All about CrossFit: A Beginner's Journey

One yr at CrossFit: From the Beginning
Like most Americans , I made a New Year's Resolution Jan 2016 that's thence cliché I could cry: lose weight as well as 'get healthy.' I've never been a super athletic someone as well as no practise routine has ever really clicked for me. When I turned 25 I started to really notice that my trunk had changed as well as my sedentary lifestyle wasn't doing me whatever favors. I was also sort of lonely. After quitting my total fourth dimension project inwards August 2015 to pursue blogging full-time , I felt thence disconnected during the day. I didn't receive got anyone to speak to as well as I felt cooped upwardly inwards my storey all day. I talked to my friend Noelle virtually how I was feeling virtually my trunk as well as she said she was feeling the same way. She told me dorsum when she lived inwards Louisiana she was a fellow member at CrossFit. I was shocked. I'd solely heard bad things virtually CrossFit as well as it seemed similar the farthest affair from "the workout for me." Somehow she convinced me to acquire to the costless intro storey to larn to a greater extent than virtually CF. One brave , chilly nighttime inwards early on Jan nosotros dragged our asses to CrossFit Virtuosity inwards Greenpoint , close our apartments. I volition never forget that night. The trainer initiative of all explained the basics of Crossfit. It's a mix of gymnastics , weight preparation as well as HIIT (high intensity interval training). He explained that the daily workouts (coined WOD for workout of the day) are highly varied to operate every business office of the trunk , as well as continue it interesting. The trainer gave us a sample WOD to elbow grease that , as well as I call upwardly this real clearly , was solely 8 minutes. I was surprised. Only 8 minutes? How difficult could that be. The answer is f***ing hard. Noelle as well as I joked that for the adjacent iii or 4 days nosotros could barely walk upwardly the stairs as well as would literally "fall" onto the toilet. I decided thence as well as at that topographic point I wanted to brand a alter inwards my life. My parents are both incredibly active as well as receive got ever pushed me to notice an practise that spoke to me. But it had to last my decision. You receive got to brand the selection as well as really believe inwards yourself. So nosotros started Level 1 CrossFit. The Level 1 preparation programme helps beginners joining the programme avoid injury as well as larn the right shape for CF movements. I won't prevarication to you lot , the starting fourth dimension was hard. So hard. Having a workout buddy was crucial specially inwards the freezing NYC wintertime because nosotros kept each other accountable. Some days I felt embarrassed past times my lack of noesis as well as misunderstanding of basic fitness concepts. I didn't fifty-fifty know what a barbell or kettlebell was. I couldn't acquire myself to a total 'squat' position. But I kept going. I was sore , yep , but I felt thence adept virtually myself. Even earlier the weight started to come upwardly off I felt fitter , happier as well as to a greater extent than fulfilled. Most 'athletes' every bit everyone is referred to inwards CrossFit complete Level 1 inwards a few weeks perhaps a few months. But Noelle as well as I were inwards Level 1 for almost vii months. To 'test out' you lot receive got to consummate a physical fitness bear witness (here's the requirements if you're curious). In July nosotros did it , nosotros passed as well as started a whole novel stage of our CrossFit experience - Level 2. It has directly been a total yr (and change) since I joined as well as I couldn't last happier. I receive got lost a total of 15lbs but much to a greater extent than importantly I experience thence slap-up virtually myself , I'm potent , I'm happy as well as I receive got a slap-up community around me. I do mix inwards other exercises into my routine because I similar to continue it interesting as well as refine smaller muscles alongside dissimilar workouts. In the wintertime I ofttimes attend barre , yoga as well as spin classes. In the warmer months I'll do route cycling , running & long walks on balance days. CrossFit has absolutely made me stronger inwards all those activities as well as inwards my solar daytime to solar daytime life (lifting packages , cleaning , going upwardly as well as downwards long flights of stairs & running every bit fast every bit humanly possible earlier they closed the gate on a flying - truthful story!) I was honestly amazed when inwards Nov after real picayune running preparation I was able to consummate a 10k inwards 1 hr as well as half-dozen minutes. CrossFit has definitely helped alongside my stamina , cardio endurance as well as giving me the confidence to elbow grease things I'd never fifty-fifty considered a yr agone (like that half-dozen mile run , aerial yoga or Stand upwardly paddleboarding yoga)

Average Workout at CrossFit
Here's an instance of an average WOD (coincidentally the i I did today)
1000m Rowing
30 Push Ups 
50 Weighted Lunges (using a kettle bell) // RX for women was 16kg but I scaled to 8kg
150 Double Unders // I scaled to 300 unmarried unders
1000m Rowing
This workout was pretty brutal! It took me around twenty minutes piece most of the women at my 'box' finished betwixt 15-17m. For me I elbow grease non to focus likewise much loose energy on my 'ranking' as well as just do the best I tin every unmarried day. That was i of the hardest things for me to acquire used to at CrossFit. It's essential non to compare yourself likewise closely alongside others I similar to call upwardly the phrase "Don't compare your calendar week i to someone else's calendar week 100." While I similar to expect at the 'whiteboard' (which lists everyone's completion times) to justice my functioning or give myself a goal earlier the workout I elbow grease to never allow it tear me down. I know how far I've come upwardly already inwards a yr as well as I'm proud of that.

