Why CrossFit is the wrong choice for most of us.

I’ve decided to share with you my thoughts on CrossFit.

 

For those not familiar with CrossFit, it is one of the hottest growing fitness

trends today.

 

And fundamentally, it appeals to me.

 

But when people ask me, “How does your Metabolism Acceleration

program compare with CrossFit?”, here is my answer:

 

“We’re like CrossFit, but more personalized and safe”.

 

As I mentioned, the CrossFit concept fundamentally appeals to me.

 

According to Wikipedia:

 

“CrossFit is a strength and conditioning brand that combines weight lifting,

sprinting, and gymnastics, powerlifting, kettlebell training, plyometrics,

rowing, and medicine ball training.

 

CrossFit contends that a healthy, fit person requires proficiency in each of

ten general physical skills: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina,

strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination, and

accuracy.

 

It defines fitness as increased work capacity across all these domains and

says its program achieves this by provoking neurologic and hormonal

adaptations across all metabolic pathways.”

 

Sounds pretty cool to me.

 

I buy into most of that. They essentially train folks like athletes.

 

And CrossFit grew its reputation by serving a population that tended to be

very athletic and providing them a challenge that traditional health clubs

didn’t meet.

 

According to the CrossFit corporate website:

 

“CrossFit is the principal strength and conditioning program for many

police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations

units, champion martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and
professional athletes worldwide.”

 

But then business comes in.

 

Over the last few years, CrossFit gyms have realized that to make a lot of
money, they need to mass market their program.

 

According to their corporate website, “We’ve used our same routines for
elderly individuals with heart disease and cage fighters one month out from

televised bouts.”

 

That’s interesting in theory. Stupid in practice.

 

And of course, they are using the same routines for out of shape men and
women as they are for those cage fighters. They knew they needed to

reach the mass market of regular Joes and Janes to make a lot of money.

 

Compare that with what we are doing with our Metabolism Acceleration

program at PFA.

 

We have developed small group programs for various levels of participants:

 

Level 1: You’re a beginner and you will work with us privately until you

learn basic movement patterns to protect your safety. Once basic

movements have been performed successfully, you will be invited into our

Metabolism Acceleration small group program.

 

Level II: You’ve shown you can complete basic movements safely and you

are welcomed into a small group program that develops muscle endurance,

as well as tendon and ligament strength before beginning to lift heavier

weights and performing more complex movements.

 

Level III: You’re starting to get pretty fit. You’re learning quite a few
functional movements that are improving your energy, fitness, and well-
being. Your confidence is increasing and your body is changing.

 

Level IV: You are advanced! Advanced trainees need advanced training,

and Level IV training sessions will continue to push you to your max.

 

From there, we are now developing different specializations within Level IV
training to allow people with different goals to receive specific training
needed for that goal.

 

It may not be as sexy as CrossFit, but it’s smarter. And it’s safer and
more effective for regular folks who don’t have a high-level background in
athletics.

 

If you are SWAT, active duty military, or someone at a comparable level
that likes the ideas of CrossFit, give it a go. As I said at the beginning
of this article, some of their concepts really appeal to me.

 

But I don’t think the one size fits all approach is the best approach.

 

Most folks will be better off finding a fitness professional or fitness facility

which hires quality fitness pros that are willing to personalize your program

to your specific level and goals.

 

And as far as how our Metabolism Acceleration program compares for the
Average Joe or Jane:

 

We’re like CrossFit, but more personalized and safe.

 

Dedicated to your success,

 

Doug Jackson, M.Ed.,CSCS
Personal Fitness Advantage