You Want Me To "Buy In" To What?!?!

Anyone thinking of giving CrossFit a try, definitely should. You'll know after that introductory class if it's right for you. Any QUALITY CrossFit gym will have an intro class. Don't be fooled by these meatheads that watched the CrossFit games on TV then decided they were tough enough to call themselves crossfitters and open a gym. It's more than throwing balls around and swinging a hammer. Make sure your trainers are certified. I'll say it again, make sure your trainers are CERTIFIED! Mechanics and form are essential in injury prevention and getting the most out of the workout.

I rally up a few friends and we attend the intro class. Our instructor was very friendly and open about his qualifications and his facility. He made it fun but it was still a good, hard workout. After warm-up, the actual workout only took about 10 minutes. My legs were pretty wobbly walking down the stairs out of the building but we were concerned it wasn't hard enough. How can you get a solid workout in only 10 minutes?

I dropped the TV remote. Trying to decide
if picking it up to change the channel
is worth the effort. My quads were
really sore!

Four hours go by.... "Where in the world are the handicap rails in the bathroom!?! I can't sit down without help!! I dropped something on the floor. Screw it. I'll get it later!" Ok Laura, you probably only feel that way because it's been a few months since you worked out seriously, much less to the point of fatigue. At least that's what I told myself but deep down, I knew better.

A few of us enjoyed the pain enough to sign up for the next step. We felt like athletes again! Who can blame us. The 2 week On-Ramp class which teaches the basic movements and finishes off with workouts each day. It was great having that friend there to encourage and learn new "tricks" with. Start the day with a warm up, then off to learn the movements. After that, another 10-20 minute workout. Let me just say, you can look fit, but CrossFit will quickly set the fit people aside from those that just look fit. I was one of those girls. I LOOK pretty good. I hit fatigue faster and wanted to yack before anyone else in that room. All that feeling did was make me wanna come back for more! 

After the On-Ramp class wrapped up, my friend had her half-marathons to run so I carried on into the regular class without her. Oh crap. I have NO IDEA how this is going to go without her. We've been teammates for over a decade and I have to do something ALONE! 

Enter self-sabotage. I stayed up late the night before class. Remember, I was in the 6:00 am class. Staying up late not the best idea. I "forgot" to leave my clothes and water bottle out. I only set one alarm, which is usually workout suicide. In spite of all of that, I still managed to get out of bed and make it to the car. 

Wait, my hot yoga stuff is in the back. I can just go there. Uh-oh, I'm downtown now. Too late to head to the other side of town for yoga. I'm in the parking lot. Did they see my car? No one knows my car, who gives a crap if they did. I'm walking in now. I can just say I'm paying for a later class. Instructor smiled and said "hi". OK that's enough for me. Let's do this!

My nemesis that first day.

Very grateful the girls' bathroom has

a cabinet I can hold on the way down.

So I ask him about the board. The WOD is written there. I learned before that WOD is "workout of the day" and I see "buy-in". WHAT? I have to give you money to do the first set of exercises? "Cash out". Does that mean I'll get my money back later? Can I pick and choose which ones I do? No, no, Laura. Don't be a moron. Read what it says. 

That particular day, "Buy In" was sort of a difficult warm up to make sure we did the workout correctly. Again, experienced trainers are vital to have around. They make sure you do the exercises correctly and also, if weight is necessary, that you choose an appropriate amount. The last thing anyone wants to see is someone end up seriously hurting themselves because they're trying too hard to look cool rather than get an effective workout. WOD is the butt whooping. "Cash Out" happens after the WOD. I LOVED Cash Out that day. Stretching and mobility work. That's the stuff that makes my body happy. It was also a good time to reflect on what I just accomplished and why I come back for more. I know not all the Cash Outs will be like that. Doesn't matter. It was exactly what I needed without knowing it. I walked out (slowly and wobbly) and felt amazing. Even when I struggled washing my hair the next two days, I knew it was worth it.

Find me on Twitter: @LauraHeddenPT