Hey, Her Campus Tulane collegiettes! I’ve got a special treat for you this week: a guest columnist! Please give a warm welcome to my good friend Kelsey (pictured here), who is one of my go-to health gurus for everything from nutrition to the latest fitness fashion. Â She has previously competed for Tulane Track and Field, but most recently swears by CrossFit, an intense hybrid workout that keeps people coming back for more. Read on to satiate all of your CrossFit curiosities!
The world of fitness showcases hundreds of get-fit methods every year, and the latest craze that everyone seems to be jumping on is CrossFit. You have probably seen the Reebok CrossFit commercials on TV or spotted the CrossFit Games on ESPN, but you might be asking yourself, “What exactly is CrossFit and what is the appeal of it”? Simply put, CrossFit is a combination of Olympic weightlifting, track and field, powerlifting, and gymnastics, yet it truly is so much more!
What exactly is CrossFit?
CrossFit focuses on functional movements that are used and incorporated into everyday life. Need to place a suitcase on your closet shelf? Use the push press you learned last week at CrossFit. Have to pick up a heavy box? The deadlift is the exact same movement.
The daily workouts are performed at a high intensity, but with this intensity come amazing results! An example of a typical workout of the day (WOD) is performing 5 pull-ups, 10 pushups, and 15 air squats, in that order, for 20 minutes. During 20 minutes, you keep track of the number of rounds you completed. At the end of the group class (which typically lasts an hour after warm-up and review of the daily movements), everyone writes their scores on the gym’s whiteboard to promote accountability and fun competition. CrossFit encourages play and the exploration of new sports and skills. Additionally workouts are never performed more than one time (unless you’re retesting to see how much you’ve improved) so boredom is kept at bay!
All Inclusive
CrossFit is not just for your division one athlete or extreme gym-goer. People of all shapes, ages, and sizes can be found inside any CrossFit gym. CrossFit’s programming is universally scalable making it accessible to all. At any given CrossFit facility 20-year-old college students can be found working out alongside 65-year-old lawyers (who often beat the younger whippersnappers!).
Women’s Empowerment
A large misconception among women is that lifting weights will make you big, bulky and manly. CrossFit is a testament to the fact that lifting heavy weights will actually help women become leaner. The high intensity interval training burns hundreds of calories at a time, while the weightlifting components of the workouts promote an increase in metabolism and fat burning. Not only does CrossFit encourage women to be strong and confident, but it also pushes both genders to improve physically and mentally. CrossFit gyms often hold nutrition and goal setting seminars to help better their clients in all areas of fitness, health and life.
Community
Personally, I believe the most amazing part about CrossFit, what really distinguishes it from other workout programs, is the sense of community that it promotes. The workouts are all performed in a group and a spirit of camaraderie is seen throughout the CrossFit world. How many times have you been running on the treadmill and had others cheer you on? I can’t think of a single time. The exact opposite is true in CrossFit; I can’t even begin to count the times others have motivated me to finish a difficult workout and the new friends that I’ve made through CrossFit are truly one of the greatest benefits of this approach to fitness.
For more information regarding CrossFit in New Orleans, contact Kelsey Moran (kmoran@tulane.edu) or visit www.crossfitnola.com to schedule a free introduction class!