You’ve heard of CrossFit.

Maybe you’ve seen fit people lifting big weights on Instagram. Maybe one of your co-workers goes to CrossFit after work every day. Maybe you even have friends who won’t stop talking about it.

But before you go down the Google rabbit hole, consider these four things 4 when searching for “CrossFit gyms near me.”

Number 1: Consider more than just price and location in your decision.

When choosing a gym, price and location are often the deciding factors. In my opinion, a great CrossFit gym with an awesome community is worth the extra 10 or 15 minutes on the road. 

CrossFit is a social activity and every gym has a different culture, and you should find a gym whose coaches and clients you connect well with. I tell everyone that moves to our area to try all the CrossFit gyms before deciding which one is the best for them. 

Yes, CrossFit can be expensive. Guess what? It can also be cheap. 

But you get what you pay for. So you need to ask yourself what you’re looking for. Do you just want access to equipment and not much in the way of service or coaching? If that’s the case, then maybe the lower-priced option is good for you. If you are new to CrossFit, however, I don’t recommend this route. The movements can be complex and you’ll need quality coaching. 

At The Grove, we pride ourselves on client service. We provide our clients with one-on-one personal training services, which has a higher price point. If you want a higher-value service that provides faster results than group classes, you should consider a CrossFit gym that provides one-on-one personal training. We also have a service that gives you a personalized plan and done in a group setting. Giving you the value of PT at a lower cost.

Number 2: Ask, “Do the CrossFit gyms near me understand my goals?”

The most successful CrossFit gyms should understand the wants, needs and desires of their clients.

The best gyms in the business understand that we are in the results business. The worst gyms in the business think we are in the “get-bodies-in-the-door” business. 

The path to results begins with a goal-setting session when you first walk in. We call ours a No Sweat Intro.You can schedule one here Good gyms will ask you what your goals are. Do you want to lose weight? Gain strength? Get toned? Feel better in your skin?

Now, here’s the secret—the great gyms will ask you WHY.

Understanding the “why” is very powerful in setting any goal. Is it about more than just losing weight? Does your family have a history of chronic disease? Do you want to get stronger so you can play with your grandkids? Do you want to be able to use your fitness outside of the gym in activities like golf, swimming, kayaking or hiking?

If no one sits down with you and talks to you about your goals and your “why,” then they don’t truly understand you. And like Dale Carnegie said, “the deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.”

You deserve to find a gym that appreciates you!

Number 3: Ask, “Do the CrossFit gyms near me offer nutrition coaching?”

Yes! You read that correctly! The best CrossFit gyms in your area should offer nutrition coaching. [LINK]

Despite the fact that what we read on the internet is usually correct (hint—that was a joke!),

CrossFit is not about heavy barbells and kipping pull-ups. It’s about improving your fitness.

Greg Glassman, the founder of CrossFit, defined fitness in 100 words: “Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. Practice and train major lifts: deadlift, clean, squat, presses, clean-and-jerk and snatch.

“Similarly, master the basics of gymnastics; Pull-ups, dips, rope climbs, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstands, pirouettes, flips, splits and holds. Bike, run, swim, row, etc. hard and fast. Five or six days per week, mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. Regularly learn and play new sports.”

That was a lot to throw at you. Just note that the first 26 words are all about nutrition.

In any health and fitness routine, nutrition is responsible for 80% of the results. We see it in our clients all the time. Those who do nutrition coaching see 3.5 times the results of those who just exercise. If you are not eating real whole foods, you are not doing CrossFit … period. 

People quit gyms when they don’t see results. If you want the fastest route to results, you need good nutrition and exercise. So why not find a gym where you can get both?

Number 4: Ask yourself whether you’re searching for a “CrossFit gym near me” or a “CrossFit personal trainer near me.”

If you’re new to CrossFit, I highly advise that you start in a one-on-one personal-training environment. Fitness can be intimidating. You will feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. 

Don’t get lost in a sea of terminology and equipment you don’t understand.

A CrossFit gym in your area that offers personal training is the best place to start. You may even find that you enjoy the one-on-one environment more than group training. 

CrossFit is a training methodology. Group training and personal training are the means with which it is delivered.

 We find personal training is best for the following:

• Clients dealing with a pre-existing injury.
• Clients new to CrossFit.
• Older clients that might get neglected if put in a group class with 20- and 30-somethings. 
• Clients who want to make sure they’re performing the movements correctly. 
• Clients who don’t like a group setting. 
• Clients with very specific goals and time frames

So don’t just toss out some search terms and sign up with the first gym you find on Google Maps. Your health is worth your due diligence.

Inspiration provided by Rob Connors at SignumCrossFit.com.