Yeah, CrossFit is expensive. But the alternative should be unacceptable!
I cringe most of the time when I’m asked that question…”how much does it cost?” I know it’s shocking at first, and there are many boxes who charge twice and three times what I do, and I still think I’m “too expensive”.
Let me back up a bit. I don’t really think I’m too expensive. I think I’m perceived as too expensive. What’s too expensive is a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet that leads to countless ailments. That crap is expensive. Add up your medical bills this year. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
And not just what you pay out of pocket, but all those statements you get from your insurance company too. Remember to include cold medicines, upset stomach relief, expensive acne treatments, and over-priced “health foods”.
The masses (that’s you) pour their cash, and the cash of others (that’s me), into bottomless pits; searching for immediate relief of what ails them, and a quick burst of “glee”. None of which is lasting, or credible.
CrossFit, and the nutritional advice we espouse, will lower these costs drastically. Over the near term, you will be challenged, exhausted, elated, and hopeful. Over the long term, you’ll be healthier by being stronger, leaner and faster. Your immune system will boosted by hormonal balance and optimum nutrient intake.
Additionally, think of the lowered costs of your family’s health care by the positive example you begin to be to them. Two parents who CrossFit, and eat Paleo, will in-turn hopefully feed their children the same way, and encourage them to stay active as well. What better gift are you giving your children than a healthy, long, active life?
In a world that is bent on selling you the quick fix, and the quick fix for your quick fix that didn’t fix anything quick…. why not try the alternative? Why not try working for something, instead of buying something? Let’s earn our health! We may all set goals for our max deadlift or 5K run times, but the real reward isn’t in achieving that goal, it’s the ability to set another goal after that, and another after that. Longevity.
Yeah, CrossFit is expensive. But the alternative should be unacceptable.
http://www.crossfitcaliforniacity.com/2010/08/26/yeah-crossfit-is-expensive/
cfsiouxfalls.com 
September 1, 2010 at 4:34 pm
great blog!!! ooh this one sparks emotions for me (and I will try not to get too high on my soap box)!
i don’t know how many friends have told me they can’t crossfit because they can’t afford it. “it doesn’t fit into my budget.” well i’m sorry, shouldn’t peoples’ health and the health of their children fit into everyones budget long before some of the other things?!
my question is if people aren’t spending the $$ on crossfit (or any gym at that rate) then what are they spending the money on? i can take a stab at that – fast food, starbucks, cable tv, video games??? – all things that will aide in and contribute to being unhealthy. this then in turn creates a cylcle where our children are unhealthy and inactive.
don’t get me wrong, i love sitting on the couch some nights watching my favorite show, grabbing a burger w/ friends (yes I’m not 100% paleo) and playing wii with my son; but if it came to me having to choose between these things and the gym I know what I would pick! if i’m healthy and active then i always have that to keep me entertained – turn the tv off, put the burger down and go to the park with your kids or even your adult friends – yes parks can be fun for adults too! oh and while there, don’t sit on the bench and watch – get up and get involved.
sorry if i ruffled some feathers with this response…
September 1, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Totally agree, the same people that tell me that they cannot afford to work out or dont have the time for it always seem to have 66 inch flat screen TV’s and lots of time for ESPN etc.
September 1, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Saying you cannot afford to workout is just a pointless excuse. If someone really wants to get in shape they will find a way to afford it. It might be difficult some times to give up those burgers, fries, starbucks, and other snacks, but if you want to be healthy and keep up with your highly active children then you will find a way to pay for it.
September 1, 2010 at 6:14 pm
While I totally agree with the above comments – I also have another take on this. Trust me, those people that “can’t afford” to Crossfit, would spend that money in a heartbeat if someone promised them it would accomplish their goals without having to do anything but take a pill or drink a shake. I know, I was one of them before I got hooked at the box. I would have paid any amount if it would have only worked!
Now days, I thank God everyday for Annie and Chris because I finally understand all those “wierd” people who actually exercise and work for what they hope to achieve with thier fitness. I would pay more if I had to for what I get from Crossfit – and I think most any of us that workout there feel the same. I see muscles in places I didn’t know I had them and I feel so proud when I someone asks if I workout and where and I say “Crossfit” They look at me like I’m crazy (cuz they know what it is, and they know me – haha). But I say it with pride cuz I never thought I could do it and now I know I can do almost anything I set my mind to (excpet those damn handstand pushups!).
