10 Reasons Why CrossFit is Bad For You

If you’ve been a part of the fitness world for a while, then you know that sometimes things that are advertised as beneficial are the complete opposite. Crossfit workout is a great example of that. Although it’s not hard to find a personal trainer that would recommend it, in actuality the cons outweigh the pros, and without proper technique, it even causes a risk of injury.

However, why exactly is that? Why is CrossFit not something you should be practicing? Keep on reading this article and I will tell you all about why CrossFit is not the best idea for you.

What is CrossFit?

Before diving deeper into the bad aspects of CrossFit, let’s start with the basics – what is it exactly? CrossFit is a popular intense workout that is at the same time liked and disliked by many. To put it simply, it is a strength and conditioning program that can help improve muscular strength, cardio-respiratory endurance, and flexibility. CrossFit focuses on putting the body through a series of high-intensity exercises, with very little break in-between.

The program includes a combination of different workouts such as aerobics exercise, Olympic weight lifting, and gymnastics. Some of the most common exercises included in a CrossFit program include bench press, a variety of squat exercises, rope climb, deadlifting (e.g. sumo deadlift, snatch grip deadlift, trap bar deadlift, single leg deadlift), box jump, lunge walk and more.

10 reasons why CrossFit is not good for you

You probably are confused as to why CrossFit workouts are considered bad – after all, they include plenty of exercises that you’d do normally or that a personal trainer would recommend to their clients. To help you understand why you should avoid CrossFit no matter what, here is the list of reasons why this training stirs controversy.

#1: CrossFit is a fitness fad

While others are amazed by the benefits of CrossFit, some think of this training as a fitness fad that is very dangerous and poorly implemented. So, should you or should you not try this training? I must say that you better think twice before you give it a try.

#2: CrossFit is inherently a badly designed training

Based on different reviews, CrossFit is unquestionably effective in keeping dieters in shape. However, the program is badly constructed and there are too many errors that need to be corrected before it is considered safe and efficient.

This is not to mention that one of the main mentalities among the CrossFit community members is ‘no pain, no gain’ – an approach that can be very unhealthy and causes people to overwork their bodies. Modern research suggests that pain during a workout is, in fact, not a good sign and it’s a signal from your body that something is wrong.

#3: It’s easy to get a CrossFit I certification

CrossFit I certification is one of the basic requirements to avail the fitness franchise. The level I certification is obtained after just a two-day seminar and completing a multiple-choice exam that contains 50 questions. Since the level II certification is not actually required (even though it’s recommended), many decide to not develop themselves further and start their coaching journey with just level 1 certification.

Since level 1 certification is very easy to obtain, almost anyone can get a certificate, no matter their educational background or experience – all they need to have are the means to pay, which creates potential danger of the trainer not actually knowing what they recommend their clients, endangering their health and sometimes even life.

#4: There are many incompetent trainers who pretend to be experts of their craft

One of the problems with CrossFit, closely connected with what I mentioned in the point above, is that there are many people who offer such workouts. Since it’s very easy to get certified, there are many incompetent trainers who continuously teach the wrong forms and make training videos, which show numerous errors when it comes to the combination of exercises.

Inadequately trained CrossFit coaches can be dangerous if they don’t fully understand the risks associated with what they are asking their clients to do.

#5: CrossFit is incredibly unsafe

There are many injuries that you can get while you perform CrossFit. Apparently, it is because of the mechanics of the training and unreliable CrossFit instructors. The training requires intensity and speed, but it disregards safety. The different lifts involved in the training are energy-draining, which makes the trainee suffer from fatigue that can result in poor training technique and ultimately training-related injuries.

Science seems to confirm the unsafeness of CrossFit workouts. A study published in 2019 found that those who engaged in CrossFit workouts instead of traditional weightlifting exercises were more likely to get injured – the reason being the intensity of the workouts and people pushing themselves further than they should.

In order to avoid injury, make sure that you’re physically and mentally fit to perform the training. Similarly, you also need to observe proper formation at all times. If you’re training with a personal trainer, they should be able to point out when you’re doing an exercise incorrectly.

#6: You don’t build too much muscle with CrossFit

If the reason you’re working out is to get a six-pack and muscular build, CrossFit is not the right training for you. Yes, it can keep you in shape, but it is not designed to pump up your muscles to make your body perfect for summer, so if that’s your goal, then CrossFit is definitely not something you should consider. There are many other programs that will give you the desired results.

#7: Crossfit can kill you

I know this sounds a little extreme, but the truth is there is a risk of death associated with CrossFit. Overdoing CrossFit can lead to serious health concerns such as Rhabdomyolysis, also known as Rhabdo. Rhabdo is a condition where muscle cells explode after a series of strenuous activities, releasing myoglobin into the bloodstream. High myoglobin levels can even result in kidney failure and death.

#8: CrossFit can make your body extremely sore

Due to the intensity, CrossFit is a very challenging fitness workout – not only for the body but also for the mind. Just twenty minutes of Crossfit training can make your muscles terribly sore. Not to mention that CrossFit requires you to exercise even five days a week, which simply doesn’t give your body enough time to heal properly. Hence, you should be prepared mentally and physically before you start with the training – CrossFit is not for everyone.

#9: CrossFit can make you more competitive

While this is actually a good thing, it will only be beneficial if you can maintain your focus while you beat your own time record. The problem is that during a CrossFit workout it’s easy to lose focus and rush to finish more lifts instead of taking time to do the training correctly. Due to focusing on being faster instead of performing the exercise right, you often forget the right posture during your training.

#10: Not everyone can follow the CrossFit Nutrition Plans

For many, CrossFit is more than just a workout – it’s a lifestyle, so they also change their diet to maximize the effect. The most common CrossFit diet consists of 30% protein, 30% fats, and 40% carbs, although this is just one option. The other one that those practicing CrossFit use is the Paleo diet, which attempts to replicate the way our ancestors ate during the Paleolithic era and puts emphasis on animal protein.

It’s important to recognize that those diets may not work for everyone – especially considering the fact that every person is different and has different nutritional needs. Furthermore, keeping this type of diet does not guarantee that you will achieve your weight loss goal.

The Bottom Line

In recent years, CrossFit has become popular among the masses – many athletes decided to try it out and didn’t go back to regular workouts. However, is CrossFit as good as some make it seem? Not really, and the ten reasons I mentioned above should tell you all you need to know about why CrossFit is bad for you and why, if you have the option to, I would suggest avoiding it. Depending on what your final goal is, there are plenty of other fitness programs that are a lot safer and can give you better results than CrossFit ever could.

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