P90X or Crossfit fitting into Primal Living
(20 posts) (13 voices)-
BikerPike
MemberI'm looking at changing up my excercise routine from triathlon training of swimming, biking and running to add in more strength and high intensity per Primal Blueprint and do less cardio. My goal currently is to drop body fat and get stronger.
Thing that confuses me is that crossfit and P90X are intense and close to an hour sometimes longer. P90X is scheduled to do daily. I have P90X and started doing the Lean version and am skipping the cardio days which means basically strength training an hour 3x a week and then do my own workouts at low HR other days.
I found a close crossfit gym and going to a class with week to try it out.
I know some of you do Crossfit and others P90X I guess I'm asking how you see it fitting into rules #3-5. Do you adapt P90X or Crossfit?
I found this that Mark posted below and seems to say doing hour or less of intense excercise is okay but not daily.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/low-carb-energy-levels/
Thanks!
Posted 4 months ago # -
Jess
MemberMy PT reccomended that if I wanted to continue doing P90x (he thinks they're way too long, especially everyday,) to speed the DVD up or take your favorite exercises out performed at half the time with twice the intensity (sounds sort of like a HIIT, right?) Crossfit workouts are pretty primal AND effective, I don't see any need to make alterations besides fitting it to your own fitness level...Honestly, I think if you stuck exactly to the crossfit.com website everyday, you would get a lot stronger, faster and leaner. :)
Posted 4 months ago # -
MacGlashan
MemberThe longest crossfit WoD I've experienced was about 45 minutes, and that was definitely a standout in terms of length. Normally, a WoD takes between 15 and 20 minutes. I'd like to crossfit five or six days a week, but I don't honestly believe my body could handle that over the long term. I have experienced significant gains attending only a few days a week, and occasionally taking a week or so off, according to my life schedule/pace. Even crossfit.com recommends a three on, one off schedule, and I many of the folks at crossfit oahu where I attend put in three or fewer each week. Crossfit classes are usually an hour because of warm-up, coaching time and recovery in addition to the WoD.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I attended a Crossfit affiliate for about 3 months over the summer. If you go, do yourself a favor and make sure they are safe. ANYONE can open a crossfit gym...you just have to be level 1 certified which is just intense training for 2 days. Crossfit can be too much about putting up big numbers and not enough about safety...that's one of the main reasons I left. The workouts are short but intense. I think my body was crying for a break too.
I just started P90X on Sunday...can you give me a little time on that one? haha But seriously, I'm going to still keep my spinning class once a week and hike on the weekends. I really like to keep things mixed up. Try either one...it's all about what works for you.
Posted 4 months ago # -
BikerPike
MemberJess: I thought about doing each excercise once not doing three then doing them again which would make it take half the time.
Mac: That is a good point.. that a hour class isn't all out for the hour. I'm going to a class Wed to check it out. I know I could do it on my own. When I started with yoga I took classes for a couple months then now do it on my own with what works for me. My friends that do crossfit on their own probably do 20-25' workout at a time so that lines up better.
Posted 4 months ago # -
bikerpike- I did one round of P90X- did all 6 days a week for the 90 days just to see if I could. And I did. But I burned out on it. Next time I do it, I will do the weight lifting days and then my own brand of cardio on the other days. It's too much to sustain for the long-term. Right now I'm just enjoying doing whatever comes into my head each day.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Jess
MemberBikerpike, are you upping the intensity? :) I find some of the weight lifting videos to be a waste of time personally (bicep curls..boring..) Have you tried the plyometric one? That was always one of my favorites, sometimes I'll feel daring and do the whole 60 minutes. ;)
Posted 4 months ago # -
Baglady
MemberPike, I take one class a week and have started my own littel arsenal to do WODs at home. My trainer has started my out real slow with next to no weight yet. I Just got my 12lb bar. Although I could probably lift heavier, the idea for me, being a newbie, is to just get the form done correctly so when I really start adding weight, the form is already second nature. i made parrelettes, I bought my weighted bar and have a jump rope. My trainer gives me three WODs to complete before I come back the next week and of course I am running the other days and Lately resting more! So far the WODs he has given me are no longer than 20 minutes after my warmup and some WODs include running sprints.
Hope you have a good experience in your class...I will be looking forward to your update!
