In this final episode of the exercise series, Lisa steps out of theory and into lived experience — sharing a personal essay written during her senior year of college. Titled “Inside the Box,” the piece chronicles one intense day inside a CrossFit gym.

Topics Include:

• CrossFit 

• Exercise Enthusiasts

• Community

• Personal Transformation

[1:05] Lisa explains her intention to wrap up the conversation on exercise by sharing a personal essay she wrote 10 years ago, rather than continuing with her own thoughts, theories, and ideas on the subject. Lisa notes it was a paper written for an investigative journalism class in her senior year of college in 2015. She mentions it is optional reading in the group coaching program’s exercise module. The essay, “Inside the Box,” details one day of a CrossFit workout. Lisa describes the workout emphasizing the extreme intensity and challenge.

[4:52] Lisa describes the physical environment of the CrossFit gym, referred to as a “box,” as a space dedicated to transforming bodies and minds. The gym’s layout includes workout equipment like kettlebells, medicine balls, and free weights on one wall, and rowing machines and pull-up bars on the other. A whiteboard advertises CrossFit as an “anti-aging drug” with side effects including stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, coordination, balance, accuracy, and community.

[8:12] Lisa describes the official CrossFit philosophy, established by Greg Glassman in 2000, aims for overall improvement in all capacities rather than specialization. Lisa talks about the program’s controversial reputation due to injuries, hospitalizations, and deaths, with rhabdomyolysis being a known repercussion. 

[11:57] Lisa recounts her participation in a highly encouraged fundamentals class, designed to teach prospective athletes “how to walk before learning how to run.” With a personal trainer, she learned proper form for deadlifts, presses, squats, snatches, and thrusters using a 15-pound training bar, before graduating to join the regular class.

[19:05] Lisa highlights the strong sense of community, mutual support, and camaraderie. She describes how finished athletes support those still working out and how CrossFitters are attracted to the atmosphere, community, camaraderie, and sense of belonging, 

[23:42] Lisa recounts her lifelong dread of gym class and the mile run, starting her fitness journey at 302 pounds at her first Jenny Craig appointment, aiming to halve her body weight. Lisa describes months of diverse exercises and particularly challenging interval training on the treadmill with a stern trainer. She details the physical discomfort and her internal struggle. Lisa describes the mindset shift from resistance to a “bring-it-bitch attitude,” where temporary suffering became an indication of pushing limits, resulting in feelings of power, strength, achievement, and triumph, and feeling invincible. Lisa explains why CrossFit’s intensity, addiction, and cult-like following do not surprise her.

[41:18] Lisa clarifies that her essay reflects her personal experience and investigation. She emphasizes that CrossFit varies greatly depending on the gym (“box”) and its community, and her experience may not be universal for all CrossFit participants. Lisa ends the series by thanking all of her listeners for going on the journey with her.

*The views of podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Lisa Schlosberg or Out of the Cave, LLC.

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