Need advice on fitness training...

[Jimmy Serrano]

People that don't CrossFit should be hesitant of telling others whether or not CrossFit will work for them. I've seen people with a "base fitness" from body sculpting, or having completed P90X multiple times, come in the box and get smoked because they didn't have the cardio or the strength they thought they did. Whether you're a high level athlete (like some NFL players) that has turned to CrossFit, or a complete newbie to fitness, the workouts can be tailored to meet your needs. If you're at a box with coaches that don't encourage this behavior in order to make sure each member is getting proper training, they have bad coaches and you should find a new place to go.

Good Lord. I recommended that he not jump into CrossFit after spending 3 years as a couch potato and gave my first hand experience in CrossFit.

Nobody killed your first born.

 

[BlueMAB]

Yes, but people with base fitness will adapt much more quickly after getting humbled. I've done enough crossfit to know that that someone that is completely out of shape would have difficulty even completing one workout depending on the difficulty level.

Either way, if you haven't done anything for three years and you roll up to a crossfit session then you are in for a rude awakening. I think he wants to generate a workout "habit". The best way to do that is to take baby steps at first.

If there is some sort of Crossfit for complete beginners then go for it. But you hate to see someone new jump into something and then quit because they bit off more than they can chew.

The other thing is that any person regardless of age will get injured more easily up front if they don't ease into it.

I'm quoting for reference sake, but not responding directly to you Zoo.

If anyone reading this walks into a CrossFit box without having done anything for 3 years, and they let you work out. Don't ever go back.

If you find one that will let you "on ramp" in one or two sessions. Leave that one alone too.

The better boxes will ease you in over a two+ week period of "on ramp" classes that teach you proper technique while giving you light workouts. Once you're done with that, they should help you pick appropriate weights for the workouts you're going to start completing with the regulars.

 

[BlueMAB]

Good Lord. I recommended that he not jump into CrossFit after spending 3 years as a couch potato and gave my first hand experience in CrossFit.

Nobody killed your first born.

I'm not sure why you quoted my response to ZooCougar while defending what you wrote, instead of quoting my response to you. Which one would you like me to explain?

Some people like to be challenged. Some people like to see results. Some prefer the pizza parties at Planet Fitness. If that's you, that's cool. But 6 months of pizza and bagels in between workouts with no programming and no structure is going to make his goal very difficult to achieve.

 

[DCUconnfan]

I'll attempt to not preach here, and there's plenty of other good advice so far, but a couple of things that I think would be exactly in the wheelhouse you should be going after are:

1. make a move to the primal diet (or at least cut out the crap, you don't have to go all crazy here, but diet is extremely important - this info will give you a bunch of health related incite on how to balance out what you may be doing wrong): http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/#axzz2zXzyhxJH - there's a book you can buy but if you read through a lot of that starting from primal 101 you'll get a great handle on stuff.

2. If you're starting from scratch and have done weightlifting before, try giving a look into a simple 5x5 program. There are a number of them out there advocated by a number of people from Pendlay to Rippetoe, but I'd say one of the easiest to follow and get into without hurting yourself but still seeing results would be the stronglifts 5x5 program: http://stronglifts.com/5x5/ Start from scratch there, very simple and low weight to begin, just making sure you get into good form through repetition.

Just my two cents (full disclosure, I'm not a trainer nor nutritionist, but have a fitness junky side to challenge my beer drinking).

 

[NutmegState]

Run. As often and for as long as you can.

 

[CTMike]

It's funny how quickly we've covered most of the spectrum of advice you are likely to find on the topic.

 

[sportsart]

1) Take the stairs

2) Park 1/2 mile from the package store for every visit.

3) For every minute you spend on the BY, you need to equal that time in physical activity.

4) Fall in love with prunes.

 

[Fishy]

Go for a walk, hike, swim, bike ride, help a friend bury a body, whatever.

You don't need a plan on day one - just move yourself from one place to another.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I'm not sure why you quoted my response to ZooCougar while defending what you wrote, instead of quoting my response to you. Which one would you like me to explain?

Some people like to be challenged. Some people like to see results. Some prefer the pizza parties at Planet Fitness. If that's you, that's cool. But 6 months of pizza and bagels in between workouts with no programming and no structure is going to make his goal very difficult to achieve.

Come on man. You're resorting to Nelson strawmen now. You're better than that.

 

[ZooCougar]

Ktuck,

I will sum up what you need to do in one sentence.

Move more, eat less.

