JBaker Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I was wondering if anybody does Cross Fit as a way to train for alpine climbing? I want something that will make me lose weight, build strength, and build endurance without adding to much bulk. Thoughts?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrgo Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Ready... set... go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaleHoopes Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I'm sure they are out there... Actually, I believe Dane worked out at Gravity Jane's Crossfit for prepping for alpine climbing/ice climbing. Â I can tell you this, the one expedition I went on to Ecuador - out of the 12 clients on the trip the crossfit guy was easily the most fit and most capable (could have outrun the guides easily). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layton Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 It's great for overall fitness, but don't expect your grades or climbing ability to increase at all. you won't bulk up unless you're genetically predisposed to getting "big", but you will lose fat weight and gain some back via muscle. measure your progress by fat %. also one hour session a few times a week isn't enough, you need to change your diet/lifestyle too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete_H Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 I agree with Layton. If your a fatty and out of shape Xfit may be a good way to lose weight and get "in shape" if you don't get injured. If you're already in half way decent shape the best training for alpine climbing is just to run hills and go to the climbing gym. Â Of course you can always invest thousands in some cultish "seminar" like John Frieh and still be only able to climb 5.8 in the mountains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessWookie Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 I also agree with Layton and PeteH's valuable advice. Cross fit's not bad but as you know already, the best thing for getting in alpine shape is getting out. I may be able to do a bunch of pull ups and crank out an hour on the step mill, but I still suck as a mountaineer... hey...but that's about to change, though! Â Yeh, like someone else mentioned, nutrition is truly paramount to fat loss and you can't train away a really bad diet. Â Cross fit still is fun to do when you cannot get out. You got my vote....get your sweat on!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downey Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 cross fit made me more conscious of my nutrition because I wouldn't be able to do the workouts if I wasn't eating an awesome diet. Seriously - i would become lightheaded (prematurely), sleepy, tingles, etc.... this all changed when i started eating better. The gains I made from doing crossfit definitely made me stronger not just in the mountains, but at the sport crag as well. That's just me though. Â Having that said, if you have the extra time and money just go alpine climbing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Don't forget to warm up. The most sore I've ever been in my life was the first time I did Crossfit and didn't warm up beforehand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Don't forget to warm up. The most sore I've ever been in my life was the first time I did Crossfit and didn't warm up beforehand. Â More likely you didn't cool down correctly or attempt to do some dedicated recovery after a hard work out. btdt myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genepires Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 If you think xfit as GPP (general physical preparation) that goes along with SPP (sport specific physical preparation) then you have a good recipe for getting ready for the alpine. So a couple days a week of xfit with a couple days a week of hiking and rock climbing would be a good training program. Â I am too cheap and po to pay for xfit, but it seems like xfit would fit your needs of "lose weight, build strength, and build endurance". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Don't forget to warm up. The most sore I've ever been in my life was the first time I did Crossfit and didn't warm up beforehand.  More likely you didn't cool down correctly or attempt to do some dedicated recovery after a hard work out. btdt myself  I'm sure getting older doesen't help either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyson.g Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I agree with Layton. If your a fatty and out of shape Xfit may be a good way to lose weight and get "in shape" if you don't get injured. If you're already in half way decent shape the best training for alpine climbing is just to run hills and go to the climbing gym. Â Of course you can always invest thousands in some cultish "seminar" like John Frieh and still be only able to climb 5.8 in the mountains. Â Â Wow PeteH you are my HERO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete_H Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Did you pay hundreds for a seminar too!