t’s been a about week since I’ve written anything meaningful on our blog. That AR was tough; I wasn’t accustomed to putting out that much mental energy. As my body healed within a few days, I found my mind needed more rest. I’ve needed more sleep than usual, been mentally unmotivated, my diet has been lacking, and I’ve been thoroughly thrown out of whack this past week.
But that’s over now. Let’s talk us some Crossfit *add country drawl*
If I had been focusing on Crossfit for the past year, really focusing, I wouldn’t have had the same problems that I did. I would’ve performed better, faster, and stronger. There’s not a doubt in my mind about that. My pathways would’ve been better balanced, and I would’ve had an increased work capacity. I would’ve been in better shape, plain and simple. No excuses.
In understanding this, I’m forced to realize my weaknesses. So I extend to you a question: what are your personal weaknesses? Think about it. Ask yourself. I know you know. Hey, don’t ignore me. And don’t tell me your ‘weakness is your strength’.
Think about them, and what your role is in fixing them.
Crossfit is the best model for fitness. But it can only do so much; it can’t fix your weaknesses if YOU don’t care. People like what they like, whether it’s strength, bodyweight, or endurance work, everyone has their preference. The problem with preferences is they cause us to work really hard on the stuff we’re good at, and sand bag the stuff we dislike (which is probably a weakness). Realize that you have control over your progress. If you don’t feel strong enough, work REALLY hard on the strength days. Don’t stroll through it and then wonder why you aren’t getting stronger… or wonder why strength days don’t seem like a workout. Strive to work equally hard at everything.
To really get the benefits of working hard, you MUST be consistent. Just having a conscious understanding of what you have to do won’t get you there. You must DO it. Day in and day out. You cannot expect consistent and elite performance from sporadic attendance and subpar effort. It just ain’t gonna happen homie.
So let’s get in there and work damn hard, consistently.
What motivates me to stay fit? Two reasons: one, I have very distinct, not-so-long-ago memories of what it feel like to NOT be fit. To feel the weight of carrying extra pounds and not liking the way my face would look when someone would take my picture. The feeling of being out of breath at climbing a flight of stairs. The frustration at needing to buy new clothes when old ones would cease to fit. All of these things are still memories fresh in my mind and my everyday LIFE is just so much improved when I feel better in my own skin. I wasn’t born with a fast metabolism and a natural athletic ability like so many other people I have encountered. My best friend in high school could never workout, smoke, and eat at Taco Bell everyday and still have a six-pack. Me – I look at a twinkie and put on 5 pounds. So I have had to work VERY hard to get where I am at now and knowing how much effort and persistence went into that leads me to avoid any sort of backsliding. I may not have the body or performance of a elite athlete (yet), but if you guys saw me 15 years ago…man, it’s night and day.
Second, I have seen first-hand what the ravages of inactivty and poor diet can wreak upon a person. My mother died at age 42 from a heart attack brought on by the stresses to her heart caused by a 300# frame. My father passed away just two years ago at age 61 and had had to be put into assisted living 2 years before that because he had let his body deteriorate after a car accident. It’s damn scary to see what happens when you slowy, day-by-day, let your body waste because of short-term food choices and decisions to sit on the couch rather than move around. I miss them both, and wish that they could see all the wonderful things happening now in our family, especially the birth of my little girl and my second child on the way later this year.
Sorry if this got a little personal, but in the end, taking care of yourself and putting forth an effort that keeps you active, fit and strong, I think HAS to be motivated by something personal. It’s sure as hell kept my motivation to come to Crossfit high. Beyond my personal motivations, I also want to set a good example for my family and then make sure that I am around for as long as I can be to see my kids and grandkids grow up…and then beat them in a 5K when I am 70 =)
Ok, I started to type a long response explaining my motivation, but after writing it I realized that it is really simple. I gained a lot of weight in college. I was up to 205 (I’m 165 right now). I stopped eating reconstituted meat patties from the cafeteria in college and worked out a little. I lost some weight but was never really fit. Then my dad had a quadruple bypass at 46 years old. At that point in time, I started doing much more research into nutrition. I decided that it was simply unacceptable to be unfit. Not that it was an overnight change. With so much misinformation available on fitness, it took years to achieve something even close to fit.
