CrossFit Is a Great Workout, But These 8 Alternatives Give You a Better Burn

If you're like me, you've spent a lot of time looking for the perfect workout to help you finally shed pounds and stay energized throughout the day. Beyond weight loss, exercise has been proven to help combat depression and anxiety. Going to the gym has helped, and so has taking walks, but you're still looking for something better. Many people in this situation have shown an interest in a CrossFit program. You may be wondering if that's right for you. Well, there are certainly many perks to CrossFit, but the truth is that there are many alternatives that may give you a better burn.

For those not aware, CrossFit is an exercise program that combines many different types of high-intensity workouts. They could include anything from gymnastics to cardio to weight lifting. You do a different routine every day. Experts believe this is a great way to keep the body moving, which helps you lose weight and build muscle. The issue is that the programs can be expensive and time-consuming. Luckily, we have many alternatives you may consider instead. 

You can find many CrossFit alternatives without the need to join a local gym. All you need to do is stop by the App Store. One of the best alternatives that will give you a better burn is Fitbod. The app provides countless exercises that you can do every day and every week. You can modify the app to provide different workouts based on how much time you've had to recover and the muscles you used last time so you can let them rest and you don't get burned out.

You'll find an almost limitless number of exercises on the app. You can break them down by body part. There's everything from the typical parts like the abs to the back to the trapezius, forearms, and adductors. Some of the most popular exercises on the app include dumbbell bicep curls, cable rows, and an intense isolation exercise called the "dumbbell skull crusher." They'll all give you a great burn.

For something just like CrossFit, consider Street Parking. You wouldn't know it by the name, but this is a great alternative that was developed by two former CrossFit athletes. They used their expertise to put together a great program. You can get a membership to Street Parking at a portion of the cost of CrossFit.

There are many perks to using the Street Parking program over CrossFit. Every day, from Monday to Friday, you get multiple different workouts. There are workouts for all different skill levels and equipment you may have in your home. Most workouts are less than 20 minutes, so you can do them when you have time, or you can do several per day. The programs include running, gymnastics, strength, and others that will keep you busy.

Many people are skittish about trying an official CrossFit program at a gym due to the cost or the inability to get out of the house before or after work. Luckily, there are many programs on YouTube that you can watch for free. One of the best is Fitness Blender. It's a great program that is hosted by two fitness professionals and they have a lot to teach folks of all fitness levels. 

There's a lot to learn by watching Fitness Blender. You can watch their old episodes or subscribe and see what they come up with next. There's a wide variety of workouts, some as short as 10 minutes and as long as 90 minutes. Workouts include exercises with dumbbells, yoga, pilates, your own body weight, and more. Plus, they have warm-up and cool-down videos that will complete the routine.

In recent years, Peloton has been one of the biggest stars in the fitness arena, and you can go to them again if you're looking for a CrossFit alternative that will give you a better burn. No, you don't need to get a Peloton bike. Instead, you can get the app. It provides numerous circuit training and boot camp workouts that are high-intensity in nature.

Once you download the Peloton Digital fitness app, you'll enter into a world of exercise like you never imagined. There are fitness programs for all skill levels, and many of them don't require the use of barbells or gymnastics equipment. Simply start one and see where it takes you. If you do have the money for a Peloton bike, you can also try other high-intensity biking workouts.

Orangetheory Fitness is a smaller organization/gym that offers group fitness classes that aim to offer a full-body workout with supportive coaches. This is a chain, and you may have a location in your state. Orangetheory Fitness wants to be a direct competitor to CrossFit, and they have classes for all skill levels. The coaches are also very supportive. 

When you sign up at Orangetheory Fitness, you're in for a treat. They offer high-intensity interval training. Most classes involve 30 minutes of training on a treadmill and then 30 minutes of training with free weights, medicine balls, and resistance straps. Throughout it all, participants wear a heart-rate monitor so they can stay in the right zone.

If you're looking for an alternative to CrossFit and you're also very acrobatic and flexible, then Tabata may be a good option. Like CrossFit, Tabata routines can be very challenging and high-intensity. However, most Tabata routines can be done almost anywhere, so you may not need to pay for a gym membership.

There's a lot of flexibility when trying Tabata workouts. You don't need equipment for most of the moves. The exercises mostly use your reflexes, balance, and body weight. However, some of the exercises require some type of resistance equipment. The idea is that the routines involve 20 seconds of exercise and 10 seconds of rest over four minutes.

If you're a busy mom who has trouble finding time to exercise, one CrossFit alternative that can give you a better burn is working out with your kids. The idea behind CrossFit is finding often high-intensity exercises that help you burn calories and feel energized. While you may already feel like that when running after your kids, you can increase the burn with specific exercises.

There are many routines you can do with your kids, from riding bikes and playing tennis to practicing yoga and power walking. During the winter, you can play tag in the snow or have a snowball fight. You can often do several of these activities on the same day. You may be tired by the end, but you'll get a great workout in.

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Workouts are another one of the old-school methods that folks use to push their body to the max for ultimate health and fitness. Many people enjoy the flexibility of HIIT workouts, and many even believe that they are actually more intense than CrossFit. 

Before you join HIIT, it's good to know what you're in for. A typical HIIT routine will include everything from jumping jacks and jump squats to plank-ups and jumping lunges. It's best to start slow so you can get acclimated. However, once you get going, you will find that they are very fulfilling workouts.