My first Crossfit experience

I'm going to preface this post with a brief history of my fitness regime.

Lately, I've been so bored, tired, and sick of my workouts. Nothing is satisfying. I lose interest so quickly. I don't like being the type of person that doesn't stick to one thing, who gives up, etc., but then again, maybe that's good because I'm experiencing a variety of workouts? But I don't want to be a flake! It seems like everyone in the blog world has their "thing." The runners, the yogi's, the triathletes, the body builders, fitness competitors. I can't seem to find my niche. Not that one needs to have one necessarily.
I know one thing: I like a hard work out, and I prefer strength training over cardio.


I began working out in the summer of 2007 when Mirza went away to Bosnia for a month and I was stuck alone, in nursing school. I joined my local Shapes gym (all-woman gym) and quickly fell in love with group exercises classes. My favorite were weight training and kickboxing. I saw a lot of results with kickboxing. I went every Friday evening. It was a nice routine. After I graduated, I continued with my Shapes membership in St. Pete, but I didn't go to the group classes as often. I got bored with them. I knew the routines too much, or the instructors weren't as good, the time frame sucked, etc. At one point, on a Sunday afternoon, my car window was smashed and items stolen. I pretty much wanted nothing to do with the gym after that.

I decided to maybe try triathlons! It was also a goal I had in the back of my mind. I mean, doing a triathlon just sounds cool, you know? I think it should be on everyone's life goal to do a mini or sprint triathlon. I hated to run, but I did it, anyway. I did couch to 5k! I took swimming lessons! I did/do love my bike, but sometimes the process of getting my bike in the car makes me not even want to go out at all. I did my two sprint triathlons in Summer of 2010, and then stopped. During all of this, I always did yoga, which I loved. My passion grew and I decided to join Yoga Teacher Training at my local studio. I began paying the hefty price in August 2010 for a January 15, 2011 start.

Of course, my mother died January 5th, so I honestly did not give my all during YTT. It's a shame because I do love yoga, and I spent a lot of money on the training, but my head was not in it. How could it be, though, really? It's been one year, and I still have 10 classes to finish to earn my teacher training certification. Luckily, the studio is awesome and gives you one year from the last day of classes to finish! I don't know if I will ever teach yoga. I did not set out to teach, but to just gain further understanding of yoga and for the experience. It was a great experience and I don't regret it for one minute.

After the past month's failed attempt at half marathon training...ok, so "failed attempt" is kind of the wrong term. I did not fail. I flat-out quit. I know that I have it in me to run 13.1 miles, but I just completely don't love running. I cannot make myself do something that I don't love! After my mom died, this premise stuck with me so much: life is too short to do anything you don't want to. And I don't want to run (right now, anyway), so I'm not. Of course, I'm an idiot and will lose out on my $60 paid for the half marathon, but that's okay.

So, that brings me to today. I've been looking for something to do. Something to get me into shape and have a good time. Something to make me stronger! I miss feeling strong. When I did kickboxing, I felt super strong, and I looked strong, too. Not anymore.

I started to look into krav maga, martial arts classes, kickboxing. Anything! Lately, all I hear about is CROSSFIT. 

Today, I gave it a try.

And I loved it!

I like that you're in a place that has no mirrors, nothing pretty, no fancy machines, no televisions: just down and dirty exercise! I love the premise of exercising like you did as a child: jumping on boxes, climbing ropes, good ol' fashion push-ups, pull-ups, etc.

But you're really kicking your own ass.

Crossfit can be expensive; as much as $150/month for unlimited access. However, the "box" near me has a good deal. $85 for 2 days per week. No up front fees, no contracts. I like it!

I began with a "baseline workout."
This included:
500m row (pretty much the only machine you'll find)
40 squats
30 sit-ups
20 push-ups
10 pull-ups

All for time: do these in the shortest time possible.

I was nervous and scared. I don't even remember the last time I did a sit-up; only crunches. And pull-ups? HA, that's a joke.

The two trainers that I met were great. They gave me a tour of the facility, which is basically a storage unit converted into the crossfit gym. They went through the exercises with me for proper form. And then we were off...or I was!

Took this from their website

Man, oh, man. I am out of shape. The sit-ups about killed me. The pull-ups, even with a green assist band were terrible. I was pooped. It took me 11 minutes 43 seconds.

I was soaked, red-faced, out of breath.
I may be thin, but I want to be STRONG.
A workout that is under 15 minutes and takes this much out of you? WORTH IT.

I am definitely going back.