PREACH IT TURTS  I probably need to reduce my salt intake.

Hurro Googs, should have said wary on CrossFit which is what I meant specifically.  To clarify, I am wary rather than outright dismissive, as I'm only going on what I know from personal experience with general cross training, what I'm told by trainers I know (and trust), plus anecdotal evidence from the internets and a few guys who genuinely know what they are on about like Rippetoe (who was working with Glassman but left due to differences which are allegedly to do with certification and technique).

I have done some cross training in the past and one thing that bothers me is that since it tends to incorporate certain lifts, the lifter should learn how to perform these lifts correctly.  It seems that in Xfit, form is sacrificed for speed and time and that's when injuries happen.  It's fine when you're lifting 10kg, not so much when you're lifting 110kg.  Another issue I've noted (which is common across gyms of any kind actually), is the level of training acquired by Xfit trainers.  Most anyone with little training background is going to benefit from any kind of training, but the fact that lifts (such as snatches) are taught by guys with limited experience is surely asking for trouble.  The number of people I see doing shoulder presses while standing on a swiss ball, all under the watchful eye of a trainer, makes my stomach turn.  Get them under a bar for Petey's sake.

Some of the Xfit compilations on Youtube are amusing and clearly selective, but perhaps revealing of a lack of technical experience on the part of trainers.  Some of the stuff I've seen is downright dangerous though, particularly with power lifts.  Also, using explosive movements like cleans and snatches (where form is paramount) in an endurance capacity is fucking stupid.  There's a fair chunk of stuff out there on how Xfit is flawed when it comes to teaching several movements or lifts.

I also take issue with the lack of specialization; I understand the goal is all round fitness and being capable in many areas, but if you're pursuing anything specific, be it strength or conditioning for a particular sport, you want a program tailored to your needs.  Having done the all round or cross fitness thing and pushed myself til I vommed, I much prefer straight strength training for the sense of progression and carryover to life in general.  I'm certainly in better nick now than I was then.

Finally, this Glassman chap seems a Jonestown-esque cunt and the zealot-bros that swear by his methods are lulzworthy.

Having said all that, any group fitness activity is going to be beneficial for most people and I'm not discounting Xfit outright; if you get off your fat arse (not you personally) to do Xfit, then good-o.

This article gives a good overview without being too damning.  Overall, if you want general fitness and have a desire to punish your body to that end, go wild.

Finally, just a few points on what you said.  Saying that multiple discipline workouts are superior to single discipline workouts is patently untrue.  It's about effort, focus and form, whatever you're doing.  If you're incorporating hard running, bodyweight exercises, weighted lifts and balance work into a hard training session, I question the value you'll get from spreading yourself like that.  A focused resistance workout, say for your back, prioritizes form and maximal effort for that area.  Also, compound lifts like deads and squats at or near your max incorporate a heap of muscle groups.  When I've done a few sets of lower back squats near my max weight, I feel it everywhere.

Doing 100 kipping pullups (mixed in with a heap of other stuff) a week will give you improved endurance and make you better at kipping pullups, but a good deadlift session will get you much stronger in the long run.  As a side note, despite only doing strength training, my endurance is still very good; I did a footy (Aussie Rules) runaround with my brother last week and despite repeat sprints for an hour or so plus a bit of contesting work, still had plenty left in the tank.

Anyhoo Googs, I don't profess to be an expert by any means, just going by my own experience, reading I've done and video I've watched.  As I said earlier, anything is better than nothing, but safety should be a priority for those inexperienced with training.

@Elmlea: if it's fat you're looking to shed, cardio will accelerate the process but I'd be inclined to bike it rather than run.  Besides that, abs are built in the kitchen as they say.  Chuck in a fast a week (look at Brad Pilon and Martin Berkhan for stuff on intermittent fasting) and eat at a caloric deficit, that'll skinnify you.  Be sure to do some resistance training though.

Phew!

I intend to lose a bit of weight for the wedding in 11 weeks. Intended to start with 15 minutes each day on the cross trainer and work up from there. Just done 4 minutes and had to stop. Not going well so far.

Yah. The simplest way to lose weight is not to change what you eat, or start exercising, or any of that stuff. Just.....eat less.

slow releasing complex carbs like brown rice and porridge help. If you have a simple carb like white bread or refined sugar, your blood sugar rises rapidly as the body quickly absorbs the sugar, you then naturally release a shitload of insulin to bring that blood sugar level down which can then lead to a crash, making you feel like shit and crave more food. 

@TurtleoWurtle: It's like cannonfire down there at times. 

Eating less (like fasting) is "healthy" in the short term, but if you ate way under your daily requirements (i.e. the amount you'd need to consume to maintain what you have) for an extended period you'll eventually wither away to a fleshy nub.  Lifting heavy shit and eating protein is a good cure for this.

Yer, trufax.  Goal this year to do a double bodyweight poptart meal in under 20 minutes.  Also, video lulz.

That video seems retarded. What if you ate nothing else for a meal but a Mars bar?

You'd be woefully ill-informed at any rate.

I'm about to have lunch fyi, I'm eating brown rice made with fried onions and garlic in olive oil, a splash of chicken stock, shredded fresh basil leaves, diced chillies and a tin of mackerel in tomato sauce. And a pint of water.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

I did daily 16 hour fasts like Skerret for over a year and can report that they are great if you have the discipline. I live with my gf now so it's not as practical, so I've switched tactics to something more traditional. This means having to stay closer to my daily caloric requirements, but I know my body so well and have been eating such similar things for so long that I can do this quite easily these days with portion judgement by sight, not with scales.

Skerret said:

I mean eat nothing.  I do 16 hour fasts every day (8pm to 12pm next day, though I don't think of this as fasting any more, it's just my eating pattern) and do the occasional 24 hour fast.  During this time I'll have black coffee of herbal tea but nothing else.  When I break the fast, I eat a normal sized meal rather than trying to get that days food in in one hit.  God for ye I say.  I'm super sharp when fasted which makes good sense survival-wise.

Edit: outta the way amphibian

I never really thought about it that way, but I have my evening meal at about 6 and don't eat again until 12pm the next day. Just having a meal at 12pm and 6pm every weekday. Never feel particularly hungry in the 18 hours, so is this doing me any good or is it bad? :\

Speedhaak said:

It's terminology for a dieting regime really Elm, I'm actually doing CrossFit atm Google, well worth it. 

Yeah, I wanted to first start to get comfortable with the lack of carbs/sugar in my diet before starting on a new exercise regime. 

My plan is to wait until my weight loss plateau's (hopefully at around 180) and then start working out again properly. Any recommendations on websites that provide a good resource for cross-fit would be beneficial, boss.

What part of the World are you in these days? There's usually a CrossFit centre in every major Town/City. This is the site I use, also, there is lots of Paleo information in there for any interested in learning more.

if it works for you, keep it up.

Bristol. Getting a VISA for the states is a right old cunt. I'll get back there, just need a sponsor.