CrossFit vs Weight Training?

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

I would also co-sign on Insanity. Then again I am more of a fan of doing cardio and being in shape rather than just lifting 24/7 and gaining mass that will just make me fat once I am old.

[Money99]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

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.

Are you kidding me? I've read that leg extensions are bad for you. I swear, with some much info on the web, I get more confused all the time, hahaha.

So this guy said stop doing squats?
My legs are naturally skinny (I'm naturally thin but my legs are bad). I started hammering on squats to build up size. My legs have gotten bigger over the years, but now they're basically proportionate. I always wanted Hershel Walker/Mike Tyson type thighs but that's never going to happen. So I thought doing endless squats would at least me get to a decent level.
I have to tell you, the thought of stopping squats is very appealing. I love the intensity I need for them, but it's a mental and physical drain.
What plyometrics would you recommend?

elgreazy1, thanks for the advice. How many reps do you get in for lunges?
You're knees feel a lot better doing them too?
I would alternate doing squats and leg presses but both have really been bothering my knees.

I'm such a rockhead. I keep thinking I need to do these hard compound movements. My body's aching and groaning but I keep thinking that it's the only way to gain size/strength.
But I'm going to be 37 and I wonder if all this work (to keep in shape) is actually going to hurt me in the long run.
I just want to be in good shape, look good, and have the ability to play with my grandkids when I'm in my 50s/60s.

[ehh]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

Yeah, it's tough, Money, you can find a contradicting philosophy for everything on the web related to health and exercise. But I figured a doctor from Yale is a pretty good source lol.

Just curious, what were the reasons for extensions being bad? Just the typical "it's a machine so it's bad" thought process?


Lunges are great but I have to tell you those did not do my knees any favors either even with low weight/high rep. I was doing Men's Health Abs Diet in 07 or 08 IIRC and it calls for a ton of lunges. I got the dreaded clicking in both knees and one day after playing bball my left knee locked up and I couldn't bend it for four hours. A piece of cartilage broke off and got stuck in the joint or whatever lol. Not fun. But then again I don't know of those lunges were the final straw after the initial damage from squats/deadlifts over the years.

And c/s with everything ElGreazy said, great post.

[shnuskis]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

You have said your overall goal is to cut weight but keep bringing up gaining size. I am sure you mean you want to lose fat and gain muscle, but you are aware that you will then be putting weight on. Muscle weighs more than fat.

It is important to figure out what it is you want to occomplish when designing your plan. If your main goal is to cut weight as you said, you should be doing more cardio with your weight training.

[Money99]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

Yeah, it's tough, Money, you can find a contradicting philosophy for everything on the web related to health and exercise. But I figured a doctor from Yale is a pretty good source lol.

Just curious, what were the reasons for extensions being bad? Just the typical "it's a machine so it's bad" thought process?


Lunges are great but I have to tell you those did not do my knees any favors either even with low weight/high rep. I was doing Men's Health Abs Diet in 07 or 08 IIRC and it calls for a ton of lunges. I got the dreaded clicking in both knees and one day after playing bball my left knee locked up and I couldn't bend it for four hours. A piece of cartilage broke off and got stuck in the joint or whatever lol. Not fun. But then again I don't know of those lunges were the final straw after the initial damage from squats/deadlifts over the years.

And c/s with everything ElGreazy said, great post.

Something about when you lock out with leg extensions it puts too much stress on the knee. I'll have to find the quotes from it. But it was something with that affect.
I hear you about the knee clicking. When I bend down, or when I do leg presses, my knees sound like a cement mixer. It's nothing but grinding and clicking in there.

Today, I'm going to try my leg workout by doing leg extensions, lunges and maybe jump sets.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

But I'm going to be 37 and I wonder if all this work (to keep in shape) is actually going to hurt me in the long run.
I just want to be in good shape, look good, and have the ability to play with my grandkids when I'm in my 50s/60s.

I would think so. Having Herschel Walker thighs isn't going to do you any good with you are 60. Walker is a freak of nature and none of us are ever gonna look that good when we are old. I've always hears from doctors that younger people should do a lot more cardio(younger being under 50ish). Older people should do more with weights. I always feel bad for the meat heads who can bench 600 pounds because I know in 40 years they will struggle to move themselves.

