Why I love Crossfit (and my coach)

Ah yeh it probably was monthly.. Should have maybe extended my 10 second Google into a 20 second Google. I am very intrigued by CrossFit now. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!

$175 a week? That's crazy! are you sure that isn't the monthly fee? - if it is the weekly fee that is way more expensive than any box I have come across (In Brisbane).

My Box/Gym is $180 per month (Still expensive, but cheaper than a $60  monthly gym membership + a weekly personal trailer $35 x4 [total $200])

CrossFit isn't going to be for everyone one, but it is something I have found that works for me, as if I don't love something, I will find a way to avoid it.

But, as with everything, you have to find something that works for you.


BTW: Fantastic job on Quitting smoking!

In all seriousness I would love to develop that kind of love for something. Over the years I have struggled with many types of addiction and so when I hear that term it scares me.. I never want anything to have a hold over me again after this.. Food is my last nemesis.

Love for life? Yes please. Addiction to anything, fuck no.

(FYI - this month makes one year without a cigarette for me!)

I'm not sure I could stretch my current budget to $175/week (the cheapest of the two locals I found) but maybe once I stop buying junk food with my money I'll have some to channel elsewhere!

For now, it's Wii Fit, not CrossFit.

To give an idea of a workout I did yesterday (and loved) and what was going through my head at the time.

Workout:

for 9 minutes do:

15 Situps
10 Deadlifts (25kg)
5 Snatches (25kg) -google or youtube for info

(repeat until the 9 minutes is complete - your score is how many times you complete the full cycle + what rep you got up to)

this is what went on in my head....

doing the 1st round situps: this is good, making good time, I should be able to get 3 or 4 rounds at least.
doing the 1st round deadlift: pffft, this is easy, I should have picked a heavier weight
doing the 1st round of snatch: mmmm this is hard, but it is only 5 at a time so I am fine.

doing the 2nd round situps: okay, one round done, I can keep going, got a good pace
doing the 2nd round deadlift: straight to the deadlifts, just keep moving, the weight is light so lets move quickly
doing the 2nd round of snatch: fuck... this is heavy, but only 5... keep moving... okay.. (in the mean time Ruth is counting down the reps 5, 4, 3, come on two more! 2, 1

doing the 3rd round situps: keep moving, just keep moving, you have time to finish a third round... I can't slow down... must keep moving
doing the 3rd round deadlift: why is this suddenly heavier! focus! Only 10 and then back to the Snatches
doing the 3rd round of snatch: okay.. you can do this. One at a time. (one done) okay, breath, one more (another one as Ruth is chearing me on) SHIT, FUCK! I want to quit, how can I get out of this??? okay (looks at the clock, 2 1/2 minutes to go), pick up the bar, you need to pick up the bar (one more) okay only 2 to go! (finish the round).


doing the 4th round situps: must...keep...moving...almost...finished
doing the 4th round deadlift: (looks at clock, only 90 seconds to go) come on, I  can finish these deadlifts and get on to the snatches.
doing the 4th round of snatch: (30 seconds lift) COME ON! ONE! TWO (10 seconds left!) THREE and TIMES UP!

I then prompt sit on the floor and get a high-5 from Ruth and my score is 3 completed rounds + 3 Snatches.

I feel completely exhausted by am so happy that I got through this workout. I wanted to quit, but I made it.


If I had a choice between walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes, or this 9 minutes of intense crazy workout, I would pick this every time.
If I had to choose between spending time swimming in a pool or lifting weights, I would pick weights every time.

Heck, even if a magic fairy came and made me thin and told me I never had to exercise again... I would still choose to spend an hour 4 to 5 afternoons a week at CrossFit

If you asked me what get me more satisfaction, eating junk food, or finishing a tough CrossFit work out, I would choose CrossFit.

It is really like nothing I have been addicted to before.

My addiction to food makes me feel sedate and warm and sleepy, but my addiction  to CrossFit makes me feel alive and wired and like I can take on the world (and tell everyone about it ^_^). It is actually CrossFit that was the deciding factor in getting the surgery. There are so many gymnastic moves that I just can't do because of my size. I want to do pull ups, but I can't even hold my own weight on a bar, let alone lift it. I want to do toe pushups, but my body is too heavy for me to push up back up (and my stomach touches the ground). I want to do full box jumps, but my weight makes it too hard to jump that high (but I can jump onto a 16" box (very proud of this!). Crossfit makes me want to be strong, and fit (not just Thin).

