CrossFit vs Weight Training?

[Money99]

I've been weightlifting for a few years now and I've gone through many variations of workouts.
Right now, I'm doing the full body workout. I actually enjoy this way more than splits.

However, the older I get, the more my joints seem to crack and groan.
I've been reading a lot about crossfit lately and I think I might try it. It seems like it's a better overall workout than just weights. And the movements are closer to what you'd do in your everyday life.
Not only that, I think doing these movements might save my knees, elbows and shoulders.

My biggest concern is that of the dozen or so people I've seen do crossfit in my gym, none of them look any different now than what they did 1 or even 2 years ago.
I hear these guys talk about how much stronger they're getting as they're lifting more and more.
One guy who used to only lift weights switched to CrossFit and has been doing it for over a year. But I've seen almost no change in his physique whatsoever.
I was expecting to see them tone up some, but there's really no difference.

I have no doubt that this routine might work, but I'm paranoid that if I change, I could lose what I've earned over the years.
At the same time, I'm worried that by doing all these squats, presses and lifts, that by the time I hit 50, I won't be able to walk or run because my body will be shot.

Has anyone here gone from traditional weightlifting to crossfit? What was it like for you?
How many days a week do you perform it?
I've read that CF is supposed to be done 3 days on, 1 day off. I only workout from Mon-Fri. The weekends are my time. Weight lifting always afforded me that kind of schedule.
Could I get away with doing a 4 or 5 day routine during the week? Maybe do CF on Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri, with Wed being a cardio (or rest) day?

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Scottdau]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

What is your goal? Are you trying to get bigger or more cut?

[Money99]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

What is your goal? Are you trying to get bigger or more cut?

My overall goal is probably to cut some weight, but mainly to save my joints as well as tackle the monotony of my current workout.

I've read some good things about Crossfit and just wanted to hear what others thought of it.

[Scottdau]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

Then I would say crossfit would be better for you.

[Money99]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

Then I would say crossfit would be better for you.

Can you explain why?
Can you still gain size and mass with CrossFit? How many days a week should one be doing this?
How is it compared to regular weight training? What kind of strains does it have on your body?

[Scottdau]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

I don't know too much about it. I know a lot of programs have weightlifting, sprinting, and gymnastics, powerlifting, kettlebell training, plyometrics, rowing, and medicine ball training. I haven't work out in years. But lifting weights do tear up your joints. If you get no response here google it. You will find some good info.

[Money99]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

I don't know too much about it. I know a lot of programs have weightlifting, sprinting, and gymnastics, powerlifting, kettlebell training, plyometrics, rowing, and medicine ball training. I haven't work out in years. But lifting weights do tear up your joints. If you get no response here google it. You will find some good info.

That's the problem. When I google it, I get info back that reads like a cult.
It seems people that do crossfit swear by it. They laugh at everyone else.

I'd like to hear from somebody that's done it without being a zealot. Just give me facts as to what makes it better or worse than traditional weight lifting.

I have to say though, since going to a full-body workout with no more than 4 sets per body part, I feel better. I don't ache as much. But my knees are getting pretty bad lately.

[Scottdau]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

Oh OK, then I have no idea. Hopefully someone here has try it, but are not part of the cult.

[Chrisksaint]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

Never done CrossFit, but personally since i'm no longer playing Football the only way I can work out is by weightlifting I just find it entertaining and I always have some sort of a goal to keep me going whether it's increasing my max on bench or reps on squat,etc. By having that goal I find myself more motivated to keep going, now I just gotta get back into the gym but gotta wait till I get up to FSU in a month

[oneamongthefence]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

I'm in the military and work in a gym where we offer both of those classes. I find that crossfit is good for cardio. I see a lot of people not really put any effort into it though. Also a lot of those same people aren't serious about getting into shape. However, I hear people all the time saying they lose weight from it along with a proper diet. Weight training gets you better results but if your worried about your body, instead of using free weights use the machines. We use strive fit and its good because it allows you to change the resistance so its at different points in the repetition. This allows less weight to be used and results much faster.

[mike24forever]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

I know you did not ask about Insanity, however I recommend this to everyone. I lift 4 to 5 times a week and I do Insanity 6 days a week (it's a 2 month program). If you want to get cut, this will do the job. Just remember, 80% of your workout is DIET. I feel like an informercial, but it kicks my butt. I use to instruct martial arts, and nothing has come close to it in intensity, except for the Insanity. That being said, it will play havoc with your joints. Its high impact.

Last summer I dropped 13 pounds doing it. I was strict with my diet though.

