There are always lessons to learn and mistakes to avoid if you’re new to CrossFit or only starting out.
Rodrigo Garcia, a YouTube vlogger with over 100,000 views who offers workouts, tips, and motivation on the platform, had been doing CrossFit for six months by the time he decided to release a video for those new to CrossFit.
In it, he goes over the five biggest mistakes to avoid as a CrossFit beginner and gives some tips for people in their first season.
Top 5 Mistakes CrossFit Beginners Should Avoid
1. Don’t Skip Workouts You Don’t Like
Make a schedule and get in the gym every day you had planned to. There will always be workouts you’re not that great at, but that doesn’t mean you should skip them.
If you’re thinking of skipping a session because you hate the movements and exercises in a workout, you won’t improve and will continue to hate them. Practicing and doing movements that aren’t in your wheelhouse more will help you get better not only for the specific exercises but also CrossFit in general.
2. Be Coachable
Accept that there are aspects of fitness you don’t know about. The people coaching you are trained professionals, so don’t be a “know it all.”
Listen to what the coach says and trust the process.
CrossFit training is different to other group classes or bodybuilding culture, so trust the programming and implement what the coaches tell you.
3. Don’t Try to PR Every Workout or Lift
PR stands for Personal Record and, while it is a great feeling and shows progress, it is not something you should chase for every training session.
You will hit a lot of PRs especially as you start CrossFit – something referred to as “newbie gains” – as the curve to improvement is exponential.
However, you shouldn’t try to PR every class. Some days, the intended stimulus of a session is not to find the heaviest weight you could lift, but to train how to continue working under fatigue or to build strength for example.
It’s always good to push yourself but always know the intent behind a workout.
4. Don’t Be Gear Dependable
The right gear can certainly help you perform better and can even help keep you safe. However, you should be able to perform most exercises without the latest gear, as it can also mask issues you should probably deal with.
For example, if you’re only able to perform Olympic weightlifting movement with lifters on, you might not realise you should work on your ankle mobility.
There’s a time and place for everything, but try to move well through all exercises without any (or with minimal) equipment to aid you.
The gear does not make you.
Train yourself to be able to move well throughout any movement without any gear.
5. Don’t Worry About the Leaderboard
When you first try CrossFit, if you’re a naturally competitive person, you’ll want to beat everyone around you.
However, when you’re first starting out with CrossFit make sure you forget about competition and focus instead on understanding and nailing the foundations, movements and techniques.
Dropping your ego when you first start is going to be crucial, especially because it could take away from you and your training.
Remember you’re only getting started, so comparing yourself to others is not the route to success, especially not at this point.
Extra tips for CrossFit beginners:
- Clean up after yourself: make sure you don’t leave your weights or any gear you used laying around. Look after your gym’s equipment and put it back neatly where it belongs.
- Don’t cheat reps: cutting reps will not lead to a fitter, stronger and healthier you. If you’ve showed up to work out, make sure you make the most out of your time in the Box. However, always remember that it is okay to scale a workout (and you’re always encouraged to), which might mean performing less reps than written on the whiteboard.
Watch the full video below:
Rodrigo Garcia has got a full playlist of videos giving advice to CrossFit beginners and people new to the sport. You can find them all here.
