Richard Hay - CrossFitter
I had been looking for some exercise that that was going to keep me motivated for more than five minutes for about 6months when I finally bit the bullet and tried crossfit. Coach Harley had been telling me how great crossfit was, what a great community it was and how enjoyable it was for months, however I remained sceptical. Once I had used all my excuses up (No Time, Injured, too hard out for me) I turned up for my first elements class, well over weight, unfit and feeling pretty useless. Those first four weeks were a revelation. Although equally hard, each session became more and more enjoyable. Slowly mixing with like minded people there to better themselves inch by inch. Very daunting at first writing, my times or reps on the board and seeing others with double the amount or less time but the encouragement you get from others and the coachs and the improvements you see each week put paid to that pretty quickly. I recently completed a workout that I completed in my first month of crossfit with a 57% increase in fitness and a 200% increase in strength. That first workout was 4 months and 22kgs ago, while fitness was my main goal the weight loss has been an added bonus. I am continually amazed to achieve things I wouldn’t have thought I could complete a week earlier, achieved the next. The comradely with everyone else in the box has been the biggest surprise to me. All my previous fitness efforts have been solo slugging it out trying to keep myself motivated (not very successfully I might add). The crossfit community changed this, the encouragement from others and enjoyment you get from seeing others achieve their goals however big or small is amazing. All this has made me not only fitter, healthier and stronger, it has also made me a better father and husband. I am looking forward to being continually challenged and pushed to my limits in the future and know that with each step Coach H and Coach C and the other members will be there with me |
Ok, let’s get something straight…I’m no fitness freak, amazing athlete, or a natural born marathon runner. I’m just your everyday average person. I was told crossfit is for people at any age, any stage. I was actually quoted 6 months ago saying “crossfit’s not for me”. Wow, how things have changed…
I had 2 children 18 months apart and with my first pregnancy I gained 30kg (yup, THIRTY!) I managed to lose some of the baby weight in between my 2 babies but I gained a lot of weight with my second pregnancy also. I started crossfit when my youngest boy was 5 months old and fully breastfed. …. That was 3 months ago and I have lost 12kg & a lot of centimetres since then and I feel fantastic. I love crossfit, actually I may just be addicted! When I first turned up to elements class (that’s what they call the introduction classes you have to take when beginning crossfit) I was a nervous wreck. I thought it would be too hard, and that it probably wouldn’t suit my unco nature. I was so surprised to learn that every WOD (that’s what they call each workout) could be scaled to suit my abilities -My unco-ness and all!!! There was always an option that suited me and it was fantastic. The fellow WODers were all extremely welcoming and the coaches VERY supportive. I love how each WOD is unique, you turn up never knowing what you’re going to get, it’s so varied and interesting. Never a dull moment at the box (oh that’s what the place where you crossfit is called). All this lingo, don’t worry you’ll soon have it all down pact. ;-) Crossfit coupled with a healthy diet has completely changed the way I feel and look. I’m still a work in progress (It’s good to have goals…I’m aiming for a handstand pushup and to be a size 10). Crossfit is AWESOME!!! Turns out it was (& is) for me! It really is true, any age –any stage… Do it, you won’t regret it!!! Kirsty |