I completed my On Ramp program for CrossFit! This means I can now participate in the real classes. I already went to my first one on Friday and it was great! It was obvious that I was new, but everyone was really helpful and encouraging. I've included links to images/videos in case you do not know what something means - and will continue to do so in future posts).
This was the work-out I completed:
- 6 minutes on an Assault Bike
Then as many rounds in 12 minutes:
- 15 Sumo Deadlift High Pull (just the barbell for me)
- 15 Box Jumps (20 inches)
- 15 Sit-ups
I completed 3 full rounds in the allotted time.
I want to talk about misconceptions. When I first began my new job as well as joined CrossFit, several different people said the same exact statements to me. I thought this pattern was interesting so I would like to probe them further. Especially since I believe that each of these statements are very flawed. It's our human nature to question/dismiss anything we do not understand. It's the cause of miscommunication and major struggles in our world. Not understanding (or at least trying to understand) can also be a form of discouragement / belittlement to those trying to achieve something.
When I first switched jobs, people told me:
"You're going to get so skinny!"
I in fact have not become "skinny," nor will I ever be because it's not my body shape or genetic makeup. I would have to go to the very extreme in order to ever have a skinny frame. Being skinny was never my goal. Of course I want to look better - but as I've explained before, this is not based on weight. Also being skinny does not mean you are healthy. Two examples include: "the fat skinny girl" - meaning the person who can eat whatever they want, not very active, and always has a skinny frame. I would not want to meet them at age 50 when it might catch up to them with health issues. And the second being those who struggle with eating disorders who may be physically skinny, but clearly do not feel healthy.
Specific comments on CrossFit:
"That's really dangerous for your body."
I used to think this way too, so I can understand where this thought stems from. However, it is completely false. Like anything in life - there are always extremes, and unfortunately, it's the extremes that you usually hear about in the news, social media, etc. Recent studies have clarified that CrossFit is no more or less dangerous / injury prone than other sports. It really depends on how smart and qualified your coach is, and having common sense when to stop or not doing something. I have had an excellent experience so far and have never felt unsafe. Pain - sure. Pushing to my breaking point - sure. But never unsafe. I've had coaches modify movements for me if I felt uncomfortable.
High intensity is what makes CrossFit effective. I can say with near certainty that the 15 minutes I spend doing these exercises are so much better for my overall fitness than spending an hour on a treadmill. They are movements we use in our every day lives - holding children, lifting a box, trying to reach something on the top shelf. Those are all dangerous if we're not taking care of our bodies.
Another thing I find backwards about the notion of danger - is it more or less dangerous than eating junk food, than sitting on the couch, than being obese, than Osteoporosis, heart disease, and diabetes? I have to believe that all those things are a lot more dangerous in the long run. It's all about risk. I can risk maybe (and that's a big maybe) of getting hurt exercising, or I can risk a most definite having health issues, aging poorly, and not be independent in my older age.
"Stay in your chair where you're sure to get hurt, and you'll become one of the 300,000 people that will die next year from sitting in their chair doing nothing."
"I hope you're not going to get big like a man."
This one particularly gets under my skin because of the societal norm of what Females are supposed to look like. This statement implies that women are supposed to be skinny, not muscular, fragile, doll-like...etc. There was a recent interview on 60 Mnutes with the CrossFit creator, and one thing he said really stood out to me. The journalist and him are looking at this beautifully built woman lifting weights, the journalist clearly confused at what she's seeing. He responds with:
"Look at her, she was meant to look like that. That's what nature would have carved from her a million years ago or she'd have been eaten."
Besides being funny - I found this to be so profound. We used to have to use our bodies to survive, to hunt, fight the elements. Through the centuries, the ideal human body, specifically the female one, has changed dramatically. Being overweight was idolized at one point for representing wealth and fertility - To the supermodel runway stick figure look of the 90s to present.
I believe it should be based on strength, potential, and balance. Being the best version your body can be.
I was at IKEA two weeks ago buying furniture without my husband. I needed to lift 3 large, heavy boxes into my Jeep, and I couldn't manage do it on my own. I pathetically had to look for a man to help me, gazing side to side desperately until I caught someone's eye who offered to help. What if no one walked by or no one was kind enough to offer? That would mean I can't even go shopping without a man's help. That is not acceptable for me.
People saying "I hope you do not get big like a man" literally makes me want to become the most strong and muscular woman I can possibly be. So thanks for the motivation :-)
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