Skeptically Open

I promise that the content of this blog isn't going to be shifting. Unless you solely have a thematic blog (this blog is about 75 percent of the time), you blog about what is going on in your life at the moment. Besides, I think my present journey is one of discovering the Sacred Fire within as I relearn and reignite my quality of life!

One of the cool things about this fitness challenge I am doing is that local gyms have opened their doors for free trial memberships. The gym that is in our town isn't offering a free trial (which sucks, as it is only 4 blocks from our house) but there is one in a town 10 minutes up the road.

So I walked into this gym and noticed that it wasn't a typical looking gym. From what I could see there wasn't any free weights racks or Olympic machines, treadmills, ellipticals, tv's or even mirrors! Gotta have mirrors in the gym don't you? What did they have? Bars, rings, balls, blocks and mats.

This stocky (but built) guy emerges from the back and greets me. We talk and I find out that I am not in a typical gym with a typical trainer and typical tv's. I am in a CrossFit gym.

No idea what CrossFit is? Check it out here or go to YouTube and watch what these folks are doing.

We talked and after hearing what the CrossFit program is, I decided to give it a try. He wanted to do an assessment of where I need to start so he had me do a "Barbara" routine. All the workouts have women's names to them... I have no idea why.

A "Barbara" routine consists of 10 pull-ups, 15 push-ups, 20 sit-ups and 25 squats. What makes CrossFit unique is that it is high intensity! So you do that whole routine as fast and as intense as you can. So I did it. And my time was something like 2:38. Not bad for a guy who has been pretty sedentary for the past 6 months. The trainer says alright take a 3 minute rest/recovery. Then do it again.

Long story short. That "Barbara" routine is done in 5 sets for time. I did 2 sets and was at failure and on the verge of vomiting. Second set time? Closer to 7 minutes. So the trainer says take two days for recovery and come back.

I have had a few (sore) days to do some more research on CrossFit and so far the reviews are split. The pros seem to be that it does a better job of making you better at not one specific thing but a lot of things. It's meant to be broad and inclusive. It's high intensity so you get on average a 30 minute workout that is both cardio and strength training.

The cons seem to be that it is high intensity and it isn't meant for people who aren't already in good shape. Reviewers also state that the workouts should be longer and more varied. There is no real regimen for following the program. The website announces which WOD (Workout of the Day) is performed. The people who swear by CrossFit come off a little cult-ish and some believe that it is The Answer to proper fitness.

So here's my take. Sometimes the thing that doesn't feel like it's right for you might be what's best for you. For years, I've tried to lose weight the way I wanted to do it and look where it has gotten me. I like the fact that it is intense and can be done in less time than a typical workout. I am suspicious of what this workout will do to my heart and body. Is it good to just be that intense when I've not had that intensity for nearly 10 years? Or will it indeed make me stronger, faster. I rarely ever espouse something as the answer and just like other avenues of our lives (church affiliates, sports teams etc..) I expect that if something works for you then you would be boasting about the results. It for us unbelievers that have to be converted. For what it's worth I get six free weeks with the trainer to see if this model is one that works for me. So even though I have a bit of skepticism, I am keeping myself open to the possibilities that CrossFit might be what works for me... especially as it keeps me out of my comfort zone.

If you had to ask my body what it thought... right now you might get answers from parts that haven't been this worked in a long time. In the meantime, I plan to use CrossFit as the supplement to my other cardio workouts which I am doing 6 days a week.