Sickness to wellness to fitness... why just wellness isn't enough.


May 19, 2023

 by Abby McCoid
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"Fit People are Harder to kill."

In CrossFit, the sickness-wellness-fitness continuum is a framework that represents the different stages of health and well-being individuals can experience through their fitness journey. Everyone who starts CrossFit at a certain state of being, wether that be relatively healthy but sedendary, relatively fit on a different exercise program or with some "sickness" be it diabetes or high blood pressure or other ailment. 

While wellness is an important stage, the ultimate goal in CrossFit is to strive for fitness rather than just settling for wellness. Here's why:

  1. Sickness: This stage represents poor health, where individuals may have chronic diseases, sedentary lifestyles, or other health issues. The goal is to move away from this state and improve overall well-being.

  2. Wellness: Wellness refers to a state of good health, where individuals have made positive changes to their lifestyle, such as adopting healthier eating habits, managing stress, and engaging in regular exercise. While wellness is a desirable state, it is not the final destination in CrossFit because it implies a passive state of being free from illness rather than actively pursuing physical fitness and performance.

  3. Fitness: Fitness, as the ultimate goal in CrossFit, represents an elevated level of physical and mental capabilities. It goes beyond simply being disease-free or having general well-being. Fitness encompasses various components such as strength, endurance, power, flexibility, speed, agility, coordination, balance, and accuracy. The aim is to develop proficiency across these domains, allowing individuals to perform a wide range of physical tasks and activities with competence.

CrossFit values the pursuit of fitness because it emphasizes the development of functional capacity and performance. By striving for fitness, individuals can achieve optimal physical capabilities and excel in physical challenges encountered in daily life, sports, or competitive activities. Fitness promotes independence, resilience, and an active lifestyle, enabling individuals to perform tasks with ease, maintain their mobility, and enjoy a higher quality of life.

Additionally, the pursuit of fitness in CrossFit fosters continuous improvement and growth. It challenges individuals to set goals, push their limits, and expand their physical abilities. CrossFit workouts are designed to be constantly varied, incorporating diverse movements, time domains, and intensities, which helps individuals avoid plateaus and promotes ongoing progress.

While wellness is a valuable and desirable state, striving for fitness encourages individuals to continuously challenge themselves, pursue excellence, and unlock their full physical potential. It provides a framework for setting higher standards and embracing a lifelong commitment to personal development, physical improvement, and overall well-rounded fitness.

A state of fitness is also a buffer against disease and natural aging. It's natural that we are going to get sick, injured or experience the deficits that come with aging as we live our lives. The more fit we are, the easier it is for us to recover back to wellness or fitness.

It's important to note that the concept of fitness in CrossFit is inclusive and adaptable. It can be scaled and modified to accommodate individuals of different ages, fitness levels, and abilities. However sick or far from fit a person is, CrossFit can be personalized to meet individual goals and needs, making it accessible and beneficial for a wide range of individuals seeking to achieve their best version of physical fitness.

The methodologies and coaching in CrossFit in general and at CrossFit Beo specifically are building armor against disease. Participation at Beo makes people harder to kill!