When I was doing martial arts I weight 164 pounds and I was in the best shape of my life. With the weight training I was up to 198, then I dropped 13 pounds with the Insanity. I am currently at 186 and my 6 pack is starting to show again . Just to add I am 38 years old and 6 feet tall...this sounds like a line on a dating website sorry about that. Lol. I am just trying to give you context into my suggestion. I am starting my 2nd month and, my cardio is a lot better. My points (long and drawn out) but this may be something you would be interested in.

Hope that helps.

[ehh]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

If your knees are bad then stay away from CrossFit.

c/s for Insanity. The best program I've ever done. Feel gassed after every workout, it doesn't take forever to complete the workouts, you lose fat and it improves your athletic performance better than anything else I've ever done. Unless your goal is to look like a body builder then I would recommend Insanity.

Insanity though isn't great for your knees either, but it's not as bad as anything that includes squats, deadlifts, etc.

[Money99]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

If your knees are bad then stay away from CrossFit.

c/s for Insanity. The best program I've ever done. Feel gassed after every workout, it doesn't take forever to complete the workouts, you lose fat and it improves your athletic performance better than anything else I've ever done. Unless your goal is to look like a body builder then I would recommend Insanity.

Insanity though isn't great for your knees either, but it's not as bad as anything that includes squats, deadlifts, etc.

Thanks guys.
I might try that.

I think I have to substitute squats for something else. I might try box-squats or lunges.
I know that my form is the reason for my poor knees. But we don't have a squat rack at our gym, only a smith machine and it wants to pull you backwards all the time and forces me to use more of my knees than legs.

OR, I might just use the incline bench to get under a bar and use very light weights and tonnes of reps to get what I need.

I guess I'm getting to that crossroads of whether I want to try and pack more muscle on, or get lean and fit so I can still walk without a cane or walker when I'm in my 70's.

[elgreazy1]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

It really depends on your goals long term and what you want your fitness levels to be.

For instance, I'm a bigger guy: thick torso, thicker legs & hip/glute area - basically the shape of a Fullback - and only until last year I was still lifting heavy. Being 29, I began assessing what exactly lifting heavy would accomplish in the long term. My phyical therapist also asked me the same question and it made me realize I need to change my approach. The part that really got me was when he stated, "Well, do you think you'll still be wanting to leg press 800 lbs when you're 40, 50, 60, as you're doing now?" And it got me to realize, HELL NO!, I cant' keep up this pace, nor take the wear and tear on my body.

So I went from doing high intensity cardio, explosive exercises and massive weight to simply full-body circuits, interval cardio and higher reps, lower weight in terms of resistance training and man, I've never been happier. The best part: I've lost weight while maintaining most of my muscle mass! For me, losing weight is hard while gaining size is easy, so this has been the best of both worlds. Here are some examples of changes I made:

I completely stopped doing bar squats or deadlifts and replaced those quad/glute building exercises with a variety of lunge routines (going no heavier than 25lb dumbells on each arm). Since then, I have not had lower back pain, period. And, my legs have actually got more cut and my legs have thinned out for the better. Where as before I was doing 300+ squats, 400+ deadlifts, etc I'm still getting the same benefit in my leg routines.

I stopped doing super heavy shoulder presses. Before I would load up with 135+ to warm up, now I'm simply doing a variety of dumbbell presses (Arnold presses, alternating single-arm dumbbell press, etc) and gone are the shoulder aches I've suffered since college sports. Sure, my shoulders aren't bowling balls anymore, but they now have more definition and appear more symmetrical and of course, the lack of pain doesn't hurt.

So in the end, it's all about what YOU want to accomplish and understanding how your body works and the best way to attack it.

[ehh]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

Thanks guys.
I might try that.

I think I have to substitute squats for something else. I might try box-squats or lunges.
I know that my form is the reason for my poor knees. But we don't have a squat rack at our gym, only a smith machine and it wants to pull you backwards all the time and forces me to use more of my knees than legs.

I wish I never did a single squat in my life. As we all know they're viewed as the Holy Grail exercise but it's not near worth the damage you do to your body.

Just do the leg press and extension machines combined with plyo exercises, it'll give you what you need. I avoided machines in the gym for so long because everyone said free weights are so superior but once I started doing the press and extension machines mixed with Insanity my knee pain has really decreased cept for the winter when I play basketball six days a week.

When my knee pain first started getting bad, about 4 years ago, I went to the head knee specialist at Yale and he told me two things - never do another squat for the rest of your life and do tons of leg extensions to strengthen your quads. I've followed the latter on and off since and can vouch that when I do those leg machines my knees feel a millions times better. Sounds like we have similar knee issues as well.