Whether you’re new to the program or a long-time fan, there will come a time when you want (or need) to get better at CrossFit. Maybe you aren’t seeing your ideal results or aren’t feeling challenged, making you think that’s it’s time to step it up.

Whatever the reason, some options enable you to get better at CrossFit. If you don’t know where to begin, here are some CrossFit tips that can help you answer the question, “How do I get better at CrossFit?”

CrossFit Stronger: When Is It Time to Up the Ante?

Before digging into improving at CrossFit, it’s essential to figure out when is the right time to take it to the next level. If you’re trying to figure out how to become a better CrossFit athlete, timing does matter. You want to push yourself without overdoing it continuously. That means making your workouts more challenging at the right moment.

In most cases, once you find an exercise or workout feels comfortable or overly familiar, it might be time to make a change. Once you get used to a routine, the effectiveness can diminish. While this doesn’t mean you need a complete overhaul every time you reach that point, shaking up a few aspects might be wise. This could include doing a more demanding move, upping your reps, or increasing the weight.

Usually, you’ll be able to tell physically if your workouts aren’t feeling as challenging. Pay attention to what your body is saying, and adjust if you think it’s time to up the ante.

6 Tips on How to Get Better at CrossFit

1. Don’t Overdo It

One of the essential CrossFit tips for beginners and advanced practitioners alike is to make sure you don’t overdo it. While challenging yourself is vital, if you want to see results, taking it too far is risky.

When you are trying to do a move or handle a weight that’s above your capabilities, you are more likely to injure yourself. It could be the move itself that causes harm or your inability to keep proper form because an exercise is genuinely too difficult.

Do make your workout hard, but don’t go overboard. It’s nearly always better to assess where you stand and ramp up slowly than jump in the deep end right away.

Plus, CrossFit should be fun. If you’re continually battling injuries or feeling defeated because you’re aiming too high, too fast, it won’t be enjoyable. And, if that happens, your odds of sticking with it go down dramatically.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

CrossFit isn’t something anyone is magically good at overnight. It takes time and repetition to build up these skills and capabilities.

If you are trying to figure out how to improve at CrossFit, regular workouts are the biggest key. With each one, you are building muscle, enhancing your speed, and otherwise becoming a more adept CrossFitter. You won’t get better at CrossFit if you don’t stick with it, so make it part of your routine, and you’ll see results with time.

3. Get the Right Gear

Your workout gear can have a significant impact on your CrossFit workout experience and performance. Think of it this way; if you tried to do CrossFit exercises while wearing jeans and flip-flops, would that work? Probably not very well.

If you’re a beginner and want to get a leg up on how to become good at CrossFit, invest in a few key pieces of exercise gear. First, buy yourself a pair of high-quality CrossFit shoes. That way, you’ll have a sturdy and comfortable foundation, which can potentially improve your form and reduce your odds of injury.

Next, get some clothing that’s breathable or moisture-wicking. CrossFit makes you sweat, so it’s best to choose fabrics that can deal with that.

Finally, consider any potential friction points on your body and protect them. You might want gloves for when you use weights or kettlebells, for example, as they can help you avoid blisters.

4. Focus on Strength

When someone first starts with CrossFit, their endurance might improve quickly. It’s normal to associate a great sweat with a fantastic workout, and cardio is often a way to make that happen.

However, if you’re going to get better at CrossFit, building strength is also important. Learning how to incorporate weights into your program is crucial if you want to progress. Similarly, ensuring the weight you are using is appropriately challenging is essential.

While upping the weight might mean your rep count declines initially, that’s usually only temporary. As you build up muscle, that new weight will start to feel more comfortable, and your reps will go back up. So, don’t be afraid to make things a little bit heavier every so often. In time, that approach can make you stronger, and that’s a vital part of CrossFit success.

5. Don’t Ignore Nutrition

What you eat and drink has an impact on your overall results. If your nutrition isn’t on point, improving at CrossFit will be harder than necessary.

In many cases, the first step nearly anyone can take is to reduce their consumption of processed foods. Ditching sodas (even diet ones) can also be a wise choice, as well as reducing sugar intake overall, regardless of whether the sugar is refined or natural.

Beyond that, it’s critical to meet your body’s needs. There technically isn’t a one-size-fits-all perfect diet. So, consider your body’s needs and, if you want to create an optimized nutritional program, consider speaking with a registered dietician. They can help you explore options and choose an approach to eating that’s right for you.

6. Work on Your Strict Movements

By and large, the strict movements are more challenging than the alternatives. If you want to improve at CrossFit, then focus on improving them.

While kipping allows you to go faster, relying on them to reach your rep goals isn’t ideal. You might neglect the strict movements that are designed to add a degree of difficulty to your workout.

Plus, strict movements, while tough, help you build power, strength, and control. It might take more time to reach your rep count goals by focusing on strict movements, but the results you’ll see and the accomplishment you feel when you go this route can make it worthwhile.