Obese Female looking for some advice

[Michelle Edwards]

Hi all! So the title of this thread pretty much says it all, I am an obese female looking for some advice about CrossFit. I have been wanting to start CrossFit for probably about 3 years now, but I have never lived near one. Good news is I am moving and one will be about 15 minutes away from my house. My concern is that I am 5'11" and I weigh 308, however, I am not your junk eating sit on my butt all day type of obese person. I eat healthy (have been for about two years), play sports, and workout at the very boring gym.

I guess what my question is, what should I be doing to "prepare" myself for CrossFit? I have a month before I move and I want my first experience of CrossFit to be me feeling like I am going to die, and not actually die.

[Larry Lopez]

Hi Michelle!
I've only been doing CrossFit for about 4 months but here is my experience. I weighed 300 lbs when I began in Oct'12 and I am currently at 235lbs. I was really intimidated when I showed up the 1st day but I decided to give it a shot and now I am in love with CrossFit and can't stay away. LOL! Besides, the results are amazing and the other Crossfitter are very supportive and encouraging!

Just show-up and give it all you have is my best advice. Do not get caught up with what you can't do at the beginning and just concentrate on getting better each and every day you do a workout. The workouts can be modified to anyone's fitness level. If you show up and give it your all you will get results.

Take care and best wishes to you! -Larry

[Tonya Martin]

I know it can be intimidating. I was so afraid to go. PLEASE read through my blog when you get a chance. I'm in my 6th month of CrossFit and it has CHANGED my life!!! You will be amazed at the support you will receive. I've recently changed my diet to the Zone- AMAZING results. Does the affiliate offer an on ramp class? an intro to CrossFit? GOOD LUCK!!
You can do this, welcome to the CrossFit family!!

http://tonyascrossfitjourney.com/

[Michelle Stafford]

Michelle,

Welcome to the Crossfit community!!!! Your gonna love it!!! Just show up with a positive attitude and give it all you have. For that month, Work on your mobility that will help, keep moving and stay activity i.e. walk, jog, body weight calisthenics. Take a look at crossfit's nutrient concept and try to keep a clean healthy diet.

Good Luck!!! You will do great

[Robert D Taylor Jr]

Originally Posted by Michelle Edwards

Hi all! So the title of this thread pretty much says it all, I am an obese female looking for some advice about CrossFit. I have been wanting to start CrossFit for probably about 3 years now, but I have never lived near one. Good news is I am moving and one will be about 15 minutes away from my house. My concern is that I am 5'11" and I weigh 308, however, I am not your junk eating sit on my butt all day type of obese person. I eat healthy (have been for about two years), play sports, and workout at the very boring gym.

I guess what my question is, what should I be doing to "prepare" myself for CrossFit? I have a month before I move and I want my first experience of CrossFit to be me feeling like I am going to die, and not actually die.

either a: start doing WODs at fairly low intensities scaled a la Brand X at your current gym (CrossFit happens just fine at gyms that aren't affiliates)

or b: Spend your boring workout time getting good at the basic barbell lifts (squat, front squat, deadlift, press, bench press, squat, squat.

A hybrid of these is also possible where you do some basic strength work like say a 3x5, and a hyper scaled conditioning workout, but that may be too much. You say you do sports so that might be enough conditioning for now.

Actually c: might be mobility work and more mobility work.

[Stephen Smith]

Here's a link to I think the most inspiring transformation thread on these boards: http://board.crossfit.com/showthread.php?t=68244 (wfs). Luke has shown an amazing amount of discipline over 20 months now, and has lost 190#.

[John C Blattner]

There's a woman at our box, maybe 5'2", late 50s, who started CF a few years ago at roughly 300 lb. I would guess she now weighs maybe 110 lb soaking wet, and she went to the Games last summer in the Masters division.

The possibilities are tremendous - go for it.

ETA: I agree with the focus on mobility. It's important, and often overlooked, for everyone but all the more so as the years and pounds advance.

[Brad Allen Jones]

Welcome to the boards! Just curious as to what your diet actually looks like - "healthy diet" means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Anyway, it would help us help you better if we knew more of what your diet looked like.

Keep doing what you're doing. A lot of times people put off joining a CF gym because they feel like they need to get in shape for it. To me, it doesn't make sense to "get in shape to get in shape". You'll do fine! Just stick with it, even if progress is slow it will come eventually.

[Pamela Houck]

Michelle, I'm obese also. I started a couple weeks ago but this week was grounded due to the flu (times 8 of our 11 people). I hope to start hard and heavy come Monday.

I'm struggling with the diet. I really like convenience so struggle with not being able to just grab a granola bar or ice cream sandwich or whatever. I *like* healthy foods. I prefer fruit and veggies to meat. My box owner is trying to convince me to eat real foods rather than protein shakes (like: Nectar's Cappuccino).

[Joseph M DAndrea]

Same boat.
just started crossfit. Cant wait to start seeing results.