160129 - CrossFit | Why people feel the need to "switch it up."

"Switching it up" is both an acknowledgement of failure and a cry for help. 

I often tell new folks that CrossFit isn't the end-all-be-all way to get super healthy and fit, but for the vast majority, 99% of folks, it is the best way regardless of current fitness level or age. Getting fitter isn't about how good you are at the two things you're good at, it's about addressing your strengths and your weaknesses. 

The stagnation that people feel stems from a lack of pushing their limits in the 10 general physical skills (mentioned here and defined in next Monday's WODBlog). They try innumerable other gimmicky options like xtreme this and that, boxing classes, picket pounder and feed bag fitness, swiss ball gymnastics, yoga, group dance, pilates, core power this, rave that, because they give you the sense of making progress without forcing you to confront the things you suck at and, *gasp*, work on them! Hell, you're having fun though!

You will have your weaknesses exposed here. It happens to everyone. You can step up to the challenge, or you can bail. It's always your choice. But if you bail, you're not leaving to do something that's going to make you more mobile, stronger or faster. You're leaving to do something that will allow and even reward you for avoiding those shortcomings and make you feel that somehow you're exempt from being confronted with those weaknesses in your life. 

There is no "One Weird Trick" to flexibility, range of motion, strength, capacity. It's putting your nose to the grindstone and doing it. Our job as coaches is to guide you through the process and we're damn good at it. We give responsible recommendations when asked (and even sometimes when you don't ask), and we're brutally honest with you when you are not putting forth the effort to get better. 

If you feel the need to "switch it up", remember, you're just avoiding the things you're bad at, not going somewhere else to fix them.

Be honest with yourself, swallow your pride, get in here and handle your business. 

Skill/Fun
Dodgeball

WOD
3 rounds
:60 row, ski or Airdyne
:60 hand-release push-ups
:60 box jumps 24/20
:60 lateral hops (hurdles or parallettes)
:60 AbMat sit-ups
:60 rest