You can’t go a day without spending some time with your CF family.  Sore muscles be damned, you’re going to CF come hell or high water (or freak summer hail storm).  You may alternate days in the advanced / basic / intermediate classes to stretch out and perform some active recovery on those tight muscles from your hard work earlier in the week.  Or you may stick with what / who you know.  No biggie;   it’s not like you can predict the workout anyhow, so you may as well get your butt to Bldg 7 and see what’s in store!

You’ve read the website, signed the waiver, and you’re ready for your first class!  A true newbie, you may be a little intimidated when you first walk into Bldg 7, but fear not*!  After a brief rundown and interview by the instructor, a mama or papa bear CFer will soon be by your side leading you through stations and class format.  Leave your ego at the door, pace yourself during the warm-up and workout, but be sure to leave nothing behind when you’re asked to go all out.  It’s up to you how much you want to push, and with each class, you’ll become more and more comfortable with exercises, formats, and your surroundings.  At least, until a totally new idea is trialed during class… Chances are you won’t be the only one thrown for a loop, and hopefully by then you’ll have learned to go with the flow and figure it out.  And soon enough, you’ll complete the whole cycle by becoming a mama or papa bear for a newbie yourself**!

Caveats: *If you’re a true newbie (first time ever at CF) and you’re in an advanced class, then be afraid.  Be very afraid (heck, many experienced CFers have a slight panic attack if they know the workout before it begins!)…  **Also, we certainly encourage mama / papa bears, but please make sure you know what you’re doing and what CF is all about before “indoctrinating” others!

OCNB?  Maybe better classified as a CFer-to-be, the Overly Confident Newbie waltzes into CF with head held high and chest out.  You hear him / her proudly announce to Chris that they “lift and do cardio every day” and are “in great shape” and you immediately look for the nearest exit, knowing that the intensity of the class-to-be just jumped another100%… The OCNB sprints the first 400 and continues a max effort through the first 10-20 minutes of the hour.  When the class jogs inside to strip layers off and grab a sip of water, discussing how “the warm-up today really kicked my a$$,” the OCNB goes wild-eyed and has, at times, been known to disappear.  This CFer-to-be can be a once-and-done visitor, but hopefully their slice of humble pie takes effect early and they stick around to evolve into another type of CFer.