Give me some Olympic Lifts, Baby!!

 5×5 cleans

First hand stand push up by a Female at CrossFit Alex goes to Mitzi

CrossFit continues to make headlines. We have posted articles over the past few days from Triathlete Magazine and Men’s Fitness. Today we post an article from the Wall Street Journal and Muscle and Fitness Hers.

But I’m a girl! If you are worried about gaining muscle and getting bulked up – stop fretting!You are not going to come to CrossFit and turn into a behemoth. Take a look at the top female CrossFit athletes (see video below)…now what do you think? CrossFit is about doing movements and doing them FASTER – what part of being “bulked up” will help you do a pull up, double under, run, box jump or push up any faster? The answer is it will not help. Therefore, CrossFit is not designed to get you bulked up. CrossFit will produce lean muscle mass. But I thought you said I won’t gain muscles? Muscles are good. I could bore you with a bunch of sports science as to why CrossFit works in an effort to convince you but that is appealing to your rational side and your fear of muscle mass is purely emotional. Let me speak to your emotional side. You will look better naked. Yes, we just said that, CrossFit will make you look better naked. With this exercise program and proper nutrition you will lose dress sizes and look great. If you have the exact physique that you want then don’t bother with CrossFit. If you want to look better in a bikini, follow CrossFit and our food intake recommendations and redefine yourself!

“Mic’d Up with Chuck Carswell” at the 2010 CrossFit Games, CrossFit Journal preview video [wmv] [mov]

A long while ago, a great warrior faced a situation which made it necessary for him to make a decision which insured his success on the battlefield. He was about to send his armies against a powerful foe, whose men out numbered his own. He loaded his soldiers into boats, sailed to the enemy’s country, unloaded soldiers and equipment, then gave the order to burn the ships that had carried them. Addressing his men before the first battle, he said, “You see the boats going up in smoke. That means that we cannot leave these shores alive unless we win! We now have no choice-we win-or we perish! They won. Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to burn his ships and cut all sources of retreat. Only by so doing can one be sure of maintaining that state of mind known as a BURNING DESIRE TO WIN, essential to success.  -Napoleon Hill from Think and Grow Rich