If you follow me on twitter, you’ve seen my tweets about my anguish over whether or not to continue going to Crossfit. As much as I love the intensity, I don’t think my body can handle 4-6x a week (as much as I would like it to), so I decided to email my Crossfit box to decrease my membership again (I switched from unlimited to 13x a month for May as I was going to be on leave for a good portion of the month).
Well, after getting a very snarky email reply, I started seriously considering quitting. Especially after I received a reply tweet from Leslie saying a similar thing happened to her friend. She and I chatted about the CF ‘cult-like culture’ making me feel like I am not as committed as I should be. Even though I know each box is different, recently I have been feeling this pressure and becoming more frustrated. Workouts were becoming more stressful with how much I should be doing vs what I want to be doing. (And yes I know not all workouts will be sunshine and daisies).
My feelings exactly for crossfit recently.
Adding fuel to my growing CF-distaste-fire, my mojo has been off, I’ve been going less frequently, and I actually get anxious and stressed about going. It doesn’t help that I have an hour between work and CF to stew about a workout (yes I realize I have strange anxiety issues).
I read a really interesting article about why someone hasn’t tried CF yet (and doesn’t plan to), and I think I may have gotten caught up in the fad she explains. While I love the intensity and group inspiration during workouts, I really don’t like the CF culture that is ‘crossfit is the only way to workout.’ Sometimes I just don’t have the energy for an entire hour of intensity/weights/craziness. Sometimes I just want to do a dvd/go for a run/just do yoga. Sometimes, I want to skip a workout entirely and do what my body wants- REST. (Insert audible gasp here)
Resting like Patty here 🙂
Initially I thought I had to go every day since I was paying so much and I wanted a ripped Crossfit body. I know it’s only been a short time and I can’t be discouraged by non-immediate results. I must focus on what I have accomplished-I have been lifting heavier/getting stronger/muscles getting firmer/etc. But I don’t know if I can be one of those people totally addicted to CF- their whole lives consumed by it- they hang out with just CF people, talk nothing but RX and PR and the ‘girls,’ and eat only paleo. I usually get caught up in fads for a while then go to something else (whole30, repeat breakfasts, running). I was hoping CF would have cured my exercise ADD, but I think its just my personality to want to keep changing things to do what I want to do- which is how exercise should be, right?
Here’s a novel idea: exercise should be what we want to do vs what we should do.
With that said, I came home from work last Wednesday itching for a good sweat session. Since I was still a little miffed with CF (yes I am immature), I decided to make up my own workout- doing what I want to do. Here’s the workout I did and posted yesterday:
I finished in roughly 30 minutes and felt totally accomplished. Want to make it even more sweaty? Simply make sure your gym has the AC turned off during a heatwave!! 🙂
After chatting with friends and the bf about it, ruminating about it for days, considering all the pros (feel great after each workout, getting stronger, encouraging atmosphere, challenging workout), and cons (price, distance once I move, email, increasing cult-like atmosphere, loss of mojo), I decided to quit my membership (all you dedicated Crossfit goers, insert your shock and shame face here).
Although I can financially afford it, I am moving in with my bf soon and want to save as much money as I can so I can pay off my student loans as fast as possible. I plan to join the bf’s gym which offers bootcamp and bodypump classes, as well as continuing my own Crossfit-like workouts. Now that I know what the intensity should feel like, the right way to perform lifts and other Crossfit moves, I think I can continue and stay fit for a fraction of the cost- and the anxiety!
That’s all the heavy-ness I have for you today. Thoughts? Am I silly to quit? Have you ever agonized over quitting something?
Rock on lovers 🙂
Tiny n Fit 
I think now that you know the basics you will be able to continue some CF themed workouts without the culty push. Plus a workout shouldn’t cause you stress! You can always go back if you end up missing it 🙂
I think I can do home CF workouts for a while- especially knowing I am saving money! And you’re so right! Is it weird I forget that I can just go back if I miss it?
If something is stressing you out that much, don’t do it!! I do want to join a CF gym as soon as we are done paying off our school debt, but it will be a while. In the meantime, I’m using the gym on base, and there is NOTHING wrong with that. You have to do what works for you. It makes me sad that your box is treating you like that!
I agree- sometimes it’s hard to drop something that I do like (at least some aspects of), but you’re right. If it’s causing me that much stress it’s not worth my sanity! I wish my box wasn’t like this- they were pretty good a couple months ago when I joined. But like you I will make do with what I have and do what works for me 🙂 Thank you for your encouragement!
Oh man I’ve purposely avoided crossfit for this very reason. It all seems so clique-y and ultra competitive. I just don’t like that scene and I’m certainly not willing to spend the money. Even so, if you like it, you like it. You should do what makes you strong and happy. Both. Together.
I love this- do what makes you strong and happy. Wise words to live by!!
Good for you for following your heart and quitting!! If exercise isn’t fun, or you don’t look forward to it, you WON’T do it. And that’s not good! We should do stuff we enjoy, plain and simple. Throw the finger to the haters and go on with yourself 🙂
Thanks! I love this encouragement and kind of reassurance that I am doing the right thing!
I think you have to go with your instincts sometimes… if it’s not making you happy, then you won’t want to stick with it. And why add more stress to your life when you could do something you enjoy instead? 🙂