Ever wondered what the CrossFit craze was all about? Me, too. So, I joined 4 weeks ago. And let me tell you, if you DO NOT love a sweaty, hard, near-impossible workout, then CrossFit is not for you! But, if you like getting your butt kicked several times a week with other crazy people, then you should totally try it!
I have been intrigued with CrossFit for several years, but never could justify driving into town (10 mile away) several days a week to workout. Not to mention, the only time that might work for me was 5:30 am and there was NO WAY I was getting up that early!
For the last several years of my fitness journey, I’ve always chosen at home workouts and done my exercising alone. I’m a pretty self-motivated person, so that has worked fine for me. After running my half marathon 2 months ago, though, I became completely unmotivated on the fitness front!
In my head I had big plans…. I was going to maintain a 6 mile base, I was going to pick up weightlifting again (I have a nice set of dumbbells), I was going to do PiYo again.
And you know what?
I was having a hard time doing any of it!
A nearby town (my hometown, actually) has had a CrossFit group for the last 4 years. I’ve known the owner since the beginning because we did a few presentations together that our chiropractor sponsored. I would talk about food and farming and she would talk about fitness.
Anyway, during the first week in June, she ran a BOGO deal to join CrossFit, so I decided maybe that was what I needed to get myself back in gear!
Let me tell you, I LOVE IT!!!! I love all the weightlifting (I took a weightlifting class my senior year of high school and fell in love with it!), the difficulty of the workouts and doing it with a great group of people. I wasn’t sure what I would think about exercising with others around to see my sweaty self, but EVERYONE is a sweaty, gasping mess when it’s all over, so nobody cares and everybody is very encouraging.
There is a wide wage of people that go. Some are super buff and have been doing this for years. Some are like me- not in terrible shape, but definitely could use improvement. And others are at the very beginning of their fitness journey. There’s also all sorts of ages- teenagers, 30-something moms/dads, and 60-something grandmas and grandpas!
Anyway, if you have a CrossFit box (that’s what the official gym is called) anywhere in your near vicinity, I highly recommend it!
WHY I WORK OUT
OK, so I’ve told you about my latest fitness thing, but what gets me out of the bed at 5:00 am to get to CrossFit by 5:30 am or pushes me to run 13.1 miles or to hold that downward dog pose an extra few seconds?
Well, I’ve got several reasons 🙂
1 This guy
As you know, Reece has autism and more than likely, will live at home forever. I really want to be able to take care of him for as long as God allows me to. I want to be able to do that, though, as my best self! I don’t want to be 60 and get winded walking up stairs or have high blood pressure or have who knows what other health problems that crop up when you are out of shape. In full disclosure- Reece can be difficult sometimes. He can have full on meltdowns and get violent (which has gotten so much better since we switched schools a few months ago!). Maybe some of that will get better as we get through puberty, maybe it won’t. But I need to be able to handle him as much as possible. Someday he’ll be stronger than me, but I want that day to be far off and even when it comes, hopefully, I’ll still be able to do what I need to do to help him. He’s also been known to run away when he doesn’t want to do something. I need to be able to chase after him! If I’m overweight and out of shape and he takes off to the road, what’s going to happen? So, he’s my number one motivation for keeping up with my exercising.
2 My future grandkids. Obviously, I don’t know what that will look like and how many I might have (I have requested 10, and so far my girls are good with that, lol!). I want to be an active grandma that can take them places and keep up with them!
3 My future self. I want to do everything in my power to live as healthy as possible and to age as best as I can. Now, granted, God may decide to throw me a curveball. But, our bodies are a temple and would you really let a temple get rundown? Nope! Our selfish, lazy, sinful nature can get in the way, I know, but I really think trying your best to be as healthy as possible is a good spiritual practice! Remember, God created us in HIS image! Taking care of the bodies He’s given us shouldn’t be always put on the back burner.
4 My mom and dad. OK, you want some inspiration? Listen to this little story… My mom (who, as you know, ran a half marathon to celebrate turning 60!) didn’t start running until she was 50! My dad didn’t start running until he was 60! So, in other words, you have no excuse for not exercising. You may think “I’m too old to start working out. There’s no way I could do it.” Well, I’m hear to tell ya, that being an advanced age is not a reason for neglecting your fitness!
5 My husband.
I want to look good for him and to be around for the long haul! I know our vows said “in sickness and in health” but I prefer to focus on the health part! Like I said before, God may choose something different for me, but right now, I can do the best I can to be in as good of shape as possible. I want us to be an active older couple (which I can guarantee will consist of lots of farming for us! Ha! We will definitely NOT be a retired couple that traves much, lol!)
What are your favorite forms of exercise? What are your motivations?
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