thinking how cool he was that he was able to lift that weight. Every single person around him was looking and thinking the same thing. “That guy is going to kill himself” it was one of those situations where you didn’t want to watch, but you just keep watching; like a bad accident. The other trainers and I discussed one of us going up to him and suggest some tips or alternative exercises. So one took the bullet and proceeded. He came back and said that this man wanted nothing to do with our suggestions or tip. Nothing at all. This scares me to no end. This guy is certainly going to hurt himself sooner or later.
Let me start by saying I am not hating on Crossfit, in fact I do think it can be a great intense workout once in a while. The issue I have with Crossfit and Crossfit style workouts is that 95% of the people that do them have no athletic or fitness background to begin with. Most Crossfitters you will meet at a Crossfit facility are everyday people looking to try something new. They are not people with an athletic or fitness background that understand the elements of program design, progression and movement prep. The idea that these workouts are not personalized and taught in one big group is just dangerous if you ask me.
I met a guy the other night and he asked what I did for a living.
Me: “Im a personal trainer”
Guy: “thats awesome, I do Crossfit sometimes, I can’t walk today!”
Me: “Cool”
……And I walked away
As if that would impress me? It does not impress me in the least. In fact, it really turned me away. It would be ‘cool’ if this guy said that he loves to exercise, is getting into Crossfit, really likes the intensity but is working his way up to correct form” now THATS impressive!
I don’t get how its impressive when people brag about their Crossfit workouts and how they ‘can’t walk the next day’ because of the extreme intensity. That is not safe, effective nor does it set the body up for a lifetime of health.
Most people do not know even how to properly squat properly let alone load up a barbell and throw it over their heads. When I start with a client, they NEVER start with any sort of weight. We start with a dowel rod or a stability ball learning proper squatting patterning. This is a fundamental coaching tool we use before any sort of load is imposed on the body. The Crossfit style “Olympic lifts” can takes weeks, months and years to perfect and execute flawlessly. More and more I am seeing people attempt these Olympic Style lifts with atrocious form and all I can do is feel sad that some these Crossfit Coaches are smarter about ‘educating’
As a trainer, I take pride in truly teaching and educating my clients on proper body mechanics, form and muscle activation. I take each client I have as a blank canvas. Sure, all of my clients have goals, but I am sure most of you don’t realize that we as trainers have our own goals as well when we work with our clients. My goal for each and everyone of my clients whether elite or beginner is to make them feel and move better. I want you to be able to walk into any gym-commercial or Crossfit and know how to properly execute exercises as well as know when something feels ‘off’
A young man who happened to be an oversees studen from Japan walked into our facility today, speaking very little English. He went to the front desk, asked to join and inquired about a ‘coach’ Most people just approach the desk and ask about “personal training” This man specifically said “is it possible to meet with a coach” I thought for a second, I AM a coach. I pride myself in the fact that I want to teach my clients how to perform movements correctly, help them reach their goals and most of all not kill yourself doing so. Each and every program that I write, I take time to put together. I assess, gather and continue to assess and gather information every single time I meet with my clients.
The fact that any Joe Schmoe can walk off the street into a Crossfit facility and join a class, fitness or athletic background or not scares the crap out of me. YES you will work hard. YES Crossfit workouts are intense, but my idea of intensity doesn’t mean not being able to walk because you threw your back out during those snatches that you had no idea how to perform. Lets say that same Joe Schmoe got really into Crossfit (like most people are these days) and decided “hey I like this stuff, I am going to get certified and teach it…cool” Oh boy…then Joe Schmoe gets to teach a whole new slew of bandwagon Crossfiters how to “WORK THE HARDEST THEY HAVE EVER WORKED IN THEIR LIFE” scary scary thought. And it really is that easy!
There are of course exceptions to this. There are some Crossfit coaches out there who acutally DO know what they are doing and teach proper form, technique and movement. The fact is that when someone walks into a Crossfit facility, they are expected to have a HARD INTENSE workout and if a Crossfit coach takes any time ‘educating’ the truth is that that person will move onto the next coach that just has them doing burpees and cleans until they puke. Good times.
Now THIS is scary stuff….
This is not in anyway meant to be a “Hate Crossfit and NEVER try it” post. What this is meant to be (hopefully) is an informative post on the potential dangers that can happen when you are not properly educated. If you think (and I am SURE you know if you are or not) you are capable of performing flawless Olympic style lifts and extreme high intensity workouts, give Crossfit a try and see what you think! If you think that you are a beginner but jumping into Crossfit because eveyrone around you is doing it, well then I would think twice. Before you eat your Paleo meal and head to your nearest Crossfit facillity, try working one on one with a personal trainer or someone who has been doing Crossfit for YEARS and is an ‘expert’ Learn the basics and understand how your body is supposed to move. You must progress SLOWLY. Why push your body into a state where it could potentially breakdown. Your body is the most precious thing you have and you MUST respect it.
I am not a gambler at all. I don’t understand it and I certainly do not know how to play any games in Casinos besides the twenty five cent slot machines. Would I sit down at a craps table and throw down $500? HELL NO. I would sit and watch and understand the game before I start gambling my money just so I can be considered a ‘high roller’
Check your ego, don’t be ‘that guy’ and start from the ground up when it comes to workouts like Crossfit. Education + intelligence is powerful. They are two of most attractive and smartest qualtities you can have when it comes to exercise. 
I cringed through that whole video. It pains me to watch people use too much weight or have form thats crazy off. I literally stop teaching and go and manually correct form in pump every week (people always think that you cant be talking to them when you try to correct form)
I had to stop watching the video it was so painful! I can’t say that I am surprised though. What bothers me the most about working out/ form in general is how defensive people get if their form is corrected or suggestions are made. The trainer/ instructor is doing it for their SAFETY and BENEFIT not to discourage or embarrass them.
I welcome it when I am corrected b/c sometimes I get tired and as a result my form gets sloppy. I would rather be called out than OUT from injury.
Great post!
That video made me cringe. I do crossfit, however i had a personal trainer for 2 years prior that taught me a lot of the basics. The crossfit gym i go to now is very supportive and the classes are small so you have plenty of time to work with the instructor. My gym would never make you lift more than you feel you can. That video makes crossfit look bad!
