Crossfit: Take The Plunge, Join The Cult

I had a reader email me and ask for my advice on Joining a Crossfit gym. He had some worries about it though. I shot him an email back with some quick advice. I told him I would write an article to elaborate on it. I’m sure from all my talking many of you are considering joining a box as well. Box is crossfit slang for the gym. If you are considering it then you have probably looked around. I googled and watched Youtube Videos on it. I came across the fictional character Pukie The Clown. Puking is no stranger to crossfit. Hell I have puked a few times. Maybe three. It happens and you move on. So let’s get into some of my thoughts on drinking the Crossfit kool aid.

 

Deciding To Join

You’ve made the decision that you want to do crossfit. Awesome congrats! Now you need to find a box to join. When I was looking for one I just googled “Crossfit Nashville”.  Later I discovered the Crossfit map. Just plug in your location and find what’s close. Once I had a list of several boxes in the area I started checking them out. I went to the websites and read reviews on them. I stalked their Facebook pages.  You want to find a community you will like and good coaches. Crossfit is not like your 24 hour gyms. You will be working out with groups in class and be taught by coaches. Although all crossfit boxes will have tight-knit communities you might not fit in all of those. I tried to find one that closely matched my philosophies. I chose Crossfit Barefoot. I knew I chose right when I met the head coach and saw his tactical ball cap and infidel jacket. My kinda people.

Concerns About Crossfit

The reader had some worries. He’s in his late 40’s, overweight and has not been active. He is worried about both being hurt and not being able to perform. I’m sure he has watched YouTube videos on Crossfit. He has seen the results of forging elite fitness. The top level Crossfit Athletes are amazing. Some of the workouts are hard as shit. No sugar-coating that. You are not in their competing with Rich Fronning though. You are only competing with yourself. Give it everything you can.  Workouts will be modified to your fitness level. The point being to get the work done as efficiently as you can. If you need to do push ups on your knees it’s better than struggling to get a few regular ones  done with bad form. Which brings us to our next point. Bad Form.

 

Good Coaches

I’m still working on the bad form thing. I have some mobility issues caused by some hyper flexibility and years of bad posture. Luckily I have good coaches. They don’t let me get away with bad form. They make sure we are being safe. That’s critical in searching for a box. I’ve heard of horror stories of bad coaches that get their clients injured. To which the free market makes sure they stop getting clients. You are able to quickly decide if you have a coach that is concerned with your safety. They will still push you to give all you have to give and more. But in a safe manner. They want you to get stronger not hurt. Before you start they will ask about injuries and athletic experience to judge your conditioning. They will work to make your injuries better not do more damage.

Join The Suck

I also told the reader the first few weeks are going to suck. Period. You will hurt in places you didn’t even know you had. Simple tasks like sitting on the toilet will become a chore after a day with squats. The first class is going to suck a lot. You won’t know what to expect. You will probably hype it up worse in your mind. The movements will be all new to you. Your ass will be handed to you. The second class might be worse though. Your body will be racked with pain still by the time you have to go back. I remember my second class I could hardly get out the car my legs hurt so bad. When Coach Nick said to warm up with air squats I cringed. After a few though it actually started feeling better. I left that second class feeling better than I went in. Just tired and needing a nap. I would say if you make it through the second class your good. I talked a friend of mine into going once. He swore they tried to kill him and hurt for a few weeks after. Don’t be like him. Man UP!

 

So I hope this covers all the questions you might have on joining a crossfit box. Will you puke? Maybe. Probably at some point. Will you be sore? Definitely. Will you get stronger and more fit? Hell Yes!

 

 

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