Why I Prefer CrossFit
This year marks 20 years of CrossFit for me. I was fortunate enough to discover it in the Navy while at Dive School. This year marks 20 years of CrossFit for me. I was fortunate enough to discover it in the Navy while at Dive School. My fitness has been steadily improving ever since. Age is catching up with me like everyone else, but I’m far more capable—and more useful—than I was in my 20s.
Fitness was defined and the foundations of CF were first published in the early 2000s. Over 25 years later, those articles are still worth reading.
https://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/CFJ-trial.pdf/
https://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/Foundations.pdf/
It took me some time to “drink the Kool-Aid,” as they say. When I started, I was still doing separate cardio sessions and had a hard time letting go of the idea that pull-ups were only for “back and biceps” day. However, once I switched to following the main site programming, I was hooked. My workouts (the WODs) became shorter and more intense. I spent less time in the gym, yet my fitness improved dramatically.
I’ve logged over 2,500 WODs since I started tracking them in 2009. I post them on a private blog that only a few longtime CF friends and I can see. We started it as our virtual gym to encourage one another and stay accountable. I can also track my progress over the years. I know exactly how many times I work out each month—no guessing.
My home gym was built gradually as I could afford it. If you want to build your own garage gym, CF has plenty of helpful articles on the topic. It doesn’t have to be expensive, especially when you spread the purchases out over time. I haven’t paid for a gym membership since I started CF.
I don’t need the motivation that comes with group classes. I enjoy them when I get the chance, but they’ve never been part of my routine. Having a home gym eliminates most excuses. I average fewer than 5 hours per month of training, and that consistency has held for 20 years. That approach isn’t for everyone, though. Some people thrive on the energy of a group and the guidance of a coach. Neither way is right or wrong.
If I could go back, I would have invested in more coaching at an actual CF gym early on. My form could definitely be better, especially on the Olympic lifts. I still can’t do overhead squats. I’m confident those issues could have been fixed with proper coaching. Even now, I continue working on my form and trying to improve. I’ve learned enough to stay safe, and my ego isn’t what it used to be. On days when I’m chasing a max lift, if my back, legs, or knees don’t feel right, I stop. My longevity matters more than a new PR.
Injuries are a common criticism of CF. However, I don’t believe the injury rates are any higher than in many other sports—especially at the elite level. In the NFL, tearing an ACL is almost expected. Elbow and shoulder surgeries are routine for MLB pitchers. I don’t think CF is any worse than most other demanding activities.
I’ve had surgery on both shoulders, and one could argue CF contributed. Maybe it did. Or maybe I would have damaged them some other way. There’s no way to know for sure. I live a very active life, and a big part of that capability comes from CF. If I weren’t as strong and fit, I could have just as easily torn a rotator cuff playing old-man softball. Those kinds of injuries are common too.
The mental benefits of CF cannot be overstated. Doing hard things voluntarily is an essential tool for long-term mental health. I see the consequences of its absence every day in the ER. People—especially younger people—who have never challenged themselves are at greater risk of mental deterioration when life inevitably brings adversity. No one escapes pain and hardship. The difference is how we handle it. For many, any disruption to their comfort is treated as drama or trauma, and things quickly unravel.
I saw a 20-year-old woman who had dislocated her patella a month earlier. She had already seen orthopedics, had an MRI showing only bone bruising (no ligament or tendon damage), and was in physical therapy—clearly on the road to recovery. Yet she arrived by ambulance that day because the pain felt worse. After taking her history and examining her, it was obvious she wasn’t mentally equipped to handle even this temporary setback. She simply didn’t know how to deal with something hard in her life.
One final note: CF sparked my interest in nutrition and changed my life in that area too. When I started, I was eating like a college kid—pizza and Mountain Dew on repeat. Once I began pushing my body hard, I realized I should fuel it better. This quote from the original “What is Fitness?” article has stuck with me for 20 years and is still an excellent starting point:
“Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar.”
If I’ve sparked your interest, check out a local CF gym or visit the CF website. There are endless resources, tutorials, and scaled workouts so you can start no matter your current fitness level.