[Money99]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

I would think so. Having Herschel Walker thighs isn't going to do you any good with you are 60. Walker is a freak of nature and none of us are ever gonna look that good when we are old. I've always hears from doctors that younger people should do a lot more cardio(younger being under 50ish). Older people should do more with weights. I always feel bad for the meat heads who can bench 600 pounds because I know in 40 years they will struggle to move themselves.

It's funny you mention that because the trainer at my gym has a father who was a serious powerlifter in his day.
He said when he was a young kid, he and his friends would marvel at the size of the man and how much he could lift.
But when they became teenagers, they all got a bit bummed out when they saw this mountain of a man struggle to get out of a couch or chair due to the damage he had caused his joints and ligaments.

I'm going to try and cut back on the compound movements - especially squats.
I'll try to substitute with lunges and extensions for a while and see how it goes.

Thanks for the advice guys!

[elgreazy1]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

Are you kidding me? I've read that leg extensions are bad for you. I swear, with some much info on the web, I get more confused all the time, hahaha.

So this guy said stop doing squats?
My legs are naturally skinny (I'm naturally thin but my legs are bad). I started hammering on squats to build up size. My legs have gotten bigger over the years, but now they're basically proportionate. I always wanted Hershel Walker/Mike Tyson type thighs but that's never going to happen. So I thought doing endless squats would at least me get to a decent level.
I have to tell you, the thought of stopping squats is very appealing. I love the intensity I need for them, but it's a mental and physical drain.
What plyometrics would you recommend?

elgreazy1, thanks for the advice. How many reps do you get in for lunges?
You're knees feel a lot better doing them too?
I would alternate doing squats and leg presses but both have really been bothering my knees.

I'm such a rockhead. I keep thinking I need to do these hard compound movements. My body's aching and groaning but I keep thinking that it's the only way to gain size/strength.
But I'm going to be 37 and I wonder if all this work (to keep in shape) is actually going to hurt me in the long run.
I just want to be in good shape, look good, and have the ability to play with my grandkids when I'm in my 50s/60s.

As far as lunges, I go as long as I physically can but I'm one of those people who loves to punish their legs because they recover so quickly.

I first started by doing angled lunges where I'd stand up straight, 20's in each arm and lunge to one side while turning my body with the weight (0*), step back to starting position, step angled (45*), step back to start, then straight (90*), step to start position, then switch legs and continue the sweep (90*, 45*, 0*) then work back the other way. Once my legs tired, I'd lose the weight and keep going or:

Another routine I've added is cradling a dumbbell below my chin holding it with both hands. (Imagine as if you're resting your chin on your palms) I keep it tucked under my chin and simply squat. Because I'm not using a lot of weight (60 lbs) I can do more reps, and with the weight tucked under my chin I don't find myself leaning over or having bad form. I'll usually add this at the end when I'm fatigued. Or you can vary this by doing 1/3's and breaking the squat up into phases: lowest point to middle point, middle point to high point, then lowest point to top point so I can hit all facets of my legs.

In terms of depth, on lunges I don't go too far because you gotta protect those knees. Just go down to about parallel and don't stress out too much from there. If you really want to go deeper, I'd suggest doing it without weight so you can simply get the stretch and tone, but everyone is different.

You can still do leg press, just modify the workout. Instead of focusing on hitting a max rep at 12, why not take it to 25 or even 50!? Just simply lower the weight, keep your form, and have at it. You just have to trick your body. I also will alternate with single-leg leg presses but obviously I drop the weight down significantly and I make sure to have my other leg on the platform (but not pressing) for safety reasons.

I hope that helps, if you need me to explain it more, I can find images to better explain it.

[Money99]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

No, that's great elgreazy1. Thank you very much! I'll try that out today.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

You need to try the "legs" part or the "plyometrics" part of p90x.

[elgreazy1]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

My wife is getting the Insanity packet from a friend soon and I think we're going to try it out. I hear it had a lot of plyometric exercises and football-based leg drills. I can't wait, in football & cheerleading we used a lot of explosive movements with high amounts of footwork, so that should get my agility back up and my cardio rate much higher than long-distance running.

[ehh]

Re: CrossFit vs Weight Training?

Let us know how it goes Greazy and check out the Insanity thread too.