Crossfit health issues?

[makmoco]

i just wonder how many pilots do regular crossfit and if they have had any health issues (more specifically heart problems) or the opposite (improving health) with this type of training. I've done crossfit a while ago and liked the type of training, so much that I'm considering starting again. However, keeping Health in mind, at this point I don't know if it could be counterproductive and probably even mess up my medicals later on.

I know that weight training is helpful for blood pressure, but any thoughts on this?

[SuperchargedRS]

Uhh, are you really asking if working out is good or bad for you??

[makmoco]

Uhh, are you really asking if working out is good or bad for you??

I'm asking if intense training can be detrimental to heart health.

[looproll]

That's a good question because I think it has a lot to do with your baseline of cardiovascular fitness. If you are sedentary, and pound out a crossfit session, you may be at higher risk for an MI. Every year you hear about the risk of activities like shoveling snow. People go outside with little to no warm-up, then exert themselves at a high level and have a major coronary event.

"the optimal level of exercise for preventing CHD is unclear. In some studies, the reduction in risk from increased levels of activity appeared to be linear up to a certain level above which there was no further benefit; in others, the effect was restricted to the highest categories of total energy expenditure."

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/f ... cle/195439

[SuperchargedRS]

Uhh, are you really asking if working out is good or bad for you??

I'm asking if intense training can be detrimental to heart health.

Unless you're a complete mess, or are an idiot, no, crossfit is good for you.

[makmoco]

Uhh, are you really asking if working out is good or bad for you??

I'm asking if intense training can be detrimental to heart health.

Unless you're a complete mess, or are an idiot, no, crossfit is good for you.

You can follow the idea that exercise is good, but too much of everything is as well true. Since its High interval training and intense (thats the idea) It would be interesting to know if someone can talk from experience. Prob athletes (not specifically crossfitters) around here. I'm just being precise on this because of the medical examinations and requirements we pilots have to comply with.

Found this quotes on articles:

"According to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Kaiser Permanente, white men in particular who exercise at high intensities are 86 per cent more likely to develop plaque buildup in their arteries than those who exercise at low intensities."

"Another study also found that young men who engaged in endurance exercise for more than five hours a week may up their risk of developing an irregular heart beat later in life by 19 per cent compared to men who only did less than one hour a week."

[SuperchargedRS]

Dude, those same studies say drinking a glass of red wine or eating chocolate is good for you, a few months later they say it will give you cancer, a few months later it will help cure cancer, etc.

Just use some common sense, if you're maxing yourself out every day, you shouldn't need a study to say that's a bad idea, again if you're a working pilot you should be smart enough to figure these things out.

I'd say do a hour or so crossfit class every other day and you'll probably be in the best shape of your life, ALSO eat well.

[makmoco]

Thanks for orbiting around the same question with no useful answer from little analysis or known facts. Btw, you can do high intensity and no max out.

[makmoco]

That's a good question because I think it has a lot to do with your baseline of cardiovascular fitness. If you are sedentary, and pound out a crossfit session, you may be at higher risk for an MI. Every year you hear about the risk of activities like shoveling snow. People go outside with little to no warm-up, then exert themselves at a high level and have a major coronary event.

"the optimal level of exercise for preventing CHD is unclear. In some studies, the reduction in risk from increased levels of activity appeared to be linear up to a certain level above which there was no further benefit; in others, the effect was restricted to the highest categories of total energy expenditure."

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/f ... cle/195439

Indeed thats a good example. Of course overweight also affects the impact of the exercise on your body, when people start doing exercise right away, not in a progressive manner, It will have side effects later in life.

[North Shore]

i just wonder how many pilots do regular crossfit and if they have had any health issues (more specifically heart problems) or the opposite (improving health) with this type of training. I've done crossfit a while ago and liked the type of training, so much that I'm considering starting again. However, keeping Health in mind, at this point I don't know if it could be counterproductive and probably even mess up my medicals later on.

I know that weight training is helpful for blood pressure, but any thoughts on this?

I just got back into the box after a two-year layoff (wasn't completely inactive, though..) and I'm slowly working back up to my max. MY MAX. - I'm not 25 any more, and I'm not going to the games, and while I push when and where I can, there's no need for me to redline at every possible opportunity.

