Crossfit Death

Share
Tweet
Pin
I know I don’t often blog about it, but I have really been trying my damnedest to include a little bit of strength training into my workouts each week. More often then not, these workouts fall into one of three categories: yoga, body pump, or Crossfit.

Last night was a Crossfit night and I about died in the process. How can something look so innocent and BE SO HARD???

Neither Cindy or I had a lot of time and quite honestly, I am still not feeling great and am a wicked bad mood (full disclosure there!) Regardless, we forged our way to the gym to crank out this beauty of a workout that she learned from her Crossfit gym.

For time:

50 dumbbell push presses
 (add 5 burpees every time you need to set your weights down lower than your shoulders)
15 box jumps


I used 15# weights since I have scrawny chicken arms and I really, truly thought this would be a breeze of a workout. I may have even made the broad announcement of, “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna do ANY burpees cause there is no way I’m setting my weights down!”
Lies. All lies.
Source
In case you wanted to know, this is a dumbbell push press. I, for one, didn’t know what it was. You’re welcome.
After about 20 push presses into my first set, my shoulders were screaming! I had the sound of me saying “No burpees!” echoing through my head, and I knew that I had lied to myself. I think I did 10 burpees alone during my first round!
Remarkably, the box jumps were not hard for me at all. Apparently, all the muscles in my body went to my legs instead of my arms. Annoying.
By the time I got to the second round, I had sweat literally dumping off my body. I saw droplets drip off my forehead and splash on the ground and I realized that my capris were the kind that showed a different color where you sweated through the material. That was awesome. And super flattering. 
Needless to say, I managed another 15 burpees during my second send of push presses because my arms were shaking so bad. In the end, I did the whole thing in 11:22. And you know what I thought was even crazier?
Not too shabby for a 10 minute workout! I think this means my heart was about to explode 🙂
********************
What’s your take on Crossfit: love it or hate it?

How about the HIIT workouts and others that similarly put you in an anaerobic heart rate?
Share
Tweet
Pin

Heather Balogh Rochfort is a freelance writer and author with a focus on outdoor adventure, travel, and fitness. Colorado born and bred, she loves backpacking, trail running, backcountry skiing, and packrafting, especially with her husband, one-year-old daughter, and lovable rescue mutt Tally.

No Comments

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Crossfit Death

I know I don’t often blog about it, but I have really been trying my damnedest to include a little bit of strength training into my workouts each week. More often then not, these workouts fall into one of three categories: yoga, body pump, or Crossfit.

Last night was a Crossfit night and I about died in the process. How can something look so innocent and BE SO HARD???

Neither Cindy or I had a lot of time and quite honestly, I am still not feeling great and am a wicked bad mood (full disclosure there!) Regardless, we forged our way to the gym to crank out this beauty of a workout that she learned from her Crossfit gym.

For time:

50 dumbbell push presses
 (add 5 burpees every time you need to set your weights down lower than your shoulders)
15 box jumps


I used 15# weights since I have scrawny chicken arms and I really, truly thought this would be a breeze of a workout. I may have even made the broad announcement of, “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna do ANY burpees cause there is no way I’m setting my weights down!”
Lies. All lies.
Source
In case you wanted to know, this is a dumbbell push press. I, for one, didn’t know what it was. You’re welcome.
After about 20 push presses into my first set, my shoulders were screaming! I had the sound of me saying “No burpees!” echoing through my head, and I knew that I had lied to myself. I think I did 10 burpees alone during my first round!
Remarkably, the box jumps were not hard for me at all. Apparently, all the muscles in my body went to my legs instead of my arms. Annoying.
By the time I got to the second round, I had sweat literally dumping off my body. I saw droplets drip off my forehead and splash on the ground and I realized that my capris were the kind that showed a different color where you sweated through the material. That was awesome. And super flattering. 
Needless to say, I managed another 15 burpees during my second send of push presses because my arms were shaking so bad. In the end, I did the whole thing in 11:22. And you know what I thought was even crazier?
Not too shabby for a 10 minute workout! I think this means my heart was about to explode 🙂
********************
What’s your take on Crossfit: love it or hate it?

How about the HIIT workouts and others that similarly put you in an anaerobic heart rate?

Heather Balogh Rochfort is a freelance writer and author with a focus on outdoor adventure, travel, and fitness. Colorado born and bred, she loves backpacking, trail running, backcountry skiing, and packrafting, especially with her husband, one-year-old daughter, and lovable rescue mutt Tally.

28 Comments

  • Reply Janine@ThePurpleGiraffe at

    I’ve never done a crossfit workout, but the dumbbell push press is used a lot in Jillian’s videos – it can be killer with 5’s, let alone 15’s! LOL!

  • Reply Katie at

    So glad you tried CrossFit! I’ve been doing for almost a year now (tracking WODs at http://www.katiedoescrossfit.com) and was first motivated to try it after an alpine guide friend mentioned she used it to stay in shape. I absolutely love it and don’t see myself going back to a regular gym, ever! The strength gains I’ve made have been far and above anything I’ve ever done.

