I made it my life mission for the past ten years to experiment with different training philosophies —not just running.
Doing so helps me expand my fitness experience and vocabulary, enabling me to achieve my training goals and help more people at the same time.
One of these methods I tried a few years ago was CrossFit. Back in 2015, my goal was simple: improve my endurance and strength without logging in more miles as I was dealing with nagging and recurring runners’ knee. Running always made it worse.
Embarking on the CrossFit path has helped a lot—both physically and mentally. And in today’s post, I’ll share with you some of the main reasons I believe CrossFit is a good match for you—regardless of your current sport and fitness level.
But, first things first, what’s CrossFit?
CrossFit Defined
CrossFit involves combing high-intensity strength and cardio exercises with aerobic and gymnastics.
To make it sound more official, here’s the definition from Crossfit official website:
CrossFit is the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes worldwide.
I consider Crossfit the ‘sport of fitness. Think about any athletic move out there and probably it’s listed in the CF workout program.
CF has quickly gained popularity since the first box (CrossFit gym) opening up in 2000.
With thousands of affiliated gyms worldwide that have been specifically designed for CF and the number of active CrossFit athletes growing with them.
8 Reasons To Try CrossFit
There are as many reasons to jump on the CrossFit bandwagon as there are Crossfitters around the world.
Here are some of the most notable ones. Hopefully, you’ll be convinced by the end of this post.
1. Community
CrossFit gyms are friendly places. And the people you meet there are some of the friendliest—don’t be surprised if you start making friends left and right.
You’ll fall in love with the community because, most likely, you’ll have similar fitness and health goals to the people you meet there, so you connect at that level.
What’s more?
Your CF buddies are also a great support system. They can help keep you accountable and support you on your journey.
2. It’s for Everyone
Many people believe that CrossFit is a cult workout program for the young superfit. But in reality, it provides scalable workouts for any fitness level or age, whether for an elite athlete, out of shape, a retiree, and everyone in between.
Thousands of trainees have embraced the fitness path with CrossFit without any prior training background or exercise experience.
Inside of these boxes, you’ll encounter trainees from all sizes and shapes, from hardcore athletes to stay-at-home moms busting their asses off doing burpees and Turkish get-ups.
3. Make Big Lifestyle Changes
The Crossfit philosophy involves much more than doing pull-ups and burpees until you puke. Building healthy lifestyle habits is crucial to becoming a well-rounded Crossfitter.
Before you know, you’ll be keeping track of your sleep quality and preparing some delicious paleo meals—because everyone is doing it so why shouldn’t you.
4. You’ll See Results
You want more muscles mass? check
Do you want less body fat? check
Do you want better endurance? Check.
Results are what we’re after, right?
Regardless of your fitness goals, you’re going to achieve them—or come close—with the help of CF.
Since the workouts are intense, change every time, and hit every major muscle in your body, you’ll improve. You’ll build more muscles and increase your metabolism, which means burning more calories even when at rest.
5. Look, Better Naked
This is, literally, the pretty good side effect of CrossFit.
If you commit to regular training, you’ll see results—your endurance will shoot through the roof, your strength will improve, and your overall fitness and health will improve like nothing else.
You’ll start to notice real changes taking place only after a few months into your CF journey. You’ll gain bigger chest, shoulders, biceps, and butt without even focusing on any of these spots as you’d in classic weight lifting.
6. Functional Training
Your typical WOD incorporates elements of a wide range of movements that will prepare you to perform well in real life, from lifting heavy objects, reaching the top shelf, opening doors, to running and playing team sports.
By practicing the CF movement, you’ll be indirectly helping your body perform everyday activities with much ease.
You’ll be practicing exercises like deadlifts, kettlebell swings, push presses, Turkish-getups in a style that helps you counteract the many negative effects our desk-based lifestyle has.
7. You’ll Test Your Limits
When you get on the CF path, you’ll do exercises you have never tried before, and you’ll push your body so hard.
In some cases, you’ll surprise yourself during a movement or exercise you didn’t think you’d do well in.
Breaking through your limits and pushing yourself will grant you a sense of power and accomplishment like nothing else.
You’ll be so proud of yourself for pushing through and busting your ass off.
8. Have More Fun
One thing for sure—CrossFit will make your workouts fun (again). Thanks to the constant variety of exercises that makes up CF, you’ll never get bored again.
Every time you hit the box, you’ll get a different workout, and this helps keep you going strong and motivation running high.
In a typical WOD, you may be springing, swinging kettlebells, pressing barbless, rowing, or working on calisthenic moves like handstand and ring dips. Talk about variety.
By mixing different WODs, CF will leave you drenched in sweat, feeling accomplished, and craving more.
After all, variety is the spice of life.
Conclusion
There you have it! Of course, the reasons mentioned do not fully cover the gamut for why you should try CrossFit. As I previously stated, there are as many reasons to hit the box as there are Crossfitters out there. It’s really up to you and what you need.
Please feel free to leave your comments and questions in the section below.
In the meantime, thank you for reading my post.
Keep Running Strong.
David D.
