Crossfit and Diabetes

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Permalink Reply by Jay on May 8, 2009 at 6:35am

Terry,

I'm right there with you my friend. This is a phenomenal system! I'm working with a local affiliate on a business level and learning about the program on a personal level. It is an absolutely great thing to incorporate into my routine, which is focused on a lot of functional training towards martial arts applications.

In regards to blood sugar, I could see how it would drop it big time. I'm on the front end of getting my type 2/1.5 under control and am always a bit high at this point so it's not as much of an issue for me right now. I know there is an entire CF course on nutrition though and it has to address diabetes/metabolic dysfunctions in some way. I'll do some more research and pose the question to the gym owner I'm working with and get back to you.

In the meantime, work it at reasonable levels, watch your sugars, and keep glucose handy.

J

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Permalink Reply by heather turek on May 8, 2009 at 12:00pm

Thanks for sharing that link with us! i've been wanting to learn more about crossfit for awhile now. from what i understand it is a circuit training type thing right??

I am doing something similar to it but am in the gym longer and for 5 days a week instead of 6.

the problems i have been running in to is my adrenals kicking in and jacking up my BG and the my BG divebombing later- like an hour or 2 after workout and then again 5 hours after my workout.

have you ran into anything like this?

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Permalink Reply by Terry Keelan on May 8, 2009 at 6:41pm

Hi, heather.

Crossfit isn't really a circuit training, thing. It's more variable. You might do the same thing for a workout, but you'll do it really fast and really hard for the whole workout. You'll see.

The issue with jacked up BGs and then divebombing is pretty common. There's a discussion about it on the front page of tuDiabetes. Managing it is different for everyone, but the general approach is to start exercising with slightly elevated BGs, reduce you basal rate by 25 to 50% if you're on a pump starting an hour or two ahead of time, monitor often, take carbs while exercising and monitor closely afterwards. Check out the discussion here.

Terry

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Permalink Reply by walter zeankowski on May 24, 2009 at 5:52am

looking to get into it. the functional strength sans bulk will help me more in my activities (climb/bike/paddle/hike). carrying too much useless muscle right now. it ain't cheap though! affiliate near me is $750 to buy in and $150 per month! the $750 is ten 1 on 1 lessons with the owner to get you up to speed so as not to slow down the rest of the class when you join in. i did a test to see if i could handle the workload. the owner had me run .25 mile carrying a 20 lb med ball, dips to failure, pullups to failure, pushups to failure, one minute of situps and 10 sets of tabatha squats. all without stopping. almost spit my lungs up. i did it though and beat a nyc firefighter from a rescue unit! (he stopped halfway through the run). whatever doesn't make you stronger, kills you!

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Permalink Reply by Terry Keelan on May 31, 2009 at 10:28pm

Walter, It IS expensive. Too expensive for me. The 'basic fitness' test I took at the local Crossfit consisted of 500 meter row, 40 squats, 30 situps, 20 pushups and 10 pullups for time. My time was 6:10 - I was crapping out on the pullups. The top time there is 2:45.

Anyway, it's a system you can follow on your own. For $25/year I bought a subscription to the online "Crossfit Journal". The Crossfit site includes a 'workout of the day' each day, as does the site for the local affiliate. There are also iPhone apps which will give you a 'workout of the day' in the crossfit style.

I need to be fit, I like to push myself and I would enjoy the competition. But the fact is that 'elite fitness' is not what I need or crave right now. I'm happy with more fit than 90% of my peers. :)

I won't be getting the training in weightlifting or gymnastics that I'd like, but that will come one day.

Terry

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Permalink Reply by Emily on September 22, 2009 at 5:42pm

i LOVE crossfit its the only thing i can do that doesnt screw my bg 4 the rest of the day. i run and i have to eat like 2 poptarts b4 practicew and i still get low in the middle of it....i just eat an apple b4 crossfit and im fine i love it

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