I have a new fitness crush. I don’t want to jump ahead and make any drastic declarations, never want to say ‘love’ too soon.. but it could be serious. 
New Crush
Well aside from the blog title giving it away, if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you know my latest Fitness adventure is CrossFit! I’ve been meaning to try it for a while, but with my varying levels of “being in shape” over the last 10 months, I was basically being a big wuss about it. Well, I finally decided to suck it up and signed up.
The week before last I did Elements, which is a required introductory week where you learn technique for all the basic lifts you’ll be doing (mostly Olympic lifts). I was impressed. They really break down the technique in a way that would make anyone comfortable, and more detailed than I’ve ever been taught before
Then this last week was my first “regular week” (I’m signed up for MWF classes). Since it was the first week of the month, the first two classes this week we did Benchmarks, where you work towards a one rep max. It’s funny, with all the lifting I did for Fitness competitions, I never did maxes. And many people.. actually no, just many guys, would ask me “what’s the most you can bench?” .. haha.. I have no freakin idea! But now I do know how much I can Shoulder (Front) Press, Squat and Deadlift. Friday was my first WOD, which are CrossFit’s daily workouts (hello handstand push-ups, haven’t seen you in 9 years!).
So far.. I’m loving it. CrossFit is this fantastic mix of weight lifting (but none of the lame lifts I use to hate) and gymnastics conditioning (which I haven’t done in ~9 years, but am familiar with). There is also cardio mixed in, in the form of running, rows, and increased heart rate with Tibata-style and quick reps.
Strong is the New Skinny .. CrossFit Ladies
So originally I didn’t want to do the Women Only class, because from certain past experiences, I’ve found it can be a bit too much estrogen.. if ya know what I mean. I don’t dig the fakeness, competition for the wrong things, drama, etc. But it ended up that the women-only class was the only one that was open for the number of days and times I wanted. Well I’m so glad it worked out that way! I think I’m going to love training with these girls who are so strong, not scared of lifting heavy and giving it there all. Same with the Coaches. In the past I’ve only had male trainers (for basically the same reasons as above). Well that is certainly NOT the case here. The coaches are awesome, motivating, and all the women are completely bad ass!
(Image Source: CrossFit Central)
The Competitive Side..
So right now I’m signed up for 3 days a week at bright & early 5:30am. It would be 100% like me to stop doing Yoga, switch to a 100% Paleo diet (more on that soon), go to CrossFit 5+ days a week, and burn myself out. The first step to recovery is being able to admit your issues right? 
My love for Yoga has been pretty well document here over the last few months. But just like I talked about balance in the last post, part of the balance for me is in the type of exercise I do (and nutrition seems to follow suit). As my father so sarcastically likes to say, a “delicate flower” I am not. As much as I love love love yoga, and it as been so beneficial in changing my attitude & outlook towards.. well pretty much everything, including exercise.. I’m coming to realize that I still need that competitive outlet.
With that, over the past month I’d been tossing around the idea of doing another Fitness competition, but just couldn’t set my mind to it. Then last weekend I went to watch the Adela Garcia Classic, an NPC Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure & Bikini competition here in town. I think I made it through about 1/2 of Figure before I left. The whole thing just didn’t feel right. It was awkward and I just didn’t want to be around it (all of it, the tans, horrible posing, douche-bag trainers making snide comments). Of course this is just one show in one federation, and I had a wonderful experience with my trainer & studio.. but just the actual show environment.. it just felt.. yucky (haha, best word I could think of). So ruled that out.
Truth is, I’m very competitive, just a part of who I am, but for the most part I always look at it as competing with myself first and foremost. I want to be my absolute best. And if I’m giving my absolute all every single day, then I’ll get better and better, and maybe (hehe.. hopefully) that means that in an actual competition, I am better than the next person.. but if not.. as long as I know I put everything I can into it.. them I feel good about it!
I took this outlook into training for Fitness.. and it turned out pretty good.. but I was thinking about something the other day (and actually posted it to my FB Page).. isn’t it so much better when looking fit and healthy is the result of doing something you love NOT doing something just for the sake of looking a way you hope you’ll love (and might not actually be healthy)?
