Just started working out again, am I joining a cult?

[Empty V]

So for about a year and a half a buddy in Oahu has been bugging me to get into Crossfit. A new training center opened up down the street from my pad so I am 1 week into a 2 week free trial. It's a very different kind of workout that is extremely intense. It doesn't focus on any particular skill but is extremely well rounded. It's also forced me into eating healthier and getting more sleep. Even after only a week I feel 100x better. The only problem I have is the people that belong to this system believe in it so much that they have adopted the kool-aid drinking mentality. Does anyone else do crossfit? I guess this is more of a rant then anything else. If you don't know what it is check it out at Cross Fit.com.

[Initial_R90]

good luck man I'm doing the same thing check out my thread

[Dattebayo]

Way to spam, jerk.

[Red coupe]

Is this for real?

It really does sound like a random spammer post... and you do have a promotional company for your email address it looks like.

But over 1000 posts and you start now?

[skydragoness]

Spambot alert!

[dusred]

doesn't really look like spam to me.

[rc1honda]

Looks weird. What are you trying to achieve? General health?

This program looks like a giant pain in the a**. I just lift and get it over with.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

I enjoyed Crossfit. I've cycled away from it now, though. Gotta keep changing it up!

[Jesda]

Friend of mine suggested this site to me.

[Empty V]

good luck man I'm doing the same thing check out my thread

Got a link?

[Empty V]

Way to spam, jerk.

Way to be a dumbass, dumbass.

[PEZi]

24 hour fitness has everything i need....

[Empty V]

Looks weird. What are you trying to achieve? General health?

This program looks like a giant pain in the a**. I just lift and get it over with.

I thought it was weird as well, and it really does have a cult like feel because the people that subscribe to it are such believers. My goal is to get in shape for a 3 year overdue honeymoon and for surfing & SCUBA diving. It sucks being winded after carrying your gear from your car to the beach. Granted it's usually about 100lbs on your back but still. I'm guessing that I'll do this for about 6 months and then move to Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai and Judo.

I've always dreaded working out, like really dreaded but for some reason I look forward to going to these training sessions. The classes are usually only about 4-5 people so it's almost like having a personal trainer every session. What I really like is how it's like an ongoing hardcore bootcamp and supposedly the rate of improvement is really noticeable in every session. They record everything as far as weight, reps and time so you can see progress. They also seem to focus a lot on technique as to avoid injury and work the proper muscles. I've already noticed a huge improvement even after a week but we'll see how the next week goes.

[Empty V]

24 hour fitness has everything i need....

I used to go to a really overpriced super nice gym but this is very different and so far has been a very fulfilling experience, again it's only been a week. I think the big thing is that it's very communal and everyone motivates each other. There's a competitive edge to it but there is also a lot of support from your peers. I'm sure it sounds cheesy but it feels really good coming close to giving up on an olympic lift, having 4 other people rooting you on and right before you break putting those weights up. I don't think I've ever pushed myself that hard when it's come to working out.

[Dattebayo]

Way to be a dumbass, dumbass.

I respectfully submit that I am a smartas$ instead.

It really does read like spam.

[AZhitman]

If it's got that much built-in accountability and encouragement, that's a perfect recipe to ensure success (regardless of the specific regimen). Nothing "cult-like" about that.

[Empty V]

I enjoyed Crossfit. I've cycled away from it now, though. Gotta keep changing it up!

How long did you stick with it? Do you feel like you gained enough out of it for the time you put into it? I'm planning on going 3 times a week for about 6 months, that seems to be a good amount. Thanks!

[Empty V]

If it's got that much built-in accountability and encouragement, that's a perfect recipe to ensure success (regardless of the specific regimen). Nothing "cult-like" about that.

That's not the "cult-like" part. I do a lot of diving and one of the most hated groups in diving is called D.I.R.(Do It Right). They have a lot of amazing things going for their diving philosophy but they also have Zealots who drink the kool-aid in full force. The problem is the zealots believe if you're not doing it their way then you're doing it wrong, and they're not afraid to vocalize it. It's a major turnoff to a lot of people and is extremely destructive to this extremely small community. They bash individual divers and other training agencies. I see a lot of similarities in crossfit but mostly in youtube videos and shirts that say, "Our Warm-Up is your Workout." I have not seen this in the classes yet and I'm guessing that if you're posting videos of yourself working out on youtube then you're nothing but a showoff attention whore. Hopefully this is the case because I can't stand the zealot BS.

[Dattebayo]

The problem is the zealots believe if you're not doing it their way then you're doing it wrong, and they're not afraid to vocalize it. It's a major turnoff to a lot of people and is extremely destructive to this extremely small community.

