6 Things You Learn When Starting CrossFit
The workout program that is endlessly mocked online has grown from what seemed like a fad to a fully fledged institution. As of October 2018, there were 15,500 CrossFit chain gyms (or boxes) in the United States.
The intense fitness regimen focuses on constantly varied functional fitness that combines powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, cardio, bodyweight exercises, and gymnastics. If you’ve never been to a CrossFit class or seen one online, the combination of those movements can be intimidating. You might be thinking what the hell is an Olympic lift? Do I have to do gymnastics? I’m 30 and trip walking up the stairs! WHAT HAVE I DONE?!?! I should have just stayed on the couch.
Yes, you will learn to power clean and no, you don’t have to be able to ring dip like a member of the 1996 Olympic Gymnastics Team.
Embarking on your CrossFit adventure is exciting, victorious, sometimes frustrating, sweaty, and fun. Most of all, you’re going to learn and experience A LOT of new things. Such as…
1. You Will Learn Your Psychical Limits
Starting a new exercise program is hard. Pushing yourself too hard at first is a bad idea for obvious reasons. Sometimes after months or even years of CrossFit you will discover your limit. What exactly is that limit? You’ll know when you get there. Maybe you didn’t realize how tired you were until you started the WOD. You might be hungover. It doesn’t matter.
If you are feeling weak, sick, dehydrated, etc. scale back and slow down. It’s okay. No one cares and we’ve all been there.
This comes as a friendly reminder that rest days are vital to getting stronger and better. Muscles need time to heal as does the rest of your body and mind. If you aren’t able to move fully the possibility of injury increases.
If you’re too sore to workout, stay home!
2. Everyone Has Strengths and Weaknesses
While this statement applies to life in general, it especially applies to CrossFit. No one is good at every single lift or movement, even the guys and gals with the 6-pack abs and quads that look like one of those giant Christmas hams. It helps to start CrossFit with some experience in the gym and lifting, it will be much easier. If this isn’t the case, there are scaling options. Don’t worry, you’ll be churning out power cleans and Sumo deadlifts in no time!
Sometimes your strengths and weaknesses might come as a surprise. There are others who also consider your strengths to be their weaknesses. It is also possible that those guys and gals with the ham quads might be terrible at the thing you’re awesome at.
Since CrossFit is constantly varied, chances to improve and practice are plentiful. With time, those lifts you used to suck at might just become your favorite.
3. Sweating … Get Used To It
CrossFit challenges your body and mind like no other workout. Things are going to get hot and fast! CrossFit boxes have garage doors that are usually opened on nice days regardless of the season. The fresh air and the illusion of being outside is nice but it can get uncomfortable. Not to mention the heat from up to 30 sweaty people dropping heavy barbells over and over again.
Come prepared to sweat. I find it particularly difficult in the summer months and scale back to prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion.
When doing CrossFit or any other physical activity in the heat, wear sweat-wicking clothing, bring water, Gatorade, or some other hydrating beverage with electrolytes, and avoid working on during the hottest parts of the day.
4. People Will Ask You Questions About Your New Fitness Program
Fitness and living a healthy lifestyle are hot topics of conversation. As you become visibly more toned, fit, in shape, or whatever you want to call it, people will notice and will start asking questions.
Your co-workers will be curious as to why you’re limping into the office at 9:00 am after hitting your 1RM squat the previous evening. You’re co-worker might not know what a 1RM squat means but they will ask when you explain why you can barely make it to your desk.
CrossFit has its own language that seems a little intimidating and confusing at first. Using that language outside of CrossFit results in the occasional raised eyebrow and “huh?” looks. Be prepared to explain and have a few videos handy for an example, if necessary.
5. Some Parts of Life Become Much Easier
The functional and full body movement aspects of CrossFit are what make it such an effective fitness regimen. When it comes to CrossFit, functionality is applied to lifts and exercises that incorporate everyday movements and activities.
Deadlifts=picking up a heavy box off the ground.
Farmers carry=bringing in groceries.
Thrusters=picking up something heavy from the ground and placing it at or above eye level.
Heads up, you will become the go-to for helping friends move.
Another important aspect of these functional movements are how they build on each other. A majority of the lifts can be combined. The repeated movements lead to increased strength overall and better performance which obviously leads to gains on other lifts. For example, the quad and core strength developed during front squats will help increase your max on thrusters.
6. You Won’t Hurt Yourself If You Have a Good Coach and If You’re Smart About Training
With any psychical activity injury is possible. There are hundreds of articles and advice columns warning against the dangers of CrossFit mainly the dreaded rhabdomyolysis AKA Uncle Rhabdo, the disemboweled clown drawing that serves as a warning to the unpleasant and possibly deadly aliment.
Rhabdomyolysis is a rare condition where muscle fibers break down due to injury and enter the bloodstream resulting in renal failure. While there are documented cases of rhabdomyolysis caused by CrossFit, at fewer than 200,000 cases per year, it shouldn’t deter anyone from sampling the WODs at their local box.
Training smarter and not harder is the key is avoiding injury and from meeting Uncle Rhabdo.
The complex muscle-confusing movements and lifts of CrossFit also spark concern in the more cautious. A good coach will help, correct your from, and suggest scaling back weight/reps to avoid injury. Don’t listen to someone who says injury is inevitable at CrossFit; they aren’t doing it right. While possible, safety is key.
Don’t forget, people have actually died from slipping on a banana peel.
Don’t be afraid to lift the barbell over your head-it’s going to feel awesome.