I personally am into CrossFit and don’t agree with everything you said in this post. I consider myself an athletic type of person in the sense that I run and play sports, but have never lifted weights before. I started getting into CrossFit by taking the intro class which introduces and teaches each of the fundamental movements in CrossFit. They encourage you to start off with just a dowel or light bar until you get the movement down. Never once did they let me throw heavy weights on there and go at it. Your point about anyone being able to become a CrossFit coach…same goes for personal trainers. Just because one loves to work out, does not mean they should become a personal trainer or CrossFit coach. So, you encountered one young guy who thought he knew everything about lifting weights. Will not be the first or last time that that happens in a gym! Before you rag on CrossFit, I would encourage you to try out a class and see how much the coaches are there to help teach each movement in the workout and to help correct any issues you have. Just my two cents on the topic 🙂
I found this post interesting, it’s so true how defensive people get when you just try to help them sometimes. I have some very close friends who are personal trainers and they have helped me so much. Without them I never would have learned how to use free weights, and I probably would’ve hurt myself. A good coach pushes you hard but still keeps you safe.
Hi Naomi,
This is my first time commenting on your blog. I always find your posts informative and interesting, but this one really struck me. What you said is so important and eye opening. As someone who has been intrigued by the allure of cross fit, I really value what you, as a licensed fitness professional, has to say about it. Thanks for putting so much time and thought into your posts, especially this one. I can only hope that more people get to read this!
Hey Naomi! Love this post…and your blog! I think a lot of what you said sheds some light on a problem with trainers in all different aspects of training. I have a B.S. in Exercise Physiology and am currently a grad student in a doctorate of physical therapy program, so I like to think I know a little bit about kinesiology. About a year ago I signed up for a month of crossfit through groupon, purely out of curiosity and the things that the trainers there were telling me and other newbies to do in the intro class was borderline dangerous. I don’t want to generalize this to crossfit though because i know there ARE trainers who know what they are talking about, just as there are personal trainers at the gym who don’t have a clue what they are talking about. I sometimes listen to what trainers at the gym are telling their clients because I am interested and most of the time it will make me cringe. it really makes me SO sad that people go to the gym to learn from a personal trainer who they perceive as a “professional” when in reality they can be just as misinformed as the client. When I joined a new gym about a month ago, the guy asked me if i wanted a job when learning about my background. However, when i told him that i didn’t have any certifications he said “thats okay, you can just go through our 2 week in house personal training certification”. It took me a few minutes to pick my jaw off the ground. I just wish there were a way to raise the standard for all trainers out there. Again I don’t want to generalize because I know some fantastic trainers.
One thing to remember MOST crossfit gyms have a trainer who will work on your form when it is bad and will scale the workout down to your ability. I know because that was me 6 months ago and the coach at my gym worked with me and still does on my form. Its just a few bad seeds and them doing it on their own that are the ones giving it a bad rep
I used to play rugby for NYC and a lot of the girls did crossfit.
I was going to join as well, but after watching some videos I was really concerned that the whole speed and timed lifting thing sacrificed form. I have enough injuries and joint problems so I decided it wasn’t the best routine for me.
I do CrossFit and I absolutely love it. I have had experience with several boxes, all of which have had amazing coaches. No one starts with weight on the bar and no one is pushed to lift anything heavier than they should. All of the coaches I’ve worked with are sticklers for form. We go over all the movements we are doing each day with a PVC in warm up, breaking them down so we can learn and get better with every class. Even in a group setting, I’m able to get as much individual attention and help from my coaches as I need. However, there are gyms that are exceptions, much like the one in that video (ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING), for which your criticisms are valid. I would say that places like that are not as common as you make them out to be though. It makes me angry they are out there giving CF a bad image, because CF has truly changed my life for the better.
Hey great post! I agree with 90% of what you said. I think with every class, new or not, it can only be as effective as the trainers/teachers of the class. Obviously, the folks in the video were lacking the proper form, and training. I think this applies to any all kinds group fitness, and even personal trainers. I’ve attended spin classes were poor form seem rampant like a nasty virus and everyone had caught it. For me, I think it takes a spin instructor to get off their bikes and correct form, others may not appreciate it, but I know I do. The same goes for yoga, bodypump, kick-boxing, etc. I think crossfit is an easy target for folks to criticize, because it is popular with the masses now. The general population receive validation from achieving what is deemed as tough and hard-core, and yes, I agree its silly. It ties into the all or nothing mentality. All in all, I say let your progression speak for itself and keep an open mind. It sure as hell beats the sitting on couch. I haven’t tried a crossfit class yet, but will soon due to a sweet deal on groupon.
Oh my God. Thank you for this post! I don’t get the CrossFit craze. It’s a workout and you like it. Great, now shut about it! It seems very dangerous and like you, I don’t like that people go from zero to 60 with these workouts. To each their own I guess right? Let them deal with their injuries.
I tried Cross Fit for about 6 months but didn’t really care for it. I felt like I was pressured to use weights that were to heavy for me to lift safely and with good form. There was such an emphasis on getting through workouts quickly that safety suffered. Any time I expressed concern that a move wasn’t safe or hurt, the attitude was that I was a wimp trying to get out of something. There was next to no modification. I also worry that the Cross Fit model allows for no easy days–every workout is full on.
Wow that video made me very uncomfortable! Scary.
I love this post! Form trumps everything! I’ve been looking into crossfit, but I’m definitely going to go to the free itnro classes/observation classes before committing to anything so I can make sure its taught in a safe environment. There are some people that teach group excercise that I am just shocked are “certifiied”. For instance, I’ve taken bodypump classes where people doing the clean and press had terrible form, as did the teacher, and I literally wanted to walk out. Other teachers that really focus on the proper form are so amazing because that’s where you really get the workout! If you can’t walk the next day, its not your muscles being sore, its your body telling you you did something wrong, and I think a lot of people don’t know the differnce.
