We drank the crossfit kool-aid.

Brantley and I have recently received a lot of questions from friends and family about the world that is crossfit.  We get all sorts-from Why is it so expensive? to What if I can't do the workout?  I don't even know where to begin with this new obsession/addiction of ours.  So I guess I'll do what I do best-make a list!  :)  Here are some of the many benefits of crossfit (from my perspective).

1.  The workouts challenge you physically and mentally-every single time.

2.  Most workouts are fairly short (usually under 30 minutes).

3.  My strength and overall ability has increased a great deal in just three months.

4.  The bond you form with fellow crossfitters is indescribable.  They are supportive, positive, and certainly give you the extra strength when you need it most.  They build you up when you didn't perform as well as you had hoped, and they're the first to congratulate you when you reach the top of the rope.

5.  It gives me confidence and builds my self-esteem, particularly when I reach a goal that I've set for myself.

6.  Everyday I wake up motivated and anxious to tackle the workout of the day (WOD).  This motivation only increases as I achieve more and more.

7.  Brantley and I have been able to grow and strengthen our relationship with this new-found hobby that we share.

8.  The workouts leave me with a thirst to get better, faster, and stronger.

9.  There's no monotony.  The workouts change each day-no rhyme or reason to them.  The idea is that "you should be ready for anything, at any time."

10.  It's somewhat like having a personal trainer.  You have one present and available to help and support you at every workout.  S/he keeps track of your progress in a journal, watches and/or videos you while you workout, and then provides feedback on how to improve.  It's not one-on-one personal training, but it's one to however many people show up for class (3, 6, 8, etc.), so it's still a small group.  This is the only explanation I have as to why it's so expensive.  That's one question I often get and can't answer with certainty!

11.  Fellow crossfitters hold you accountable.  Where were you last night?  Are you coming tomorrow?

12.  One of the most important benefits of crossfit is the improvement of your health and well-being.

Yes, it's expensive.  Yes, it's time-consuming and exhausting.  And yes, we endure minor injuries, like bruises, sore muscles, and calluses.  But all of that aside, it's perhaps one of the best things that Brantley and I have ever done.  As Bob Harper says, we "drank the crossfit kool-aid," and personally, I can only hope that more and more people jump on the bandwagon and have the same positive experiences that we have.