Of course I love working out.. but I don’t love doing the same thing each week, if not each day. And I straight up dislike anything that involves a treadmill. It was an ‘ends justify’ the means sort of thing. And it was worth it.. then.
I guess I just don’t want to care if I’m perfectly symmetrical, or if my “shoulders” are coming in, or really need to work more on getting that V-taper. I don’t care. I care about having fun and feeling good.
So at least at this moment balance for me means a few days of CrossFit, a few days of Yoga and maybe a Spin class or Pure Barre class tossed in too.
And What About Paleo?
So I knew the CrossFit folks were big proponents of Paleo.. but I wasn’t quite as prepared for the FULL nature of it, haha. In all fairness, I’m a tough audience when it comes to nutrition. There are a lot of things I fully admit to being clueless about. But nutrition is not one of them. No I’m not an RD, but instead I read and study pretty much every type of diet and lifestyle nutrition I can, then shape my opinions from there..
My thoughts on Paleo, and perhaps giving it a test run, on the next post!
*Home Page (Image Source: CrossFit Central)
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Twitter: jerrigirl
says:
Sounds awesome! It sounds a lot like Army PT which I loved. There’s a CrossFit (assuming it’s the same thing) here in Waco that I’ve been thinking about trying. It’s also where I go for yoga. I think I’ll try it now based on your review!
I absolutely love that you said “Strong is the new skinny” because it’s so true! Being a stick isn’t in style any more as much as being healthy and strong enough to take care of business! Great tips
Everyone please come check out fit&fab’s blog runningwithmascara.com for more health and beauty tips!
i like to pick and choose when it comes to diets. when it comes to paleo – i like the healthy fats and the unprocessed qualities of the diet. however, my body does really well with greek yogurt and i just don’t like meat enough to eat that much of it!
i’m looking forward to hearing more about what you think about it!
I have always wanted to do CrossFit but I do have some issues at my age right now that might not work PLUS it costs money I can’t afford! Oh well…
I love your attitude on doing things for you & what you love! Bodybuilding & the contests, yes, hard work, but there is a lot of fake in there too – I agree.
As for Paleo – I know those people are fanatics about “their way” but to me, anybody that says it is their way or the hight way ought to hit the highway. There is no one way for everybody & that is what bothers me about the way they push it. A person has to be able to live life long with what they are doing & many people may just give up if they had to eat that way all the time. And I am not into cutting out whole food groups either. I have respect for what a person wants to do but don’t say everybody else has to do that.. just in my humble opinion.
Twitter: NourishedFit
says:
I exactly mimic your thoughts on Paleo! I have no problem with the theory behind it, but it’s not something that will/can work for everyone. I think no oats would be the hardest part for me :p
What a great post! I am excited that you are getting into CrossFit, I think my attitude mirrors your own for the most part, although I am not a hardcore yoga fan.
Excited to keep following your blog and good luck!
LOVE your blog! Thanks for the “Like” on Facebook
I’m a huge fan of CrossFit… looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Paleo. I’m a firm believer in finding the right diet that works for each individual, and Paleo may not be for everyone. I’m also planning on getting my health coach certification from IIN! What do you think about it? Do you love the program? I noticed you are from Austin. I’m from Fort Worth, yay Texas! We will be coming to Austin in August to relax for a few nights at Travaasa Resort. Love Austin!
Ive been wanting to try cross fit for awhile now. It seems amazing. Ive heard mixed reviews about it but I think Im gonna give it a go!
Smiling reading this post
I’m a yoga teacher (“full time” as in my actual J-O-B) and I have been cross-fitting for close to 3 years now and actually teach a series I’ve developed to Crossfitters and CrossFit affiliates/locations. I love it and find that it create a lot of balance for my lifestyle.
I will say this when it comes to your yoga…even if it’s not your “#1″… stay with it. I am pretty damn flexible, significantly more than most given my craft and main study of discipline BUT since Crossfitting seriously and going for strength, I am feeling a lot of congestion and tightness in my body…more than I ever have.
I’m always joking with my coach friends that if *I’M* feeling this tight in my quads etc from what we do I KNOW they have to be!
So, stick with your yoga. You won’t regret it