A growing contingent of fitness experts complain that Crossfit is unhealthy, dangerous even. They don’t mean the organization, per se, but they claim when exhausted Crossfitters hurriedly (and poorly) perform technically-difficult and joint-straining exercises, bad things happen. (Since the 3500 “CultFit”* gyms promote the regimen, perhaps the culpability follows?) And then there is the controversial Atkins-esque, CF-endorsed Paleolithic diet. “Eat like the cavemen,” they say! “Because cavemen were really healthy,” they say! “Cavemen ate lots of meat, ” they say!
Maybe not… Just last week the scientific journal Naturwissenschaften suggested that plants played the dominant role in Neanderthal diets. “The assertion is drawn from 50,000-year-old skeletal remains found in El Sidrón Cave in northern Spain. The teeth of 13 individuals showed layers of calcified plaque, which contained a range of carbohydrates and starch granules. Some revealed alkyl phenols, aromatic hydrocarbons and roasted starch granules, which suggests the beings spent time in smoky areas and ate cooked vegetables. Few lipids or proteins from meat were found.“
But, then again, America is fat. Heck, the WORLD is fat. You’re fat, too (probably). Oh, and the founder of Crossfit? Greg Glassman? Yeah, he’s nearing morbid obesity, ironically. Fat, Rich and Happy.
So, is some working out is better than none at all? Even risky, dangerous exercise prescribed by a old porcine, creepy dude? Maybe the solution is to opt out of the more dangerous drills? No one ever tore a ligament from pushups. On the other hand, with the power clean, overhead squat, clean and jerk– beware, lest your wrists snap off!
My beef with Crossfit? They call their Workout of the Day a WOD. Seriously. I can’t make this stuff up… Almost as bad as Apple’s maxi iPad.
Revel in the controversy:
- http://www.fitnessstraight.com/2011/11/whats-deal-with-crossfit.html
- http://slavenation.com/index.php/2009/07/23/cultfit/
- http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/22/fashion/thursdaystyles/22Fitness.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=CrossFit&st=cse
- http://infoproc.blogspot.com/2008/04/crossfit-cult-or-ultimate-training.html
- http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/marine_crossfit_081608w/
- http://www.scribd.com/doc/89178265/CrossFit-on-Doctor-Oz-Photos-Take-a-Look-CEO-of-Crossfit-now-Fat-from-Paleo-Diet-Deficiencies-Exposed-Failure-of-Founder-Greg-Glassman-Now-O
- http://blog.skyvisioncenters.com/?p=491
- http://www.fitbuff.com/crossfit-training-maximum-intensity-or-maximum-risk/
Time for the Surebuts:
- Sure, but have you tried CrossFit?!? It’s really hard! [Response: yes, and I agree]
- Sure, but the people who do CrossFit are HUGE! They could rip your arms off!!! [Response: agreed, and no contest]
- Sure, but you’re no fitness guru! [Response: true. Common sense can still led to sensible judgement though]
Have you worked out today?
* not my nickname.