I completely agree – these fad programs (sorry – it’s a fad in my opinion) can be very dangerous. I would say almost all of the individuals who I train don’t know how to do a squat properly when they first being working out. So like you, I would on movement, function and stability before adding any kind of load. It’s scary to think that beginners would try some of those exercises with no background in the basics. I could hardly watch that video – my back hurts just looking at it!
I was a collegiate swimmer and rugby player… and played rugby post college… Whenever I weight lift I get ulcers in my stomach watching people perform exercises that are in bad form. When I try a new exercise I go with my boyfriend or a friend that knows what to look for in form and always to a low weight until I get used to how it feels to make sure I’m doing proper form… I don’t know why people have huge egos and don’t care about their form. Who wants to get injured?? Not me.
I guess I have a few questions. You say, “He clearly had joined the “Crossfit Cult”” but from your story, I can’t figure out how you determined that this guy was ‘CrossFitting’. I looked through about a week’s worth of WODs on the CF mainpage, and don’t see heavy bb hang C&Ps anywhere. It doesn’t sound like you even talked to the guy. It sounds like speculation, and I take issue with that.
A couple other commenters pointed out that the trainers at their boxes also start them with PVC and then move on to empty barbells, etc. This is the approach pushed by the main site and most affiliates. The main site also has a link to a forum that provides weight and rep scalings depending on a person’s abilities and level of fitness.
It sounds to me like you have a problem with idiots who do CrossFit. I can get behind that. But you’ve written a fairly inaccurate post on CF, and I don’t get behind that.
Unforunately, there are people who compromise form for almost all forms of exercise. Running, weight lifting, swimming, everything. I think the major problem is that you’re much more likely to get injured from crappy form in crossfit that maybe some other sports because the repetitions and speed are so high for crossfit.
When I blogged about starting crossfit, I got a lot of negative feedback but one comment really struck a chord with me. It was by Erica from stuffimakemyhusband.
She said she wasn’t worried about me since I’m so focused on form and I’ve had a trainer teach me oly lifts before starting crossfit. But there are a lot of people that start crossfit with no lifting background and they’re successful too, its just entirely dependent on the box.
Some boxes have a 2 hour on-ramp program and some have a 2 week (12 hr) on-ramp.
There’s not a lot of regulation on boxes so I think its up to the individual to make a judgement call. Maybe some people are not experienced enough to do that though.
It does make me sad to here crossfit called a cult. I guess I understand it but I don’t see it as very different from having a zumba group or a athletic team. Its really nice to have a support group where people are just as excited as you about something.
It can be obnoxious when crossfitters try to exclude those that don’t do crossfit, but that is also dependent on the box.
This is like a giant run-on train of thought comment lol.
I love crossfit
I treat shoulder neck and back injuries
I think this is a little unfair on your part. I think you encountered someone at the gym who probably looked up a WOD online and tried it on his own, without proper training. Dumb move by him obviously, but you should not be judging Crossfit as a whole by watching some random dude at the gym, and this video. From what I’ve heard from the many people who do Crossfit, they’re appalled and surprised by the video above, and does not reflect their experiences. I think you should do a little more research into an actual Crossfit box/program yourself before writing such a post.
OMG that video made me cringe. How could anyone think that is good for them? Most importantly how can those trainers live with themselves. Seriously disturbing!!
I’m sorry but this post is so off base. In fact, much of what you say sounds eerily similar to the backwards reasoning behind certain racial stereotyping. You write a critical article about a certain kind of workout and trainer you very obviously have no idea about and then you qualify your criticism with words like “some” or “most” or “not all” implying that bad crossfit coaches are the norm rather than the exception. You also implied that crossfit is only acceptable as an add-on workout to do every once in a while. Let me tell you where you went incredibly wrong with your assessment.
1) The standard for crossfit boxes is to do an elements or on-ramp course where only bodyweight or pvp piping is used to make sure noobs know prpoer technique on the basics. Any box who doesn’t is doing what is OUTSIDE of the norm for crossfit. And is probably a box you should stay away from.
2)Just so you know, using derogatory words like “cult” to describe something and saying that the people who do it generally don’t know what they’re doing is, in fact, hating.
3)Where did you get your “95%” stat? Who are you to say that the people who join crossfit have no athletic background? Lots of them do, others don’t. The point is to get people to learn, right? Someone who wants to get fit, and joins a box that abides by the CrossFit norms of introduction is much better off than roaming around a gym floor with no idea what to do. And crossfit is not the only kind of workout done in groups. You’ll get more personalization in a crossfit box than you will in your average group fitness class that’s for sure! Not everyone can afford a personal trainer to work one on one with them. And some people don’t even want that. It’s nice to be in a community environment.
4)Your exchange with your new crossfit acquaintance makes you come off a little high-and-mighty. Obviously he was able to walk and was just exaggerating the same way we all do when we have a rough workout. You know as well as I do AS A TRAINER that when you start a new program, you will always get sore and that when you STOP getting sore at all, it’s time to switch up your routine. But of course, you made up your mind as soon as you heard him say crossfit. Aaaaand again, that would be hating.
5)That’s great that you take pride in your work but by putting that whole paragraph in your article you are insinuating that crossfit coaches do not. Hating.
continued…
6)Here is my biggest issue with your article. You obviously don’t even know how one goes about being crossfit certified do you? I am a personal trainer and I got my certification after studying pretty hard for a week and a half and then taking a test on a computer. Bam. Just like that. No one was there to show me movements or to make sure I knew what I was doing before teaching it to others. If you can memorize, you can become a personal trainer. To become a crossfit coach, you have to often travel to wherever they are holding the next certification course and take an intensive course where you learn IN-PERSON all the proper form, etc. Not only that, but every consecutive certification they offer is ALL in person. To be a trainer, you can get your CPR, PT, and CEC’s all online and all of your little add-on certs, too. There are no doubt astronomically more joe schmoe BS trainers than there are certified crossfit coaches.
7) Again, I really take issue to the way you word much of this. Ok, lady who has never done crossfit and doesn’t even know anything about it, I believe you when you say that only SOME crossfit coaches and boxes know what they’re doing. Just like SOME black people aren’t that bad, too right? Also, most people don’t like puking. I’ve never come across any crossfitter who leaves a class due to no broken backs or puke-outs.
