Debate over which exercise regimen, CrossFit or bodybuilding, is more effective has been a hot topic for more than a decade.
Those in both sports have reasons for liking what they are doing.
However, the differences are the scope of what each focuses on.
CrossFit Focus
CrossFit has a wide focus where it is part strength, part endurance, part flexibility and movement.
A typical WOD (workout daily) includes a warm-up, strength training, conditioning, and recovery or cool down exercise.
It doesn’t focus on building muscle or hypertrophy.
Most CrossFit coaches think building muscle comes with CrossFit training so the focus isn’t on hypertrophy.
There are gains to be made with CrossFit strength training and you will gain strength and good technique.
Chances are you won’t have a lot of visible muscle like you would in bodybuilding.
CrossFit isn’t designed to do that but it is designed to make for a healthier body and get into shape.
The workouts are created to simulate motions and ranges people do daily so it increases the ability for daily functioning and endurance.
Bodybuilding
Any type of sport that focuses on one thing will see gains in that one thing.
Bodybuilding focuses solely on building muscle.
The strength training and diet involved to become a bodybuilder is totally different from that of CrossFit.
Bodybuilders work on one specific body part at a time. One day it’s arms and another it’s core.
Repeated workouts on one body part brings results in that area. Then, they move on to another area.
CrossFit Athletes
Some CrossFit athletes that compete in advanced level games have muscles and that may confuse those starting training.
The reason they have visible muscles is because of the amount of time they train.
Competitive CrossFit athletes will workout four to five hours daily.
They vary their routines and movements and the amount of training they do increases muscles.
The Take-Away
Those thinking about starting CrossFit should understand it is a rounded training method meant to improve overall health.
It can help lose weight, gain strength, endurance and get healthy but won’t necessarily give you a muscular body unless you put in a lot of time.
Only focused strength training will substantially build muscle.
