Getting over my ego. Or not being too embarrased to suck at CrossFit.

superhappypanda

So I've signed up for CrossFit. I've been several times so far and it's kicked my butt every time. What I've been struggling with isn't so much sucking, but being somewhat embarrassed to suck in front of others and feeling like I'm slowing folks down because they might need to wait for me to finish my sets. Same thing happened to me a couple months ago with hot yoga. I hated not being able to do the moves so I just stopped going. I'm not going to let that happen with CrossFit because it's something I honestly want to be good at. Realistically though, it will take months if not years to be proficient at it.

Anyone else out there dealt with something like this in the past? How'd you get over your anxiety?

MrDelish

is CrossFit a weight training program? If so, you'll get over it eventually. You can't let supposedly prying eyes stop you from bettering yourself. If it's a gym you signed up for check to see if they have any basic weight lifting classes so you can learn essentials and feel confident.

815165

Nobody looks down upon the unfit person at the gym actively trying to be healthier, a lot of people look down upon the unfit person not trying.

NotYou

I'm probably just gonna tell you things you already know, but listen here:

Getting your butt kicked is the whole point! It's awesome. Enjoy that feeling! Love it!

No one cares that you're not rocking a 6 pack and doing sets of 50 pull ups. Seriously. If they're cool people, they're secretly cheering you on in the inside. If they're less cool people, then they're not sparing you a second thought because they are entirely focused on how badass they think they are. Most people are probably just zoning out and thinking about random shit, or their workout. Are you judging everyone around you that's not super fit? I doubt it. No one else is either.

Stop comparing yourself to other people. There's no point! I don't compare myself to the kenyan ultra marathon runners when I go for a jog, and I don't feel bad about myself when a six foot seven giant is playing next to me on a basketball court. Focus on yourself. Focus on your workout.

So anxiety sucks, and it's not like you can just turn it off. But just try to remember that no one really pays that much attention to strangers around them and focus on trying hard.

Morblitz

When my brother first started judo, they thought he was 'just another fat kid' who will come in, see just how hard the work is, and then give up, like so many others.

He went every session, trained hard, threw up, and just plain sucked. All in front of everyone. It was important to him, so he stuck with it week after week even though it killed him. Now, he is in the shape of his life, a blue belt in Judo and a prize winning competitor.

Want to know a secret? No one really gave a shit about how he looked or performed while doing it, and once they knew he was serious about it - they really pushed encouraged him. A good fitness group will/should do the same for you, and they won't look down on you if you have trouble or are slower. That shit isn't helpful to people trying to make a LIFE change, and they know it. Show them you are serious.

Just remember that no one actually cares about how you look as you think they do. They've got their own stuff to deal with, and it's likely that they've all been where you are, too. The chances are, If anything, they'll empathize.

schuss

Seriously, no one cares if you aren't good, and if they do - they're the assholes, not you. You WILL get there, but it takes time, as with any sport or activity. Stick with it if you like it, and fuck the haters.

zagdrob

It's hard to get going at the gym, but realize that most people don't care about you and are focused on their own workout. I think Crossfit is a bit more 'community' oriented, so most likely - as the other posters said - once you've shown you actually are committed / trying, people will be cheering you on and encouraging you or at worst indifferent.

Waiting for someone to finish their sets is part of going to a gym. The only reason (reasonable) people care about other people is if they are actually hogging equipment and not being courteous to other people who may want to work in or use it. So, offer for people to work in if you can, or let them know when you'll only be another minute or two. Don't tie up the equipment when you rest or in between sets - get in, do your thing, get out.

There are some people we all hate who have never been slow / weak / out of shape and gone into the gym...but most people have - for one reason or another - had to work to where they are at. Be it starting from scratch, recovering from an injury, or letting themselves go for a while and getting back into things. When I'm out for a run and some guy in 100x better shape runs by me, I don't think about how slow and fat I am...I think that even if I never get to where he's at, I'm still bettering myself. If I'm out running and I pass someone who is fat / in worse shape than me, I don't laugh at how slow or gassed they are - I think 'good for them getting out and running, I hope they don't quit'.

I'll admit there are some assholes out there, but most people aren't going to laugh / mock, and a lot of them will call out someone who does. If you ACTUALLY have a gym where that's the culture vs. isolated jerks, that's one time when you really should go and find a better environment.

Also, keep in mind that everyone - even the biggest / fittest guy (possibly ESPECIALLY the biggest / fittest guy) has some of those same thoughts about other people looking / judging them. It's normal - use it to motivate you to work harder.

Fantasma

Confidence comes with practice, practice is nothing without discipline, discipline requires concentration. Keep in mind that most battles must be winned from withing first, but also keep in mind that we are just humans, with lots of limitations. Something that you could do, before you enroll in any discipline, is that you try to dominate the matter at hand, at least have some kind of notion before you actually start the program itself.

