I used to think losing 110 pounds was a big deal. I used to think that I was in good shape, I did a lot of walking/running, biking, hiking and my home version of CrossFit exercises. I used to think I drank enough water.
I used to...
In March of this year I quickly learned that I was wrong, very wrong.
While losing the weight was a great achievement, I had absolutely no muscle tone or strength.
While walking, running, hiking and biking were all great things I really lacked in the cardio stamina department.
Burpees, squats, sit-ups and jump rope aren't the same at home when you don't know proper form.
Water was my back-up drink to coffee or almond milk. It wasn't my first choice but now I drink a gallon or more a day so I stay hydrated.
What shed light on my delusional mind-set? CrossFit.
I joined a CrossFit box in March and discovered just how out of shape, dehydrated and weak I had let my body become.
My on-ramp class, (the class you take to learn the basic movements) was all I needed to point out all of my inadequacies and I was excited to have a starting point.
Now 6 months of CrossFit I'm a different person, physically and mentally. I have definition in my shoulders, abs and thighs. The mom-apron stomach mothers get after C-sections is almost gone. Within 3 months of CrossFit WODs and strength training I could dead lift 205 pounds and back squat 170 pounds.
If I could go back in time and talk to the Christie who walked through the box door in March, I would tell her the following:
1. Addiction -- Christie your plan of going for three months to learn form then start doing WODs (workout of the day) at home is absurd. You will become addicted your first week and will not be able to quit. You will be so addicted that you will drop-in at CrossFit boxes while on vacation.
2. Sore -- Christie you will be so sore after your first week that you will be tempted not to return. It will pass but you will learn to work through the soreness and often times define how great a workout you had by how you feel afterwards. The best thing after the soreness passes, muscles and strength.
3. Traps -- Christie one morning you'll wake up and you'll notice your trapezius muscles are showing. Don't panic you're not going to bulk up like a body builder, women aren't made that way. By the way you'll learn to love your new muscle definition.
4. Clothing should be tight -- Christie your loose T-shirts and baggy jogging pants aren't a good fit for CrossFit workouts. Why? Because jump roping, burpees, toes to bar, box jumps, hand stand push-ups are all enemies of baggy clothes. Your bouncing etc. will ultimately reveal your belly and the pants will get in the way. Try to streamline as soon as possible, to maintain modesty. Oh yeah and get you some good sports bras, please.
5. Lifting weights can be thrilling -- Don't look at me that way Christie. You will develop a love for lifting weights. While you may not be good at all of the Olympic style lifts you will absolutely love dead lifts, clean and jerks, push press, strict press, bench press, front squats, back squats and power cleans. You really need to work on your overhead squats, thrusters and squat snatch.
6. Hands will be rough -- Christie, I know you haven't had a manicure in 11 years but be prepared for your hands to become gnarly. From grabbing the barbell to pull-ups you will develop some serious callouses. It's no big deal.
7. Your brain gets the biggest workout -- Math isn't your strong suit Christie, we all know that, however you will learn to count and add like a math genius. Ok that's an exaggeration for you but you'll learn to add and count without using your iPhone too much.
Another aspect of your brain workout - mental toughness. Sometimes your brain will tell you to quit during the middle of a WOD, but don't listen to it. Just keep going, keep working, don't stop.
8. Your husband will get sick of you talking about CrossFit -- Enough said.
9. Friends -- There are many things you'll learn during your CrossFit journey and if there's something you're not sure of, like what AMRAP, chipper, WOD, HERO WOD mean - ask your new group of friends at the box. They're the ones beside you for an hour each morning, struggling, sweating, working, running, cheering and falling on the floor after a WOD with you.
Do you CrossFit? What would you tell your pre-CrossFit self?