Women and CrossFitting
Posted in woodfit chronicles on 05. Feb, 2009
I get questions about CrossFit from the women in my spin classes often. Their main concern is that weighlifting will make them pack on muscle or look man-ish.
Empirically, I tell them they won’t… that weight training using the CrossFit method will shred body fat and increase strength and muscle definition, but they certainly won’t be looking like a female bodybuilder anytime soon.
Why? I never really knew why until I started reading a little bit. I just know that all the women who work out at our affiliate are not bulky. They’re just ripped in awesome ways, and they look great.
So I came across an article on CrossFit Delaware’s site that really helps break down what women do in the gym, why it’s ineffective, and why CrossFit won’t make you huge. The short of it is that you need testosterone to build a ton of muscle, and women simply don’t produce enough of it to pack on muscle. You have to try to get that much muscle — you have to intend to grow it.
Thoughts?
Many strength gains are realized not by increase in muscle bulk, but in increased neuromuscular control (more of your existing muscle can be used at once) and in replacement of intramuscular triglycerides with more muscle (that is, your muscle becomes less “marbled” with fat).
Furthermore, I wouldn’t exactly kick any of these ladies out of bed for eating crackers:
http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFitGames08_WomensThrusterPullup0920.mov
They are athletic, toned, and attractive.
Crossfit Makes chicks look HOT!
I don’t see what else they need to know.