Let’s Talk Crossfit.

My friend Clare is taking over my blog today. I love her dearly, and I have a feeling you all will, too.

Clare’s guest post is titled Why Alyssa Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Crossfit.

[Disclaimer: I'm not afraid. I'm just a brat who is bad at trying new things all by herself]

[okay, maybe I'm afraid.]

Hi y’all! I’m Clare and I blog over at Fitting It All in. I started my blog after I graduated from college to document my attempts at healthy living while being pretty busy with work, marathon training, and trying to still have friends. The marathon training is over (I’m doing other workouts) and I still work full-time (along with way too many side jobs), but the friends are still questionable. Come say hi!

You guys, Alyssa is scared of Crossfit. She thinks it’s (and I quote) “turbo manly he-man”. We can talk about her while she’s gone, it’s okay.

Honestly I thought the same thing before I started even though I had done all my research and read rave reviews on other blogs. I know that girls need to weight train and that we don’t have the testosterone levels to get bulky, but I still thought it was for crazy intense muscle people.

Me? I’m a fan of dance classes disguised as workouts (Body Attack) and listening to One Direction while I run.

But about three months ago a coach from Tiger’s Den Crossfit here in Dallas asked me to try a workout with him and I’ve been hooked ever since. I now understand why people obsess over it. I still love running and try to make a weekly spin and Body Attack class, but Crossfit is addicting in a different way.

Here’s why Alyssa Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Crossfit:

1. The workouts are scalable. Yeah the pictures you see are of dudes squatting with 300-pound bars, but obviously lots of us girls can’t do that. For every move there is a way to make it easier. Sometimes that means just using the bar with no added weight. I also use an elastic band to help me with my pull-ups and started out doing pushups on my knees before I could do them all on my toes. No one judges you – everyone’s goal is just to challenge themselves. My box has teeny girls that desperately need to gain some muscle weight, huge buff firefighters, and 65-year-old men with bad knees all working out together.

   

2. Crossfit really is like a family. There are no headphones during workouts and no sitting on weight machines all alone Everyone stretches together, warms up together, and WODs together. Everyone is sweaty and gross and everyone yells and cheers to help that last person finish the workout. The community is truly what makes it different than any other type of workout. Oh and there are lots of inappropriate jokes about snatches and hip thrusts. [Alyssa says: "SOLD."]
   
3. I’m stronger that I’ve ever been, and I’ve been told that I look better! My body composition is different even though my weight hasn’t changed. My arms and legs are more toned, not bulky, and I also saw these little muscles at the bottom of my stomach the other day. What?
   (yikes – I’ve never put a flexing picture on the internet before)
4. It makes you feel really badass. I was so proud the first time I tore open a blister. I know that’s sick and twisted, but it means you’re pushing harder not giving up even when it hurts. [Alyssa says: "I like this point even more."]
   [Alyssa says: Clare. Will Ryan Gosling show up if I start doing Crossfit? I'm registering today.]
5. There’s tons of proof that Crossfit works. Natural body movements build functional strength instead of individual muscles. The constantly changing workouts increase your power and coordination, preparing you to take on anything. The gymnastics elements build core strength and control. The short, high intensity bursts burn fat and increase cardiovascular function. And the focus on mobilization helps stretch you out to prevent injury.

   

So that’s why, Alyssa. The grunting is optional.

Alyssa says: What do you guys think? Have you given into the craze? Have you thought about it? Has Clare tempted you with her badassery?

Tagged as: benefits of crossfit, clare, crossfit, fitting it all in, why you should try crossfit