What happens on your first day in Crossfit?

mmargarette

So I've been thinking of doing crossfit but I want to be mentally prepared on what's going to happen when I start. I've seen all these posts and what not about weights and stuff. I'm not super fit or muscular or what as I have pounds and a tummy to lose. I'm kinda anxious that maybe on my first day they'll make me do really hard stuff already.

mikelambert0485

Every Crossfit place is different so I would suggest checking a few of them out. If there is only 1 close to you then you are stuck with that 1 for the time being. If you have 5-6, you have choices and would ask to hold your judgement about Crossfit until visiting at least 3 of them. I'm only saying this because Crossfit does have a bad rap from poorly run gyms from people who take a Level 1 Course and open their own gym a week later with no exercise/trainer experience. In my own opinion there is a huge chance to get injured or see zero gains in what you are trying to do (gain weight, lose weight, etc.)

But for your first time, it is always different from gym to gym. The Crossfit gym that I train ("coach) at and work out at typically offer a free class on Saturdays to new members wanting to take a look at the gym and see what all the craze about Crossfit is. At this time we show you everything the gym as to offer, i.e. work out areas, bathroom/showers, extra lifting room, all of our fun 'toys' etc. We then sit down and talk with you about your history (exercise, lifestyle) and what your goals are. We then workout finally. Do a brief little warm up to get you loose, go over what the workout is and how to modify it to your abilities (i.e. push ups = go from your knees?, pull ups = either in bands or simply jumping pull ups?). Then have the timer go 3...2...1... Go and you work out and we coach you through it. Afterwards (including catching your breathe, having some water) we go over any other questions you may have and what we offer as far as membership pricing goes. But we also typically have all new members who sign up with little to no Crossfit experience sign up for our On-Ramp Class (beginners). For us, we do 2 nights a week, 3 week long course. Here is when we spend about 1 hour each class going over various movements to help introduce you to what we do. I forget the exact layout the owners have set up but its 2-3 movements per day (until the last week in which each day we go over the Snatch and Clean - Olympic weightlifting movements).

Hopefully this can give you some insight for you.

And reading your question again... they shouldn't make you do really hard stuff the first time around. They should want to help you push your body but not to the point where you injury yourself and never come back. For my gym our programming is a delicate balance between pushing the veteran's/experienced/stronger athletes and those who have just started. We do try to set the bar high for everybody to meet but everything we do can be scaled down to your own abilities in 1 way or another. But if the gym you try out does make you do really hard stuff the first day, they may not know what they are doing at all.