I’m not a bodybuilder!

I’m not a Crossfit athlete!

No matter how many times I try to tell people that I do not belong to a particular category of fitness, people still tend to categorize me!

“Oh but you’re a bodybuilder,” says a customer at my Dad’s store while we’re talking about nutrition. “You’re a CF (CrossFit) athlete,” writes my bodybuilder friend on AIM.

Why do we Categorize?

Human begins use categories as a way to store information. It’s a great way to organize information, but a dangerous way of living your life. If you call yourself a Crossfit athlete, or a Bodybuilder, you will forever be a part of a stereo type of training methodologies and will inadvertently disregard anything that does not fit into the Crossfit or Bodybuilding methodology.

I feel that there are certainly things that bodybuilders can learn from Crossfit athletes, and vice versa. Each method has a particular flaw, and the best way to fill in the gaps is to “reach across the aisle” and try something new.

I think people should follow some sort of hybrid of a variety of fitness programs. Use the following guide to create your own unique program:

High Intensity Training

• Crossfit, Heavy Duty, Tabata
• Pro: Exercise can be done in a short period of time.
• Pro: You can improve strength and mass dramatically (depending on program)
• Pro: Can drop fat and improve athletic conditioning dramatically (depending on program)
• Con: May not be suitable for beginners
• Con: Can easily lead to over training and fatigue if there is poor focus on diet

High Volume Training

• German Volume Training, The Russian Bear, Traditional Bodybuilding,
• Pro: Great for hypertrophy
• Pro: Simply program for beginners
• Con: Added size comes with minimal gains in strength
• Con: Workouts take a long time

Strength-Based Training

• Stronglift’s 5×5, Starting Strength, Westside Barbell
• Pro: Can put on size and strength extremely fast
• Pro: Can drop fat due to an increase in metabolic rate
• Con: Beginners need more time to learn movements
• Con: Workouts are boring

There you have it. Try each program out for a few months.

Then:

• Choose one program that you really like and know will stick for the rest of your life
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of that program
• Fill in the weaknesses of the program using principles from other programs.
• Now create your own website and brand your program!