Crossfit has been big news for the last 5 years or so. It’s been around much longer than that, but it really started to catch on in the late 2000’s with Crossfit gyms popping up all over the place. We don’t want to get too scientific about things, but we can definitely tell you that the most basic Crossfit method puts big, compound movements as a priority. However, Crossfit isn’t just something people use as a way to get fit – it’s a great sport too! the annual Crossfit games is an international competition that anyone can qualify for with hard work. Crossfit is definitely a complex subject, but we’re going to tell you everything you need to know in this post:
In Crossfit, exercises like the squat, overhead press, Olympic barbell clean and jerk, Olympic barbell snatch, and the deadlift are popular. Not many movements in Crossfit are done lying down or sitting.
Typically, you’ll enter a Crossfit gym and there will be a ‘WOD’ on the board, AKA workout of the day. The set workout is like a to do list, but you vary the weight lifted to suit you. The trainer will recommend weights, but you need to alter them to suit you. You should be doing them as heavy as you possibly can though, without causing injury to yourself. If you love Crossfit, you can always take it more seriously and train for the official Crossfit games.
You should expect a WOD to be difficult. There will be lots of barbell movements, with hardly any rest. Your entire workout is timed, and you must try to either complete it as quickly as possible, or fit as many rounds as possible (AMRAP) into an allocated time frame. You need to be careful during these workouts, as your technique can suffer as you get tired.
One thing is for sure when it comes to Crossfit: you’ll get fit. Very fit! Crossfit workouts are challenging, which will trigger lots of fat loss. You’ll even notice muscle development, which will cause men to get bigger and women to become more ‘toned’. You’ll notice your body composition change for the better, and your shape will be more athletic.
You do enter Crossfit at your own risk if you’re new to the weight training scene. However, the pros are greatly outweighed by the cons. The whole notion behind Crossfit is great – community is promoted, strength training is prioritised, and you get some healthy competition while you’re at it. If your goal is to get tighter and leaner, then you can’t go far wrong with Crossfit.
With all of this in mind, here are 10 tips for beginners:
- Remember that you’re competing against yourself, not others.
- Don’t be too proud to scale your workout down. You might need to do pushups on your knees, or simply use the bar without weights for your exercises. Either way, it’s important you try your hardest while minimising injury.
- Getting your diet down is very important – more important than the training you’re doing! Put good food in your mouth and you’ll get great results. Fat loss supplements can also help too, like CLA capsules.
Above all, when doing Crossfit – remember to have fun! This sport will help you to enjoy life more, so go out and do just that.