CrossFit, and why you should try it too.

When we moved to our new home, we looked for a new place to exercise. While we had been spoiled with a gym at the end of our old street, our new location required a half-hour commute, which quickly turned working out into a chore.

Instead, we opted to build a “home gym-ish”. We purchased an elliptical trainer and a Concept2 RowErg which were regularly used, and some weights. While working out at home has its benefits (open 24/7, no commute, better music, shower access!) it still got a bit boring after a while.

I’ve never been a fan of running, and after my hip replacement it even felt completely off. Cycling is a means of transport to me - not a sport I enjoy. Don’t get me wrong: they are both fantastic for the cardiovascular system and building endurance, but they do not tick the “total-body” sport box. Running is high-impact, which is great for bone density in the legs, but it doesn’t do much for the upper body. Cycling on the other hand is a non-weight-bearing, low-impact sport that is gentle on the joints but can actually lead to lower bone density over time because your skeleton isn’t being “stressed” enough to stay strong.

Back in early 2021, I noticed a new CrossFit box had opened in our little town called CrossFit Endgame. I went to a try-out class, but it being the height of COVID-19 restrictions, classes were outdoor and limited to 4 people. Add the fact that it was winter, I left feeling extremely self-conscious and out of shape after that class and my general feeling was kind of ‘meh’, so I didn’t pursue it.

Fast forward to the end of 2021 - my partner had started CrossFit in CrossFit Gent as a perk of teaching yoga classes in that box. Seeing the progress she was making I felt peer-pressured quietly inspired (read: she didn’t do/say anything, it was all me :P) so in May 2022 I contacted the local box again, asking to do another try-out class. My idea was to buy a voucher for 10 sessions, and see after that, but the owner (Jasper) talked me into getting a subscription for half a year, 1 class per week - the reasoning being that a subscription creates a habit, while a voucher usually just sits in a pocket gathering dust.

I took the bait and signed up.

One of the things that won me over was how infinitely scalable everything is. Coming in with mobility issues in one hip and a full replacement of another (due to Legg–Calvé-Perthes), I was worried about certain movements, but the coaches helped offering adjustments for the movements where necessary, scaling to my abilities, needs and level - whether it’s the weight on the bar or the complexity of the movement, they make sure you’re challenged but safe.

Those first few weeks I discovered muscles I didn’t know I had and they were all complaining - loudly. Eventually the complaining lessened and the Tuesday workouts became therapy - I’d walk in frustrated from work and walk out completely zen. It turns out, lifting heavy things with friends is cheaper than a therapist and twice as rewarding. Dropping heavy things is therapeutic on its own!

During that first half year I made a lot of new friends, got inspired by our coaches and learned many new movements - still being very mediocre at them at best :P

After those six months I did not hesitate and subscribed for a year of unlimited classes. I started going twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday evening), sometimes (as time permitted) adding a core-focused class to the mix. A temporal increase in soreness, but my body adjusted, reducing the days of soreness. I started noticing that I could do more, everything around the house - even the simplest of chores - felt easier!

By the end of 2023 a programming change was made which allowed me to pick up another class on Friday evening - a good way to start the weekend. Fast forward to today: I routinely go to 5 classes a week - Foundations, WODs and Core. Around that time the box rebranded to Endgame Functional Fitness, dropping the official CrossFit affiliation for ethical and financial reasons, though the methods and amazing community stayed exactly the same.

It has become a part of who I am. Stronger, fitter, saner, happier and very grateful that Jasper took that gamble of opening up a box in a town he’d never heard of. And one of the best perks? Coach Ona, the super sweet Border Collie :)