I could be wrong, but I don’t think anyone has ever just woken up one morning and said, “Yes, CrossFit is for me. It’s the thing I want to do!”
I think most people go through a period of self-doubt about this whole “CrossFit thing.” I was certainly no different…
We wonder if we are in shape enough, fit enough, strong enough, fast enough, or good enough to do this thing we see on TV and all over the internet.
We wonder if we will fit in, if people will talk about how slow we are or weak we are, if we are wearing the right shoes and clothes, and if we will be talking the right lingo with the AMRAPs and the OMEMs and the WODs and the Paleo and the Zone.
It is also probably safe to say that CrossFit is in fact not for everyone. And that is OK. Anyone CAN do CrossFit, not everyone WANTS to. But I do think that there is a very large demographic that can take advantage of the unique fitness structure that CrossFit is based on.
See if you fit into one or more of these categories. If you do, maybe you should at least give this “CrossFit thing” an honest try.
- Are you someone who is trying to lose weight or gain mass/muscle or just look good naked?
- Are you busy and need to make the best use of an hour away while getting fit and doing something good for yourself?
- Would you like to grow old and stay independent in your own home instead of an assisted living facility?
- Are you tired of spending 3 hours at the globo gym and not getting results or tired of the monotony of the treadmill?
- Are you an experienced athlete training in the off season or an elite athlete looking to compete?
- Are you looking for a fun and safe community environment?
- Are you looking to feel better in your clothes and in your own skin?
The things we need as humans to maintain a fit, healthy, and happy lifestyle vary only by degree, not kind. Everything in CrossFit is scalable and modifiable to best fit the athletes needs, goals, and abilities.
It’s why the most elite athlete training for the next competition can work out next to the high schooler trying to lose weight and get off the diabetes meds who is working out next to the grandma of 12 keeping her mobility so she can carry her own groceries who is next to the soccer mom just trying to get away from the house for an hour and do something good for herself.
This is what also drives the CrossFit community in the huge way that it does. CrossFit is cross generational, doesn’t care about your gender, and isn’t phased by what level of fitness you start in.
Everyone starts the class together, does some version of the workout together, and ends by stretching together. You get to know people you wouldn’t in any other setting. You get to go through the vulnerability of the workouts and pushing yourself to go faster, go harder, not quit – even when you really want to. And all of these people were right beside you going through the same thing. You can’t help but form a bond with people who have been to battle with you!
So really, at the end of the day, I am just not sure that there isn’t anyone that can’t, shouldn’t, or couldn’t benefit from what CrossFit has to offer. Your DESIRE to do CrossFit is far more important than your ability to do CrossFit. If you have ever even thought that this might be something you want to do, you should give it a try!