Every person who has ever walked through the doors of a CrossFit for the first time has had some sort of idea in their head of what they are going to encounter. Some of those thoughts may prove to be true while others are quickly debunked. I am proof of such as I was scared, intimidated, afraid of getting bulky, had a fear of being incapable. It took me one day to have my fears debunked and so I hope to clear up some misconceptions for those who have yet to walk through those doors.
- I am going to get bulky: False with the potential to be true. Hear me out here. If getting bulky is what you desire, you will be able to do that. Eat thousands of (good) calories a day, come to the gym for 2-3 hours daily, lift really heavy weights regularly, and then eat a few more chicken breasts as dessert before you go to bed. Doesn’t sound like something you want to do? Then you’re not going to get bulky. If you come to CrossFit 3-5 days a week, take the one-hour class, and clean up your diet, yes, you may notice a few more muscles throughout your body but you will tone up, not bulk out. Those muscles are going to help you burn fat throughout the day when you’re not even anywhere near the gym. But most importantly, you’ll find yourself not even worrying about what you look like. Instead, you’ll be celebrating PRs instead of jean size. You’ll be excited that you completed the workout you never thought you’d get through instead of the numbers on the scale. Your body will change and you won’t even realize it until your friends who are still worried about getting “too bulky” will ask how they can get started with CrossFit and look as good as you.
- I’m not in good enough shape to do CrossFit: This one blows my mind. That is why you come to CrossFit. To GET in shape! I have seen athletes of all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities walk through that infamous door. The best part about CrossFit is that you can modify anything and everything. We are all here working with our own personal abilities and restrictions. There is one workout that can be done 3,456 ways. Choose a lighter weight, modify a movement, do a pull up from a seated position, whatever it takes. If you want until you’re in shape to try CrossFit, chances are that will be your excuse until the end of time. One person may come in because they want to go to the CrossFit Games. Another person may come because they want to be able to keep up with their grandchildren as they get older. Those two people can workout next to each other and both work towards own their goals.
- It’s too cliquey for me: The person who says, “I don’t need any new friends, I have enough already”, is only kidding themselves. Surrounding yourself with like-minded and encouraging people is good for your soul. I don’t remember the last time I heard, “I wish I hadn’t made a new friend today.” Stressed out about work? Come to the gym and talk about anything else other than work. CrossFit may be perceived as cliquey to some because, from the outside, they see a group of people enjoying the same thing and talking about it. Is that really so bad? Making friends over something you have in common and both enjoy? If you want to call it cliquey, so be it. But my life is fuller because of it.
Hopefully I’ve debunked some misconceptions of a Non-CrossFitter somewhere in the world. Hopefully that same person takes that first step through those doors to see what all the rave is about. And hopefully I have converted someone to our clique (kidding… kind of…).
Check out this great article (geared more towards the ladies) about a similar topic!
Written By: Blair Bayne