Gym And Supplement Discussion

[markos]

One of the issues I see with training in a Crossfit box is that you cant simply go in and train at most of them, you need to do the WOD.

If any of you watch the World Games, those extremely fit strong athletes with the hot bods dont do much, if any, WOD's.

Because no one knows whats coming up at Worlds, they train everything, but not in a WOD style. Armando is our weightlifting coach, he teaches the OL at Crossfit boxes in the area, because nobody there is truly qualified as an OL coach. I see that as a positive, having the sense to bring in an expert gets a tick from me.

We also get many Crossfitters come in needing to increase their squat and deadlift strength, I've written about this too many times to bring it up again. Makes sense, want to get stronger, seek a PL coach. Another tick.

So, no secret that to do well in Crossfit competition, you need some strength and technique, which is obviously best outsourced, what are you paying $2,500 a year for?

Nina thought a switch to Crossfit would be good for her training, so we researched WOD's........she ended up doing the Male ones, in really good times, and she's never Crossfitted before, experience from the "better" Crossfitters that have come in shows us that they are not even close to what our powerlifters do.

What I'm saying is, Max, Martin, Conor, Nina, Wayne etc will do much, much better at Crossfit than any Crossfitter from a surrounding box will do at powerlifting.

This is not made up stuff, its from experience, I can quote figures etc, even have one training here 5 x week, from St Kilda, if I posted his numbers you guys wouldnt believe, I secretly recorded him to show Nina because she didnt believe me.

Thats just my take on it, I'm sure someone else will have a different view, but please comment on guys and girls training in boxes, not the Elite that crossed over from other sports and dont do WODS, they dominate Worlds each year.

Big cash, swimming, throwing, draws athletes from different sports, cant swim and throw in a box, why are they done at Worlds?

[bozodos]

I love bbws just as much as ever dani boi, though the mrs gets fairly upset over my insistence on eating as well as I can, and insists that she'd prefer me fat with big arms, unfortunately I don't lift for her or anyone else but myself! I've tried to get her into squatting to no avail.

It is one thing I like about the gym though - no shortage of plus sized wimminz in tight clothing - gets very distracting!

Markos: It would be interesting to see some of your lifters attend a Crossfit competition!

Figjam: I agree re: quality of instruction. Thing is though, if there was one particular sport that caused more injuries and glorified it than others, it then boggles the mind as to how it is superior to other sports that are less injury prone, and don't promote injuring yourself.

Check this article out (The Australian did a paraphrased version of it the other day) http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/22/fashion/thursdaystyles/22Fitness.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

And a comprehensive rebuttal of the "Paleo" diet http://www.nsca.com/uploadedFiles/NSCA/Inactive_Content/Program_Books/PTC_2013_Program_Book/Aragon.pdf

Edited September 25, 2013 by bozodos

[-FIGJAM-]

you find elitist in every sport, I can remember not too long ago everyone bagging GHOSTy out for his views on power lifting. It was how he was, technically he wasn't wrong but not right in all aspects.

I can only go off what my mate Ben told me, he doesnt claim to be the strongest or the fastest bloke around. I have no idea what he lifts or how many kipps he can do, all I know is he told me that he has never been in as good a shape as he is in now and all he does is crossfit. So, it works for him.

Would i got to a crossfit gym and say i want to deadlift 300kg for 1 rep? no, but i might want to deadlift 100kg and then sprint 100m

It really depends on your goal in the end imo.

What I find really amusing is I have had this same argument when I was training in martial arts. Everyone who trained in different styles thought they had the best style and it was the best and I should stop doing what I was doing and do what they were doing.

So again, I come back to whatever the person hopes to gain from training, train in that style. Boz you might just want to be really strong, crossfit would probably take you halfway there, but might also give you a world of other benefits. Where a program like PPP might make you strong so much faster but might not provide you with the other benefits that crossfit does or does not.

[-FIGJAM-]

also I forgot to mention, the only thing I have seen crossfit glorify (apart from results) is spewing from the workouts. I don't think any sport would glorify people doing knees or shoulders.

but to answer your question, I trained in a number of different martial arts back in the day, some of which certainly did glorify the injuries that you inflicted on others and the ones that I personally received was asked if I had learnt my lesson.

Plenty of up and coming rugby league players stop playing at 16 and 17 because they have had to many shoulder reconstructions or knee reconstructions. I know of one kid by the time he was 16 he had had 2 knee reconstructions from playing league. Lesson - Injuries happen in all sports

[bozodos]

read my links to get what I'm trying to convey here. I agree with what you're saying (and arguments on martial arts styles can be had forever and a day), which is why I don't bag Crossfit based on say YouTube videos and can accept that the HIIT style of their WODs has some merits, I just think that it's an inherently flawed approach, and that the marketing machine behind it is laughable. There is plenty of criticism of Crossfit out there from well respected strength coaches who don't tend to crap on particular training styles for no reason, Mark Rippetoe being one of the best known.

Markos touched on another good point there - it's also bloody expensive!

I'm already doing what I need to get to my current strength goals, I just need more conditioning work to compliment them.

Good article here about strength vs conditioning http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most_recent/rippetoe_throws_down

Edited September 25, 2013 by bozodos

[markos]

A few points.

Training for martial yet never competing seems pretty pointless to me, just my opinion. Max's training partner is Daniel America, has his own gym but trains here 7 x week. He is 2 time World Kickboxing Champion. He shares the same view as me, in regards to his clients, the ones that never step in a ring don't do to well.