    Burpees and I, however, do not get along 🙂

    Also, I think this is a much better example of what the DB Push Press should look like, technique-wise.

  • Reply Miz at

    may I say I LOOOOVE TO HATE?
    it’s be the truth.

  • Reply Heidi @BananaBuzzbomb at

    I have yet to try “crossfit” although I’ve added in burpees to my routine. Crossfit scares the crap out of me. I know I’d seriously hurt myself.

  • Reply Britt @ Chicago Runner Girl at

    I don’t do crossfit, but I often look at the WOD online to see what it is. Love me some burpees and I try to mix them up to keep them as exciting as possible by adding box jumps, side or backwards jumps, or some type of balancing into the mix. I think this exercise gives the most bang for their buck.

    • Reply Heather @ Just a Colorado Gal at

      I think plyo’s and burpees are great, regardless of the sports you enjoy. The power required for both are so beneficial, so I’m with ya!

  • Reply Jamie at

    I really need to try Crossfit!! That sounds tough but amazing!

  • Reply Kurt @ Becoming An Ironman at

    I do one or two Crossfit workouts a week and I LOVE them, meaning I have a love/hate relationship. They’re incredibly intense, but really do a great job and they’re quick.

    What I will tell you about your beloved Push Press is that it’s about a 90% leg workout and 10% arms. It’s really the drive up with your legs that should be getting those dumbbells up in the air and your arms are there simply to guide them. I do Push Press’s, Thrusters, Push Jerks, Cleans, etc. and once you get the movement down right, it’s very little upper body work. Just food for thought.

    • Reply Heather @ Just a Colorado Gal at

      Um, this makes me want to cry because while my legs are fine today, my back and shoulders are SO SORE. Clearly I suck at the push presses 🙂 And my abs are sore too! Is that weird?

  • Reply Ali Mc at

    crossfit puts me on my ass! it IS hardcore. I never feel as week as when I did one class ahhhhhh

    I love the new header 🙂

  • Reply Christy MyDirtRoadAnthem at

    I have never done cross fit but I think I would really love it. I do love HIIT workouts, like Bodyrock, at least I used to love Bodyrock but it seems so foreign anymore, I liked it better before Zuzanna left

  • Reply OatmealBowl at

    haha. 15s each hand? dang girl. you were asking for torture. LOL. that’s a great WOD. Shoulders hurting today? 😉

    • Reply Heather @ Just a Colorado Gal at

      I didn’t think 15lb in each hand was that much, but I’m feeling it today 🙂 My friend Cindy did 20’s so I bet she feel good today!

  • Reply Christi at

    I have never done Crossfit but I have many friends that swear by it.

  • Reply Carrie at

    Ha, Crossfit-style workouts are so sneaky that way. I’m always like “pfft, that’s no big deal” and then by the end I’m dying.

  • Reply Kayla Carruth @ kpLoving It at

    That sounds terrible….AND I think I’d be using 10 pounder’s, so don’t feel bad! I did an anaerobic hills spin workout yesterday, followed by yoga, and I was so tired by the time I got to bed, I could barely roll over.
    One of my girlfriend’s is addicted to crossfit and her class is all on a Paleo diet right now…..does Cindy’s group do that too?

    • Reply Heather @ Just a Colorado Gal at

      Probably, but she doesn’t go regularly enough. She’s like me– she fits Crossfit into other workouts. Besides, she is a veggie and from what I gather, that probably wouldn’t fit into the Paleo food so well, no?

  • Reply Wymberley Pfalmer at

    I love the community and competition of Crossfit. Somedays I love the workout and other days…ugh puke. Your workout looks good but I would have maybe thrown in a 3-400 m runs and split the PP into (3rounds)21’s and keep the box jumps at 15 for the three rounds. i have a sickness though…I prolong the pain.

    • Reply Heather @ Just a Colorado Gal at

      Ha, it’s so funny how some things are easier for some and harder than others! I would have looked at a run in between as a “rest” since the PP’s were annihilating me 🙂

  • Reply Laura is Undeterrable at

    Looooooooooooooove CrossFit. I’m so obsessed. OBSESSED! I’m thinking about getting my Level 1 cert in a year or so. Looooooooooove.

  • Reply Sierra at

    I am just starting and it is kicking my ass. I did a workout yesterday…250m row, 15 KB Swings, and 15 Wallballs…repeat 3 times for time. I was dying at the end. I weirdly like it…it pushes me and I’m so competitive with myself and others. Today is my day off, but tomorrow I’m back to it.

  • Reply Julie Arts at

    I’m definitely adding this w/o to my fit group’s workout tonight!

  • Reply Kara at

    You are a rockstar!

  • Reply MCM Mama at

    That workout sounds amazing! I’m sure I’d hate it, but it would be good for me. ;o)

    • Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.