The CrossFit Body Part 2: Too bulky?
Rich Froning Jr…the fittest man on the planet.
I can’t tell you the number of times that I talk to people about CF and they say they want to do CrossFit, but they say the don’t want to get “too bulky.” Having been brainwashed by CF’s obsession with performance and functionality this always makes me laugh. I know that the rest of the fitness world is aesthetically driven, but that is not our aim. The rest of the world is asking the wrong questions. Questions like, how do I get my abs more ripped? How do I get my biceps bigger? How do I get my thighs smaller? We ask better questions. How do I run my 5k faster? How do I stabilize my midline better? How do I improve my Fran time? How do I PR on my deadlift? How do I pick something heavy up without hurting myself? The answers to these questions will make you live better. They sometimes indicate bigger quads, or more ripped abs, but not always. If you CrossFit better you are fitter. Period! Don’t be put into a box on the body size thing. Your body will settle in where it needs to be if you CF regularly and stop poisoning it with poor nutrition. For some that will mean putting on weight. For some it will mean losing weight. For all it will mean living a better life. And to answer the “too bulky” question…if you don’t want to look like Annie Thorisdottir or Rich Froning then don’t do CrossFit.
Post thought to comments.
AMRAP in 15 minutes of:
10 GHDSU
20 Deadlifts
30 Lunges
40 Double unders
Post rounds and partial rounds completed and deadlift load to comments.
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CrossFit Snohomish Blog 
Love the post!
So great Jeff! I want to look like them! 🙂
Sorry kids, can’t make it tomorrow, I have to be downtown for a meeting at 8am 😦
Great post Jeff! I want a CF body!!
Great post. I would be ‘OK’ with ending up looking like Rich Froning, but only if it meant my Fran time would be faster ;)!
Hi everybody!
Tomorrow looks brutal… Have fun 🙂 I just wanted to thank you guys so much for the wonderful comments on the blog, and wanted to let you know that I made it to WSU! Thanks for all of your support and encouragement. I’m missing the gym so much! I’ll be checking it daily!
Amy
Amy, you’re going to rock the WSU gym! Good luck with all!
Good luck Amy! I will miss seeing you in class.
Great 9:15 class. 3 rounds +5 dead lifts 185# Hi Amy! Have a great day and GO COUGS!
Happy trails out there, enjoy the adventure
Good luck, Amy! I’m a Husky, but I still like you 🙂 and wish you the best! Your positive attitude and hard work ethic will be missed at the gym….until winter break?
3 rounds + 8 Deadlifts Rx’d
with 245lbs Deadlifts
Thanks Jeff and Jim for the good positive push on the deadlift sets. Made them painful in an awesome ‘crossfit intensity’ way.
I love this post Jeff, because I think that’s the most fundamentally important part of CrossFit, it asks the right questions. So even if some of the strategies, nutrition, movements, modalities evolve or change as we learn from other athletes, the ‘right questions’ keep us parsing out awesomeness from the crapola.
My first workout went well, you know, that thing some of you consider a warmup. 🙂 Then for the main event I managed to get 3 complete rounds in! It was modified with 20 double unders instead of 40. I already forgot my deadlift weight, but I do know I’m getting better at form and keeping my chest up. The GHDSU was a new thing for me and I don’t think I was getting down far enough each time and straightening my legs was tough, but I’m working at it! Thanks morning crew for all your encouragement. Oh, and I totally rocked my double unders…finally something I’m good at!
As for getting “too bulky”….not worried…it is going to take me a while to even get toned up. Besides, Annie & Rich don’t seem “bulky” just extremely fit, not the stereotypical Gold’s Gym dude, which I would argue is too bulky for me.
2.75 rounds complete. Alternated single, double on double unders. I can’t seem to get the timing down. Only counted completed ones, not attempts. 135# dead lift.
As for “too bulky”! What is the definition of that? I think that it would be a varying opinion if you were to take a poll. I personally wouldn’t mind looking like rich. 🙂 only 1 workout away from that 🙂 (totally joking).
However, after 3 months ish of being at crossfit. I personally feel a lot better about not only my fitness level and PR’s that I have put up for myself. But also I am not embarrassed to take my shirt off in public anymore. I have to thank all the motivational people that surround me day in and day out. Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I have a long way to go, but am moving in the right direction.
Hopefully you guys don’t read this like I’m full of myself. Not the intent…..just expressing my gratitude.
Tremendously scaled and only got 2 rounds plus lunges. Love the new warm up.
In case anyone was wondering:
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
Galatians 6:14
My weight has not changed much in the last few months but I still feel like i am making a little progress. Its almost as if my focus has changed from weight loss to improved performance. The weight loss will come as my performance/nutritional intake improve.
3 rounds + 15 DL’s
125# DL
I wish people could come by our gym before they make statements about being “too bulky” and see what Cfers really look like. We have some ladies @ CFS who can throw around some serious weight, and I’d never say they’re bulky. Strong, yes. Healthy, yes! Hot, yes!! Great post, JV. Someday I’d love to grate some cheese on my abs.
Galatians 6:14 is really interesting to me. I feel like it’s the unspoken mantra of Cfers, except maybe Rob Orlando… Just like how you always cheer on the athlete next to you, only wishing them the best, whether you destroyed them, or they you.
It was great taking Brad out to coffee today, his first day as an emptynester. Betty, we hope to catch up with you soon, too! Hi Amy!
My back is a little sore from yesterday so I did the following:
15 minute AMRAP
20 abmat situps
30 walking lunges
40 double unders
5 rounds 20 situps
Backyard WOD Modification with the Pavlu girls coaching (mom you should do 10 hundred jump ropes!)
15 minutes amrap
20 Ab mat sit ups
20 deadlifts (95# I think)
30 walking lunges
120 regular jump ropes
2 rounds plus 68 jump ropes. Sad I didn’t make it to class today, just not the same. 🙂
Way to go Marie! I bet it was fun having the girls cheering you on.
Knees spent. Scaled:
10 squats
20 deadlifts (135#)
30 GHDSU
80 single jump ropes
3 rounds + 9 dl.
Duane- Nice work getting multiple toes to bar in a row! They looked awesome! 🙂
Great comments everyone. Love hearing your thoughts!
Amy, we miss you already.
JV