Hi, I’m Kathleen, and I’m a former Crossfit hater. But when I decided to try Crossfit, I realized how wrong I was. I went from an outspoken Crossfit hater, to a Crossfit athlete, to now a former Crossfit athlete. While going through the full cycle, I learned a thing or two about the sport. I’m still passionate about what it has to offer. Here are a few reasons why I believe every human should try Crossfit at least a few times for character improvement.
Your Comfort Zone Makes You Weak
No, I’m not talking about a target heart rate or breaking a sweat. Before I decided to try Crossfit, I thought I pushed myself at the gym every day. Dabbling in new exercises, running on the treadmill past where I really felt like it… I thought I was pretty tough. As it turns out, I didn’t have the slightest idea of what it means to do something I really didn’t want to do.
The first day I walked into Crossfit, there were 4 giant ropes hanging from the ceiling. I just thought…
Nope. Nope nope nope.
I didn’t climb the rope that day, but I began on a series of other exercises out of my comfort zone, increasing the level of discomfort each time. Barbells always scared me, but I learned to used them anyway. Now they’re like an extension of my own body. The rig is pretty dang intimidating, but in no time, you’ll learn to swing all over it like it’s nothing. And yes, you too will learn to climb the rope, and love it. That’s the best part about really pushing yourself out of your exercise comfort zone. When you try workouts that really scare you, you get addicted to the feeling of having overcome your fear, and you can’t wait to come back for more. (Way better than having to force yourself out the door, right?)
Settling into Pain is an Essential Life Skill
I sat cross-legged on our bed, alone. Gritting my teeth, gripping hair between my fingers. My body was out of tears, and I was left rocking back and forth, coughing, trying to breathe, in place of crying. My fiancé was deployed in Syria, we hadn’t talked for days, and reports of bombings in his area were flooding my newsfeed. I literally whimpered from the physical, intense gut pain of missing him. I didn’t know how I could last 30 more seconds alone in the quiet of our apartment, nonetheless another 5 months of deployment. The idea of making it through felt literally impossible. When I hit this massive, cold, mental brick wall, a quiet reminder surfaces through the internal chaos.
I’ve been here before.
Crossfit athletes rarely quit a workout. The culture isn’t one where you shave a few reps, or cut a set short because it’s burning. When you get to this point, you look around, and everyone else is still going. So you find a way. In most WODs, you will come to a dark, dark place, where you tell yourself you’re done. You’re only 4 minutes in, you have another 16 to go, and the pain is too great. This is where you learn the skill of telling yourself “no”. You don’t know how you’ll get through, but you don’t have to know how you’ll get through. You commit to doing it anyway. Whatever it takes. I’ve drawn on this exact skill many times when my husband has been deployed, and then some.
On Quitting
We live in a culture of weakness. A culture of quitting. In relationships, in jobs, hobbies, in nearly every commitment we make. We can’t stand to be uncomfortable. Despite this ugly, privileged habit, eventually life will deal us cards that we can’t quit. Like deployment. Like loss. At some point, we have to be capable of dealing with it. Crossfit will teach you, on an entry level, what it means to be okay with being uncomfortable. What it means to be human. As a species, we evolved to thrive in discomfort. And our habit of succumbing to every whim of discomfort makes our lives feel meaningless & depressed. Crossfit taught me how to feel pain, feel the discomfort of growth, and learn to settle into it, rather run from it. And I grew. On a level I never even came close to feeling at a regular gym for years.
It’s the Only Real “No Judgement” Zone
When you decide to try Crossfit, you will see a wide variety of body types. Believe me. No one cares what you look like. No one cares what you lift. If you push yourself, you will be respected. If you cheat and excessively complain, you won’t. It’s that simple. I grew blissfully used to this environment, and I miss it since leaving. At the regular gym, I’m routinely approached by men & women alike who comment on my build. They may not mean ill, but I really don’t care what you think of my body. I really, really don’t. At the same time, I get dirty looks from other gym-goers when I drop weights, or perform aggressive exercises out of many peoples’ comfort zones. (All within gym rules.) I’ll say it again. I really don’t care what you think of my workout routine.
