From Skeptic to Sold: Lindsey’s CrossFit Story

People hear the word CrossFit and have three reactions: 1) “Oh, I don’t do CrossFit — I don’t want to do a one-rep max and hurt myself.” 2) “Oh, I love CrossFit — it lets me do the things I love outside the gym. And the community, of course.” 3) “CrossFit’s a cult.” (Not wrong.)

Ten years ago, I was solidly in camp one. But I was reluctantly introduced to CrossFit, and it became very apparent, very quickly, that it was not all shirtless bros trying to one-up each other on the back squat. What I found was a group of people all trying to better themselves the old-fashioned way — through consistency and social engagement. Believe it or not, I used to go to the gym at 5pm after a full day of work. There were so many days I was tired, wanted to go home, didn’t feel like I had the energy to get a good workout in — so why bother. I’d text one of my new friends, and they’d respond with “No, you should come, I want to see you!” Next thing I knew, I was at the gym, saying hi to that friend and the rest of the class, answering the whiteboard question, and going home an hour later in a much better mood.

I don’t lift to get better muscle definition. I lift because it makes me a better human — to myself, to my husband, to my friends, colleagues, and the random person I pass on the sidewalk. I lift because I know I’ll see friends, I’ll laugh, sometimes a lot (sorry, Mike!), and I’ll get a kick-ass workout in, all before 8am. I lift because I want to say yes to opportunities that come up — a multi-day mountain bike trip, a hut-to-hut backcountry ski trip through Europe, an off-the-couch Triple Bypass.

I love watching the results from the gym translate to mountain biking, skiing, pickleball, and whatever’s next. CrossFit gives me the attitude and the aptitude to say yes to any challenge that comes my way.

Lindsey Reese