Those who’ve seen me recently have noticed that, since I’ve gotten skinnier, I’ve also lost whatever muscle definition I had in my arms.

I know for sure that I’m not as strong as I used to be doing CrossFit than I was when I was kettlebell training or doing Kinesis. I was already doing two-hand swings with a 24-kilo kettlebell and one-hand swings with a 16-kilo kettlebell and now I’m only two-hand swinging 12 kilos? What can I one-hand swing? Eight kilos? That doesn’t seem right.

The thing is, I’m not sure how one is supposed to gain strength while doing CrossFit when the WODs are so random and inconsistent. You could be doing push-ups for three days straight and then none at all. I was doing sumo deadlift high pulls for an entire week when I started CrossFit, but I haven’t encountered them since. Strength is something you build on and the inconsistencies of the WODs don’t exactly allow that.

I know that this is something CrossFit has been criticized for (see links to articles below) and it has tried to address with its CrossFit Strength Bias program. Which we do at Crossfit MNL, what, once or twice a month? That’s hardly enough to build any actual strength on.

The hardcore CrossFitters at CrossFit MNL swear that they’ve gained strength doing the WODs. But then I see them staying after the WODs are done, to do more exercises on their own. They row or do sit-ups or pull-ups. I wonder how many of them visit The Box on off-hours (or other gyms for that matter) to supplement the WODs with weight training.

I’m not sure that I’ve become more fit since doing CrossFit. I was already pretty fit when I got into it. It’s possible that my stamina has improved but I never did like to rest much between exercises. It’s a great cardio workout, that’s for sure. And I do like the WODs and the challenges they present. I like the variety. It’s certainly never boring. But I do wonder if it’s bringing me closer to achieving my fitness goals.

I have lost weight, but that’s more because of the Paleo diet than the workouts. If I am losing muscle though, then that is a concern. Not that I have aspirations to become The Bride of The Hulk. Not at all. Which is why I am not too worried about not being able to lift heavy weights. But I do want some muscle tone.

Then again, maybe it’s this now-you-see-me-now-you-don’t disappearing act I keep pulling. Or maybe I’m not pushing myself hard enough. Whatever. I’m in this till December after which I’ll evaluate my options and proceed as I see, um, fit.

Some articles worth reading:

CrossFit: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Eight Ways to Un-Fuck Your CrossFit Gym
The Truth About CrossFit