Is CrossFit Worth It? (7 Pros and Cons)  

The simple answer to this is - yes.

The CrossFit community extends beyond physical support, fostering significant psychological benefits such as enhanced motivation, improved mental health, and a profound sense of belonging, factors that contribute immensely to overall well-being.

In my experience as a coach, I've witnessed how the CrossFit community offers more than just workouts; it builds mental resilience, a sense of belonging, and motivation, greatly enhancing overall well-being.

CrossFit can be worth your time and effort as long as you are willing to commit to it. The majority of people that drop out of these gyms either are not committed to the hard work or don't have enough free time. And here's why that is a problem.

Time Commitment

Maintaining a consistent gym routine is challenging. Initially, many are enthusiastic, but attendance often declines over time.

The key to progress in high-intensity workouts like CrossFit is regularity.

Infrequent exercise can lead to persistent muscle aches and minimal progress.

For optimal results, regular CrossFit practitioners often recommend committing to at least five days per week.

Willingness To Feel Sore

Now, if you've had experience as one of my clients, then you'll know that I'll push you to your limits, and the first few gym visits will feel sore.

CrossFit's effectiveness stems from its high-intensity workout structure, rapidly transitioning between exercises like Olympic lifting, wall balls, and push-ups with minimal rest.

This brisk pace is key to its success. For beginners, it's advisable to consult with CrossFit coaches.

They can tailor a program to your objectives, guiding you through the varied workout options and classes that best match your fitness goals.

Yes, you'll spend a bit more money for membership, but it can get you in great shape with a community to support you as well. Plus you'll learn all of the best CrossFit workouts you should be focusing on.

Related: CrossFit Bodyweight Workouts: Transform Your Fitness Levels

OK, let's take a look at how much time you'll need to have for your CrossFit gym to figure out if your work and family life will support it.

Minimum Of 3 Days

If you do highly intense workouts less than three times each week, you'll probably end up with delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) on a regular basis [1]. This kind of muscle pain makes it difficult to extend and contract muscles that you have trained.

It makes you walk and move like a robocop, making the next exercise session more difficult.

Based on my coaching experience, attending CrossFit sessions on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday helps build muscle memory and strength, reducing DOMS and ensuring long-term results.

5 Days For Best Results

When you see those images of amazing body transformations in CrossFit advertisements where people went from obese to ripped, it more than likely took five training days each week for many months.

As effective as CrossFit can be, it's not a magic pill.

And with each session usually lasting one hour, that would mean dedicating about eight hours a week to give you time to get there and shower after the session.

Despite our differences in gym environments, I came up with a list of important advantages and disadvantages with Ben, who has been coaching CrossFit for the last four years.

Type Of Workout Equipment

OK, you'll find that there are quite a few differences here. For example, a typical gym probably won't have a CrossFit box selection, and bumper plates are also not common. But then, a normal gym will have a lot more machines to choose from for highly targeted isolation exercises.

Where things are more similar is in the free weights section. Both will provide everything you need for Olympic lifts, squats, and all types of bench presses.

Gym Membership Prices

A typical gym will cost you anything from $50 to $100 per month, with cheaper rates available when you pay for a year upfront. The price differs by location and the amount of equipment. Many of the larger gyms will also have a pool, sauna, and steam room included in the price.

From a CrossFit cost perspective, you can expect to pay anything from $80 to $260. That would be for an unlimited membership where you can go as often as you want.

The question then becomes: Is CrossFit worth the extra costs? And that's something you need to decide for yourself.

Yes, there are a couple of downsides to be aware of, based on my observations.

It Tends To Be More Expensive

While there is quite a price difference sometimes, it's important to understand that regular and CrossFit gyms are not exactly the same thing.

You pay extra for CrossFit because of the extensive coaching you get. It would be similar to hiring a personal trainer to check up on you in every workout session.

You Are Limited By The Workout Setup

This is something to keep in mind if you like to do a regular workout session where you choose your own exercises to target specific muscles.

For other people, that's not a problem at all, especially if they like to have an exercise plan scheduled out and then have the coaching to go with it.

There Seems To Be A Higher Risk Of Injury

A few studies into CrossFit published in PubMed have highlighted that, on average, it's a sport with more injuries than a normal gym [4].

It may have to do with inexperienced people becoming too ambitious and piling on more weight for each exercise. And sometimes, when you're trying to stick to a time, you might end up rushing and not sticking with good form.