I would caller it more like a mixture between boot camp, a team obstacle course and Olympic lifting. And one big difference is the rush/adrenaline, and well as the group mentality to finish. About to start class... Today is back squats!

Edit: as for the cost, it is cheaper than a gym membership with a personal trainer once a week. (I would turn up for the personal trainer, but bo go any other time)

It's very big in the 'paleo community', Katey - it's more about functional fitness than traditional circuit training. They have fancy terms like WOD (work out of the day) and AMRAP (as many reps as possible) They even have Crossfit Games now !!! As I said, I really did love it, but it's quite exi - around here, anyway!

Heard of it but assumed it was some Danoz Direct type apparatus lol

After doing some intensive 10-second Googling it sounds like circuit training.. ie going to the gym and mvoing from one small activity to the next in a big circle with other people. What makes it different and worth the money? What would make it so different that someone morbidly obese who despises exercise would ever be able to say 'I love it'....?

Might spend another 10 seconds Googling prices though...... lol

I did Crossfit for 4 weeks and absolutely LOVED it ! It's quite expensive, though !

Fantastic that you are doing something that you enjoy. I love the boxing class I do, probably my personal fave, will be buting to get back to that post op :-)

Many of you may have heard of the ‘dangerous’ and ‘extreme sport' of CrossFit, some know it as 'cult'... But I love it.

Honestly, I have always hated exercise, but CrossFit is the one thing I have found that I not only want to do, but feel deprived if I miss a day. (I have now been doing CrossFit for 2 years)

 

But first some myths I have heard…

 

Myth: CrossFit is dangerous and you will get hurt.

Truth: CrossFit can be dangerous if you don’t respect your limitations. But if you are honest with yourself and your coaches, you can work safely and mod* appropriately.

 

Myth: CrossFit is hard and only really fit people can do it.

Truth: Every workout and movement can be adjusted; they don’t expect you to walk in and be able to do everything. You can start at whatever level you can manage, can’t do push-ups - try knee push-ups, can’t do knee push-ups – try wall push-ups etc.

 

Myth: You will be judged if you are overweight/unfit and do CrossFit.

Truth: I have never felt judged, or out of place because of my weight - quite the opposite actually. I was once told that in CrossFit, the last person to finish the workout is cheered on louder than the one who finished first. This is due to the mentality that as you finish your workout you then go and cheer on your neighbour. And while it might feel a little strange at first to have 4 or 5 people cheering for you as you finish your last few reps**, it really makes you feel supported and that others are celebrating your achievements along with you.

 

Myth: CrossFit is a cult

Truth: It is not a cult, but it is does share some cultish elements. 1) it is addictive 2) you get to know and start socialising with other CrossFitters 3) you enjoy it so much that you want all your friends and family to try it

 

Myth: The coaches with not approve of a VSG

Truth: Every coach is going to be different, but when I told my coach about my plan to get a sleeve, he was fine with it. He asked me what is was officially called, and said he would do some research on the procedure, so that when I started back (after 6 weeks) I would be able to exercise without risk to my stomach/surgery site.

 

So what does your average CrossFit class involve?… each box*** works differently, but this is how my box works.

It is one hour class that starts with and explanation of what the workout is, followed by a demonstration/lesson on how to do the movements and then you warm up. Once the warm-up is completed you do the workout (often you work in a pair, with one person doing the workout, and the other counting your reps/cheering you on) which usually takes between 12 and 25 minutes. After the main exercise you often have a second mini workout which will be something along the lines of ‘do as many squats as you can in 3 minutes (like a said, if you can’t squat, they will having you working on something else, eg: siting up and down off a bench).

 

Tips for people thinking about trying CrossFit.

- Find a good box/gym. Just like personal trainers, there are good and bad coaches. If you feel that they are not listening to you/ not helping you – leave and try a different gym

- Give it at least a month. I hated it the first few weeks, but my 6 weeks I was hooked.

- Talk to your coaches about your short and long term goals, and be honest about any injuries or health issues that may affect you during exercise. It is in their interest and yours to keep you healthy and exercising

 

Like I said, I really love CrossFit, and I think it is a great exercise for people who haven’t found an exercise they enjoy.

If anyone has any questions or would like to know more about my experience with CrossFit, please let me know.

 

CrossFit lingo:

*Mod – to modify your workout to fit your fitness level/ability

**Reps – repetitions or individual movements

***Box – CrossFit gym