To keep my workout routine fresh, I try new gyms and styles to add a little fun and motivation to my daily routine. After having my daughter and going back to the office, my routine definitely changed. I had to find something that was easy to get to and that I could complete in a relatively short timeframe so I could take care of her. Enter Crossfit. I found an amazing Crossfit deal on Groupon and that’s when I attended my first Crossfit Bootcamp class. Here is my Crossfit Bootcamp experience after having my first child.
What is Crossfit and is it better than a traditional gym?
Crossfit workouts “combine functional movements, strength training, and cardio in dynamic, high-intensity group sessions.” It’s widely known and its possible you’ve seen them before as there are over 10,000 affiliated gyms across 150 countries.
Because each gym is independently owned, the community and training can vary slightly from one to another. This small community type gym is a great fit for people looking for connection and more individualized training. Whereas in a traditional gym, you are most likely on your own and enjoy a larger facility with more members. The Crossfit I attended had a 4 Week Slimdown Class that was a different format than a typical Crossfit class. And I’m so happy I found it because I love a good bootcamp class.
When I first arrived to the open warehouse-like gym, I was greeted by a large, but friendly group. There were two rooms—one where the typical Crossfit classes were held and the other set up like a HIIT style bootcamp. That’s where our 35 minute class took place.
The Workout Format
The class started off with a warm-up run on a course they created outside of the building. Then we went right into a circuit workout. Groups rotated around to 6 different stations. The timer on the wall indicated 45 seconds on, with a 15 second break to get to the next station.
After repeating this 3 times, we moved to the finisher. An AMRAP circuit of 4 exercises where we recorded how many reps of each we completed in one minute on a dry erase board.
Then there was the optional Bonus: 20 squats and 100 jumping jacks.
It was a fast-paced and energetic workout and really kept me engaged. The music was blaring and it felt amazing to sweat and complete a hardcore workout again.
My Crossfit Bootcamp Experience After Having My First Child
This workout style really worked for me as I started working out again after giving birth. The fast pace kept it exciting. And getting such a high-intensity workout in only 35 minutes was satisfying while also giving me the time I needed with my daughter. And my favorite part? They recorded everyone’s progress from our individual white boards on a larger one in the facility and kept it up for an entire week! That way we could see how we progressed from week to week.
Talk about motivation! Not only do you see everyone else’s score, which makes you want to go stronger, but you are forced to keep track of your numbers, which can be hard to do on your own.
Looking for something to read next?
Fitness doesn’t have to feel repetitive or boring—it should be something you actually look forward to.
If you’re ready to shake things up, check out my post for keeping workouts spicy, or dive into my latest obsession with this amazing HIIT workout.
And if you want to read about what my workout routine looked like after having my second child, I shared all that and more in this post about what my routine looked like, plus helpful tips for starting your own as a busy parent..
This post was updated in March 2026.