8)I find it absolutely hilarious how everyone who wants to be critical of crossfit uses THIS freaking video. This isn’t even a video of crossfit. You would know that if you knew anything about crossfit OR read the freaking title. This is called Strongman and it has been done for WAY longer than crossfit ever has. It happens to be at a crossfit box and attempted by it’s members, but that’s the same as saying if all their members got together and started banging their heads against the wall that it’s crossfit. By the way, when you compare this video to other, already accepted, forms in traditional strong man competitions, you will find that their technique is not too terribly bad. They are new at it of course and not perfect but still, NOT doing crossfit!
And you close again by stating that you are not hating on crossfit, only trying to educate people on the dangers of improper form. However, you’ve used an entire article to do precisely that! You “hated” on crossfit and your article is not on improper form but how CROSSFIT is such a breeding ground for poor form. If this article was not meant to discourage people from trying crossfit then you would have written this post very differently. In fact, I think it would be a good idea for you to delete this post entirely because you honestly have no idea how incorrect much of what you said is. The whole tone of this article and phrases like “before you go eat your paleo meal” show your true intention in writing this. You want to poke fun at something you don’t understand but at the same time think you’re SO much better than. Please re-evaluate.
I’ve never read your blog, but someone recommended this post to me. And I loved it! Thank you, thank you! I really wish that there was movement in the fitness industry as a whole towards government licensure to have more oversight so that not just anyone could become a trainer. Or rather, not that they couldn’t, but there would be oversight and costs to that to weed out the riff-raff. It’s a shame that hairdressers have more oversight than trainers and yet we have much great capacity to harm people! Anyway, until that happens we are relying on personal and corporate responsibility from trainers and gyms. Since that is not effective all the time (clearly) and earning money is first and foremost the goal of some trainers, being an educated consumer is all people can do. Which is what you are providing here!
Yes, as some people suggest it’s easy to become a “certified” personal trainer. But, you know what isn’t as easy? Getting a college degree in kinesology or exercise science. Not having read this blog in the past, I can still guarantee that the theoretical knowledge that Naomi has surpasses the average personal trainer and the average CrossFit coach. THIS is why she has a position of authority to give feedback on CrossFit workouts regardless of whether or not she’s participated in their workouts. Why? Because I’m fairly certain that in her at some point in her studies she has learned about ALL of those movements, broken them down and understands THEM. The CF movements are NOT NEW. They are Olympic style lifts, etc. that a good trainer understands. Even without participating in the workout.
As far as I can tell, CrossFit as an organization does not do a good job of internal oversight. Affiliates simply pay a large fee ($3,000 is the current rate I think I saw on their website) each year to simply USE THE NAME, but besides going through one of their IN-HOUSE certification classes, affiliates are on their own.
But yes, the big problem with CrossFit is that they are prescribing heavy weight workouts for the average person. It is an effective workout: there is no doubt about that. However, it heightens the rate of injury for the AVERAGE, non-trained person. Hell, I even knew a personal trainer that ran marathons and lifted weights that joined CF and ended up with a shoulder injury. Yes, that COULD happen with personal training or other kinds of workouts, but does it? Not nearly as often.
I’ve done Crossfit before (last year) and really enjoyed it a lot. It was fun and not boring and I needed to spice up my routine a bit.
I was already in really great shape when I did Crossfit and it KILLED me. I went to my old trainer’s new crossfit gym. I trusted him, he altered the WOD to my personal abilities (and my recovering injury issues) and it was a really positive experience.
That being said, I am so over the craze. I am sick of the bloggers posting their WOD every day. That is NOT CONTENT. That is boring. I’ve stopping reading blogs that do that because it annoys me so much! I don’t want to see a list of the WOD, or a photo of people’s times whom I don’t know. So don’t care.
It’s basically another bandwagon that “everyone” is doing. Like oats in a jar and green monsters. 😛 Boring. Be inspiring! Be different! 🙂
I also want to add that if you’ve never done squats before and go to Crossfit and do 150 in one workout, you’re gonna hurt and potentially injure yourself. Be smart!
Great post on the dangers of Crossfit. While the intensity may be appropriate for some, most of the trainers put too much emphasis on time rather than form. I would like to see Crossfit turn things around by eliminating the time goals and focusing more on teaching the basics.
I have read your blog for a while now, and I typically find well-researched, informative articles here. But I have to say that I agree with most of the criticisms you have gotten here in the comments section.
I’ve been an athlete my entire life (volleyball, competitive dance, track) but not really a “weight lifter”. A big reason I joined crossfit is because it is cheaper (I pay apprx. $11/class for 60 mins+)than hiring a personal trainer with reputable experience (aka one that has NOT just gotten a certificate online).
A lot of responsibility falls on the trainEE when it comes to matters like this, in my opinion. I went with the box I felt most comfortable with. I had 6 hours of on-ramp PLUS for the first 1 1/2 months EVERY trainer in that box stopped me to correct form if needed. Another thing, poor form is NOT exclusive just to SOME crossfitters. As a dancer I cannot tell you how many girls I’ve seen break bones or seriously damage themselves due to poor form (and if you think dancing isn’t hard, that’s a whole other post).
Just like any situation in life, if your instincts tell you a situation is wrong, then follow them. If you look at any trainer/coach/etc. and think “that doesn’t look safe” then follow that instinct.
I was disappointed when I read this post. It sounded defensive–like you are afraid that Crossfit will take over and people won’t want to train with personal trainers anymore, thus impacting your livelihood. Good personal trainers will always have clients (who can afford them). It seems petty to pick on one type of fitness experience and belittle something just because it’s growing in popularity.
Ahah! That video is crazy! Why are those girls trying to lift that weight?!?! I would NEVER have attempted Crossfit if my husband wasn’t a personal trainer and insisted on me having correct form over heavy weight every.single.time. I’ve been doing it for almost 4 years and I started out modifying EVERYTHING until I could do it correctly. Heck, I still modify the weight and I consider myself strong!
I have to agree with Lynn Rochelle. I am so disappointed in this post and you have definitely generalized and stereotyped CrossFit before doing your own personal research.