 

[Excalibur]

Is anybody thinking that this place is probably the worst possible source for fitness advice?

Anyway, this isn't complete until SouthTampa Bill weighs in on the matter . . .

 

[BlueMAB]

Come on man. You're resorting to Nelson strawmen now. You're better than that.

And you're replying to comments that weren't made to you as if they were and acting as if they were out of line.

 

[Srqhusky]

Do everything everyone else said is about eating the right foods. Counting calories and get a good exercise program going at least four days a week. Whatever you choose work up a sweat walking is a great way to start a running program but trying to lose weight by walking is like bake a cake with a cigarette lighter.

Last advice just make it a priority

Also to keep you honest. Sign up for a tough mudder or Spartan race. Pay the entry fee.

 

[intlzncster]

I haven't worked out in 3 years. It shows. I can't even figure out how to get started it seems. Energy levels are at an all time low. Not good considering I'm now 43. I used to work out ( moreso weight lifting ). Now, I know I need something that would give me a boost to get me back in order. I'd like to make quick strides by the early August, where, by that time, I should be down about 20 lbs. along with a few inches... Goal is to lose 30 to 35 lbs of fat by November. Any suggestions?

Haven't read the whole thread, but the way to make the quickest strides is (oddly) by taking it slowly. You are much more likely to injure yourself (especially the older you get) in the beginning after a long layoff. If you rush it, the odds increase greatly. And the key getting fit is consistency. 'You can't make the club from the tub'. Nothing saps your motivation like being injured. Also, when you do get that injury, you are more likely to subsequently reinjure, whether through improper rehab or overcompensation.

Also, with regards to diet: don't starve yourself or go on an all protein or all 'healthy' food diet. There's a reason those things almost universally fail. The body really wants all those foods that you are avoiding (do to being deprived) and people normally give in to temptations. It usually ends in binging.

The key is to eat balanced meals, full of variety, without massive portion sizes. You can eat some fatty foods, as long as it's good fat. You can also treat yourself a couple times a week to something "not healthy", just keep the portion small.

Don't bother with shakes either, as the reversion rate is pretty high.

 

[CL82]

A lot of good advice. This program might be right for you as well.
Couch to 5k

 

[intlzncster]

Join CrossFit if one is near you. Go 3x a week and diet.

https://www.crossfit.com/ Check affiliates for a box near you.

I would say that, if he hasn't worked out in 3 years, then signing up for crossfit could be bad news. It's too intense and would likely lead to injury. He should probably start walking daily. Some pushups/dips and such every few days. Bicycling if he's got one. Work up to jogging. Take things slow. If he likes swimming, that's ideal.

 

[Sky ball]

If you have not worked out in a few years I would NOT recommend CrossFit. Get in shape first and then if you're ambitious, give it a whirl. But to go into it after not working out for 3-4 years, rough. It's also tough on the joints. I tried for a few months but it was too intense and they didn't modify the workouts to account for my bad knee.

You were at a bad box then. I am 60 and had knee surgery in the last 18 months. They modify almost everything for me.

 

[intlzncster]

You were at a bad box then. I am 60 and had knee surgery in the last 18 months. They modify almost everything for me.

Were you relatively fit? Or were you coming from nothing?

 

[len0322]

I'm quoting for reference sake, but not responding directly to you Zoo.

If anyone reading this walks into a CrossFit box without having done anything for 3 years, and they let you work out. Don't ever go back.

If you find one that will let you "on ramp" in one or two sessions. Leave that one alone too.

The better boxes will ease you in over a two+ week period of "on ramp" classes that teach you proper technique while giving you light workouts. Once you're done with that, they should help you pick appropriate weights for the workouts you're going to start completing with the regulars.

Cross fit is great if you have the right coach that will scale you properly and makes you focus on form. Did it religiously for 18 months and it's a dedicated community. Changed jobs/boxes and quit formal crossfit. Trainers in new box were young and inexperienced. Focused more on volume/time than form.....choose wisely

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I would say that, if he hasn't worked out in 3 years, then signing up for crossfit is probably going to be a disaster. It's too intense and would likely lead to injury. He should probably start

CrossFit is a great workout. But it's not for everyone and someone who hasn't done anything in years should probably start off with something a little less intense.

Who knew that would be considered such a controversial statement?

 

[SubbaBub]

I know almost nothing about crossfit other than the ESPN shows and articles on the fanaticism and potential medical issues for people who take it way too far, but my impression is that it's the latest fitness fad that way too many people will sign on to try and teach. Every wannabe personal trainer will now be a crossfit specialist and every gym owner will open a crossfit operation.

