Mother, mother, mother - there's too many of you crying.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?

For the record, I've never done it. My main issue is that form is often not taught properly for the big lifts such as the squat, deadlift power clean, etc. These exercises need to be perfected from a form standpoint before one goes crazy with them. And doing these lifts for time can be dangerous. Also, kipping is not a pull-up.

I think Mark Rippetoe summarizes it a lot better than I can:

https://www.t-nation.com/training/cr...d-and-the-ugly.

If it works for you and you stay injury-free (and your main goal is to look fit), then more power to you. I'm not necessarily sure if crossfit makes a person "fit". I'm sure it makes you good at crossfit, but what else?

Apropos of this, I have had 2 herniated discs in my back for several years (main one in L5-S1), and I have tried practically everything to...make it better, e.g., yoga, PT, pliates, swimming, etc. So I decided, at 41, to try to strengthen my leg and back muscles. I started a 5x5 routine (Starting Strength) doing only the big lifts, starting with just the bar for some exercises (like the squat, which I'd never done before). My back hasn't felt this good since my 20s. 2x/week and I'm only in the gym for an hour each workout. Finally, lifting heavy is FUN, but it's not easy to run the day after deadlifts. I'm stronger than I was when I was 25.

My husband used to teach yoga at a studio associated with a Crossfit studio. Half of his students there were crossfit students, and after they got past the idea that yoga is (relatively*) non-competitive, they got a lot out of it, even if half of them couldn't straighten their arms next to their ears. Unfortunately, the yoga half of the studio closed, and most of the students didn't follow him to his next studio.

*instagram yoga is uber competitive