Now I want to know how far I can take myself. When I think of who I used to be and who I am now, the change is astounding. I want to know how far I can push myself. It is now a challenge to myself. I want to see how far I can take this ride. That’s why I love CrossFit. I know if I show up and attack every workout, no matter how much I suck at it, I’m going to come out slightly better than I was when I walked in the door.
Also, in response to Nathan’s post:
Of the 10 general physical skills, I am weakest in strength, flexibility and power. In that order.
What motivates me to stay fit? FEAR! The fear of being my grandmothers, both having dementia in their sixties, yet living well into their mid-ninties. The fear of being that little old lady who can barely walk down the street. The fear of not being able to do for myself, having to physically rely on other.
I’m not at the front of the pack, and I know I never will be. But I will continue to move, to participate, to try, to be part of the pack, even if it’s in the back. Because I know it is important.
Nathan-I hear you. I was OK physically the day after the AR. I’m fighting being mentally drained. And that, the mental aspect of this all, is probably my worst weakness.
On my 35th birthday, which is three years older than my dad was when he passed, I had an alcoholic moment of clarity in which I realized that I was going to be around on this rock we call earth for a while, and I needed to make a change.
I needed to start crossing some things of my “bucket list”. I started with running a marathon. Having never run more than two miles in a row in my life, I trained for 8 months to get ready to train for 3.Since then I have competed 9 marathons, 4 halves, numerous 5 and 10k’s, logged 100’s of hours canyoneering, rock climbing, kayaking, I completed the 221 Mile John Muir Trail last year, I intend on completing a 50k and 50 miler in 09. Who knew?
What motivates me to stay fit? Look around. You don’t have to look very hard or far to see terribly unfit people walking around like ticking time bombs. Everytime someone orders Chili Cheese Fries I want to start doing Burbees, everytime someone orders Super Nachos I want to run around the block, every time someone orders a Bacon Dbl Cheese Burger with Chili and an egg with cheese fries, I want to do Fran.
Finally, what motivates me is my peers! I love seeing all of you work so hard. Keep it up!
I so love the honesty of this family! So many of your reasons are my own. I’ve lived 42 years of screwed up alcohol driven priorities and the fear that this new found joy could slip through my fingers motivates me like nothing else can.
I LOVE TO PLAY… trail running, canyoneering, mud runs, bootcamps and CrossFit… and the door has barely cracked open.
But even more than all the present and future games is that I adore being able to help others find their own freedom.
What are my weaknesses? Plain and simple… A thousand different fears teamed with a body that’s missing the athletic gene.
Enjoy the party tonight and remember… what happens at graduation stays at graduation. Shhh!
Comment by Trail Runner Con Dios — July 18, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Tough question, Nate. I could provide several bullshit answers when asked “what my weaknesses are” and “what motivates me to stay fit. I could cite several of my fitness related “interests.” It’s tough introspective honesty time.
“Talent is often the killer of diligence and hard work.”
“Hard Work Beats Talent When Talent Doesn’t Work Hard”
These two phrases always come to mind, and seem to have always plagued me. I’ve always been in sports and martial arts since I was about 6 years old. Kenpo Karate, Little League Baseball, Shotokan Karate, AYSO Soccer, Songahm Taekwondo, Boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, Jiu Jitsu…you get the picture.
It seems that in some capacity I’ve had a good deal of natural ability at all of these things. While most people would kill for that, in retrospect I’ve come to realize that it’s this very thing that has always enabled me to avoid having to really work hard, and thus ever achieving the level I’ve strived for. So aside from all of the glaring weaknesses that I have in terms of CrossFit (mid and long distance running, pull ups, push ups, sit ups, clean, dips, push press, shoulder press, the list is quite long), my biggest weakness is diligence and consistency, of which my being overweight is a consequence.
It seems that as soon as I get a taste of starting to get good at something, I start to back off. This cycle has plagued me in all of my athletic endeavors. Most recently when I was on my way to being a world champion in Songahm Taekwondo, but somehow managed to fall away.
