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Why do you crossfit?
By Keith | September 28, 2009
I read this excerpt from AmericanPeels a blogger from Crossfit New England [the quote is actually from Kevin Daigle, a crossfit 'Big Dawg" that works out there as well.] the excerpt goes:
“…CF is not image obsessed the way more fitness cultures are…but this is also not obvious to the uninformed. Form follows function, and one of the CF greats once said to only chase performance and the aesthetic stuff will take care of itself. I believe the quote was “do Fran in 4 minutes, then look in the mirror. That’s what you’re supposed to look like.” I take that as having 2 different meanings, and both are valid. Either when you get to that level of fitness, you will have already achieved the look you desire. Second, if you can do Fran in 3 minutes….who gives a s***…..whatever you look like that point is obviously healthy….”
It got me thinking what drives us to crossfit? Is it the way it makes you look or the way you feel? Is it the competition of the WODS? Or something else?
What drives you!
Topics: Articles, Community, Cynergy Central | 21 Comments »
September 28th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
So a 10:30 Fran means?? lay off the donuts Richie!!!
September 28th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Personally, I think it is the competition of the work outs and the concentration on making my performances better. I do think that when I start thinking more about my body image it makes my performances go down. I lose track of my eating and forget why I actually do this. It does make me feel better whether I have a good performance or not, but to increase my strength and decrease my times makes me feel better than having bigger arms and a flat stomach.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
All kidding aside – I have seen many physical changes in myself and many of the other athletes and, at least in my case, its not because of any image we chase it is a by product of the challenges we accept day in and day out and laying out max effort in every WOD. I think everyone I sweat beside in the box at 5AM would say the same…..That being said….Merging the focus and effort given from 5-6AM to my hours outside the box has proven more difficult. Better focus from me on nourishment and rest (sleep) and I would 100% agree with the CFNE post…The look will be there and the sub 4:00 Fran will be close behind
September 28th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
To directly answer your ? Keith it is a combination of all three….Crossfitting as you and Cindy prescribe brings all of those pieces together – WE compete, WE feel great when we scrape ourselves off the floor and head off to meet our daily grind, WE look great doing it..take that for what it is….look at all of the pictures posted here everyday….the faces of determination….the muscles….the sweat….the skill….I’d say that looks pretty good.
September 28th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Well said Rich! For me it is the way Crossfit makes me feel, then the competition of the WODS! I love feeling strong!
September 28th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Rich…you forgot to mention the “short shorts” hahaha.
I joined my first bootcamp in June 2009 with the intention of getting below 200lbs (my ideal is 185). My motivation for joining was purely aesthetic. Well its now September 2009 and I have two months of bootcamp and almost 2 months of Crossfit under my belt. I am still over 200lbs but looks/weight are no longer my motivation. I am OK with this because I know, and see, that I am building muscle. Though I have lost no pounds, I have lost/gained (in all the right places) inches of my waist, hips, thighs, chest, etc.
I am proud to say that obtaining the perfect body is NO LONGER my motivation for working out. I know that if I keep at Crossfit and get my nutrition under control that my “perfect body” will evenutally come.
My motivation is no longer looks, its the feeling of accomplishment after every workout where I have pushed myself to the limit, its my fellow 5 amers and the trainers I have worked with, its the desire to get back in the box and do it all over again.
Thanks Everyone!
September 28th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Rich are you sure you are an accountant and not a lawyer. I’m still not sure what you said in all that.
For me it is the way I feel. Knowing what we do every morning before most of the world is even out of bed is an awesome feeling. That feeling gets me through the day. The way you feel and the way you look eventually become one. CF is the highlight of my day and I look forward to it every day.
September 28th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Great post Keith! Being someone who has been out of true crossfitting for almost three months now due to this damn knee I can say crossfit for me is a number of things. (1) The competiton, not only with other Crossfitters but with myself. Having the push from other people is amazing because they are pushing for you become better, not just go faster. (2)the family! Where else can you find a place where people who just went through hell and can hardly stand, crawling to their knees to cheer and push the rest of the group. (3) how humbling CF is, if you get your 3min fran or another great time on a WOD the next time you do it, you dont come close to it again. That is where the constant drive to get better comes in. (4) CF is for anyone and everyone. Being a “smaller” guy I love the fact that size doesnt matter in CF. “form follows function” and the fact you can become stronger if you allow yourself to fail at first. No gets there PR evertime they try and that is where the seperation occurs. You can either drop the bar and walk away and never try again or you suck it up and crush it the next time. (5) finally CF is something that can change your life if you put your heart and soul into it. As a “first responder” CF makes me better at my job when I need to be. I have more confidence that if the Sh*t hits the fan I know I can outlast the other guy. CF not only makes you stronger physcially but I believe it makes you stronger mentally. We have all been to “that place” during a suck WOD where your not sure if you are gonna make it through and the pain that you are feeling is unreal and you can either throw in the towel or you allow yourself to get through it and fight that “suck” and finish. Miss my family at the box, hope to see you all soon as the knee is getting better.
