The beginning of a new year tends to make us reflect on things. Goals we have, things we want to achieve, where we're going, where we've been. As I stopped recently to think about the goals I have for the upcoming year, I got to thinking about when I joined CrossFit. It's been over 2 years now since I found Jerry and CrossFit Old Town, and I wouldn't change a minute of it. Sometimes I actually wonder what would have happened to me had I NOT found CrossFit.
CrossFit has turned me into a much healthier, stronger, and more driven person than I was before. Before I was on a slow track to weight gain, heart disease, and a sedentary life. I wonder, what would have happened to me had I not started getting fit and losing weight? After all, that IS what CrossFit is about right? Creating elite athletes by teaching them to move better through varied, functional movements, and eat better?
Since I began CrossFit, I have watched CrossFit simply EXPLODE. Not only has our box expanded, but CrossFit itself has found its way into other countries and cities and towns all over our country. CrossFit is no longer the underground force that it used to be. It's now pushing more towards the main stream, and as I watch what is happening in the CF community, I can't help but wonder if maybe we've grown a little bit too big for our own britches? De-affilating, separations in the higher ups, grumblings about programming. Is this really what we've come to?
The whole purpose of CF is to build elite athletes by teaching them to move better and eat better, right? Then I have to ask, what the F does it matter if you're doing strength days 2 or 3 days, metcons 3 or 4 days, or doing Paleo, Zone, or Primal? The point is that people are WORKING OUT and learning to move better and people are EATING BETTER. After all, isn't that the whole POINT? What does it matter if they Zone/Paleo/Primal? All 3 focus on reducing processed carbs which by now we all know is essential to becoming healthier. Why does it matter which way an athlete does it? Why does it have to turn into this huge argument about who's right? Same thing with programming. Regardless of whether it's strength training or metcons, people are learning to move better. Isn't that what we've wanted all along?
One of the things that everyone loves about CF is that there is a ton, a virtual TON, of info out there on the movements, diet, programming etc and it's all free! The only problem with that is that there is a ton of information out there on movements, nutrition and programming. Everyone has "seen a video" or "read an article" that says THIS is the way. I call bologna. Maybe it's because I'm a teacher that I see it a different way, but I have to say that all this arguing and bickering is BS. There is no one RIGHT way. As a teacher, I've learned that sometimes, kids need to hear things 4 or 5 different ways before it clicks for them. One way or four of the five ways might not work, but there might be that one that does. So it shouldn't matter if people use different cues or different techniques to teach the movements. The end goal is the same. An improved, and correct movement. The same thing with diet. It shouldn't matter if people use different diets to help improve their nutrition. The end goal is the same. Get people away from highly processed, high carbs foods and back to more natural foods. And of course, the same goes for programming. It shouldn't matter if people use more of a strength/lifting base or metcon base to get their clients to move better. The goal should still be the same. To move better. In the end, THAT'S what's going to create elite athletes; moving better and eating better.
I love that CF has grown and that more people are embracing this non-traditional style of working out. I really do. I think it's fantastic because it means that people are interested in being healthier and moving better. But I feel like lately we've been moving away from the goals of CF. We've been distracted by some off the field action. I say it's a new year, and it's time to refocus. Let's get the attention back on the athletes. Back on getting people to move better and be healthier. Forget about this "I'm right, you're wrong" mentality and understand that there are different strokes for different folks. Maybe it's the teacher in me, maybe not. But if we use all the tools around us, all the ideas, all the techniques, and we all wind up moving better and being healthier wouldn't that be the coolest damned thing of all?
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