If you’ve just started out on your CrossFit journey or are thinking of getting involved here’s our top tips for you to help you get the most out of the experience:
Have fun: As well as getting fit you’re here to relax, have fun and socialise. It’s important that you take training seriously and respect the process but don’t get bogged down by the whiteboards, your PB’s or your skill set. If you don’t enjoy it you’re doing it wrong.
Be consistent: training regularly and consistently over a prolonged period of time will give you the best results. There are no quick fixes in fitness and no rewards for training intensely for a couple of weeks followed by a month off. Getting into the box consistently 3-4 times a week for many months is going to yield the results you’re after.
Build a foundation: it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of all the new movements CrossFit will expose you to. Focus on the basics, the technique and the simple stuff first. Don’t get drawn into adding load, advanced movements or being the fastest too soon, it will come with time.
Eat well: Your nutrition is the starting point for your fitness. All the effort in the gym will be wasted if your nutrition is not on point. For an easy start – eat less sugar and processed foods and drink more water, simple.
Listen: the coaches are the most useful resource in the box. They are there to ensure you get the most of every session and to help you achieve your goals. Listen to them when they are talking, act on their advice and ask them questions.
Recover: CrossFit will likely expose you to exercises and levels of intensity that you are not used to. This will inevitably lead to you having sore and achy muscles. Help yourself out by recovering well: prioritise a good night’s sleep, keep moving and eat well. Sometimes light exercise is the best thing to help recovery so speak to a coach about restorative exercise.
Be a part of it: CrossFit is renowned for its community so utilise it. Make friends, cheer on your fellow class mates and ask them questions. Come to social events and stay late and chat if your able. Being part of the community will make it more fun, will keep you accountable and will help you de-stress and relax after a hard day’s work.
And that’s it. Taking note of the above will help you to get the most out of your first few months and get you closer to your fitness goals!