Crossfit

[Catrin]

I had a long discussion with my trainer today about all this stuff. (Crossfit, metabolic training, etc etc) He was saying that the biggest thing he sees is that some programs don't modify... it's do or don't do, and that's where people get hurt. His comment on metabolic training was, "it depends on which metabolism you are wanting to train" and then went on some - so I'm not even going there, it got way too deep and scientific for me in a hurry....

Sounds like you have a great trainer - and he nailed it regarding metabolic training Fitness "fads" are one thing, understanding goals and how different fitness tools support those is something else - and sadly there are trainers who are more into the former than the latter. Thankfully I've never known any in that first category, but I've heard enough stories about them.

My gym is a very large university based sports/fitness research facility - they have great trainers who are accustomed to working with everyone from the most elite athlete to someone who just walked into a gym for the first time in their life.

They do push, and push hard to help us progress and meet our goals BUT they are also careful to teach us modifications at the same time and educate us about the exercises we are doing (THIS is good for THAT, etc). All of the classes aren't brutal, well, at least not in the same way, and everything can be adjusted to our specific level. They do have individual training available, but they focus on small group training. They won't hesitate a second to stop us (even if we are working out on our own) and make suggestions if they see we are having problems with something.

As I do more of the metabolic training, or whatever one wishes to call it, I find my overuse injuries less likely to act up - as long as I don't try to ride that day or do a long ride the following day. I've had to change my riding schedule a bit but I see so much benefit from this...