Posted 4 months ago # -
BikerPike
MemberDCKMB: That is what I was thinking of doing the strength stuff but instead of doing each move 2x just once and skip the cardio and do other excercise that I enjoy more on those days.
Jess:I am still just getting started and trying to figure out how to fit it in to doing Primal and other training I want to do.
Baglady: I tend to get pretty bad DOMS after doing new strength training especially lunges and squats. In the past I have eased into things by doing it w/o weight first few times then adding weight once I have the form down and a bit used to the excercise. Sounds like your trainer has similar ideas. Are you going to a crossfit gym or some place else?
Posted 4 months ago # -
I just started Crossfit, it fits with Primal/Paleo living. In fact, Paleo is the Crossfitter's nutritional go to plan. Over a year now, I've been doing Crossfit-inspired workouts at home, and using videos of workouts from MDA and other online sources. Short, intense workouts. The Crossfit gym I go to has been real good about education, ramping things up slowly and getting me ready for a new intensity. I go 2x a week, and it keeps me motivated and has certainly allowed me to see pushing through to a new level by Jan 1.
I think after 3 months of Crossfit, my home workouts will be sufficient as my form, intensity and strength will have gone up a bit. Interview your gyms, find a workout buddy, do the workouts as Sisson lays out there, plenty of Primal workout options, P90X and Crossfit certainly can fit!
Posted 4 months ago # -
I'm on my 5th round of X...with other things interspersed. You can definitely modify it, I do heavier weights, 5-7 reps, sometimes only one round, you get 80% of the benefit from the program this way, but coupled with the higher intensity I'm sure you are getting the most out of it. I do shorter cardio and a 30 min yoga too (helps get rid of the stress)...no matter what you do 80-90% of benefit starts in the kitchen ;-)
Posted 4 months ago # -
I did p90x twice...was burned out by the end both times but did all 90 days both times.
You could probably get pretty decent results (depending on your goals) if you did half the workout and upped the weight a little. I think it's the chest & back routine where you essentially do the workout and then repeat. Cut out the repeat and you should be fine...in fact I might try this.
You can modify anything and make it more primal. It'll just take a little planning.
I have the Insanity DVDs at home that I haven't touched and I might do 30min of a couple of those. It's crazy stuff.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Jie Jie
MemberI've been doing Crossfit at an affiliate gym for the past 6 months. I love it. I've seen great improvements in my strength. When selecting a crossfit gym, ask them what the trainer to student ratio is for each class offered. Some of the gyms just take on too many students per session.
The competition within your fellow crossfitters will also help you out. I'm sure as you know since you do triathlons.
I hope you check it out. Looking forward to hearing about your experience.
Posted 4 months ago # -
BikerPike
MemberI took my first crossfit class today..me and 7 other women. There was a fun vibe in the class. It was incredibly hard but hard in a good pushing myself way. I was a little disappointed the trainer didn't correct folks at all to make sure we had the right form and if you were unable to do something he didn't say how to adapt it.
In doing the 20' section 4 times through I was the slowest but other women skipped stuff or didn't do all the reps. Hey I'm about doing what I can, do the best I can so I improve. After one time through I was ready to be done...push ups got worse and so did pull ups.
We did a lot of upper body stuff which is my weakness.
I liked trying new hard challenging things.
I did contact another Crossfit Gym that is bit farther from home but a lot less expensive to try and go there. The one today was inside a strip mall gym with limited classes and due to space most will be 8:1.
I do think doing classes will encourage me to push more than doing something similar on my own.
I am a bit afraid how sore I'll be tomorrow as I already am sore 7 hours later.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Jie Jie
MemberCongratulations BikerPike!
I too go to a more expensive and farther from my home. But very worth it for me.
You may be sore for a few days. You may be sore on some WODs and not others. Then you get hooked!
I love starting my day w/ crossfit. It allows me to complete something challenging and something I've never done before. All before starting my work day!
Keep on keepin on, sister!
Posted 4 months ago # -
rachelcb80
MemberI'm currently on day 32 or 33 (can't remember) of P90X and am starting to get burned out on it. I'm determined to do the full 90 days though, just to say I did it and not feel like a quitter. I can't see this program being anything I could keep up as a regular routine though. Like others have mentioned, if you modify it I can see it being a little more reasonable to do on a regular basis.
Posted 4 months ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.