FAQ's

• Did you lot alter your diet? Many CrossFit athletes adhere to a strict Paleo or 'Whole 30' diet which is brutal; no bread/grains , no dairy , no legumes (like beans or nuts) , no alcohol. I did elbow grease out the Paleo diet for virtually ii weeks but it just wasn't for me. I would say I swallow healthier than I did earlier I started CrossFit fight I receive got non significantly changed my diet. When I operate out , nevertheless , I do experience to a greater extent than inclined to brand improve nutrient choices. I think it's because inwards the dorsum of my heed I know that I don't desire to undo all the real difficult operate I've done. 
• Don't women acquire really bulky if they elevator weights? It's funny because I acquire this enquiry a lot as well as inwards total fairness it was i of my biggest questions when I started CrossFit. The answer is no. Yes , you lot volition run across musculus as well as musculus definition. Think of the dissimilar betwixt a waifish fashion model as well as an athletic woman. I do prefer to expect potent as well as toned but inwards no agency to I experience bulky. To clarify , you lot cannot lose fatty inwards i spot at a fourth dimension , you lot volition solely cut your overall trunk fatty percent to run across results inwards areas where you lot desire it. I wish that wasn't the instance , my friends , but it is. Here is a really slap-up article that explains this 'bulky' myth in detail. That beingness said CrossFit has shown me to expect at my trunk differently. When I initiative of all started all I cared virtually was the let on on the scale or extra fatty on my tummy/hips. Now that I've been able to cut my overall trunk fatty percent I focus on dissimilar things on having lean but muscular thighs and strong toned arms. I've ever looked to actresses similar Jennifer Lawrence or Jessica Biel who receive got slap-up muscle definition but are non 'super skinny' as well as that's the trunk type I'm personally aiming for. 
• Don't you lot acquire injured if you lot do CrossFit? This is a hotly debated declaration inwards the fitness world. I tin say that I receive got yet to sustain an injury at CrossFit (except soreness!) While I don't believe CrossFit is inherently unsafe , I do think that it tin evoke an unhealthy storey of competition especially from highly competitive individuals. I think people ofttimes force themselves likewise difficult as well as , inwards non listening to their trunk as well as their physical limitations , tin easily acquire injured inwards CrossFit. For me I am real cautious even sometimes perhaps to a sight detriment to my progress. I am careful to scale my workouts appropriately according to my ain forcefulness as well as stamina as well as the advice of my coaches. I hash out this afterwards inwards the 'tips' department below but I desire to stress that it's very important to take away heed to your coaches as well as take away heed to your body. 
• Isn't CrossFit an intimidating 'boys club'? This was i of the misconceptions I had when I initiative of all considered joining CrossFit. However , according to 2014 enquiry CrossFit participation is almost exactly 50/50 amid men as well as women. The classes I attend commonly receive got slightly to a greater extent than men than women but of course of teaching every 'box' is different. I won't prevarication , sometimes storey tin acquire a picayune 'bro'-ish but I experience every bit idea the men really assist motivate the women. For instance the guys inwards my storey are ever really encouraging , "go Rachel , you lot tin do it!" As for being intimidating , yep CrossFit tin last a picayune intimidating at initiative of all specially for someone similar me who had ZERO fitness background. But I think similar anything you lot receive got to just acquire for it! Listen to your coaches , take away heed to your trunk as well as just do your best.
• How much does CrossFit cost? CrossFit tin last expensive. My gym costs $250/month for an unlimited monthly membership. Because of my flexible schedule I accept wages of an off-peak membership pregnant I tin solely acquire to classes that are non during busy times (I tin attend M-F 9a , 12p , 8p classes) CrossFit is a franchise , nevertheless , thence every gym has a dissimilar pricing model. I receive got seen gyms inwards smaller cities that toll as little every bit $100/month to large metropolis boxes charging $330 inwards L.A. It is 100% a fiscal commitment. CrossFit gyms mostly pay their employees good because you lot are beingness coached. Unlike other fitness classes where you lot powerfulness just last next atomic number 82 inwards my experience CrossFit is highly personalized as well as coaches operate difficult to genuinely train the members. For me it's an incredible worthwhile investment inwards my wellness , my wellbeing as well as my confidence! It could assist salvage tons on medical costs inwards the hereafter every bit well. Being overweight or obese tin contribute to strokes , including high cholesterol , high blood saccharide , as well as heart disease.
• What's your exact workout routine? I don't receive got a workout routine 100% laid inwards rock but on a weekly reason my routine is something similar this:
• Monday: CrossFit , 1 hour
• Tuesday: Run , Cycle outdoors or Spinning Class ~45m
• Wednesday: CrossFit 1 hour
• Thursday: CrossFit 1 hour
• Friday: Barre Class 50m
• Saturday: Rest solar daytime (no exercise OR long walk or cycling around the City alongside my boyfriend)
• Sunday: Long bike ride (20-50 miles) or CycleCore Class (45m cycle , 30m strength training)

Tips for Beginners Starting CrossFit

• Be prepared. Bring a H2O bottle & last prepare to sweat! I commonly article of apparel leggings (I similar Lululemon , Beyond Yoga & Athleta) a supportive sports bra as well as a tank top. 
• Listen as well as inquire questions. At the starting fourth dimension I was thence scared coming to storey as well as non beingness able to do the workout. That's okay! You don't receive got to do the workout just how it is written (also known every bit doing the workout 'RX') Coaches tin provide appropriate scaling but last certain to inquire as well as don't overextend as well as cease upwardly hurting yourself. Also it's imperative to take away heed carefully every bit the coaches explicate the warm ups as well as workouts. CrossFit is non a 'hand-holding' gym experience. 
• Go alongside a friend. This is without a incertitude the best advice I experience I tin personally give. It's non tardily at initiative of all as well as having someone to workout alongside as well as continue you lot accountable for really showing upwardly to storey is very important. Noelle is my workout buddy as well as we definitely prefer to acquire together but nosotros also do acquire on our ain if the other isn't able to brand it. If you don't receive got someone to acquire alongside you lot brand friends inwards the class! We're all suffering together may every bit good brand some acquaintances or fifty-fifty friends. 

I hope you lot guys enjoyed this post! All my fitness posts here. If you lot receive got specific questions write them below!