I workout to push my body and grow my character. I don’t have leftover time or energy to criticize other peoples’ bodies or workout routines, and I’m grateful to Crossfit for instilling this mentality. Because it wasn’t my mentality back when I was a Crossfit hater.
We All Need a Daily Serving of Humble Pie
I thought I was hot stuff before I decided to try Crossfit. I regularly flexed in the right light to bring up a little definition, snapped selfies, and posted all about #fitlife. When I caved and went to try Crossfit, my ego was squashed pretty fast. Crossfit athletes are seriously fit. My second time at the gym, I got my butt kicked by a woman 8-months pregnant, snatching about twice the weight I was. When you work out with a community like Crossfit, there’s always a bigger fish. There’s always someone stronger and faster than you. This aspect is vital in keeping egos in check, and creating a healthy, humble group of people.
In case you’re wondering, pre-Crossfit Kathleen couldn’t hold a candle to post-Crossfit Kathleen. In strength, stamina, or build. That egotistical loud-mouthed Crossfit critic was a bunch of fitness smoke & mirrors… as are most.
The Community is Unmatched
When it comes to diet & exercise, we get it. We know that we need to eat well and work out in order to improve our health. However, we regularly overlook one of the greatest aspects of fitness. When I decided to try Crossfit, I learned that community is a major factor in improving fitness. Having friends at the gym will encourage you to go to the gym. And if you have friends that push themselves, you will push yourself too.
I was especially fortunate to have our amazing Badger Crossfit family during my time in the sport. I might be biased, but it has to be one of the best. The positive, encouraging, humble group of athletes in most Crossfit gyms is enough reason to try Crossfit in itself. We’re all intimidated to enter new social groups, but don’t worry. You will be welcomed with open arms.
Form is Everything. And you need to learn It.
One of the common myths circulated by Crossfit critics is that Crossfit doesn’t teach good lifting form. I have to laugh every time I hear this idea, because I see way worse lifting form at the globo gym I now attend than I ever did at Crossfit. Of course, some coaches are better than others. (Badger Crossfit has incredibly good coaching.) But when push comes to shove, some coaching is better than none. And most regular gym-goers have never had decent form instruction to save their life.
Even if you don’t decide to try Crossfit, it’s important to have some professional instruction in lifting form. Whether it be a Crossfit coach, a personal trainer, or an olympic lifting coach. The problem is that most Crossfit critics do nothing more than circulate on-trend “tips” they heard from their gym buddies. Most of it’s unsubstantiated. When I decided to try Crossfit, it opened my world to quality coaching, which is something I was just too prideful & cheap to consider before.
Try Crossfit to Change Your Perception of the Human Body
I don’t want to lift heavy because I don’t want to get “big”.
I used to say it. Most of us women have said it. But I’m going to call it out for what it is. It’s an excuse to stay in your comfort zone, and it’s ugly insecurity.
Before I ever decided to try Crossfit, I was way too concerned with social media mirror selfies. I thought fitness was about the shape of your body. I’m overwhelmingly grateful to Crossfit for kicking this ugly mentality. Walk into a Crossfit gym, and you’ll notice something is missing. There are no mirrors. Because functional fitness is not about what you look like. It’s about what you can do. How you can grow.
Crossfit built in me real confidence. The kind that doesn’t need mirror selfies and social media likes to feel accomplished. I feel accomplished when I push myself through that dark place of exhaustion, where my lungs feel like they’re bleeding and every muscle is begging to stop. When I improve a new gymnastics skill, or PR a lift. A sexy body is an awesome side-effect of fitness, but it’s far from the reason I work out anymore.
I freaking love moving heavy weights. And I freaking love having muscle. It means I can carry giant bags of livestock feed without straining anything, and do a heck of a job demo-ing for our remodel. And I love knowing I have a man who is strong enough himself that he loves my build too. Strong women will have muscle. That’s healthy. That’s beautiful. And I’m way over pandering to a society that says we shouldn’t look strong. Thank you, Crossfit, for killing that harmful lifelong mentality, as well.
Disclaimer: We’re not professionals or experts on this topic, so all we can do is share our own personal experience in hopes that it helps you in your journey! We always recommend consulting with the pros directly.