Just the same as ‘regular’ gyms or ‘regular’ trainers, it’s up to the trainee to find the right fit and the right spot. There will be good gyms, good trainers and bad gyms and bad trainers. I’ve been to a handful of CrossFit boxes and each one has been a different experience for me- some good and some bad. And it’s always up to the trainee to decide if the certifications with whomever and wherever are sufficient enough.
I have been a member of a CrossFit gym for almost a year and half and it has been one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I receive individualized attention at each and every session and am never forced to do anything beyond my abilities. My coach actively watches and evaluates each person during the workout. If your form isn’t right, he tells you and he doesn’t hesitate to decrease your weight load during the workout if your form is wrong. He always provides modifications and pays attention to each members different abilities. He is ALWAYS there for me, giving me guidance, assistance and support.
That being said, I am going to go eat my Paleo meal and workout at my CrossFit box because this combo has helped me feel and look better than I ever have before. It has helped me get over my food phobias and helped me believe in myself and allowed me to see all that I am physically capable of. I never dreamed i would run a marathon, but I did just that after about 8 moths of CrossFit. I used to think that any sort of reps with an 8lb dumbbell in hand were heavy, and now I’m doing unassisted pull ups and 200+lb dead lifts. Just like the things that make you feel strong, sexy and confident, this is MY thing that makes ME feel strong sexy and confident. This is MY sport, my niche.
Education + intelligence is powerful, isn’t it?
Thank you for this post! I see people doing some crazy, crazy stuff. Why the heck would you roll a barbell up your stomach to do a press? If you can’t lift it up, it’s too heavy right now.
That video was painful.
The idea behind CrossFit is trainers teach everyone to perform the lifts correctly, and CrossFit trainers are constantly correcting form to ensure nobody gets hurt. An un-athletic guy at your “normal” gym, who is not being properly coached, probably isn’t a good indication of the general CrossFit population, and I suggest you participate in a few classes to get a better understanding about the movements and underlying structure.
I don’t do Cross Fit, but I have to comment that you seem to have a chip on your shoulder lately…hating on PB2 and peanut flour, hating on Cross Fit, hating on other bloggers for being nominated for a magazine which you’ve dubbed as “fluff”. What gives? I’ve always been an avid reader of yours, but here lately this isn’t the same blog that I’m used to reading.
That video…yikes. Is it supposed to be a promotional video for the gym? (or “box”?) I know very little about cross fit but I know those arched backs and wrists that are turned opposite ways do not look good. It’s too bad if people are defensive about form. I’ve done boot camp classes with lighter weights and I welcome any feedback on my form for deadlifts, etc. I can look up the exercises on my own at home- I’m paying to attend a class for the interaction with and feedback from the teacher.
i see a lot of dangerous and bad form going on in my gym. with personal trainers floating around to oversee. another thing, someone may have mentioned already, but in crossfit each person scaled the weight to his ability! obviously if you are meant to be doing 30 reps of clean and jerk you need to use a managable weight!! not necessarily the prescribed weight. anyone can do stupid dangerous things ANYWHERE.. whats this got to do with crossfit? I pretty much cringe daily in the gym with what I see going on.. I never cringe at the Crossfit Box.
Sounds like jealousy to me….
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Definitely not defending Crossfit here AT ALL because I do agree with a lot of what you say but that video, while scary looking, is pretty much the norm for a continental clean which is a Strongman thing. The bar is fatter and more awkward and it ends up being more of a “get the bar up any way you can” than an acutal clean. This is a good example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KZNo9LMxvE
It looks a bit scarier on these skinny folks aren’t moving massive amounts of weight and who don’t have a belly to rest it on.
@ Lynn Rochelle – you say the “standard” for Crossfit is to have an on-ramp but THERE IS NO STANDARDIZATION between affilates. It’s not like Starbucks where a cup of coffee is a cup of coffee, they’re each different and you can’t say that having an on-ramp is the “standard”. I know plenty of places that don’t. “Crossfit” doesn’t care what you do with your affilate as long as your website fits the standards that they require and you pay your dues. I know this from first hand experience having owned my own affiliate.
And re: how GREAT their certifications…have you been to one? Because I have, twice, and it’s a joke. Even the “test” you have to pass to become certified is a joke. Being able to answer “How many zone blocks are in the following meal?” does not prove that you’re a competent trainer.
If you’re going to criticize Naomi for speaking about things she doesn’t know about maybe you should take your own advice and only use defenses which you have specific knowledge of?
I hate when personal trainers come off as a know it alls… like your reply to the guy who said he couldn’t walk… why the attitude? What did that prove, that you’re better than him? I’m not reading this blog anymore. This whole post turned me off.
“The issue I have with Crossfit and Crossfit style workouts is that 95% of the people that do them have no athletic or fitness background to begin with.” Where did you get that number from? In fact a majority of people that do crossfit are either current or former athletes. There are several former olympic athletes competing in the CF games this year.
Also, this post makes it sound like crossfit is nothing but olympic lifts. Have you ever walked into a crossfit gym? Crossfit is a combination of gymnastics, running, rowing, lifting, rope climbs, and body weight exercises.
I have a masters degree is exercise physiology and have been in the fitness industry for over 15 years. I have seen more bad form in various fitness classes and regular gyms than I have ever seen in a crossfit gym. Every crossfit workout can be scaled to fit the athletes ability, it could take months or years for a crossfit athlete to complete the workout as prescribed. Therefore it is completely wrong to say that in crossfit people are forced to lift more then they should.
@ Karen- if you felt like you were pressured to lift more then you should then maybe you should have checked your ego at the door
What really gets me about this post is that you see one guy come into a regular gym and try to perform olympic lifts. You automatically assume he is doing CF and decide that gives you enough information to generalize about everyone that does crossfit. If he had been doing his workout at a crossfit gym one of the trainers would have come over to him and helped him with his form not just stood there and gawked at him like he was an animal in the wild. Im glad somebody finally “took the bullet” and went to help him, that would be what’s expected of a personal trainer.