Just as an example, before practicing Karate in a formal school, I became physically fit first, this gave me the advantage of enduring more that the rest. Also, before I started to play Battlefield 2, I decided to practice alone in empty servers and at home how to drive, fly a helicopter, or at least fly decently a plane before I actually connected to a server with real players, this gave me confidence due to having the skills to do the task.

Dr. Frenchenstein

from what i've seen in my friends posting about their crossfit groups, everyone is super supportive.

isn't it just in a timed circuit? like, you only being able to do 2 pullups in the time it takes someone else to do 20 isn't going to change their workout, right?

However, i know the feeling. i didn't even like my dog watching me flounder at p90X

ThunderSaid

Everyone sucks at crossfit when they first start. Even if you're already in good shape, there are sure to be some skill-based exercises (I'm looking at you, double-unders) that will throw you. It's fine. It helps to remember that everyone else in there also used to suck, and everyone in there still has something that they suck at (at least in their mind, anyway).

My experience with every crossfit gym I've been to has been that people are friendly, and no one is judging your performance. Go in there, work hard, and be polite. You'll very quickly start to feel more confident and you'll really see benefits.

schuss

Also, if anyone makes fun of you, just rip this line out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns6YSvCsVJM

Fireflash

Don't fret about your performances. I've been doing crossfit for more than a year now and I've never seen anyone judging or complaining about newcomers.

Don't compare yourself to others, most other people in your class don't even care wether you perform worst or better than them. The workouts are scheduled so that everything can be done in the timeslot. (warmup + prep + workouts)

You're not making anyone waste time if you're too slow or whatever. Either it's an AMRAP (do the listed series of movements as many times as you can until timecap is reached) or if it's a set number of rounds there's always a timecap. It doesn't matter if you don't finish before the timecap. In both cases the important thing is to do the best you can within your physical limits, even if your head wants to give up.

You know what happens when I'm done and there's a few people left trying to finish the workout? We cheer them on, pushing them to continue until the end.

Just compare yourself to yourself. There's a great feeling of satisfaction when you finally 'get' more complicated moves like kipping pullups, or when you manage to beat one of your personal records, especially on more technical moves like cleans and snatches.

superhappypanda

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll be back at it tomorrow morning. Guess I just needed to swallow my pride and get my ass out there.

RocketSauce

Just by going to CrossFit and performing the workouts you are so far beyond even people going to the gym, let alone the rest of the country. If you are sucking, just be happy you are sucking compared to people who are in really good shape. There are so many people out there that can't even make it in the door, let alone finish the workout.

Cantido

I had a blast at CrossFit even though I was a beginner. Just be careful, I had to quit because improper weight lifting gave me patella tendonosis.

Kyougu

I only done cross fit once or twice but I do rock climbing regularly and can relate.

Among my group of friends there's quite a bit of them that are better (including some that have been climbing less than I have!) and then there's the other people at the gym who are way beyond my league. It's hard not to get frustrated/feel like I'm not keeping up.

I just tend to remind myself that the only person that I should be in competition is with myself. And really, finally completing a move or route and getting that feeling of accomplishment is enough to keep me from giving up.

Bruan

I would agree with everyone that's said you always suck at Crossit when you first start out. A lot of the stuff requires a lot of coaching on form. Step 1 is showing up

Most of the exercises can be downgraded (think of it as an easy-mode.) In Crossfit terms, they're called being RX'd. Don't be ashamed to do jumping pull-ups instead of regular pull-ups. Not many people I know can do all the pullups required for Cindy - hell, I can't. (As many rounds as possible - 5x pullup, 10 pushup, 15 air squats).

Most important thing - even if you're a big dude, don't be afraid to just use the bar for the olympic stuff. I'm talking deadlifts and all the power-lifts you do. Injuries will result from it! Just say you don't know the form and somebody there will probably coach you. Just take it easy and don't overtrain!

Good luck

edit: In terms of getting over anxiety, just keep showing up no-matter what. You're not going there to impress anybody. Just take your time and don't be afraid to ask for coaching Most crossfit gyms/boxes have enough equipment so that people don't have to wait for you.

kaliyama

Also, I (and many others) find crossfit weird and cultish. As long as you enjoy it it doesn't really matter, but if/when you get turned off from it, don't let it sour you on exercise and fitness generally. Lots of other kinds of working-out experiences to be had.

schuss

This is a great take on it:

http://marshallroy.com/?p=719

Eat it You Nasty Pig.

everybody sucks at crossfit for like, the first while that they go

the fun part starts when new people start showing up and they're worse than you

Bruan

One thing to remember, do not go too hard or too fast. Know when to stop - when you don't feel comfortable about the form, lower the weight or just use the bar!

Pulling a muscle is the least of your worries when you deal with this stuff.