So it comes as little surprise to discover that what began life as an online sensation is now the talk of the tabloids, the town, and even the fashionista circuit. But is the sudden crossfit craze a passing fad? Or could our bodies—and minds—be gearing towards a more realistic ideal?
By realistic i mean hard work. An average workout consists of 20 burpees, 15 press-ups, 15 sit-ups, 15 squats, 12 sit-ups, 12 squats, 12 press-ups, 9 sit-ups, 9 press-ups…i think you get the picture. Needless to say, it’s going to be a sweaty year.
So what’s the deal?
With a promise to change your body in less than 15 minutes, it’s no wonder this extremist exercise is now a fully-fledged fitness craze. But what exactly is it? Crossfit is not just one workout; it’s a combination of several. From gymnastics to weightlifting, to sprinting to squatting – workouts are varied, functional and executed at a higher intensity. It’s less about the time you spend in the gym and more about the effort you put in. I should know – i’m now living with a man that rises at 5am to make his class on time – and returns looking like he’s just run a marathon.
However, in just two weeks, his leaner physique shows me this is no fitness fad, it’s the real deal. And from what i gather, a far more social experience than a solitary gym practice. And asides from a killer body, you’ll become accustomed to the motivation and comradeship of your fellow crossfitters.
What crossfit can do for you?
If you live for yoga, or prefer to dance your way to better physique, then i can guarantee crossfit isn’t for you. However, if you want to achieve a leaner shape fast, then now is the time to lose your crossfit virginity. From ramping up your heart rate to enduring a mix of resistance training, you’ll quickly begin to strip fat and build muscle; you’ll also undergo an aerobic workout at the same time!
Let’s go paleo
Aside from a mean workout, crossfit fans are intent on following a leaner diet. The paleo diet (also known as the caveman diet) comprises a mixture of nuts and seeds, meats and vegetables, a little starch, some fruit and no sugar. Basically, ditch the processed food, workout hard and you’ll look like a fitness guru in no time!
However, in just two weeks, his leaner physique shows me this is no fitness fad, it’s the real deal. And from what i gather, a far more social experience than a solitary gym practice.
Time to lose the scales
As muscle weighs more than fat, die-hard crossfitters have swapped the scales for a more radical measuring device and one that keeps tabs on their fat percentage. Yet despite this, many women (me being one of them) live in fear of this exercise regime – i mean surely lifting all those weights will have me looking like a body builder in no time?
Several ‘discussions’ later with crossfit’s newest fan (my partner) –we reach the conclusion that men are built differently to women, for one, they have more testosterone, which means bulking up will be much harder for me than it is for him. Satisfied that i’ll still fit into my skinny jeans after a few sessions, i may actually give this extreme fitness regime a go – of course, setting my alarm for 5.45 Is another matter – thankfully there are evening classes too!
For more information on crossfit in jersey, visit www.Crossfit.Je
