crossfit to be fit!

CrossFit in Seventeen Magazine! Now that’s something…

Are you up for a challenge?

Staying healthy is a way of life, and every now and then you need to spice it up! With summer just around the corner, and a dream bikini in mind, I decided to try something new: crossfit.

Crossfit is a core strength and conditioning program. It combines weightlifting, sprints, and gymnastics. In crossfit, variety is key and routine is the enemy! Because it’s so varied (but can also be scaled) it’s perfect for athletes of all levels. Whether you’re a sport enthusiast looking to cross train, a type-A personality who likes a challenge, or someone just looking to get in shape (like me)—you can work crossfit into your life.

I decided to head over to Crossfit ACT for a trial class. I was ready to lift, I was ready to sprint, and I was ready to…”Tabata.”

Wait, what?,

Tabata is an interval style workout that consists of twenty seconds of work followed by ten seconds rest repeated eight times. And today’s “W.O.D.” (workout of the day) was a combination of four tabata style workouts (jumping pull-ups, squats, push-ups, and sit-ups).

Sounds easy, right? It’s not. As the timer counted down to “go!” I remember smiling to myself. Jumping pull-ups? Piece of cake! I had been climbing; I definitely could do a pull-up. Especiallyone in motion! Besides, it was only twenty seconds!

(Note to self: over-confidence is not always a good thing)

A minute after the workout started, I wanted it to end. I was huffing and puffing. Fifteen seconds. I started grimacing.Seventeen seconds. A droplet of sweat dripped into my eye and now I was both grimacing and blinking. I look confused, or in pain, or both? Twenty.  Finally!

After completing the final sit-up of the 20-minute workout, a couple of thoughts went through my mind:

1. What was I thinking this morning when I decided to get up and do this.
2. Do I have six-pack-abs yet? I must have six pack abs.
3. I just completed four tabata workouts. WOW.
4. I feel AWESOME!

Despite the fact that I had only worked out for about 20 minutes, I felt like I had gotten a full body workout! I realized that because I had really pushed myself, and I was actually excited to log my score. (After each workout you make a note of your score to see improvements over time). So whether you’re working out with body weight, or doing a strength W.O.D. in the end you’re working towards improving your own scores! (The gorgeous bod and healthy attitude are just an added bonus)

So, do you think you’d be up for the challenge?