**Because it's Thursday, now known as international "throwback" day, I present to you a throwback to the early days of EPW. This was originally posted on December 11, 2012**
I've been crossfitting for about 5 months now and a lot of people have asked me what I did to lose weight or what crossfit is because they want to see if it's "for them". When I tell them about crossfit, the most common reaction I get is "oh, I'll need to start working out now so I can get ready for that" or "oh no, I'm too out of shape for that". I'll be the one to break this news to you: You will never be ready to start crossfit. Ever. No matter how many miles you can run or how many pounds you can lift, you are not going to be "ready" to start. I'm trying to say this in the nicest, least offensive way possible: crossfit is going to knock you on your ass. And that's why it's so effective. If you're an awesome runner, it's going to throw some weights at you. If you're an amazing weightlifter, you better get ready to do some serious running. You're a couch potato and can't walk 10 feet without gasping for air? That's okay, we'll scale the exercise down for you. If you're awesome at both cardio and weightlifting? Well, let's go ahead and increase the weight/reps from prescribed. That's the point. To make EVERYONE better as an all-around athlete. So here it is: my top 5 reasons you should get off your butt and get in the box NOW. 5. The people kick ass. The best part about Crossfit is the community. People show up, stay late, and show out. There is not a single gym in this country--probably the world--that has people who are so committed to seeing each other succeed in fitness and in life. Every crossfit box is really a family that cares about and supports each other. Doing a pull up unassisted? SCORE! For the team. First muscle up? AWESOME! And just try not showing up to the box for a few days. Your phone and facebook are about to be bombarded with, "Uh, Ace, haven't seen you at the box lately. What's going on?" This is how you know they're good people. They're not going to let you slip back into being a lard-ass. 4. The coaches kick ass. Crossfit coaches are great. They're the kind of people who are going to support you 100% and make sure that you're always just a little outside your comfort zone. If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you, right? Coaches are the kind of people who will help you figure out exactly what to do to be your best you--because if you're not trying to be that, you're kind of in the wrong place. 3. It's almost the new year. And you don't wanna be THAT GUY/GIRL. We all know that gyms are PACKED in January because everyone made their "new year's resolution" to shrink down to 2 pounds and only eat slim fasts for the next year. We get it. Don't be that guy/girl. Don't wait for some fake holiday to make a decision about your life. Make it now. Decide you're gonna be a more fit person because you want to. Not because some hallmark created holiday filled with vodka-induced bad decisions told you to. 2. It's a lot easier to get in shape when you're not sitting your ass on the couch. If you're anything like me, you're sitting on the couch reading this and thinking "Godddd, why can't I just be fit?" Um, well, because you're still sitting on the couch. If you're even more like me, you're probably also eating a pint of Rocky Road ice cream and that isn't helping out either. 1. Because you should stop being a baby and just do it already. If anyone understands you, it's me. I was TERRIFIED to go to Red Stick Crossfit. Just walking in the door seemed like a monumental achievement. And it was. That's the hardest part. Walking in and saying, "yeah, this shit is gonna suck and I'm gonna do it everyday." But walking in that door everyday and not being scared of what's gonna be on the whiteboard is one of the biggest achievements I reach everyday. Does it hurt? Yes. Do I fail? Yes. Do I keep going back? Yes. Because I'm addicted. And you will be, too. PS: If you're in the Baton Rouge area and want an awesome box with awesome people to train with, please feel free to check out Red Stick Crossfit on Government St. and Hearthstone. Update: If you're in the Houston area and want to try out an awesome box with awesome people, TRY MINE! Come on over to CrossFit 3600 on Gessner Rd and Clay. You won't regret it.