Okay, so I’ve been seeing a lot of hype around CrossFit lately. Everyone’s talking about it, posting their WODs, and generally acting like they’ve found the holy grail of fitness. I figured, “Hey, I should give this a shot. Maybe I’m missing out.” Spoiler alert: I was missing out… on a lot of pain and frustration.
My CrossFit Experiment Begins
I’m not a total newbie to working out. I’ve done the gym thing, some running, a bit of yoga. I consider myself reasonably fit. So, I walked into a local CrossFit “box” (that’s what they call their gyms, apparently) feeling pretty confident. I signed up for a beginner’s class, thinking it would be a gentle introduction. Boy, was I wrong.
The warm-up itself felt like a full workout. We did a bunch of stuff I’d never even heard of: burpees, box jumps, wall balls. I was already sweating and breathing heavy before the actual class even started. I noticed that I’ve struggled to keep on it。
The Workout of the Day (WOD) – More Like WTF
Then came the WOD. The instructor, a super-ripped dude with a permanent yell, explained the exercises. It was a mix of Olympic weightlifting (snatches, clean and jerks), gymnastics (pull-ups, handstand push-ups), and some cardio thrown in for good measure. All of this was supposed to be done “for time,” meaning as fast as humanly possible.
I looked around at the other people in the class. Some of them were clearly experienced, moving weights that looked like they belonged in a strongman competition. Others were struggling just like me, their faces red and contorted in pain. I tried to scale down the weights and modify the exercises, but even then, it was brutal.
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The Weightlifting:
I’ve done some basic weightlifting before, but nothing like this. The Olympic lifts are super technical, and trying to do them quickly felt like a recipe for disaster. My form was probably atrocious, and I’m pretty sure I tweaked my back at one point.
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The Gymnastics:
Yeah, no. I can’t do a pull-up, let alone a handstand push-up. I spent most of this part of the workout just staring at the bar, feeling defeated.
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The Cardio:
By the time we got to the cardio portion, I was already gassed. Every burpee felt like an eternity, and I’m pretty sure I saw my life flash before my eyes during the box jumps.
The Aftermath
I finished the workout, but that might be generous. I collapsed in a heap on the floor, feeling like I’d been hit by a truck. I was sore in places I didn’t even know I had muscles. The next day, I could barely walk. Getting out of bed felt like an Olympic sport in itself.
So, yeah, that’s why I hate CrossFit. It’s not that I’m against challenging workouts, but this felt unnecessarily intense and potentially dangerous, especially for beginners. Maybe it works for some people, but it’s definitely not for me. I’ll stick to my regular gym routine, thanks.
