Consistency in Programming
In: Blog
8 Sep 2009As Crossfiters we are overwhelmed by the amount of info and workouts posted on a daily basis. We usually tend to search and search every day for the perfect workout. Hours are wasted and not much is gained. Personally i have spent hours late into the night looking at countless sites and not come away with any knowledge and only slightly entertained.
I want to talk to you about getting on and staying on a program. There are several programs out there that i will review in the next couple days. Too many times i have heard of people doing the Crossfit Football workout on Monday, Catalyst on Tuesday, MaxFitUsa on Wednesday, rest on Thursday, .com on friday and the CF Invictus workout on Saturday (I will review all these and more). Does anyone else see the problem here? I am 100% sure that all these programs are very well thoughtout with a distinct direction they are going. In order to benefit from them you HAVE to stay on the program for more than 1 day, or 1 week. You need to let the program work. You can’t judge it from one workout you saw and tried.
I don’t want you to feel like i am talking down on those of you that have done or do the above. I have been there. I think it is the opportunity that has spoiled us. We have some many free workouts posted everday that we want to experience it all. I understand. But hear this: If you don’t have any goals, you are ok to wander through the forest of blogs and pick and choose your poison for the day but if you are serious about results i urge you to find a program that you feel will help you accomplish those results and STICK TO IT!!
Enough said, i will start to review some of my favorite programs in the next couple days. You will probably see some trends. They are not a coincidence.
| Where: Crossfit Decatur – Atlanta, GA When: September 12, 2009 |
Comment Form
- Subscribe (RSS)
Dutch Lowy Training Seminar DVD
Join Dutch Lowy of CrossFit ATM as he outlines clear guidelines for maximizing the effectiveness of CrossFit training, improving the structure of your training program, and building community in your gym.
11 Responses to Consistency in Programming
Justin A in California
September 8th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Dutch,
Excellent timing on your post since I was just discussing this last week with Matt at MaD CrossFit. He just attended your seminar at Catalyst and I attended your seminar their about 8 months ago.
This is exactly what I have been doing. “Cherry Picking” off of the football wod’s, main page wod’s, and several other affiliates. I like this approach because I’m able to go with my gut (instinct) and it gives me ideas how to keep it CONSTANTLY VARIED.
Since my goal is GPP (not to “wander through the forest” but to seriously increase my GPP i.e. – ready for anything, the unkown, and the unknowable, IWCABTAMD), in your opinion, would this ‘cherry picking’ then be an acceptable path?
Dutch
September 8th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Jusin,
Short Answer: No.
Long Answer: I think you, and any one else for that matter, would be better served to have a plan and a goal. If you are indeed wandering through the forest picking and choosing your WODs, will you ever know where you are or where you are going.
In order to effectively program you have to know both where you stand and where you want to go. I think that GPP for many people is a cop out on what their fitness truly needs. You can hide behind the vail of constantly varied… but you will see marginal results until you stick with a program.
Maybe we can help: What are your immediate and long term goals?
Justin A in California
September 8th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Short Answer response: Well what is best for GPP then, main page only?
Long Answer response: I’m open to your suggestions and I appreciate your input.
For me (36 years old, 6′0″, 204 lbs):
Immediate Goals:
1. Level 3 on CrossFit North’s skill level chart by 12/31/09.
2. Finish in top 40 of Nor Cal Qualifier (May 2010). (Finished 61 in 05/09)
Long term Goals:
1. Level 4 on CrossFit North’s Skill Level chart by 12/31/10.
2. Use gym time for general life, health and fitness quality and longevity improvement.
3. Use gym time to enhance quality of recreational sports and outdoor pursuits (hunting, backpacking, snowboarding, kayaking, mountain bike riding) by increasing performance and preventing/limiting possible injuries.
For my affiliate:
Short term:
1. Instill passion into clients and provide them with a CrossFit fitness program built on GPP principles eliminating their weaknesses and improving their health.
2. Develop sport and goal specific programs for athletes.
Long term:
Build a diverse community of motivated and empowered individuals collectively focused on health and fitness.
Advice, observations, criticisms?
Dutch
September 8th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Justin,
This is precisely the reason i am offering training online now. I am trying to blaze a path for people like you, so you don’t get lost in the forest.
Remember what we talked about in my seminar? Thats my opinion of how to get the best GPP. Basically increase power.
Your goals are very broad. If we are going to do this send me an email with your current stats. KNowing your goals is only half the battle. To know where you need work is to know how to program for yourself. I think the value you see in others programming is that they will make you do things you either didn’t think of or hate doing. You tend to have a sense of duty if you commit to the workout.
Ben @ CrossFit Decatur
September 8th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Program= plan: a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished. When you cherry pick, you are avoiding the intentions of the programmer. When somone sits down and designs a program many varables are in play for each day of the week. Volume, quantity, exercise selection- what’s coming in the future, what has been done in the past.
We program what’s working, what’s effective, we program different time domains and we program for our specific population, we program for our clients needs. We program what they are weak at, we program what they don’t like and we mix it up sometimes so they have fun, so they can enjoy some success, sometimes so they suffer, we program to build up or tear down the ego. Sometimes the day is light, sometimes it’s heavy. We program to push our clients to the next level and sometimes we program easy because the clients are starting to break down.
The point being…. When you stick to a program you are buying into someones vision, or plan. The above mentioned programs are all awesome. I have to agree here. Pick a path. One program’s vision has a specific goal- if you choose the path of many, you are subjecting yourself to the direction of many. It’s hard to find your way out of a forest if you do circles. . Just my humble 2 cents for what it’s worth. Great topic by the way.
Terrance @CF949
September 8th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Awesome topic… But Dutch I hear what you are saying…. If you follow different sites you can get lost because those sites have an agenda at hand and their programming is planned into watching clients gains, whether it be GPP, strength, power, agility, accuracy, balance etc…. Justin think of it like this, you have to have a goal in mind. Everyone can say that your training for GPP, but what are your weakness within yourself that you are training for? Would it be wise for a person w/ a 600lb deadlift to train at Rx’d weight for Diane? Those are the things you have to tweek when you consider your programming. Have been waiting for this topic to surface somewhere. It seems people within the Community are afraid to speak outside of the Main site realm…. Great topic Dutch once again….
Jason G.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Looking forward to checking out the reviews of the varied programs. I have been dedicated to CFFB for several months now and love the programing. However, I am interested in catalyst and MEBB, so this is a topic that I will surely follow. Thanks Dutch.
ken c
September 9th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
i didn’t do my crossfit football wod today because i was tired from my maxfit workout yesterday and my .com the day before. what should i do tomorrow dutch?
David N.
September 10th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Ken you should do CF Endurance then the September Pain Storm. Maybe even a full day of qualifier wod’s. I hear volume is the way to go.
dutch
September 10th, 2009 at 6:55 am
O Ken… You slay me.
Thanks for giving such sound advice Dave…haha!
Steve
September 16th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Dutch,
Guilty as charged! I’ve tried to stick to a program, .com, MEBB, etc… Like you I browse many CF sites daily, including CrossFit ATM. I get really great workouts from all of them. But, I do suffer from the ‘cherry picking’ of WODs. My girlfriend and I are about to become the first CrossFit Affiliate in Bakersfield, CA. I’m really looking forward to your reviews!!! Thanks!