September 28th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
As a women, I want to feel like I can take care of myself. For instance, I went to Suzie’s house the other night with a cooler filled with 24 bottles of Pumpkin Ale on ice. I thought nothing of carrying that “puppy” across the street and up the stairs & into her house. Although I entered out of breath, I was capable of doing it. In other words, I don’t want to “Suck at Life”!
September 28th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Shoot Jaime! Had I known I would have come out to help you lighten the load a little. 23 bottles would have been slightly more manageable, no?
September 28th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Interesting question. if you asked me two months ago, today and a month from now you would probably get three different answers. I do know that I have never met so many inspirational, amazing people in my life. To see someone with a crazy Fran time or powering ridiculous weights inspires me to challenge myself to become a little better than the time before. But the true inspiration and motivation for me is seeing someone do their first double under, their first unassisted pull up, their first whatever previously thought unattainable. Lisbeth Darsh wrote something last week and said “the hearts of champions are sometimes housed in unexpected bodies”. Seeing someone do one push up for the first time or gutting a run up the driveway DFL but still giving it 100% blows me away every time.
I guess my personal health and fitness are why I crossfit (because there are no better workouts on the planet) and to do it at a place where magical moments happen every day is a cherished gift that will never be taken for granted because I am reminded of it every single day I step into (and sometime outside) the box.
September 29th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Good post, Keith!
I think personally, it’s all of the above. I don’t necessarily care too much about the competitive edge of anybody but myself (although sometimes its hard not to). I think the focus for me is more about how I feel, and my fitness level. I like the fact of being sore when you wake up in the morning–it makes you feel alive! I also like the fact that it’s not something that anybody can just jump in and do–it takes dedication and commitment and we are all in a unique family of sorts that understand this. I like that fact that you don’t have to be a beefy body builder or a supermodel to be decent either–and that we understand that being fit is not necesssarily correlated to looks…it’s everyone of these reasons and more, but I know I can never look back!
September 29th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
I do it to get chicks.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Oh wait, no I don’t.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
i know its late to jump in here..but this was a great set of posts…i read each one and really appreciated the perspectives (perhaps especially Clippa’s) I would throw out a couple of quick thoughts..on looks..im not plannin to be the cover boy for AARP-GQ but it didnt feel bad at my HS 35th hearing “you look great” rather than “wow you ahh umm really changed.”..on health..can i toss in a portion of good old fashioned fear? (Mom-CA, Dad-diabetic/renal failure…)i really want to be around long enough to torment my wife,kids, grands and greats!… on competition..mostly with myself..sometimes i am damn proud of DFL!! ..on being in control of my own destiny…yea, to the extent thats possible,yes, i now have come to see my health and fitness as my responsibility…on community..yep, you betchya, i appreciate this community of remarkable people who inspire me each and every day…that, indeed, motivates.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Crossfit has made me stronger both mentally and physically! I love everyday walking into the gym looking on the board and saying there is no way I can do that! But to my surprise (and I am surprised almost everday) I do it! It may not always be pretty but I did it its like climbing a mountain that satisfaction of doing that tough WOD! Everyday is a challenge and I feel awesome leaving the gym knowing that I completed the WOD! I love that even when I totally think that I have to quit and can’t finish my fellow CF’s keep me going!
September 30th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Looks good on you, T!
October 1st, 2009 at 11:18 am
I’d have to say that I do CrossFit for several reasons. But none of them are driven by aesthetics or competition. My primary focus is movement – I know I have to move & it’s the only time of the day I know that will happen. Secondly (and this is so close to first that it’s not fair to call it second!) is the community. It’s my social hour and I wouldn’t trade it for anything! I know that there are people out there who do not care for the banter but I wouldn’t want to train any other way. The results are somewhat incidental to me – although I do like lifting more than my sister!
I am still waiting to be driven by weight loss & looking like my twin, but for now, this is ok for me.
October 1st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
B, awesome! Cool post and I wish more people would answer because there are probably as many different reasons are there are crossfitters and there are no wrong reasons and that’s why crossfit is so cool…many different reasons, people and levels and we can ALL do the same WODs modified as needed for a kick ass work out that NEVER gets boring because it’s always different. Crossfit is kind of like the weather in New England; if you don’t like the workout, just wait a day!
October 1st, 2009 at 4:41 pm
I have enjoyed reading these posts and I am so glad Keith posted the question as we were discussing it at great lengths the other day, so I asked him to “ask you all”…..AND it has proven to be sooooo much more than what we even surmised! LOVE that about you guys….
AND the ensuing conversations that I have had with some of you prove that there are even more reasons….PLEASE post them and share YOUR motivation for CrossFitting…..it serves us all. Oh, and B….I’m catching up to you sister and You to me!!
Whatever the reason, continue doing what you are doing and know that you are getting soooooo much more out of it then YOU even realize!
Train Hard CCF!
October 1st, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Wait; you and B are related?