Endurance running used to be my fitness world. I ran at least six miles four times a week and usually one 10-20 mile run on top of that. I weighed about 120 pounds at 5'7" tall and wore a size 4 (sometimes a 2). My last race that strictly involved running was in December of 2012. So, a little more than three years of CrossFit focused training and coaching later, I weigh about 132 pounds on any given day, I'm still 5'7", and I still wear a size 4 (sometimes now a 6). I look much healthier. I have meat on my shoulders. My butt has, well, "lifted". I have something that resembles hamstring muscles to balance out the quads on my legs. My vertebrae no longer visibly protrude out of my lower back. Basically, I no longer resemble the smiling outdoorsy stick figure that you see on all the T-shirts with the happy dog. I am definitely more bulky than I used to be, but I don't think that anyone that sees me walking down the street in jeans and a T-shirt would ever refer to me as such. More importantly, most of my bulking up hasn't been in the physical sense of the term.
My self-confidence has put on some serious mass. Hearing that "3, 2, 1, GO!" five times a week and knowing that I can survive whatever workout I'm commencing has certainly helped me tackle everyday tasks with confidence. Knowing that I can pick up my 80 pound German Shepherd with ease or carry my 7-year-old son for any distance if I have to is also a nice thought. I can open jars in the kitchen more easily, too.
My focus has seen some positive gains. Working toward multiple short and long term goals simultaneously in the gym helps me focus on priorities outside the gym as well. Learning to put my head down through a rough metcon and chip away at the reps has made the evening chaos at the Giddens' house seem much more manageable.
Adaptability fibers in my brain are becoming increasingly large. So what if something isn't going according to plan? Making adjustments and working through situations as they arise, even just being THERE, IN that difficult moment without panicking is much easier for me than it used to be. You have to be able to shake off that missed lift or "No rep!" in life just like you do in the gym.
Computational math is so much easier now. Just kidding. I still have a front seat on the struggle bus when it comes to math. But as a coach my communication capabilities have developed quite a bit. Because CrossFit truly is for everyone my capacity to move words continues to increase. I must be sure that all my athletes know what they are doing, when, and why. I can only hope to continue to grow in this arena.
Undoubtedly the muscle that has put on the most bulky mass since I started CrossFit is my proverbial heart. I love my gym. I love all the athletes that come into my life because of this crazy fitness thing and I treasure the friendships I've made and the experiences I've had. The oft-used "#fitfam" seems trite until you experience it. People think we're cultish and weird. Maybe. We are a group that suffers together, succeeds together, we invest in each other and our communities; ultimately we are all striving to become better people and we are doing it together.
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| December 2012 and May 2015 |
I am sure you have gathered by now that I was thin and didn't need to lose weight when I started CrossFit. I needed to increase my actual, non-satirical physical muscle mass to improve my health. Can CrossFit help you lose weight if you have weight to lose? Of course it can. Can CrossFit teach you how to be healthier overall? Absolutely. If you or someone you know are thinking of trying CrossFit but are afraid of getting bulky, or you are afraid that it will be too hard or you aren't fit enough to try it, maybe you should change your way of thinking. If someone says that CrossFit won't make you bulky, tell them they are wrong and that you know the truth and you hope for all the gains. I don't know anyone who couldn't benefit from a little more CrossFit style bulk.