[makmoco]

i just wonder how many pilots do regular crossfit and if they have had any health issues (more specifically heart problems) or the opposite (improving health) with this type of training. I've done crossfit a while ago and liked the type of training, so much that I'm considering starting again. However, keeping Health in mind, at this point I don't know if it could be counterproductive and probably even mess up my medicals later on.

I know that weight training is helpful for blood pressure, but any thoughts on this?

I just got back into the box after a two-year layoff (wasn't completely inactive, though..) and I'm slowly working back up to my max. MY MAX. - I'm not 25 any more, and I'm not going to the games, and while I push when and where I can, there's no need for me to redline at every possible opportunity.

I agree with you, at least with crossfit or any other hardcore sport, the correct approach would be to do it at low-medium intensity. A friend of mine told me she was working out a lot when she was young (a lot but not as heavy) for taekwondo competition and now shes starting to have symptoms of arrhythmia. It could be even something genetic but who knows.
I'm a workout enthusiastic but at this stage I'm starting to double check everything.

[AF1000]

I train 5-6 days a week at a Box. I love it. I try to compete as often as I can. My diet is one of the most important aspects of my life (I take my six pack fitness lunch bag on the road with me religiously). I follow the Paleo diet (as do many others that compete/train at the box) and I don’t experience any kind of health issues besides muscle fatigue. I counteract the muscle fatigue/soreness by a solid warmup before and a long cool down after followed by some good stretching and rolling. Invest in the Nike roller, it’s awesome!

Welcome back!

AF

[SuperchargedRS]

Are you a CPL? Are you in a professional career right now? I'm just having a hard time understanding how this is even a question, or how you don't get this.


I fly sick people all the time, tons of MIs and the like, the majority, as in like 99.9% of have the physique of a tub of goo, I have NEVER flown a fit person for a heart issue, shy of something heavily drug induced.

Most crossfit places have trainers you can pay a little more for, they will tailor a program for you and your goals, go that route. Legit crossfit is probably one of the best programs you can do, way better than just pumping weights.

[makmoco]

Are you a CPL? Are you in a professional career right now? I'm just having a hard time understanding how this is even a question, or how you don't get this.


I fly sick people all the time, tons of MIs and the like, the majority, as in like 99.9% of have the physique of a tub of goo, I have NEVER flown a fit person for a heart issue, shy of something heavily drug induced.

Most crossfit places have trainers you can pay a little more for, they will tailor a program for you and your goals, go that route. Legit crossfit is probably one of the best programs you can do, way better than just pumping weights.

I see you still don't get the point (several times by now). If you have such a hard time understanding simple things do not involve.

[makmoco]

I train 5-6 days a week at a Box. I love it. I try to compete as often as I can. My diet is one of the most important aspects of my life (I take my six pack fitness lunch bag on the road with me religiously). I follow the Paleo diet (as do many others that compete/train at the box) and I don’t experience any kind of health issues besides muscle fatigue. I counteract the muscle fatigue/soreness by a solid warmup before and a long cool down after followed by some good stretching and rolling. Invest in the Nike roller, it’s awesome!

Welcome back!

AF

Great AF, thanks for the first hand information, thats exactly what I'm looking forward to do.

[SuperchargedRS]

Are you a CPL? Are you in a professional career right now? I'm just having a hard time understanding how this is even a question, or how you don't get this.


I fly sick people all the time, tons of MIs and the like, the majority, as in like 99.9% of have the physique of a tub of goo, I have NEVER flown a fit person for a heart issue, shy of something heavily drug induced.

Most crossfit places have trainers you can pay a little more for, they will tailor a program for you and your goals, go that route. Legit crossfit is probably one of the best programs you can do, way better than just pumping weights.

I see you still don't get the point (several times by now). If you have such a hard time understanding simple things do not involve.

Well you never had a point to make, I know as a kid people told you there was no such thing as a stupid question, however this topic clearly illustrates that was a lie.

No, working out, especially something like crossfit, is good for you.

This is common sense.

Lots of things you can lack as a pilot, many you can get away with for a whole career, common sense is not one of those things.

[makmoco]

SuperchargedRS you have to learn how to read and comprehend. Basic skills, I expected better from you.

Once again you are drifting out of topic. Please stay on topic since I will not take your depreciation of the post further down the road. You don't like it, don't post on it,this is for users who Know and are interested in the subject.

[SuperchargedRS]

SuperchargedRS you have to learn how to read and comprehend. Basic skills, I expected better from you.