Sounds like they are the Jehovah's Witnesses of Diving.

[Empty V]

Sounds like they are the Jehovah's Witnesses of Diving.

They totally are! Unfortunately the zealots are the ones that are most often seen by the recreational diving community and it's given them a terrible rep as egotistical ***holes. I see lots of potential for this in crossfit, hopefully it doesn't happen.

[simmode1]

If it's got that much built-in accountability and encouragement, that's a perfect recipe to ensure success (regardless of the specific regimen). Nothing "cult-like" about that.

My old church was like that... but it actually did turn out to be a cult... lol

But I wish my Capoeira group had more of that... but in moderation, of course.

[rc1honda]

The organization part sounds good. If they are tracking prgress it's a easy way to measure success and success will get you pumped and motivated to continue.

Also now that i have a carrer i lift at 5:00am and usually by myself. Having people there to push is a huge motivator. Lifiting alone can suck and a lifting buddie will keep you on task to lift more every time. Having people back you up is a good road to succes as well.

I looked thorugh the site and I saw some pretty cool events, like rock climbing and rafting. Im confused though. How many times do you go a week? What do you do usually while your there? Do you compete in different events as you progress through your training?

I would say give it 6 weeks. After 6 weeks of soild training there should be a noticable difference in phyisque, and stamina. If there's not then i would ditch it. But overall seems like a good road to getting in shape.

[USMCgetsome]

i checked out that crossfit here in corpus christi, now both my buddies i work with are former marines like myself and i'll say this "It reminded me of boot camp" I was literally smoked after this 1st session. I will be going back and enjoy every minute of it. Thanks for spreading the word bro!

[Urabus GodofTraction]

How long did you stick with it? Do you feel like you gained enough out of it for the time you put into it? I'm planning on going 3 times a week for about 6 months, that seems to be a good amount. Thanks!

3 times a week? You get days off when they tell you you get days off!

Seriously. Follow the plan, adjust the amount to slightly exceed your level of fitness (don't get lazy).

I did it for 4 months. By then I was doing their full workouts. I used it so I could smoke the new "harder" AF PT test. Smoked it I did.

Don't drink the Kool-Aid. Use it as a tool. A pretty good one, if overall fitness is your goal. Don't expect to gain a bunch of muscle mass, though...

[Empty V]

3 times a week? You get days off when they tell you you get days off!

Seriously. Follow the plan, adjust the amount to slightly exceed your level of fitness (don't get lazy).

I did it for 4 months. By then I was doing their full workouts. I used it so I could smoke the new "harder" AF PT test. Smoked it I did.

Don't drink the Kool-Aid. Use it as a tool. A pretty good one, if overall fitness is your goal. Don't expect to gain a bunch of muscle mass, though...

Well I guess Friday's are their marathon days, and damn was it nuts. They do the same warmup exeryday which is:

Warm-upRow 500m or jump rope for 3min

20 Situps x315 Pushups x315 Squats x37 or 8 different stretches + lunges Then it was time for the main workout. It was a competition between the guys and the girls, 4 on 4. This was the biggest class I've been in so far. We would pair off and when one person would get tired the other would take over. So essentially you've got 2 guys and 2 girls working out at the same time but as a team trying to meet a certain number.

Marathon Workout200 Kettle Bells, 45lbs guys and 35lbs girls (grabbing a kettle bell and swinging it up to your shoulders300 burpees, push-up then pop up and do a jumping jack400 Situps400 Squats, guys held a 45lbs weight and girls 25lbs

It was nuts and I was achy like a mofo afterwards. Obviously I didn't have the endurance like my teammates who have all been there 4+ months. This unfortunately made more work for them but I tried and was rooted on by the other guys. It felt really good being a part of a team working towards a goal and was great motivator to keep going and hopefully add more to the team.

I don't plan on drinking the kool-aid completely though. My buddy on Oahu who convinced me to try it out is a full fledged kool-aid drinker. Their situation is a little different though. They have a much larger facility with class sizes of 20+- and it's somewhat of a community. A lot of them go out and party together and even throw a yearly prom at their location complete with a live band, DJ, lighting, a disco ball, drinking(not a huge drinker) etc. It sounds like a lot of fun but a little too much involvement for me. I really just want to get in shape and lose this gut I've built over the last few years.

[Dattebayo]

I had to put this here:

[Empty V]

Well I made it through my first full workout last week and damn it felt good. In just 3 weeks I've noticed massive improvements in endurance, strength, diet, sleep and motivation. I look forward to working out now which is very odd IMO. Last week I was a round behind and was ready to give up but the other 4 people in the class rooted me on and helped me get through it. It was an amazing feeling. I think I'll stick with this for a while as I'm already seeing amazing results.