I’ve seen that video before. What they’re doing is incredibly wrong on all levels! Their hands, the way they are SO inexperienced, their form…UGH
I tried for the first time Crossfit last weekend, and I think there’s a fine line between Crossfit boxes and coaches who know what they’re doing and ones who don’t. I can honestly say I went to a great box! That one in the video maybe not so much. However, if you take a typical work out class and compare it with Crossfit, you are getting a much better “deal” because coaches correct your form and you build up endurance along with strength. So maybe you see people who are just starting to workout/inexperienced people, but you have to realize EVERYONE HAS TO START SOMEWHERE
My box requires every new member to participate in a series of “beginner foundations” classes that takes two weeks to complete.
The gym has probably hired more trainers than it needs, but I can always be assured that any time I am doing a workout that someone is there to coach me and correct my form.
Surely anyone with half a brain in their head wouldn’t watch anyone doing lifts like the ones in that video without saying something.
I have attempted crossfit lifts on my own at my “globo gym” before i started crossfit and I had no idea what I was doing, I was just watching youtube videos and imitating them. Lots of people were staring at me and whispering, but no one stepped in to help me, even when I asked for help.
Because i want “quick and dirty” workouts, I’m better off at crossfit than I am at globogym. And I even teach group fitness there and can work out there for free, but I still joined crossfit because no one is going to stare and whisper.
And because my gym doesn’t let female employees wear shorts. wtf?
I, too, was once an uninformed, know-it-all trainer who thought they knew everything about CrossFit because I’d read their main page a few times. Then I got my head out of my ass. I am still a trainer, and witness people do stupid stuff in the gym every day that has nothing to do with CrossFit. Just because this gentleman was doing the “Olympic Lifts” (I have no idea why you put that in quotations) you automatically assumed he was a CrossFit athlete. Where else could he have picked up the Oly Lifts? Maybe…the Olympics? Mens Health? Muscle and Fitness? Interestingly, these are all sources of learning about the clean and press. Another interesting point; most of my clients have no athletic or fitness background to begin with. I’m pretty sure thats why they are coming to see us, as trainers. In terms of the certification process; yes, any Joe Schmoe can go get certified to coach CrossFit, but he still has to pass a test. The pre-requisites for your ACSM-CPT are not exactly stellar either; 18 years or older, high school diploma and a CPR certification. You also don’t have to to ever touch a weight in order to pass the ACSM-CPT being that there is no practical portion of the exam, you actually take the whole thing on a computer. The CrossFit certs are all done in person over the course of a weekend where you *gasp* actually perform exercises. Also, the cost of the ACSM exam is much lower; you can become ACSM certified for under $300, whereas you have to make a $1000 commitment to become a CrossFit level-1 trainer. Interesting.
You live in Boston, there are several really good boxes you can go visit. If you call ahead and tell them you’re a trainer and just want to observe, I imagine most of them will let you. Try CrossFit Southie, CrossFit New England or CrossFit Boston. The funniest part about all this is that I don’t even do CrossFit. But I learned about it and have an educated opinion. That’s what we do in this industry, we learn and grow. There are some CrossFit boxes/coaches that I wouldn’t recommend, just like there are commercial gyms/ personal trainers that I wouldn’t recommend. Please, continue learning.
Naomi, your post comes across as angry and arrogant. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog until now. What a disappointment. Maybe the guy who couldn’t walk was not all that impressed with you either.
Seems to me that if you truly ‘always envied the women who worked so damned hard in the weight room’ you wouldn’t hate on CrossFit so badly. CrossFit has been the most empowering thing I have ever personally done. I love the way I know my body now and I don’t need to illuminate how wrong you are about our coaches and how they correct our form, weight load, etc. That has been done here. I’m sure this is a moot point to you since I did not have a fitness or athletic background to begin with. I’m just a mom learning to be strong and fit. For a woman who claims to be all about fitness and health, you sound pretty elitist to me.
I had a guy who was a Crossfitter and 100% paleo eater email me one time and said if I did crossfit and ate paleo for 3 weeks, my diabetes would be cured. Really??? Um, pretty sure my eating steak and no potatoes isn’t gonna make my pancreas work all of a sudden!
I haven’t stopped by in ages – sorry for that – Happy Friday!
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I really don’t like the fact that you automatically assumed this guy in the gym was a CrossFitter. Cleans aren’t exclusive to CrossFit at ALL. I think it shows ignorance on your part.
While I agree, there are a ton of people out there, CrossFit or not, that have terrible form and don’t get help to correct it or even realize they are doing it wrong. That’s scary and unhealthy.
I have done CrossFit for almost 2 years now and love every aspect of it. My coach is AMAZING and he knows how to teach form correctly and knows how hard to push people and when to scale them back. That is so important in the CrossFit and personal training world.
I know you didn’t intend to bash Crossfit and you even stated that in your post, but you definitely came across that way and it doesn’t sound like you’ve ever really even tried it for yourself. I could be wrong, but that is the pure definition of ignorance…
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I had to stop watching this video because its making me have panic attacks for these people.
I have just joined a xfit gym with some reservations! I have trained for years with a trainer but have moved away so he’s not an option anymore.
the stuff they do gives me pause. the amounts they lift, the lack of a spotter most of the time. i have lots of background and know when something feels right when i lift it and know when my form’s off.
your post made me want to look a little closer at the box i joined. no one has a degree in fitness/exercise science or certifications other than cf certs. thanks for making me look a little closer.
not that these people don’t know what they’re doing or that they have the absolute best interest and safety of their clients in mind.
i want to try something new and intense because i know I CAN. i think the attack on your for your opinions is too harsh, but the “biting the bullet” to help the jackass is probably not a great attitude either. i’m a teacher and sometimes i see the kids doing stupid shit and have to help immediately cause is my job, yo. ya gotta do what ya gotta do. immediately, even if the dude is annoying.
That is NOT a crossfit video, it’s a Strongman competition. Do your research and present valid facts before you make false accusations.
Naomi,
Thank you for yet another thought provoking blog. I’ve only ever heard of the many positives of Crossfit but this has given me many issues to consider. Not that you’re bagging on it, I think you’re just trying to point out a few realities and I thank you for that!
