My CrossFit Experience: 6 Months In
May 29th, 2019.
This was the day I left my comfy, cozy bodybuilding/weightlifting world and entered into the realm of mirrorless gyms, chalk-coated clothing, and sweat-soaked shirts.
Here I am a little over 7 months later, stronger, leaner, and more athletic than I’ve been in my entire life. My world no longer focuses on aesthetics and appearances. Instead, it’s all about strength, endurance, and mental toughness.
I’ve met some genuinely amazing people.
Graduating from college and immediately working from home is a hard transition. I went from seeing people and interacting with people on a daily basis to being home with just me and my cats all day every day. That’s really not a great combo for someone who is introverted and suffers from anxiety and depression.
CrossFit has made me much more outgoing and I’ve created friendships that are probably unbreakable. There’s just something about suffering through a workout with a bunch of people that creates an instant bond. Plus, everyone is so encouraging and positive towards each other. We’re all suffering together, we’re all cheering each other on, and we’re all there to better ourselves in one way, shape, or form.
The price is 100% worth it.
Memberships to a CrossFit box are notoriously more expensive than a regular gym, but there are several good reasons for that. My monthly membership fee supports a local business, provides me with a trainer, keeps me from having to write my own workouts, gives me access to a beautiful gym that is not overflowing with #gymbros, creates an amazing community with like-minded people, and so much more.
For me, paying more each month for an amazing community that encourages me, breaks me out of my shell, and pushes me to be my best is hands down worth the cost.
I’ve come to realize just how powerful my body is.
My mind gives up so much sooner than my body, and if I can just mentally push through a workout, I know I’ll come out on the other side pretty darn proud of myself for finishing. I used to be super nervous and scared when I saw something challenging programmed for that day. Now I look at it with excitement. I wonder just how much that workout is going to suck but I’m somehow excited for that feeling of suffering.
Pacing myself in workouts is KEY.
When I first started, I was in decent shape, but not in great cardiovascular shape. Workouts were hard for me because I’d get out of breath and have to take more time than I would’ve liked to get my heart rate down. I’d dread intra-workout runs mixed with barbell movements because that was a recipe for me to die.
Funnily enough, I now look at our intra-workout runs and sets of burpees as a chance for me to catch my breath and slow down my heart rate enough to continue the workout without having to stop…
I’ve learned that it’s not about going balls to the wall at the start of every workout or having to do every workout unbroken. Pacing is smart, breaking things down into sets is good, and setting small, manageable goals for a workout is fantastic.
Okay, this is a complete side note, but a few weeks back we had to run 800m after a workout and I didn’t have to stop a SINGLE time! And just last week we had to do a workout with running followed by strength movements and again, I didn’t have to stop! I was so freaking proud of myself.
What’s Next?
2019 was a year of so many changes – graduation, moving, not being hired, starting my own business – and some health-related things definitely fell off the radar. One of those being diet. Since I’m home all day, it’s easy for me to drink coffee until 3 PM, snack on anything sugary and sweet, and have my first nutritious meal at 8 PM after I get home from the gym… Not great.
2020 is going to focus on getting my diet back in check and truly creating a workout schedule that fits with my daily routine and keeps me accountable. While I love my 6:30 PM classes, it’s so easy to use the “I’m tired and it’s already late” excuse to not go to the gym. No more of that in 2020!
~abigail gray
