I am not a “fitness person” and I full well expected to quit CrossFit after the first month. I was never an athlete in school and I value my time lounging on the couch. So when Old City CrossFit opened up in my neighborhood and the girlfriend wanted to try it, I figured I’d do it for a month to be supportive. After that I could quietly cancel my membership and tell her, “it’s not for me.”
At first I found the workouts intimidating. “I haven’t done that many pushups in the last ten years put together,” I remember thinking. I couldn’t recall another time I’d worked that hard or been so sore. Even though I couldn’t keep pace with the others, the staff and members were supportive when I took it at my own pace.
When there were challenging or intense exercises, I found there was always a scaled back version. These scaled versions worked the same muscles but I could actually do them. And unlike my previous experiences with gyms, being lost, alone in a sea of exercise machines, there are always coaches around. That means there is always somebody there to answer my questions, to demonstrate the movements, and help me build on my performance.
A year and a half later, I still enjoy kicking back on the sofa, but my view of fitness has changed. I am part of a community of people who work to improve themselves. I no longer am focused on surviving the workout–I’m focused on getting the most out of my time. I have actual fitness goals which, with a bit of work, I am able to meet. I want to do it better, I want to do it right, and I see the results of my work.
Also, since joining I got engaged, switched my house to solar power, and got a kitten, although your mileage may vary.