The Biggest Myths About CrossFit

Myth 1. You will get hurt
With any activity, there's always a risk of injury. But don't blame it entirely on the sport, especially one like CrossFit that is set up to mimic everyday movements to help strengthen muscles and prevent injury. Problems happen when you stop listening to your body.

On the other hand Post-workout soreness is completely normal to experience after every good workout: drinking lots of water to stay hydrated and a recovery shake to ease screaming muscles, and eating omega 3s throughout the day to reduce inflammation is a good remedy.

Myth 2. Membership is too pricy
YES your local gym is cheaper, but what good is it if you're not seeing any results? A gym is basically a place where you rent out space and equipment, what people pay for at CrossFit is the very high-level coaching, we usually have one coach for every 10 people. Think of it this way: CrossFit offers both the programing and the individual attention from a trained professional to help you reach your goals. If you show up at least 3 times a week, do the work, and focus, results are inevitable.

If you're still uncertain about the €75 or so a month, consider this: Some personal trainers charge that much per hour! And you can try this money-managing tip and go out 2 fewer nights each month so your budget stays the same. “Prioritize your funds for your health and longevity!

Myth 3. You're gonna puke, pass out or die
Don't be fooled by a scary-sounding workout of the day (WOD) such as “Death by Burpees.” It's not literal, people. But it's understandable why you might think so. CrossFit is known for its intensity. When people who are new to CrossFit don't know how to gauge that intensity, they may feel nauseous or sick. Intensity isn't something you add right away. At our CrossFit box coaches will help you build a foundation, teaching you about technique and consistency. Once you've got those down, then you can add intensity. Without proper form, there's no point to add speed or volume because you won’t make any fitness gains and may injure yourself.

If you still start to feel bad mid-WOD, stop and let your body recover. Learning the difference between discomfort which is common and pain which is uncommon and can be avoided is part of the learning process when starting Crossfit.

Myth 4. You will meet Uncle Rhabdo
This relative is never welcome. Rhabdomyolysis is a rare and serious health condition where muscles are so overworked that fibers break down and enter the bloodstream, which can lead to kidney damage or, worse, failure. And while it has been linked to CrossFit, as well as other sports, for years, all it takes to avoid any misery is the right mindset. The people who are risk are the fit ones who haven't done CrossFit and come in thinking they can go way too hard too early before their bodies have acclimated to the volume and intensity. No need to do 100 pull ups during your first workout!

Myth 5. You will get bulky and BIG
You should know by now that it's simply not that easy for women to join the swole patrol. Bulking up is about testosterone production, which means that most women don't have the genetic profile to add a lot of muscle. But when you watch the CrossFit Games on TV or see a CrossFit athlete in a magazine, it’s reasonable why you may be confused.

The Games host the top 50 people in the entire world who have been selected through this slow-winnowing process of Open and Regional competitions, adding that the majority of them have both skills and a genetic advantage. The average woman, however, might just drop a few dress sizes and shift her body composition. People generally become stronger, toner, fitter version of themselves.

Myth 6. You must be very Competitive
No need to bring your game face to every workout. You can be as competitive as you want to be, or not. While it may seem like you're going up against your classmates, the only person you need to beat is yourself. It's great to have accountabili-buddies to encourage you to work hard, but you don't want to stay locked into the idea that you and your training partners are the exact same athlete and therefore should be at the same level.

We recommends keeping a WOD log of your sessions. Note how you felt going into your workout, what your times were for the WOD, and how you recovered afterward, which will all help you gauge your progress and set specific goals. Focusing on your own challenges, such as shaving seconds off a WOD or getting one more wallball in before the clock runs out, will help you stop comparing yourself to others. And if the competitive energy around you does suck you in, pull out that logbook. You might notice your best squat has gone up 35kg in the last year. That will give you some perspective about your growth as an athlete that doesn't rely on anyone else.

Myth 7. It's for experienced athletes only
Your first time at a CrossFit box may feel like you're walking into a poor man's Olympic Village with so many well-sculpted, shirtless, and sports-bra-clad bodies everywhere. But rest assured they don't have any more gold medals than you do. Anyone can play and you won't get picked last.

CrossFit is for everyone! We have people taking classes who have never ever exercised in their lives. We've also had people who've had serious back injuries who are now doing movements that they weren't able to do before because of their injury. So whatever is holding you back, drop it and pick up a bar instead.