Crossfit. Rick at Ironedge spotted that Max would do extremely well at Crossfit, bodyweight, powerlifting, weightlifting, speed, endurance. Offered to sponsor Max to train exclusively for Crossfit, with an eye to eventually being able to qualify for Worlds, eventually. Max actually laughed in Ricks face, not a chance in hell. Sounded like a good deal to me. So as far as anyone from PTC competing at Crossfit, besides Nina, not likely.

Mitch if your goal is seriously to deadlift 100kg and run 100m, you dont need Crossfit mate.

I know most of you think were just powerlifters, but our training helps everywhere. Max has run the 20m sprint in 2.69, check the AFL draft record, did a 14.6 beep test, stopped because there was no one left running at soccer training, has posted a National Qualifying weight lifting total in the gym, at 173cm can jump with no step and hang off a 10' ring. You know about his powerlifting. He is a sound athlete, but nowhere near what Rich Froning is, we have tremendous respect for Rich here at PTC, but he didnt get where he did doing WADS in boxes.

Crossfitters are not very strong and powerlifters are not very fit, but its MUCH MUCH MUCH harder to get stronger than fitter. Lift like a lifter, then do sprints

Thats my biased view

[markos]

[-FIGJAM-]

Was using martial arts as an example. Have competed Robert Lisita also trained at Mark Hunts gym.

All my main point is that cross fit isnt as bad as what boz has seemingly made it out to be. It has been around for along time just not called crossfit. It also isnt as good as cross fit makes it out to be.

Dunno why max would laugh, good cash if you can win the main games. Good goal to go for imo. But if he is aiming for big things in power lifting that is fair enough as well.

Markos I dont have many goals at the moment as far as working out. Aside from decent looking body and fot and healthy. Reckon I need about 10kg of muscle and a lot of fitness to reach the goal.

I am however considering entering Trents ammature comp that is coming up.

[Mitcho_7]

Competition definitely is an incentive to progress, but at the same time a lot of people dont like getting there ass handed to them. I would not be adverse to competing in a powerlifting competition or getting on stage at a body building comp long term but id like to at least be competitive before doing that I think.

Edited September 25, 2013 by Mitcho_7

[-FIGJAM-]

I agree if I decide to give it a go id like to at least be competitive. Right now I don't think I would be

[No Crust Racing]

Comments from people who've had hammy issues before, I simply cannot get this twinge to go away and cannot seem to ditch the associated tightness in my lower back on the affected side, been to the myo twice for hour sessions and it provides some relief but even a mild stretching session will flare it up, the only leg "work" I'm doing at the moment, and for the last month has been the daily walk of the pooch and some light stretching (among the normal things like mowing lawns or working on the car.

It must have been at least a month now since I last squatted or DL'd.

Edited September 25, 2013 by ActionDan

[jangles]

Comments from people who've had hammy issues before, I simply cannot get this twinge to go away and cannot seem to ditch the associated tightness in my lower back on the affected side, been to the myo twice for hour sessions and it provides some relief but even a mild stretching session will flare it up, the only leg "work" I'm doing at the moment, and for the last month has been the daily walk of the pooch and some light stretching (among the normal things like mowing lawns or working on the car.

It must have been at least a month now since I last squatted or DL'd.

if it's still injured, you probably shouldn't be stretching it. You clearly need more treatment if you can't get rid of the pain/injury.

Ive got ongoing treatment for the last 2-3 years for my left one as I decided it was time to get it fixed properly after 7yrs of avoiding any sport or running activity, carrying the pain/annoyance and pins and needles.

I'm still recovering from my right tear in march, by recovering I mean I still source treatment, mainly maintenance as I'm purposely tearing and repairing them now (gym) plus mobility exercises and self massage an remedial.

It adds up to a fair cost, but it's something I've invested a lot of time into as well, trying to learn better ways and prevention.

I'm not advocating injuring yourself, but I sometimes feel like I do just that, I usually know when I've done something a little more than a strain, but I know what my limits are as I've had to deal with it for years now. I still deadlift when my hamstring group are feeling a bit sore from squats earlier in the week, usually makes them feel better afterwards.

[No Crust Racing]

Any tips on what I should be doing daily at home to help? Ice/heat? Foam roll everything around it etc?

[-FIGJAM-]

hard to say what to do Dan as we cant diagnose you online.

ice and heat are treatments for different injuries, foam rolling might just help relax it. Mobility exercises might make it worse, etc

[No Crust Racing]

Yeah I know, just looking for any general guidance.

When it gets worked on, (it's the bicep femoris area) I'm told my calf is tight as is that glute and lower back on that side.

I know specific stretches for all those things but it doesn't seem to help.

[-FIGJAM-]

my little brother had an issue with his back a few years back, turned out his hip was out of alignment or something. General GP spotted it and told him to go to a chiro who sorted it out.

honestly could be so many things, I personally wouldnt want to give you the wrong advice.

[No Crust Racing]

Fair enough.

Hips are good, Myo checked that.

[jangles]

Any tips on what I should be doing daily at home to help? Ice/heat? Foam roll everything around it etc?

Foam roll, also use a ball to target areas more precisely.

Think of treatment as something that's on going, not just when you're sore.

Mobility issues from sitting at your desk all day, it's all something that should be addressed. The injury is usually the last straw.

Look up Dr kelly starrets mobility videos on YouTube, or buy his book for $50, its something that will probably help you for years.

Get working on the area to break up the scar tissue, it hurts, but helps in the end.

[No Crust Racing]

Appreciate the advice

[bozodos]

what's the consensus on doing warmup sets before work sets? yes no?