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I want something that will make me lose weight, build strength, and build endurance without adding to much bulk. Thoughts?? Â I've been getting a lot of spam about nitric oxide lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa_D Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Xfit recommends the Paleo diet, which I don't follow since I do well with sprouted/soaked grains and cultured dairy products. Definitely get rid of all refined sugars and refined grains - I am finally there, except for the rare treat, but it took a few months of gradual, incremental changes. Ditch the commercial breakfast cereal, as it's actually got very little nutritional value, lots of sugar, and is hard to digest -- instead, soak some oats overnight and boil them up for breakfast. Make vegetables a big part of your diet, spend the extra $ to get high quality animal products if you can, and learn how to make your own stock and broth. It's not difficult, but takes more planning, thought, and small changes over time. I train 10-12 hours a week and did a 7 week bike tour this summer, and can feel it clearly when I have even 2 or 3 nutritionally poor meals. Â Then again.. it's pretty individual. Alex Honnold is all about cookies. And I like sugar, too, but feel better when I'm not on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pink Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Xfit recommends the Paleo diet, which I don't follow since I do well with sprouted/soaked grains and cultured dairy products. Definitely get rid of all refined sugars and refined grains - I am finally there, except for the rare treat, but it took a few months of gradual, incremental changes. Ditch the commercial breakfast cereal, as it's actually got very little nutritional value, lots of sugar, and is hard to digest -- instead, soak some oats overnight and boil them up for breakfast. Make vegetables a big part of your diet, spend the extra $ to get high quality animal products if you can, and learn how to make your own stock and broth. It's not difficult, but takes more planning, thought, and small changes over time. I train 10-12 hours a week and did a 7 week bike tour this summer, and can feel it clearly when I have even 2 or 3 nutritionally poor meals. Then again.. it's pretty individual. Alex Honnold is all about cookies. And I like sugar, too, but feel better when I'm not on it.   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyson.g Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Did you pay hundreds for a seminar too!? Â Nope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete_H Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Paleo doesn't let you drink beer wine or whiskey so its definitly out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Also, Paleo is retarded. So there's that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyson.g Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Paleo doesn't let you drink beer wine or whiskey so its definitly out. Â Agreed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Also, Paleo is retarded. So there's that. Â There is also the point that the pseudoscientific premise that it is based on (that evolution happens slowly enough that humans have not adapted to a modern diet and so should readopt and consume a diet similar to pre-agrarian hunter-gatherers) is completely wrong and has been invalidated by the last 10-15 years of genetic research. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Also, Paleo is retarded. So there's that. Â There is also the point that the pseudoscientific premise that it is based on (that evolution happens slowly enough that humans have not adapted to a modern diet and so should readopt and consume a diet similar to pre-agrarian hunter-gatherers) is completely wrong and has been invalidated by the last 10-15 years of genetic research. Â Tomato, tahmato. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genepires Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Also, Paleo is retarded. So there's that.  There is also the point that the pseudoscientific premise that it is based on (that evolution happens slowly enough that humans have not adapted to a modern diet and so should readopt and consume a diet similar to pre-agrarian hunter-gatherers) is completely wrong and has been invalidated by the last 10-15 years of genetic research.  Tomato, tahmato.  fleece hat, tuk  aluminum, alumeenium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pink Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Also, Paleo is retarded. So there's that. Â There is also the point that the pseudoscientific premise that it is based on (that evolution happens slowly enough that humans have not adapted to a modern diet and so should readopt and consume a diet similar to pre-agrarian hunter-gatherers) is completely wrong and has been invalidated by the last 10-15 years of genetic research. Â Â but the question still remains, who took a dump in your gene pool? Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLC Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Years ago I joined a crossfit gym and went 3-5 times per week for a couple years. Besides all the cult-like nonsense, I'd say that what I found is: Â 1. Crossfit will not help you lose weight - the people who came in fat, stayed fat. The people who came in skinny, stayed skinny. Â 2. Crossfit is more of a daily fitness test than a program to improve fitness. I don't think I ever got significantly stronger and I definitely become much slower over any significant distance. Â 3. Most of the fitness "improvements" you will see in crossfit are really just skill acquisitions that don't translate to anything outside of crossfit. Learning the kip pull-up, the muscle-up, how to row, olympic lifts - these are all skills. You think "hey, I can do a muscle-up, I must be getting stronger", but really, you've just learned to do a muscle-up. Â 4. At least when I went to the gym, crossfit led to lots of injuries due to inadequate warm-up and cool-down periods and putting untrained people in competitive situations. If you want to screw up your back for the rest of your life - start crossfit! Â 5. Paleo diet is bullshit. Â 6. The one good thing I will say about crossfit is that it does train your anaerobic system. Most people ignore this aspect of fitness once they grow up, so crossfit style workouts can have some value. No more value that running 10 windsprints, but still. Â If you want to get in shape, lift weights 2-3X per week, run 2-3X per week, and stretch everyday. Also, trying climbing on the weekends. Â It's really not that complicated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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