The problem, I think, is that while CrossFit HQ is wildly inconsistent in the way it promotes CrossFit. On the one hand, it points out that this fitness approach as being open and welcoming to everyone (even your grandmother!), but on the other, it touts itself as being so "extreme" that it "can kill you." (Incidentally, you're much more likely to die from running than from CrossFit.)
It's also incredibly unhelpful (and misleading) that CrossFit's unofficial mascot is a clown suffering from rhabdomyolysis:
In my opinion, the wannabe bad-asses who pride themselves on having "met Pukie" are doing CrossFit a huge disservice by turning off reasonable folks who are looking to develop functional fitness (and have fun in the process) without vomiting into a bucket. Let's be honest: Unless you're plowing through a WOD with a stomach bug (which you shouldn't be doing anyway), barfing during a workout is a sign of bad scaling or coaching -- not a badge of honor.
Thankfully, our gym (CrossFit Palo Alto) doesn't celebrate this crap. Here, the programming is challenging -- not batshit crazy. And M's not too proud to scale.
Still, she could use a pep talk. Any words of wisdom for a newbie?
