Don't be such a hater

Over the weekend I came across a blog post from a guy who is obviously not a fan of Crossfit.  Titled "5 reasons Crossfit is Crap" his hate filled rant basically lambastes all things CF.  It got me thinking about the fact that Crossfit is a LOVE it or HATE it type of thing.  It polarizes people.  Kinda like hot yoga.  You either thrive in the sweltering heat or you melt, literally you melt, trust me.  Maybe lately I have just taken a few too many sips of  the proverbial Kool-aid but over the last few weeks I have been slowly but surely falling in L-O-V-E with Crossfit and my blooming love affair has completely caught me off guard.  Here is why....

Top 5 Reasons I   Crossfit

1. Its messy, gritty and down right dirty.  You chalk up, leave half your palm on the bar, grunt out each rep, and wipe away the sweat dripping off every part of your body.  Then you high five everyone at the end WITHOUT washing your hands.

2. It works for me. I am not saying its for everyone but it is for me and I am so fortunate to feel stronger,  look better and most importantly feel happier and healthier.  CF claims that its all about functional movement and training and you can't argue that when I can lift my two year old over my head onto my shoulders and help unload the hundred yard stone bricks for our garden without too much worry.  
3.  It keeps me hooked.  Its like carbs but good for you.  Each day is a new challenge.  There is no time for boredom and there is always something you can strive to be better at.  Crossfit appeals to the competitor in all of us, even if the last time you competed was on the JV Girls Volleyball team in high school.  And by competed I mean I picked slivers out of my butt for an entire season. 

4. It has a strong sense of community.  One might argue Crossfiters demonstrate cult like behaviour but you would be hard pressed to find a group that has a stronger sense of camaraderie and team spirit than that of the Crossfit community.  Its international, viral and hard to not get swept in to.  What other fitness facility has everyone working towards a common goal, leaving it all out on the floor no matter the skill level and then gym goers stick around to cheer on others till they finish.  Be honest it would probably not be quite as appropriate to go to the local rec centre yell out 3-2-1 GO and then precede to scream in the ear of the guy finishing his last set of preacher curls.  "Come on....push hard....you got this....its all you...".  Members are loyal and dedicated.  They favourite the main page,other 'boxes'  pages and all things Crossfit just to keep up with how others are succeeding.   Each box is full of people who care about you, support you and want you to be your best.  Its like a family but without all the dysfunction.  

5. It inspires me to be MY best me.  I push myself past limits I didn't know existed and I surprise myself all the time and leave with a sense of accomplishment every WOD and every PR lift.   Each day I prove that if I want to, I can and I will.  I am a better wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend and teacher because of what I learn about myself by just simply taking part in a twenty minute Crossfit workout.