CrossFit Training Workout Fitness Exercises Endurance Gym Diet

For all of you out there who are looking for a way to intensify your exercise program, I have one word for you: CrossFit. Oh yeah… and WOW! CrossFit is a great way to supplement your workout program along with regular weight training.

About three years ago, I had relocated from New York to Los Angeles. I was trying to get my personal training business off the ground and between the economy and just plain starting over, I found myself with a lot of free time on my hands. My workouts in the past had usually consisted of weight training and running. Living in Manhattan is a runner’s dream… the park, the people and a very tight knit running community.

When I got to California, I was disappointed in the running scene and realized that it is just hard to run in LA. So having multiple hours a day to train, I started taking the 8 mile trek out to Santa Monica about 4 times a week. Once I got there, I would leave my stuff at the gym and go for a nice long run along the beach or hit the famous Santa Monica stairs. Then I would lift weights for an hour or so before riding back home. Let me tell you, this is a lot of volume. I soon started feeling tired and realized that I was overtraining.

While reading a fitness magazine one day, I stumbled upon an article about something called Crossfit. I was immediately intrigued. Here was a complete full body workout that didn’t have to be broken up into 2 separate areas… cardio and strength training. With Crossfit, you get get the whole job done in one shot. CrossFit accomplishes this by mixing up power lifting, gymnastics and sprint work. Workouts are usually done for time and performed as intensely as possible. While reading on further, I discovered that the location they were writing this article about just happened to be in Santa Monica. I mean was this fate or what? So the very next day, my friend Sharon and I made the usual journey to the beach and entered the world of CrossFit at Petronek Fitness.

Crossfit is a network of affiliates around the world, so basically you could find a place to train wherever you go

I must say, it was a little intimidating at first. This place was hardcore all the way… no fluff. Old school training with the volume turned up! To give you a taste of the CrossFit experience, the coach had us do a modified WOD (Workout of the Day). Today, they said, “let’s do Cindy”. Cindy is 20 minutes of 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups and 15 body weight squats… NON-STOP. As many rounds as you can do in the allotted time. Since it was our first time, we only had to do 10 minutes. I remember thinking “10 minutes!!! Ha! How hard can this be?” My short runs were no less than 8 miles! 10 minutes is cake! Let me tell you, I was sucking wind in 5 minutes! I was in love!!!

The workout plan consists of 3 days on and 1 day off. You can experience this by either going to an affiliate or logging onto CrossFit.com and pulling up the WOD. The workouts posted are free. You can also use CrossFit Brand X if you need to modify, and believe me, you WILL need to modify! So whatever your preference, there is a way to CrossFit to your liking and ability. Also, for you cardio junkies, there is a CrossFit Endurance which consists of torturous interval work done by using 4 different modalities (running, cycling, swimming or rowing). Basically something for everyone.

If you are looking for results, CrossFit is definitely the way to go, but don’t say you weren’t warned. CrossFit WILL KICK YOUR ASS! So have fun,  and GOOD LUCK

1. 

   Paul Knapic says:

   October 31, 2010 at 9:42 PM

   Awesome article, you guys have helped me out so much!!!
2. 

   Julietta Geohagan says:

   November 23, 2010 at 2:12 PM

   I really can’t understand people that believe that they could lose weight with diets & pills. I mean, come on!!! Its not rocket science now, is it? Intake less calories than you burn and you will probably shed pounds – yes, its that easy!!!
3. 

   Beaverton car accident attorney says:

   January 11, 2011 at 10:42 PM

   Great post. YOu enable it to be seem so easy to express your experiences. I wish i could do as well through sharing on my site. I just got the software started and sometimes feel stuck of what to share or if its the right thing to share. what to do?