Trample the weak, hurdle the dead...

My name is Joshua Sullins.  I am addicted to CrossFit.  I was first turned on to it in 2007 by a notorious bunch of Naval Officers attending the Naval War College in Newport, RI.  I was a chronic-cardio junky (just ask my beautiful wife, Emily, who put up with my gym-goings) and was always at the gym seeing these guys doing what, at the time, looked like the most dangerous and bizarre training ever conceived.  I approached them to question them about it one day and, just like the CrossFit community I have come to know and love, they enthusiastically invited me to join them.  I accepted, with some reservations.  The extent of my training was the elliptical trainer, pushups, and situps.  I could not even do more than two pullups in a single sitting.  They guided me through the steps of a workout that included, for me - they were using heavier weights, a 55lb shoulder press, box jumps, burpees (which I knew from boot camp to be "body builders") and pullups. 

Fast forward 10 minutes: It was excruciating.  My body was completely in shock, my lungs felt like they were bleeding out and, yes, I kept going.  The traditional CrossFit romance story would say at this point something like: "I was hooked," but such was not the case.  I thought it was dumb, could not be sustained as a regular training regemine, and it lacked the cardio element that I thought was so crucial for weight management.  I used to weigh-in at a lean 320lbs (see below), so weight gain was not on my to-do list.

New meaning for "larger than life;" I look like Violet Beauregarde AFTER the incident at the Chocolate Factory...

So, I continued on my merry cardio way, doing about 45 minutes to a solid hour of elliptical training 6 days a week for another 2 years.  A working definition of insanity: Repeating the same action time and time again, expecting different results.  I maintained my weight of about 165lbs for about 18 months, through tours with Navy Band Northeast in Newport, RI and on board the USS BLUE RIDGE with Navy Band, U.S. SEVENTH Fleet, stationed in Japan.  While there I met some EOD guys who were hardcore into CrossFit and I noticed they were pushing around 500lb tires, dragging hugely weighted sleds, performing lots of pullups (kipping, of course) at a time, and just generally in amazing physical condition.  They were not using either of the two "globo" style gyms on base, however, they were using their shop, that had ample space for them to workout during the day.  I wasn't sure about CrossFit, but I was frustrated with my own program, which was really getting me nowhere fast.

I began checking out the exercise demos on the CrossFit web site (very humbling) and reading some of their free literature, growing more curious and anxious to begin.  In September of 2009 I moved back home, to Washington State, and, after having been convinced to take the plunge by Emily, I made the switch to CrossFit.  After doing it for about a month I realized three things:

1.  Despite scoring Outstanding High on my last four Navy Physical Readiness Tests, I was not in nearly the shape I thought I was... thanks, CrossFit.

2.  I should've stopped with the excuses years ago and done this program!

3.  I needed training beyond the web resources.

After a month I had increased shoulder press ability by 30%, deadlift by 17%, etc.  I was faster in sprints and had far more endurance on longer cardio events.  Now, here is the typical CrossFit line: "I was hooked!"  I met with the proprietors of my local CF "box" (the affectionate term coined for CF gyms, which tend to appear nothing like a traditional training facility) in October of 2009, and decided to take their fundamentals class, although I waited a couple of months to do so.  In January 2010, my command allowed us to start a CrossFit PT group, performing "CrossFit inspired" workouts three times a week, and teaching basic movements and methodology.

Thus, my title: Equal Opportunity Suffering.  This is what CrossFit is all about and it is why I believe in it - no matter what kind of shape you are in, how old you are, or even how many limbs you are missing, there are success stories to correspond with your situation, and CrossFit will be an unlimited source of physical and mental challenges, providing a lifetime of fitness.  Coach Greg Glassman, the creator of CrossFit says it best: "The needs of an Olympic athlete and our grandparents differ by degree not kind."

This blog is all about my journey through CrossFit!