Once again you are drifting out of topic. Please stay on topic since I will not take your depreciation of the post further down the road. You don't like it, don't post on it,this is for users who Know and are interested in the subject.

Really?

Dude, pretend for a second I didnt read your other posts

I'm off topic?

The topic was is working out (crossfit) bad for your health

I commented that not only is ity NOT bad for your health, its GOOD for you [insert common sense].

But hey, as someone how was just asking about taking their CPL written and radio exam, you probably know better than a ATP pilot working in EMS lol

$5 and a beer says your folks are paying for all of your training.

[makmoco]

"The truest characters of ignorance are vanity and pride and arrogance." Samuel Butler

You remind me of that quote.

Btw, please pay in CAD$.

[SuperchargedRS]

So youre paying 100% out of your own pocket?

Just based on your questions, I have a heck of a time believing you could come up with 80-100k for training yourself.

[opera]

"According to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Kaiser Permanente, white men in particular who exercise at high intensities are 86 per cent more likely to develop plaque buildup in their arteries."

I for one get your question and do not think it is dumb. You can overdo exercise. But I would be more intrigued to see what diets these high-intensity exercisers were following. If you know elite athletes, not just body-builders, it can be very illuminating to hear their takes on long-term healthy nutrition as opposed to mainly building muscle. My bike fitter, a former triathlete ranked fifth in his country at one point, told me to cut out refined sugar but eat more fat, for instance. Never read that in a fitness magazine. I went back to eating skin-on chicken, whole fat milk, real butter, frying potatoes in chicken fat etc. every day and lost 10 kg in a year with very moderate (basically lazy) exercise like biking once or twice a week for a couple of hours.

[North Shore]

"Cutting out refined sugar" THIS!! That sh!t is poison, but so bloody difficult to avoid. Sweeteners are everywhere..

[Airbrake]

I missed this topic. Wish I had found it earlier.


I used to coach Crossfit for 7 years.
I have since dropped it from my certification but still use some of their workouts. Their philosophy is nothing new. It is just packaged in a different way than previous circuit training.
Greg Glassman did a great job of branding it and promoting the individuality of each box and that is what allowed it to thrive.
Let’s talk about if it is healthy or not.
It depends.
Each coach at each box will have drastically different experience, from a student who has never taken any other training and did the weekend Level 1 cert to a PhD in physiology. The challenge I saw was how it fit in with aviation. They generally don’t consider what we do when we do it and how it impacts our bodies. I could go down a long rabbit hole but suffice to say our bodies don’t identify sources of stress only that stress exists.
If you are doing long haul multi time zone transitions with lots of UV & cosmic radiation exposure who eats poorly and sleeps poorly adding in Crossfit will not do you any long term benefit. It may in the short but you will find yourself burnt out before you make many significant gains. That is where you’ll start to see thyroid dysfunction and chronic fatigue.
If you are younger than 30, you’ll probably see gains for a while. If you’re over 30, my experience is you’ll hit the wall fast.
For any aircrew I work with the program needs to be significantly adjusted to accommodate 1. Location 2. Time zones 3. Nutritional availability 3. Flight hours and training age of the individual. Without those (and many more) adjustments and knowledge the coach will be just randomly guessing where to take the client.

Our lives are more complex than any other industry when it comes to external stressors and adding another one can be of value, but it needs to be placed at the right place and right time with the right dose for the correct response. Without that, it won’t be healthy.


Oh and for nutrition. Just eat real food. The challenge is how do you do that when transiting airports and customs with regularity. I can be done it just takes planning. A specific diet may work for some but probably won’t work for most as each individual is unique in why the eat what they eat and how they respond to it all. I have added many carbs (sugar included) to people’s diets and they slim down. It just needs to be understood what is going on with them. And it is complex sometimes.

[EdgarSen]

I wouldn't recommend crossfit to my worst enemy. I'm sorry for being blunt, but that's my opinion. It's backed by studies that find crossfit to be the most injury causing "sport" in existance. Pair that up with unprofessional and clueless trainers that usually operate the crossfit gyms, and you're in for a world of trouble.

[North Shore]

^Ok, no peeing in the Crossfit coolaid! lol!

We've all heard those stories and statistics, and I tend to agree with you - to a point. Given the huge growth in Crossfit over the last 5 years, it was almost unavoidable that the quality of trainers would decrease; OTOH, there's lots of videos out there, caveat emptor, and check your ego at the door..