Health & Fitness
What's The Different Between CrossFit and Bootcamp?
CrossFit gyms always get the questions, "it's just like bootcamp, right?" And in some respects, yes, CrossFit is like bootcamp. But this is like saying that a Mini Cooper is similar to a Chevy Silverado because they both have 4 wheels and can go fa
Sure, there are many similarities between CrossFit and your run of the mill bootcamp, but do we really think of things based more on their similarities or their differences? For instance, a thunderstorm and a sandstorm are both technically storms, yet are two very different things.
The similarities between CrossFit and bootcamps lie in the group setting, some crossover in movements, and both are generally a monthly membership. Much like storms and vehicles, the important thing is how they differ. The following 5 differences, in no particular order, are what set CrossFit apart from bootcamps.
1. Purpose
If all you care about is the number on the scale, then a bootcamp will be just fine. You will get some calories burned, up your metabolism, and lose some weight. Now, if you care as much or more about actually getting healthy, creating a lifestyle that supports a healthy body, and striving to be your best, then CrossFit may be what you're looking for.
CrossFit is a lifestyle as much as it is a fitness program. Without fail, people who get into CrossFit find themselves more interested in hiking up Stone Mountain to see the sunrise with friends, going rock climbing, or taking their uncle up on that offer to go white water rafting. In short, it's not blondes, but CrossFitters who have more fun.
2. Movements
At Formula CrossFit, we focus intently on movement quality. If you have been around my gym or read much of what I've written, you know that whether I am working with a college athlete or an overweight soccer mom, the order of prioritization is movement mechanics, range of motion, THEN performance.
If you dive right into a workout program or bootcamp without a skilled trainer assessing your movement quality and ranges of motion, your risk of injury skyrockets. It is a huge waste of time to injure yourself during a workout - focus on the right things and you won't get set back by injuries.
3. Olympic Lifting
This goes along with #2. The Olympic Lifts, the clean and jerk and the snatch, are high skill movements that require tremendous core strength, flexibility, motor control, and coordination. There's no better way to become athletic than to put in the time and effort required to learn these lifts.
Bootcamps, in general, have very little interest in developing skills that transfer to everyday life. The benefits of the olympic lifts can hardly be overstated.
4. Program Length
Bootcamps are generally a 4 week or 6 week series. You pay for all of it up front and when the 6 weeks is up, you're done. This is a fine design if you're looking to drop 10 lbs as fast as possible. The issue here is that your weight problem is not going to be fixed by 6 weeks of bootcamp. Any weight issues you have are due to lifestyle choices that need to change.
While we do have cycles and periodization within our programming, CrossFit is not a 6 week program. The goal of CrossFit is to have an outlet to continuously develop your skills, abilities, and athleticism throughout your life. The happiest, healthiest people you will ever meet are those that prioritize their health, and not just for 4 weeks or a couple months, but on a consistent basis throughout their lives.
5. Community
If you look at the Facebook page of any CrossFit gym, you'll see hundreds of pictures with a lot of the same faces over the course of years. Sharing with others in your suffering (hard workouts) and achievements (your first pullup, etc.) builds bonds as strong as any.
I was very popular is school, had lots of friends in college, and have always been very social. But when we started having kids, bills to pay, and "real life" worries, the social life seemed to dry up. I'm sure I'm not the only one with that story. What I have found, though, is that through CrossFit, I have made friendships deeper than any I had previously. When you are fighting next to someone towards a common goal, you can't help but become friends.
About The Author
My name is Graham Lutz, and I am the Owner and Head Trainer at Formula CrossFit in Norcross, GA. I have been married to my beautiful wife, Heather, for 8 years and we just had our 4th child two weeks ago! My interest in fitness and nutrition began with the birth of my first son and the realization that if I didn’t change, I wouldn’t see him graduate college. Years of intense research and practice later, my life’s work consists of helping others learn their body and the science and mechanics behind getting in the best shape possible. If it's time for you to make a change, sign up for a Free Class and see what's possible!