CrossFit: The Fast, Furious Workout Craze

Don't jump in too quickly

But not all CrossFitters or instructors are such sticklers about technique. "There's a very macho, 'be all you can be' attitude that surrounds this program," says Ralph LaForge, M.S., a physiologist at Duke University. He's bothered by the risk of musculoskeletal injuries—especially when older or relatively unfit people jump too quickly into the fast-paced, hardcore workout. Participants often brag about their soreness after a session, but LaForge worries that the competitive atmosphere can push people beyond their abilities. "When you have really debilitating soreness, you've actually ruptured muscle fibers," he explains. "And if you go back and do it again before you've fully recovered, you are more prone to injury."

That "no pain, no gain" mentality has been a cornerstone of CrossFit, but there's also a push to make it more palatable to the masses. Stories abound of CrossFitters boasting about workouts that made them throw up (some even sport T-shirts declaring "I met Pukey"), and others have ended up in the emergency room with life-threatening cases of rhabdomyolysis, a condition caused when muscle fibers break down, release into the bloodstream and may poison the kidneys.

"There are a lot of unqualified coaches teaching this, and anyone can go on the Web site, get the workout, and push themselves too hard," says Platt. "I'm trying to change that concept and show that CrossFit can be a program that everyone can benefit from, and that they don't have to be pushed to the brink of throwing up in order to see results."

Measuring the results

Potential pitfalls aside, CrossFit is generating results for its thousands of followers. "I like the measurability of it," says Parks, who felt like he had plateaued at his regular gym routine before turning to CrossFit. Not only has he replaced an extra 30 pounds with a new set of totally toned, 6-pack abs, but he can look back at his records to see exactly how much faster he can perform certain sequences, how much more weight he can hoist, and how many more pull ups he can do now compared to when he first started CrossFit. "Being able to measure results is a big deal for me, and for the other people I work out with at the gym," he says.

To find a CrossFit trainer who will push you to achieve results—but do so safely—Platt recommends visiting a club to watch a class, perhaps participate in a free session, and to speak with the trainer about his or her CrossFit and overall fitness philosophies. Ideally, you want to see a mix of people participating in the sessions—young, old, male, female, athletes and fitness newcomers. And you want a trainer who understands the different ability levels of these different populations and tailors the prescribed workouts to suit individual needs.

First Person: A CrossFit Skeptic Becomes a Convert

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Sally Wadyka is a Boulder, Colo.–based freelance writer who writes regularly for Shape, Runner's World, Real Simple and The New York Times.