What motivates me not really to “stay” fit, but to get fit is the realization that human potential is far more powerful than I can imagine, and that I would be a pretty damn good MMA fighter if I was actually fit.
Time to journey inward and really get some insight about this through some even harsher introspection. More to come on my blog.
What motivates me to get fit is the challenge and my increasing sense of adventure. I want to know that if I get left out to sea from a dive (which has happened to me before), get pulled out to sea by the currents while kayaking (also happened), I can muster up enough strength to overcome these obstacles and keep on living.
My main goal is to have fun and not be stopped by physical limitations. I want to have enough strength to hold on to my kite when I go kite surfing, be able to waterski without back pain, climb mountains and reach the top, race in adventure races, and kick someone’s ass if they try to hurt me or my friends!
I must admit that I also enjoy seeing my body change–going from loose flab to tightly toned muscles. And to think that I actually considered a tummy tuck at one point….ha! The CrossFit lifestyle is doing more wonders for my body than any previously attempted fitness regimen. It also gives me a great sense of accomplishment because I know how tough the workouts are. Maybe that’s why I consider CrossFit to be so much fun.
As far as weaknesses, it’s the upper body strength and flexibility. Now that I am aware of them, I can be cause over how they progress. And treat it like a challenge.
I am motivated by my wife and returning home to her at the end of every day. I am motivated by our current life together and our future with a family. I need her to believe that if at any time God calls me home I went down fighting to live at her side. I pity the wretched fool who attempts to keep me away from “my motivation”.
t’s been a about week since I’ve written anything meaningful on our blog. That AR was tough; I wasn’t accustomed to putting out that much mental energy. As my body healed within a few days, I found my mind needed more rest. I’ve needed more sleep than usual, been mentally unmotivated, my diet has been lacking, and I’ve been thoroughly thrown out of whack this past week.
But that’s over now. Let’s talk us some Crossfit *add country drawl*
If I had been focusing on Crossfit for the past year, really focusing, I wouldn’t have had the same problems that I did. I would’ve performed better, faster, and stronger. There’s not a doubt in my mind about that. My pathways would’ve been better balanced, and I would’ve had an increased work capacity. I would’ve been in better shape, plain and simple. No excuses.
In understanding this, I’m forced to realize my weaknesses. So I extend to you a question: what are your personal weaknesses? Think about it. Ask yourself. I know you know. Hey, don’t ignore me. And don’t tell me your ‘weakness is your strength’.
Think about them, and what your role is in fixing them.
Crossfit is the best model for fitness. But it can only do so much; it can’t fix your weaknesses if YOU don’t care. People like what they like, whether it’s strength, bodyweight, or endurance work, everyone has their preference. The problem with preferences is they cause us to work really hard on the stuff we’re good at, and sand bag the stuff we dislike (which is probably a weakness). Realize that you have control over your progress. If you don’t feel strong enough, work REALLY hard on the strength days. Don’t stroll through it and then wonder why you aren’t getting stronger… or wonder why strength days don’t seem like a workout. Strive to work equally hard at everything.
To really get the benefits of working hard, you MUST be consistent. Just having a conscious understanding of what you have to do won’t get you there. You must DO it. Day in and day out. You cannot expect consistent and elite performance from sporadic attendance and subpar effort. It just ain’t gonna happen homie.
So let’s get in there and work damn hard, consistently.
N
Comment by Nathan H — July 18, 2008 @ 12:36 am
What motivates me to stay fit? Two reasons: one, I have very distinct, not-so-long-ago memories of what it feel like to NOT be fit. To feel the weight of carrying extra pounds and not liking the way my face would look when someone would take my picture. The feeling of being out of breath at climbing a flight of stairs. The frustration at needing to buy new clothes when old ones would cease to fit. All of these things are still memories fresh in my mind and my everyday LIFE is just so much improved when I feel better in my own skin. I wasn’t born with a fast metabolism and a natural athletic ability like so many other people I have encountered. My best friend in high school could never workout, smoke, and eat at Taco Bell everyday and still have a six-pack. Me – I look at a twinkie and put on 5 pounds. So I have had to work VERY hard to get where I am at now and knowing how much effort and persistence went into that leads me to avoid any sort of backsliding. I may not have the body or performance of a elite athlete (yet), but if you guys saw me 15 years ago…man, it’s night and day.
