2016

5 Things Women Should Know about CrossFit

5 Things Women Should Know about CrossFit
Getting in shape comes with all kinds of perks and benefits, including better body image, more self-confidence, and a stronger immune system. Of course, one glance at your already packed daily schedule might leave you wondering when you might find time to get fit.

Enter CrossFit, the workout that has been voted most likely to deliver the fitness goods by an estimated 4 million devotees nationwide. So if you are contemplating giving CrossFit a try, you won't have to look far to find workout partners or a local box (that is what CrossFitters call a gym).

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CrossFit has so much to offer for busy women who need the stress relief and health boosting benefits exercise can offer. In this article, I highlight what you need to know about CrossFit to help you decide if this is the right fitness program for your needs.

Meet Your New Vocabulary


We already mentioned the "box," which is what CrossFit enthusiasts call a gym. Depending on who you ask , the box gets its name from its shape, its lack of amenities or for no good reason at all other than to distinguish itself from a traditional gym.

As a CrossFit newbie, there will be much to learn, not the least of which is a whole new vocabulary! Here are just a handful of popular terms to get you started:

  • WOD. Workout Of the Day pronounced "wahd."

  • AMRAP. As Many Rounds As Possible.

  • ATG. Ass to Grass.

  • Burpees. A type of pushup unique to CrossFit.

  • Firebreather. A top-level Crossfitter.

  • Heroes. A series of CrossFit workouts named after fallen military heroes.

  • PR. Personal Record.

  • Subbed. Swapping out one more difficult exercise for an easier one.

  • The Girls. A series of CrossFit workouts named after women.

  • TTB. Toes To Bar.

  • YBF. You'll Be Fine.

  • Or, check out the following link for a full list.


5 Frequently Asked Questions about CrossFit




CrossFit is so unlike most traditional fitness programs that beginners often have lots of questions, many of which are about the CrossFit mythology that has since sprung up around the discipline.

Here are some of the most common questions beginners have about CrossFit.

1. Will I puke?


The chances of you puking, it will depend entirely on how well you can pace yourself during the early days of doing CrossFit.

CrossFit was first introduced to the general community via specialty workplace training programs designed by CrossFit founder Greg Glassman for peace officers and the military.

So this gives you a general idea of how hard you can push yourself, and why some beginners emerge from their early workouts with fearful tales of vomit and life flashing before their eyes.

However, just remember you will do your body and your mind no favors by setting the bar that high for your first CrossFit workouts.

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VIDEO:  CrossFit CEO Greg Glassman on Creating a World Fitness Trend


https://youtu.be/9Kgyui6-g3o

VIDEO: "Be better period!" with Greg Glassman


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2. What if I can't do CrossFit?


Yes, CrossFit is a new type of workout regimen, and yes, there are free weights and squats and lots of sweating involved. But what you won't hear about until you actually walk into a CrossFit box for the first time is that all the workouts are both scalable and able to be modified.

This means you can and should and are encouraged to adjust them to your current fitness level. This also means you might find yourself working out side by side with a fellow newbie one day and a CrossFit pro the next. Plus, the instructors want to be sure you have mastered the form so you won't get hurt, so they will work with you to make sure you absolutely are able to do it, whatever it is.

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3. What if I don't fit in?


If there is one thing all CrossFit enthusiasts have in common, it is this: there is no "typical" CrossFitter. Young aspiring bodybuilders and stay at home moms, school teachers, and accountants, tall and short, thin and curvy, fit and not-yet-fit - all are packed in together at the average CrossFit box.

New people join CrossFit every day and there is always time and room for them, just as there is time and room for you when you are ready to give CrossFit a try!

[tweet_box design="box_9"]"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I’m possible." – Audrey Hepburn[/tweet_box]



4. What if I get bored with CrossFit?


There are many reasons why CrossFit has become so enduringly popular across the nation. No two workouts will ever be exactly the same. The WOD, or Workout of the Day, makes sure of it. In fact, for many avid CrossFit enthusiasts, their day begins by checking to see what the WOD is for that day.

So if you have had a tendency to quickly lose interest in a workout in the past, CrossFit should give both your brain and your body plenty of new and interesting experiences to keep things fresh.

The Big Question, "Will I hurt myself if I start doing CrossFit?", but what you should be asking is...


5. How do I Protect my Body from Injuries in CrossFit?




If you are like most CrossFit beginners, one thing you will quickly notice is that you will be learning new things each time you enter a box. In fact, not only will you be learning new fitness exercises, but an important part of CrossFit is learning to do them properly.

So let's say you head to CrossFit today, and when you arrive, you discover you will be learning how to do back squats with a free weight. Maybe you feel scared because you have never done back squats before.

But your trainers will be working hard to make sure you know how to do back squats safely. They will urge you not to attempt to lift too much weight until you have mastered the form of the squat itself.

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They will also be relying on you to listen to your body and to notice if anything hurts or feels strained, both of which are signs you need to scale or change the exercise to suit your body's signals.

Even CrossFit's founder, Greg Glassman, has said that it is easy to get injured doing CrossFit. Research studies have found that up to three-quarters of CrossFitters report being injured at some point while working out in a box.

Given CrossFit's rigorous insistence upon proper form combined with the high incidence of injury, it is easy to figure out that what is causing the injuries is when CrossFitters push their bodies too far too fast.

As such, the best way to protect your body from injuries is to listen to it - listen, listen, listen. Talk with your trainers. Modify and scale as needed. Take your time. It takes less time to work your way up slowly than to keep taking time off to recover from injuries, and your body will be the better for your patience.


So, is CrossFit for everyone?


CrossFit as a whole is gender neutral. Demographics show that attendance at local boxes is evenly split between men and women, and the same exercises (modified and scaled as needed) are done by all.

As well, many women refer to CrossFit as a bridge to newfound body acceptance and self-esteem because of the focus on strong and not skinny. As a woman who is new to CrossFit, the key will be to patiently build your own strength. You will need to take charge of your own progress, learn to listen to your body and know when to push through and when to take rest.

 

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If you are willing to commit to CrossFit as a process and a way of life and not just another quick fix or means to an end, you may just discover your CrossFit workouts quickly become some of the healthiest, happiest and most liberating moments in each day.


Additional reading:

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Author Bio: James Gross

About the author: James Gross founded Fitnessapie.com to share information helps people achieve fitness goals through guides, tips, ideas, and reviews. Also be sure to connect with James on:

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