I joined CrossFit after having my daughter, to tone up and get back in shape. I wasn’t overweight, but I did feel flabby after pregnancy. I just didn’t have the energy that I had before childbirth. This is my experience with CrossFit. I’ll give you the facts, my own issues with the program, and what you’ll need to join.
Mix It Up; One of the reasons I think CrossFit is so effective when it comes to toning up or losing weight, is that you really mix it up with different types of exercises. I would compare it to P90X but with more weights. You’ll do everything from weightlifting, to plyometric’s, to calisthenics and more. It helps to keep your body from plateauing and reaching that level where you’ve maxed out your potential. However, if you are just an average person and don’t want to do exercises like “The Sumo Deadlift,” or “Handstand Pushup,” don’t join! I remember thinking, “You have got to be kidding me. I just had a baby!” These people are nuts!
How Fit Do You Need to Be? I wondered if I was fit enough after pregnancy to do CrossFit. I’ve never been obese or overweight, in fact, just the opposite. I’ve always had problems gaining weight, but that isn’t easy to deal with either because you can often feel fatigued and low on energy. I wasn’t sure I would be able to keep up in class. I also have a medical condition that doesn’t allow me to lift anything heavy, so I talked to the trainer before class and was told to only do what I was comfortable with. That turned out to be almost none of the exercises in CrossFit. Everything is about weights! Or at least it seems that way. As a woman, I don’t want to look like a female Arnold Schwarzenegger. I mean, go girls who dig that look and more power to you but it’s just not for me. I like my curves and some places that are soft on my body, if you know what I mean.
What Equipment Will I Need? There’s actually quite a lot of equipment that CrossFit requires, that’s one reason I’m more of a P90X fan. For CrossFit, you’ll need a resistance band, medicine ball, barbells, rower, jump rope, gymnastic rings, bumper plates, and a plyo box. I feel like I’m leaving something out but they will have a list of what you need to buy, or will have most of what you need at the gym. If you don’t think you’re going to really commit to CrossFit, don’t go buy all of the equipment. It adds up.
Pros and Cons: There are pros and cons to CrossFit. The pros are that it will shred you pretty quickly if you stick with it. You’ll get stronger and build muscle. The cons of CrossFit are that if you have any sort of physical impairment, you will probably hurt yourself. There are reports of people being seriously injured according to studies quoted in Women’s Health, and it’s a high number; 16 percent drop out from serious injury or overuse. I mean, I jog, I do some P90X workouts, I swim, and I bike:I like exercise but CrossFit was like torture or something. I hated it. I didn’t lose any weight. I couldn’t physically do some of the exercises because I didn’t have the upper body strength and never will as a petite woman), and honestly, what is the point of joining a fitness program you can’t possibly do?
Yes, I toned my arms and legs a bit, toned my stomach, did enough squats to lift the butt of a 90 year old, and felt more flexible. The problem is that it totally bulks you up and that isn’t the look I want. I could have toned up with my BowFlex at home. All in all, I give CrossFit a big thumbs down for the average person. Unless your looking for an extreme workout that involves huge weights; don’t join.
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