CrossFit is a branded fitness regimen that involves constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity. The method was developed by Greg Glassman, who founded CrossFit with Lauren Jenai in 2000, with CrossFit its registered trademark. The company forms what has been described as the biggest fitness chain in the world, with around 12,000 affiliated gyms in over 150 countries as of 2022, under half of which are located in the United States.
CrossFit is promoted as both a physical exercise philosophy and a competitive fitness sport, incorporating elements from high-intensity interval training, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, powerlifting, gymnastics, kettlebell lifting, calisthenics, strongman, and other exercises. It is practised by members in CrossFit-affiliated gyms and by individuals who complete daily workouts (otherwise known as "WODs" or "Workouts of the Day").
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CrossFit workouts are based on the principles of high intensity interval training. This is where you perform a series of exercises with little to no rest in between. It isn’t until you’ve completed the repetitions for every exercise one time that you can take a breather.
CrossFit is a combination of bodyweight exercises such as the pull-up and Olympic-based lifting such as the clean-and-press.
With a focus on functional movement patterns, agility, and cross-training, this exercise combination is ideal for pushing your strength gains to new heights.
CrossFit workouts are ideal for lean hypertrophy. You may not get as huge as Phil Heath, but you can pack on lean and defined muscle mass akin to Hugh Jackman in Wolverine. Building muscle requires the right amount of resistance taken to the point of muscular fatigue.
Since CrossFit workouts are based on the principles of high intensity interval training, you can rest assured that you’ll achieve muscular failure each and every workout. Just be sure to be as dedicated to nutrition and rest as you are with your CrossFit workouts.
While many of us are chasing the aesthetically-pleasing look of being lean and muscular, we don’t realize how we are benefiting our cardiovascular health.
CrossFit workouts are intense, helping to improve your target heart rate and maximum oxygen consumption. With every CrossFit workout that you complete, you are improving your heart health, breathing rate, and blood pressure.
This is crucial because the Center for Disease Control estimates that over 200,000 deaths occur each year in the United States due to preventable cardiovascular conditions.
Lack of physical activity can result in the breakdown of muscle and connective tissue around your joints. As a result, you’re more prone for injury or breaks if you fall.
Strength training such as a CrossFit workout can help to improve joint health, provide back support, and possibly alleviate current levels of lower back pain.
Once you see how your body is transforming thanks to a consistent routine of CrossFit workouts, you’ll notice that you feel better about yourself. Studies show that improving your health and fitness levels with CrossFit has an impact on positive body image. You’ll feel better about how you look, helping to boost your confidence levels.
Outside of the physical benefits of CrossFit, this intense workout class is famous for the level of support each gym provides. When you join a new CrossFit gym and take the workouts seriously in order to change yourself, you’ll find that you have a new family and plenty of support.
As mentioned above, CrossFit workouts are intense and fast. You’ll achieve the same if not better results as a traditional workout, but you’ll only be exercising for half the time. Imagine being able to look your best and only spending half the time doing it. You can dedicate that saved time to stretching, supplementing your recovery, and meal prep.
Weightlifting is great, but it can get repetitive fast, especially if you’re trying to improve in one or two specific exercises. CrossFitters rarely see the same workout twice.
CrossFit workouts are based on different WODs (workout of the day) and there are literally thousands of combinations of exercises that you can perform. You might see the same exercise more than once but rarely will you see the same arrangement.