I haven’t read through all of the comments but here are my thoughts – the video shown is terrible and scary but is the exception, not the norm, at CrossFit gyms. My gym/box/whatever requires a several week on ramp program to learn specific form. Once I starting doing the workouts, our coach watched me closely, scaled my weight, and had me working on a training bar until my muscle memory was developed and then allowed me to add weight. Our classes are small – we are a closed gym model so you can’t just show up any time you want – and are limited to no more than 15 people. That means the workouts do have a specific program and the coach is watching everyone.
You raise valid points but you speak as if the dangers you see are rampant rather than the sad extreme. It doesn’t appear that you you have anything to back that up, other than your opinion and your personal experience. I, who also only have my opinion and personal experience, would strongly disagree with you.
You raise valid points but your post comes across as very judgemental. The comment below is very condescending and snarky. You claim this is not a hate on crossfit post, but it comes across that way and hides what I hope your true message is: Form should be #1, make sure you select a gym to workout in (crossfit or not) that makes this a priority and takes your safety and well being into account.
In my opinion, this comment is a little rude and a little judgey of paleo, and is really representative of the whole tone of the article:
“Before you eat your Paleo meal and head to your nearest Crossfit facillity, try working one on one with a personal trainer or someone who has been doing Crossfit for YEARS and is an ‘expert’ Learn the basics and understand how your body is supposed to move.”
‘Most Crossfitters you will meet at a Crossfit facility are everyday people looking to try something new. They are not people with an athletic or fitness background that understand the elements of program design, progression and movement prep.’
WOW – you are so totally wrong. You should get your facts straight before making such uneducated, sweeping statements. My coaches are all OLY lifting certified and most have been ‘personal trainers’ in the past. And always stress form over all else.
That video you posted (which I have also seen in the past, and we have scorned at my Box) is far from anything that would be ever be allowed in most Crossfit boxes. Just like all personal trainers (or whatever your credentials are) – there are good and bad out there – something you should be aware of. You should do your homework before posting such ridiculous shit.
Anyone who says they aren’t “hating” on the topic multiple times, is hating on the topic. This is an extremely uneducated, judgmental, and downright rude post. I’ve often thought, from following you on twitter, that this was your style. Good day.
I was under the impression that this was a post along the same lines as other professional trainers. Well paced, solid technique , trumps fast sloppy form. Must have read it in context. My bad.
Or maybe you read it out of context because you too, are an uninformed, know it all trainer. This post is not about form. As stated many times above bad form happens everywhere this post is purely about a “hate” for crossfit that comes from a lack of understanding and ignorance.
Horribly judgmental of you! If you don’t have experience, how can you judge based on one guy at the gym and one video? Horrible of you to bold phrases, give statistics…re: something you have no knowledge about.
Unbelievable. First and last time I read your blog.
Some people will continue to smoke. Some drink their liver into oblivion. And some wreck their bodies with exercise.
It was difficult watching the video and it looks horribly unsafe, I just don’t understand why one would go to such extremes.
Honestly, ever since you started lifting heavy and changing your workouts and eating, your attitude has changed with it, and NOT for the better.
I agree with most of the above commenters. You are in fact hating on Crossfit. In fact, you seem to hate on everything except for what you do!
Just one comment that hasn’t been said (I don’t think). I’m more worried that you and your trainer friends debated going over to the guy! Part of the reason I stopped going to traditional gyms and fell in love with Crossfit was because of the support and education at CF. I have seen so many disastrous lifts and moves at gyms, while trainers stand there doing nothing. If you aren’t working one on one with a client, isn’t it your job to help and educate people on the floor? The fact that there was any debate bothers me almost more than your uninformed total hatred of Crossfit!
I used to read your blog Naomi a lot, with admiration. However, I’ve recently started attending a Crossfit in Australia – and have to disagree with your post here as many others have.
I completed a one week ‘on ramp’ introductory session to teach form, the basics of crossfit and learn about technqiue.
Every single crossfit session I attend is a closed session, and there is at least 1 trainer to approx 15-20 people (max). One of the reasons I stopped going to a normal ‘gym’ was because a lot of the trainers can get certified too quickly and are not willing to help/offer advice.
Sure there are probably just as many “bad/uninformed” Crossfit Boxes/coaches as there are tradional gyms/trainers, but the crossfit I go to is nothing of the sort.
Naomi does have a good point. This is first I’ve read this blog, because the title intrigued me.
I understand from both ends of the spectrum. Crossfit is a great exercise technique…”if” it is done correctly. Naomi has a point Olympic style lifting becomes dangerous with a) poor form b)after your 4th round when doing max rounds for time.
I used to get a tired of watching train their clients at globo-gyms and see the clients quit. I decided that I wouldn’t pay a trainer and I got a CF Level 1 Cert. It was a very informative weekend, but I also did not feel confident enough to tell someone about proper form when doing lifts. Like Naomi said, this stuff takes time.
I enjoy CF workouts, but I also know that poor form is going to equal injuries eventually.
P.S. I also have a friend who is a firefighter with the LA Fire Dept, he tells about a lot of firefighters that have had to get surgeries due to their CFing.
This is a funny post. I lost interest after 2 straw men, maybe there were more:
1. The fact that any Joe Schmoe can walk off the street into a Crossfit facility and join a class, fitness or athletic background or not scares the crap out of me.
Totally false. I can’t speak for all Crossfits, but mine has a mandatory “on ramp” class which lasts several weeks and does indeed teach the movements with PVC pipes, empty bars, etc.
2. Five seconds on google reveals what’s going on with the “Revival Strongman” video. As has already been stated, it’s a Continental Clean (I didn’t even know what that was and I figured it out).
I really wish that Crossfit haters would spend a few minutes finding a few things out about it before posting nonsense online.
This is a funny post. I lost interest after 2 straw men, maybe there were more:
1. The fact that any Joe Schmoe can walk off the street into a Crossfit facility and join a class, fitness or athletic background or not scares the crap out of me.
Totally false. I can’t speak for all Crossfits, but mine has a mandatory “on ramp” class which lasts several weeks and does indeed teach the movements with PVC pipes, empty bars, etc.
