What is CrossFit?

photo credit: GNC & Michael Mauro

Lately my blog posts, tweets, Facebook updates, Instagram photos and my real life conversations, have revolved around CrossFit.  Some may say that I’ve become obsessed or addicted to CrossFit, which could be a fair statement.

I’ve been addicted to a lot of things in the past.  Mostly things that are bad for me.  Beer, cigarettes, and about every kind of bad food you can name off, so for me to be addicted to or obsessed with, something that is improving my health, I’m more than OK with that.

Since I’ve been talking about and posting about CrossFit so often, it’s no surprise that I’ve had to explain what it is to people and I thought I would take the time to explain it here to you guys.

So, WHAT is CrossFit?

This is from the CrossFit website:

The CrossFit program is designed for universal scalability making it the perfect application for any committed individual regardless of experience. We’ve used our same routines for elderly individuals with heart disease and cage fighters one month out from televised bouts. We scale load and intensity; we don’t change programs.”

This is from the CrossFit YouTube page:

CrossFit is an effective way to get fit. Anyone can do it. It is a fitness program that combines a wide variety of functional movements into a timed or scored workout. We do pull-ups, squats, push-ups, weightlifting, gymnastics, running, rowing, and a host of other movements. Always varied, always changing, always producing results. Kids, cops, firefighters, soccer moms, Navy SEALS, and grandmas all do CrossFit. In fact, hundreds of thousands worldwide have followed our workouts and distinguished themselves in combat, the streets, the ring, stadiums, gyms and homes. Welcome.”

The way I describe CrossFit to people is as follows; It’s fully functional movements that help you in your everyday life, done at a high intensity, for a good workout and cardio burn.  It’s about not laying on your back on a bench pushing weight up and down every 5 minutes or simply curling weight up and down a certain number of reps or sets.  When would you do that in your everyday life?  CrossFit is more about picking weight up using your legs, your back and your arms all at the same time, the same way you would your kids or your groceries. It’s about being able to move your own bodyweight in case you’re ever in a situation that calls for that.  I usually use the example of “what if you fell off a cliff and needed to pull your own body weight up to save your life” but yesterday one of my clients said to me “I don’t walk near cliffs. Why would I be near a cliff?”, which just kind of threw that example right now the door for me, but you get the point.

CrossFit is for everyone and the workouts you see on TV and YouTube are tough, I won’t lie, but you work your way up to those and you control your own weight and intensity. Actually, your coach controls your weight and teaches you how to do everything correctly before you jump in head first.  If you’re new, you’re not lifting the same weight as Rich Froning or Iceland Annie.  It’s scalable for everyone at every level.  You don’t need to be an “Elite” athlete to do CrossFit and you don’t have to be “in shape” to start.

The big thing to know about CrossFit is that it’s not about anyone else but YOU!  When working out with other CrossFitters no one judges you on what kind of shape you’re in or what weight your lifting or how long it took you to finish your workout.  Everyone else in your gym (known as a BOX) is more than likely your biggest supporter and there to help you learn and encourage you through the process.  In my personal opinion, the CrossFit community is the biggest upsell for joining a box.  It’s amazing!

photo credit: GNC & Michael Mauro

CrossFit is good for me.  The results are undeniable.  I bought 29” pants the other week and they’re already a bit too big for me.  I use to wear a 39” pant!  The injuries to my hips and wrists from my motorcycle accident have prevented me from training how I wanted to for the past 4 years but I’ve made more progress doing CrossFit in the last 4 months than years of physiotherapy and chiropractic therapy did for me.  I was actually told I was never going to get better by three doctors and I’m happy to say I’m feeling better than I was 3 years ago.

I’m physically fit, I have good cardio, my strength has improved, and I can do every day movements that use to cause me excruciating pain, almost pain free.

How can I not be obsessed with CrossFit?