In short, it will end up in the same spot as aerobics, step aerobics, spinning, tae bo, kick-boxing, the 20 min workout, 7 minute abs, buns of steel, the abdominator, the gazelle glider, stairmaster, soloflex, hot yoga and the south beach diet.

 

[BlueMAB]

I know almost nothing about crossfit other than the ESPN shows and articles on the fanaticism and potential medical issues for people who take it way too far

So everything that follows is uninformed, ignorant, and not worth the time it took to read

 

[BlueMAB]

CrossFit is a great workout. But it's not for everyone and someone who hasn't done anything in years should probably start off with something a little less intense.

Who knew that would be considered such a controversial statement?

Crossfit is only as intense as you make it. Everything can be scaled back from movements to weights.

This type of thinking shows who has been to a bad box with poor coaches and who hasn't.

It also shows a lack of understanding that each box is different and experiences at one box will never be the same as any other box. It's not controversial, it's just bad advice based on your own experience which you've assumed is the same everywhere. It's not.

 

[BlueMAB]

Were you relatively fit? Or were you coming from nothing?

I came from nothing. 50 pounds overweight. Couldn't do 20 push-ups, couldn't do a single pull-up , couldn't run a mile without taking a break and walking.

Jumped right in, scaled everything, my life changed and I never looked back. My story isn't much different than some other members at my box. Some were in worse shape physically, none have expressed the complaints I'm reading here.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Crossfit is only as intense as you make it. Everything can be scaled back from movements to weights.

This type of thinking shows who has been to a bad box with poor coaches and who hasn't.

It also shows a lack of understanding that each box is different and experiences at one box will never be the same as any other box. It's not controversial, it's just bad advice based on your own experience which you've assumed is the same everywhere. It's not.

This reminds me of how arrogant and fanatical the people, including the coaches, were at Crossfit. I tried 2 boxes. Both more of the same.

You got great results. Good for you. But you're doing the same exact thing that the coaches do, marginalize and denigrate people who don't buy in all the way. Anyone who doesn't like it is weak minded and doesn't like to be pushed or challenged. It's bull spit.

 

[Fishy]

The key is short shorts and nice white Reeboks.

Fitness just falls into place after that.

 

[BlueMAB]

This reminds me of how arrogant and fanatical the people, including the coaches, were at Crossfit. I tried 2 boxes. Both more of the same.

You got great results. Good for you. But you're doing the same exact thing that the coaches do, marginalize and denigrate people who don't buy in all the way. Anyone who doesn't like it is weak minded and doesn't like to be pushed or challenged. It's bull spit.

Jimmy, read back through the thread you were then first one to take a shot at someone. And other than the planet fitness crack, which is shot at planet fitness more than you, nobody has marginalized or denigrated you.

I said "CrossFit is only as intense as you make it" and "CrossFit isn't for everyone." Then you accuse me of arrogance and fanaticism and start playing the victim. And you accuse me of playing Nelson with strawmen? Ironic.

 

[intlzncster]

The key is short shorts and nice white Reeboks.

Fitness just falls into place after that.

Stop showing off.

 

[HuskyFan16]

The key is short shorts and nice white Reeboks.

Fitness just falls into place after that.

http://www.chubbiesshorts.com/

 

[dsturdy5]

Create a goal, which you have done. Be flexible with the goal as you approach various checkpoints. If the inches/pounds seem like they aren't coming off as you expect for November, adjust the number slightly and be happy with progress.

As others have mentioned, find something you love to do. Along with proper diet, aerobic fitness should come first. Walking to running, biking, or an eliptical machine will help with this.

Once you are comfortable with 30+ minutes of aerobic activity at an accelerated heart rate, then the strength training should begin in earnest. Core and lower body are just as important as the upper body groups.

As you do this and the sore muscles begin, perhaps try a hot yoga class. I was very skeptical about it when it was recommended by both a PT and chiro that I use. Both are marathoners and I am a runner and coach. I was more flexible than I thought and just a couple of sessions cleared up a lot of injuries.

As an aside:
My sister-in-law is in the New Haven area and just started at 9 rounds gym and loves it. She is a walker/jogger and had gone to Planet Fitness among other gyms but she needed something that was more structured and could work multiple muscle groups at once instead of machines/weights where "cheating" could fool her into thinking she was doing better than she was. Plus, being able to schedule classes forced her to stick to the routine.