So… for what it’s worth… It’s so worth what I pay!!!
September 1, 2010 at 7:34 pm
agreed x 10!!! in the last 5 years of my life I REALLY started to feel old. I didn’t have a lot of energy and I would wake up with all kinds of aches and pains. I also really noticed a decrease in circulation. I kept thinking, man all this before I even hit 30??? what will life be like when I’m 40? 50? *shudder* now I wasn’t a really bad eater and I walked for excersize so I just thought it was normal aging. after doing crossfit for 5 months and really making a point to evaluate my diet I truly feel like I have found my fountain of youth!!! it’s like I was able to jump back into my 16 year old body again! flexability, strenghth and circulation has been restored. I wake up and can hop right out of bed with no pain (unless i’ve got muscle soreness from a workout). to me, feeling young and healthy is worth EVERY penny.
September 1, 2010 at 7:37 pm
agreed x 10!!! in the last 5 years of my life I REALLY started to feel old. I didn’t have a lot of energy and I would wake up with all kinds of aches and pains. I also really noticed a decrease in circulation. I kept thinking, man all this before I even hit 30??? what will life be like when I’m 40? 50? *shudder* now I wasn’t a really bad eater and I walked for excersize so I just thought it was normal aging. after doing crossfit for 5 months and really making a point to evaluate my diet I truly feel like I have found my fountain of youth!!! it’s like I was able to jump back into my 16 year old body again! flexability, strenghth and circulation has been restored. I wake up and can hop right out of bed with no pain (unless i’ve got muscle soreness from a workout). to me, feeling young and healthy again is worth EVERY penny. I can finnally keep up with my kidos and sometimes I can wear them out. 🙂
September 2, 2010 at 7:57 pm
I can understand budget concerns, but I think you’re right on. I talked to a woman yesterday who is about 100 pounds overweight and just had back surgery. It’s costing their family thousands of dollars, and the surgery was due to the fact that she had weak back muscles and carried around a lot of extra weight. What makes more sense: spending money now to feel good and be healthy, or spending thousands later after feeling terrible?
September 2, 2010 at 11:35 pm
After debating a complete pass on this one, I will chime in. Here are some thoughts…
1. Crossfit is expensive when compared to a “health club” or “fitness center”. As a result, you actually make it a priority to attend. This attendance produces results. Then the value seems very solid.
2. One could argue that for the equipment, a leader, time schedules, and open space to workout it is overpriced. Heck, you can buy your own kettlebell, go to the park to have wide open space, get a stopwatch and get after it. Somehow though after a week most likely, you will be lacking “community” and “commitment” and quit.
3. There are no family or couples discounts. WTF. C’mon. I understand individuality, but what about incentive to get everyone involved. So, I am an advocate of multi-person discounts. There, I said it. Others took their pass. I like individuality, but I am a discount shopper; send me some love.
4. If you had the option to get strong and lose weight and gain energy for $1000.00 via a simple pill almost anyone would say yes that is a steal. Well here you can do it for even less (I am serious in under 6 months you will do all this) but you just have to bust your tail.
5. If concerned about the cost, save up enough to give it a go for 4 months. If you come every day and work your tail off and do not see results worth the investment, you should quit….there is obviously something going very wrong.
Which leads me to the final conclusion…it took me 18 months of not wanting to pay but I did finally come to Crossfit. You MUST look at this differently. It is an investment in you, not an expense. Expenses are typically time-sensitive, perishable, and provide no long-term gain but rather just get you through to the next expense. Investments pay rewards, dividends, retained earnings.
But I still want my multi-discount 😉
September 10, 2010 at 1:35 am
I totally agree with this and am PUMPED with this post because about 5 times in the last 2 days people have told me how expensive crossfit is (I have a friend in Cali who would only have to pay 89/mo and thinks it is expensive)…
I am sick of it because if they counted up the nickles and dimes they spent on their “health” and CW (Conventional) food it would shock them to see that a CF/Paleo (primal) lifestyle would be less in cost in the long run financially as well as higher in results and lower in cost physically!
🙂 I just hope that reading this Post will help them understand where I am coming from when I say what I pay for CF is worth every DIME. Not only for the work out but also for the comeradery and community.
Thanks CFSF