Ask a Coach: How Should I Deal With Members Who Are Convinced They Need an Extra Program To Get Fit?

I usually get this question from people new to CrossFit who are used to working out for hours every day.

It can be a difficult question for coaches to answer in the moment if you’re not prepared for it. Much of the time, at the heart of this question is a general misunderstanding of the CrossFit methodology. That and the fact they’re used to working out hours a day to maintain or achieve some level of fitness they think is appropriate.

I start by explaining the program. CrossFit works because we are committed to variance and intensity. So, if you show up regularly, don’t skip workouts you don’t like, and work hard, you will get fit from this program. Once we establish that, I’ll ask some questions to fill in the gaps, such as:

• How consistently do you train? 
• How often do you come to the gym? Once, twice, five times a week?
• How do you feel? Are you sore? How often?
• How is your sleep?
• How is your stress level?

If consistency is lacking, I will start working with them to establish a plan for increasing the frequency of their training. If they take intermittent breaks, I’ll ask what prevents them from getting to the gym. On the flip side, if it sounds like they are coming to the gym too frequently, I may encourage them to take additional rest days. If everything seems on track and they are sleeping well and managing stress, I will dig into the following:

• Are you hitting the stimulus in each workout? (Are they effectively scaling to achieve the intent outlined for the workout?)
• What’s your perceived level of intensity?
• When you leave the gym, do you feel better, stronger, fitter, wasted, overworked?

Most athletes assume I will give additional programming if they have checked the box for these questions. However, we still need to talk about their nutrition. Our program is not simply constantly varied, functional movements executed at a high intensity. It is also “eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar.” 

If their nutrition isn’t dialed in yet, I’ll talk about the basics of quality and quantity, weighing and measuring, and keeping intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat.

I emphasize that if they follow the CrossFit methodology and nutrition protocol, they will become fitter than they could have imagined without needing anything extra. All of those elements are part of the pie. So if they’re showing up regularly, doing the workout with intensity, and following our nutrition protocol for a minimum of one year, then, and only then, will I even entertain the idea that they may need additional work to help them achieve their fitness goals. Needless to say, for 90% of CrossFit athletes, it rarely ever comes to that.

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About the Author

Becky Harsh, a six-time All-American swimmer with a degree in kinesiology from the University of Northern Colorado, found her passion for CrossFit in 2006 while working as a personal training manager at a big-box gym. This discovery transformed her fitness career. In 2014, she joined the CrossFit Seminar Staff, where she has since played a pivotal role in nearly 300 Level 1 and Level 2 Certificate Courses. Today, Becky serves as both a Flowmaster on Seminar Staff and the Athlete Communications Manager for CrossFit’s Sport team. As a Certified CrossFit Coach (CF-L4), Becky brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and dedication to every role she undertakes, helping athletes and coaches alike elevate their performance and passion for fitness.