CrossFit: Grimacing, “hot pink spandex,” and a whole lot more

By Bill Pappas

A  recent article in the New York Times got me thinking about why I’m a fan of CrossFit, how it’s brought such great benefits to so many people, and how those benefits go way beyond surface-level stuff like muscle gain and weight loss.
The article asked the question, “Why are Americans so fascinated with extreme fitness?” It’s obvious from the first sentence that a) the writer is talking mostly about CrossFit, and b) she is not a fan. I wish she had interviewed some of the folks here at Jet City.

The Times writer introduces the reader to the “strange spectacle” of seeing a blond in “hot pink spandex” who’s “grimacing and groaning” as she swings a sledgehammer. Meanwhile, a coach “bellows” at her to swing it higher. It’s worth noting that the writer doesn’t actually talk to the woman in spandex. In fact, in the entire essay, there’s not a single quote from someone who engages in these so-called extreme fitness programs. To me, that’s unfortunate.

“If she had asked the spandex blond why she was swinging the sledgehammer so hard….”

If the writer had asked me, I would have to concede that I agree with her on one point: that, from the outside, CrossFit can look a bit extreme. And yes, lifting weights or doing pushups you might grimace. But what you get in return for that effort is profound. CrossFit challenges you. And it changes you – whether you’re a spandex blond or an overweight officer worker; an accomplished athlete or a near-sighted grandfather.
Here’s what I’ve learned:

You improve your cardiovascular system. You get stronger. You get leaner.

I came to CrossFit when I realized that years of office work were taking their toll, and it was hard to stay in shape. Now I’m in my 50s, and I’ve regained what I lost. I’ve been as fit, strong and flexible as I was in my 20s.

I would also note that in a previous article, the New York Times wrote about the “growing scientific evidence” that to get the most benefit from working out, we need to push ourselves. (Even brisk walkers have been shown to live longer than slow walkers in epidemiological studies, according to that article.)

“I guess my whole attitude and outlook about how I feel about myself has changed.”

You see physical benefits in a relatively short amount of time

I have clients tell me that they used to put in endless miles on their bikes or running, yet never could seem to lose weight or develop muscle definition. They joined a CrossFit gym and, finally, started to feel like they were getting in shape. “I see muscles!” one of them exclaimed.

You get benefits that aren’t physical, too

To me, this is perhaps the most important point to make in response to the negative New York Times article. No, it’s not measurable. But I’ve heard this so many times that I know it’s true.

One of my clients, a woman in her 60s, said she walks taller since she began doing CrossFit. She thrilled to be gardening with ease, and literally feels proud when she sees her neighbors.

Another client, a mother of two, said “I guess my whole attitude and outlook about how I feel about myself has changed.”

A third client said, “I used to be the fat guy who thought he couldn’t do it.” It’s not just that he lost weight. He’s invigorated, he said, at “seeing the potential” in himself.

“It’s a real family-friendly place, where every day there are familiar faces, where people know you and care whether you show up.”

You have a built-in support group. (And no, they’re not “bellowing” at each other.)

There may be some CrossFit gyms filled with athletes’ big egos, but not the ones I’ve visited.

“I never once felt self-conscious” said one client, who initially felt intimidated to join a CrossFit gym. Ours, she said, is a “real family-friendly place, where every day there are familiar faces, where people know you and care whether you show up.”

Would you ever say something like that about a typical mirror-lined chain gym, where everyone’s trudging on their treadmills alone?

Our gym isn’t the only CrossFit affiliate where you’ll find community. Not by a long shot. You’ll find this same welcoming spirit in thousands of gyms, all over the country and across the world. I’m willing to bet that if the writer of the New York Times article had asked the spandex blond why she was swinging the sledgehammer so hard, she’d probably say the same thing.

Bill Pappas is head coach and owner at Jet City CrossFit, Seattle, WA