2. Five seconds on google reveals what’s going on with the “Revival Strongman” video. As has already been stated, it’s a Continental Clean (I didn’t even know what that was and I figured it out).
I really wish that Crossfit haters would spend a few minutes finding a few things out about it before posting nonsense online.
See what you did, Naomi, lol..You had the audacity tocriticise the great religion of CF, and you got flamed, but it is what it is. People are so brainwashed by this cult that they will defend it no matter what.
I have been to CF. In short, the “box” I went to had inexperienced instructors and people were getting hurt left and right. I got the heck out of dodge. Are all boxes or coaches bad? Absolutely not. However, when boxes are multiplying like rabbits and the certifications are given out like candy, that’s where the problem lies.
Any workout or program that encourages it’s participants to use sloppy form (i.e kipping pullups, high reps of OLy lifts and KB swings) in addition to puking, should be cause to run the other way. Why does a workout have to turn into a competitive beatdown?
So go ahead and enjoy your WODS you faithful cf’fers. In effect, the only winner in this whole debacle is Glassman, as he’s laughing all the way to the bank while you blind fools continue to defend Crossfit.
This is a poor portrayal of crossfit. I agree that there are good and bad coaches out there but I agree with everyone else, there are good and bad coaches everywhere. At my gym you can’t just jump into weights and the WOD. You have to spend a month taking boot camp classes where there are no heavy weights allowed and it’s a getting participants in shape and learning technique. After boot camp you have to go to 2 weeks of fundamentals classes learning how to properly use weights and bars. The classes are small and the coaches watch everyone very carefully. If they see any wrong technique they immediately stop you and correct your form so you don’t get hurt. I feel the best I have ever felt and I have more energy than ever.
Naomi thank you for your post. I am a paramedic and watching that video brought back memories of moving patients, that weighed in excess of 400lbs, out of a tight space utilizing an akward lifting position. I don’t know many people in EMS who don’t have back, hip, shoulder, and knee problems.
Several things were apparant to me when I watched the video. First, each person was using very poor form. Second, each person changed their hand position. Third, most if not all were lifting a weight that exceeded their ability.
The people in the video will one day herniate discs in their back or worse if their technique is not corrected. No one in the video ever stopped them and corrected their form. This might not occur at all Crossfit Gyms, but it does occur at some.
One other issue I have not seen is the prevelance of SLAP Tears from kipping pull-ups. SLAP Tears occur when the arms are above the shoulders and a jerking motion is used applying pressure on the shoulder joint, resulting in the labrum become torn by the bones of the joint. A pull-up was not designed to be a fast forceful motion. It was designed as a slow, rhythmic movement.
I have lifted weights for many years and I have never done Crossfit. The movements of some Crossfit exercises prevent me from ever considering adding it to my plan. I have recently changed from lifting weights to bodyweight exercises. After 16 years of EMS, my body does not deal well with lifting weights any longer. The issues I had with knee pain, bilateral tennis elbow and shoulder problems are a rarity now.
I am a healthy and strong mature woman who takes her fitness very seriously. I have employed the services of an excellent personal trainer for over a year now, and he has transformed me – I am leaner, stronger and healthier than I have been in years. Out of interest I recently attended a ‘taster’ session at my local crossfit ‘box’, with a friend who is not nearly as fit as I am. I left the session shocked and disgusted at what I had witnessed. Firstly, there were no forms left for us to complete, and we were not asked anything about our fitness levels. There were approximately 8 of us attending the taster session, and it began with a ‘warm up’. walking lunges and running, in a car park, where there were parked cars to navigate as well as a dog and a child. The car park was concrete with differing levels – a hazard in itself. We then moved into the AMRAP routine – and were instantly put into ‘competition’ mode. This may not have been the intention, but when your name is on the wall and you have to shout out when you have completed the sequence then ofcourse you try to do more, or the same number, as those around you. At this point I noticed that technique was not being adhered to – kettle bell swings were dangerously clumsy, sit-ups were all over the place and rowing was being done without feet in the straps. This was because people were treating the exercise like a race. No-one at the box stopped us or corrected our techniques. To top it all the box had a door with a lip at the bottom which posed a hazard as we began to run out of it (too many of us, no room, could have fallen over). When entering again, to do kettle bell swings, we had to navigate our way round other people swinging 12k kettlebells to get to our mats. This was ridiculously dangerous. I am hoping that this was a one-off, and that maybe this box normally runs better than that, but on this occasion we were put at serious risk – at worst someone could have been killed by a swinging kettlebell hitting them in the head. I found out later that the ‘coaches’ at this box are level 1 certificated. It takes two days to learn crossfit at level 1 – longer to get a qualification in nail technology, I understand, and nail technology, as far as I am aware, poses little if any potential danger. I am interested in some of the crossfit WODs and moves and I will incorporate them into my sessions with my PT, and I am looking for a crossfit coach with a higher level qualification who does it properly, before I ever go near crossfit again. If my experience in that ‘box’ (the premises dangerous of itself) is anything to go by then I reckon I’ll take up jay-walking. It’s safer.
I think the most important way to start this response is thank you for sharing. I wanted to know about working out everyday because I was encouraged by my Crossfit box to workout two days on and one day off. I am considered a beginner but I have prior Crossfit experience.
Not every trainer cares about the client. This is true whether you are working out in a gym and hire someone, attend bootcamp, or Crossfit. I have had experience with all three and I know that it is the person/trainer that determines the program direction regardless of which you choose.
I attended a different Crossfit at a different location but the trainer at the time did not care about the class. This is not to say the owner felt the same way and the two have parted company.
My first experience was unsupervised and not a lot of support. (I must say again that the experience at the first location was changed by the owner!)
This second time has been wonderful. Crossfit has started an on-ramp class that allows students to learn the moves before moving into a introductory class level. The four to six week class is great and teaches the signature moves and body positions as well as explaining why each move is completed that particular way. This was not offered three years ago.
I am proud to say I Crossfit, not because of the people or workout methodology, but because I love it. I feel good about me. The important part of any exercise routine is to love what your doing and not get bored. Crossfit does that for me. Thank you for the explanation on a sensible workout schedule.