So you’re saying a person who is disease-free (no diabetes, no cholesterol problems, no heart/lung/liver/stomach/kidney/etc issues), who maintains an active lifestyle and is stress free isn’t necessarily healthy because they don’t fit in CrossFit’s modal domain definition? Come on now. Just because a person isn’t lifting a barbell or swinging a KB or doing ring work doesn’t mean they’re not healthy. It comes down to the individual goal of the person with what they want, you know that. Remember that CFJ article “Crossfitters, be nice.”? The example that was written by the contributor said something along the lines of “If a lady just wanted to be strong enough to lift her grocery bags, would I be ridiculing her because she can’t deadlift 300 lbs?”

“…a major tenet of the CrossFit website is that it is the only open source fitness program ever, if your program can produce better results than CrossFit.com, go online, post your times (beating the others) and then we’ll listen to your training insights. This has happened repeatedly especially with weightlifting in the CrossFit program. Look at some old posts in the archives, the workouts are way different!”

Of course the workouts are different. They don’t use the same equipment or protocols. But again, it goes back to goal setting and having a good accountability/support system in place for success AND having the individual do whatever they need to do to get to their goal. Jesse, I know you’re good at making sure everyone you train gets the right balance of encouragement and a kick in the butt. That is what makes you good at what you do. But a good coach & trainer always brings out the best in their clients & athletes, even if it means delivering some serious tough love.

And not to be a polemicist (or sh*t-stirrer), but if we have to compare numbers – what about the Big Climb event at the Columbia Tower? Those guys at the X-Gym finished well ahead of all the CF gyms that also participated. The owner finished 3rd overall. The fastest woman on their team edged out all of the CF guys practically. Those guys at the X-Gym must be doing something right if we’re to look at it from a numbers perspective.

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The major differences, if anything, is really the equipment used. But different equipment doesn’t make a good CF affiliate better than the X-Gym or vice versa. It’s all different paths to the same goal and I have to admit that the guys at the X-Gym are just as eager as Jesse is when it comes to making someone have a healthy lifestyle.

Easiest thing I can suggest to draw a proper conclusion for yourself is to sign-up for their three free sessions (yes, I said free). You leave your checkbook at home and they’ll give you the same attention they would a paying client. Chew their ear off. Compare notes. Learn and take the best parts to help yourself.

As Bruce Lee said: “Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it.” and “Don’t get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like water.” So figure out what works, take it and build on it.

HIT (high intensity training) is essentially circuit trianing. The HIT philosophy has been panned by researchers connected to the NSCA. At the 2003 national conference there were 2 presentations showing how HIT was not nearly as effective as other methods of training. Also, the before and after pictures reminded me of those on the outlandish weight loss pill commercials.

One client lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks. The percentage of fat pounds was not listed. Let’s say that 10lbs. were fat. That represent 25,000-50,000 Calories! The person did this in 3 weeks, which is entirely possible if he went into extreme Caloric deficit. 3 weeks of X gym workouts equate to 2 hours of total trianing (3 weeks, 2-20 minute sessions a week = 120 minutes). That equates to burning 208-417 Calories a minute! Cut that number range in half if this person dropped is Calories to create a BMR deficit of about 1000 Calories a day – he had to take in about 1000 Calories a day less than he was burning. If he dropped his Calories to near malnutrition standards, he would still have to burn 2000-4000 Calories per workout, which of course is impossible.

The old saying works very well here: If it sounds to good to be true then it probably isn’t.

While I may not agree with all of Crossfit’s workouts, I can’t argue with the results. There are far too many trainers and coaches who are continuously successful like Crossfit for a person to waste their time following a program that proves it isn’t successful. Not to mention success doesn’t neccessarily stem from body composition, especially when the method used is woefully inaccurate – in order for bioimpedence to be more accurate a person needs to be relaxed fully hydrated and have an empty stomach. Standing on a scale after a workout will give a rather false reading. Results can come in the simple accomplishment of finally performing one pull-up or performing the over head squat with perfect form. Many Crossfiters know the work that it has taken to achieve these things.

Anyone who can’t workout with me will be steered toward Crossfit and will be advised to stay away from X gym like it’s the plague!

I guess I had a rant in me as well but like Jesse I am very passionate about this stuff and I hate to see gyms and trainers taking advantage of people.