About 3 months ago, I started CrossFit. Reluctantly and hesitantly, I gave up the bodybuilding workouts that I had done for years and started to follow along with the WOD (Workout of the Day) posted on the CrossFit website.
I say reluctantly because while there some things that I liked about CrossFit, there were also many reasons why I just wasn’t completely sold on it. To me, it seemed like too much “cardio”. I didn’t want to get any leaner; all I cared about was building muscle! I debated within myself (and with my co-workers who had already started doing CrossFit) for months about whether or not I should do it.
I had been lifting weights for over 12 years, and I really enjoyed what I was doing. I was comfortable with it and content with my "bodybuilding" style workouts. I’d gotten great results over the years. I had gained lots of muscle and was proud of how strong I was. I saw no reason to do CrossFit if what I was doing was working. I was stubborn and set in my ways!
It was also scary to just all of a sudden stop doing what I had been doing for so many years and switch to something completely different. Bodybuilding was all I knew! I was terrified that I would lose all of the muscle that had taken so much hard work and so long to gain over the years.
BUT I’m always up for a challenge, and since my co-workers were telling me all the time about how great CrossFit was, I finally decided to give it a try- if not for any other reason than just to prove to them that I could do it!
Well, now, just 3 short months later…I think I have become a "CrossFitter". Slowly…but surely….I have realized that I no longer miss my “old” way of training. I never, EVER thought I would say this, but lifting weights up and down, pumping out reps of bicep curls, side raises and cable press downs has lost its appeal.
I think it took me “straying” from CrossFit last week to even realize that. There were still moments when I missed my bodybuilding workouts and even contemplated going back to them. Soo…one day last week I decided to just skip the Crossfit WOD and do my own workout, which consisted of a few supersets of dumbbell chest presses and 1 arm rows, then some shoulder presses and a few other exercises. Well, to my surprise, after the workout I felt like I had accomplished nothing. I felt let down, in a way. It’s hard to explain how I felt, but what I do know is that it was nothing like the way I feel after a CrossFit workout.
But I guess it did serve one purpose-it made me realize just how much I like CrossFit.
Even in just the short time that I’ve been doing it, CrossFit it has taught me many things. It’s taught me to get out of my comfort zone, to try something that I’m afraid of or not comfortable with or not good at (which is hard for me!). It’s taught me the power of the mind and how to keep pushing when your body tells you to stop. It’s also taught me that I shouldn’t be so consumed with the way my body looks, but rather what it can do! One of the biggest differences between bodybuilding and CrossFit is that CrossFit is not just about LOOKS-it’s not about gaining muscle or even losing weight. It’s so much more than that.
What do I love about CrossFit? I love that it’s a challenge. I love that there will always be things that I’m not good at and will have to keep working at. It will never be easy. But I like that! I love lifting heavy weights and learning new things. I love that the workouts are different every single day. I love feeling like an athlete again. I love pushing my body to the limit. I love the sense of accomplishment and empowerment that I feel after a tough workout. I love that it makes me feel strong not just physically, but mentally as well. And I could go on....
Bodybuilding, you've taught me a lot and have brought me to where I am today, but now it’s I think it’s time to say goodbye. I have moved on, and we must now go our separate ways. I wish I could say you will be missed….but the thing is, I really don’t think you will be.
I say reluctantly because while there some things that I liked about CrossFit, there were also many reasons why I just wasn’t completely sold on it. To me, it seemed like too much “cardio”. I didn’t want to get any leaner; all I cared about was building muscle! I debated within myself (and with my co-workers who had already started doing CrossFit) for months about whether or not I should do it.
I had been lifting weights for over 12 years, and I really enjoyed what I was doing. I was comfortable with it and content with my "bodybuilding" style workouts. I’d gotten great results over the years. I had gained lots of muscle and was proud of how strong I was. I saw no reason to do CrossFit if what I was doing was working. I was stubborn and set in my ways!
It was also scary to just all of a sudden stop doing what I had been doing for so many years and switch to something completely different. Bodybuilding was all I knew! I was terrified that I would lose all of the muscle that had taken so much hard work and so long to gain over the years.
BUT I’m always up for a challenge, and since my co-workers were telling me all the time about how great CrossFit was, I finally decided to give it a try- if not for any other reason than just to prove to them that I could do it!
Well, now, just 3 short months later…I think I have become a "CrossFitter". Slowly…but surely….I have realized that I no longer miss my “old” way of training. I never, EVER thought I would say this, but lifting weights up and down, pumping out reps of bicep curls, side raises and cable press downs has lost its appeal.
I think it took me “straying” from CrossFit last week to even realize that. There were still moments when I missed my bodybuilding workouts and even contemplated going back to them. Soo…one day last week I decided to just skip the Crossfit WOD and do my own workout, which consisted of a few supersets of dumbbell chest presses and 1 arm rows, then some shoulder presses and a few other exercises. Well, to my surprise, after the workout I felt like I had accomplished nothing. I felt let down, in a way. It’s hard to explain how I felt, but what I do know is that it was nothing like the way I feel after a CrossFit workout.
But I guess it did serve one purpose-it made me realize just how much I like CrossFit.
Even in just the short time that I’ve been doing it, CrossFit it has taught me many things. It’s taught me to get out of my comfort zone, to try something that I’m afraid of or not comfortable with or not good at (which is hard for me!). It’s taught me the power of the mind and how to keep pushing when your body tells you to stop. It’s also taught me that I shouldn’t be so consumed with the way my body looks, but rather what it can do! One of the biggest differences between bodybuilding and CrossFit is that CrossFit is not just about LOOKS-it’s not about gaining muscle or even losing weight. It’s so much more than that.
What do I love about CrossFit? I love that it’s a challenge. I love that there will always be things that I’m not good at and will have to keep working at. It will never be easy. But I like that! I love lifting heavy weights and learning new things. I love that the workouts are different every single day. I love feeling like an athlete again. I love pushing my body to the limit. I love the sense of accomplishment and empowerment that I feel after a tough workout. I love that it makes me feel strong not just physically, but mentally as well. And I could go on....
Bodybuilding, you've taught me a lot and have brought me to where I am today, but now it’s I think it’s time to say goodbye. I have moved on, and we must now go our separate ways. I wish I could say you will be missed….but the thing is, I really don’t think you will be.
Wow! What a testimonial. I had a Crossfit workout earlier in the week and I nearly died. It is amazing how much more intense it is when you combine cardio and strength training together and are competing with others against the clock.
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