Second, I have seen first-hand what the ravages of inactivty and poor diet can wreak upon a person. My mother died at age 42 from a heart attack brought on by the stresses to her heart caused by a 300# frame. My father passed away just two years ago at age 61 and had had to be put into assisted living 2 years before that because he had let his body deteriorate after a car accident. It’s damn scary to see what happens when you slowy, day-by-day, let your body waste because of short-term food choices and decisions to sit on the couch rather than move around. I miss them both, and wish that they could see all the wonderful things happening now in our family, especially the birth of my little girl and my second child on the way later this year.
Sorry if this got a little personal, but in the end, taking care of yourself and putting forth an effort that keeps you active, fit and strong, I think HAS to be motivated by something personal. It’s sure as hell kept my motivation to come to Crossfit high. Beyond my personal motivations, I also want to set a good example for my family and then make sure that I am around for as long as I can be to see my kids and grandkids grow up…and then beat them in a 5K when I am 70 =)
- Jeff
Comment by Sketeris — July 18, 2008 @ 8:27 am
Ok, I started to type a long response explaining my motivation, but after writing it I realized that it is really simple. I gained a lot of weight in college. I was up to 205 (I’m 165 right now). I stopped eating reconstituted meat patties from the cafeteria in college and worked out a little. I lost some weight but was never really fit. Then my dad had a quadruple bypass at 46 years old. At that point in time, I started doing much more research into nutrition. I decided that it was simply unacceptable to be unfit. Not that it was an overnight change. With so much misinformation available on fitness, it took years to achieve something even close to fit.
Now I want to know how far I can take myself. When I think of who I used to be and who I am now, the change is astounding. I want to know how far I can push myself. It is now a challenge to myself. I want to see how far I can take this ride. That’s why I love CrossFit. I know if I show up and attack every workout, no matter how much I suck at it, I’m going to come out slightly better than I was when I walked in the door.
Also, in response to Nathan’s post:
Of the 10 general physical skills, I am weakest in strength, flexibility and power. In that order.
Comment by Josh — July 18, 2008 @ 10:06 am
What motivates me to stay fit? FEAR! The fear of being my grandmothers, both having dementia in their sixties, yet living well into their mid-ninties. The fear of being that little old lady who can barely walk down the street. The fear of not being able to do for myself, having to physically rely on other.
I’m not at the front of the pack, and I know I never will be. But I will continue to move, to participate, to try, to be part of the pack, even if it’s in the back. Because I know it is important.
Nathan-I hear you. I was OK physically the day after the AR. I’m fighting being mentally drained. And that, the mental aspect of this all, is probably my worst weakness.
Comment by Joanne — July 18, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
On my 35th birthday, which is three years older than my dad was when he passed, I had an alcoholic moment of clarity in which I realized that I was going to be around on this rock we call earth for a while, and I needed to make a change.
I needed to start crossing some things of my “bucket list”. I started with running a marathon. Having never run more than two miles in a row in my life, I trained for 8 months to get ready to train for 3.Since then I have competed 9 marathons, 4 halves, numerous 5 and 10k’s, logged 100’s of hours canyoneering, rock climbing, kayaking, I completed the 221 Mile John Muir Trail last year, I intend on completing a 50k and 50 miler in 09. Who knew?
What motivates me to stay fit? Look around. You don’t have to look very hard or far to see terribly unfit people walking around like ticking time bombs. Everytime someone orders Chili Cheese Fries I want to start doing Burbees, everytime someone orders Super Nachos I want to run around the block, every time someone orders a Bacon Dbl Cheese Burger with Chili and an egg with cheese fries, I want to do Fran.
Finally, what motivates me is my peers! I love seeing all of you work so hard. Keep it up!
Comment by johnnie b — July 18, 2008 @ 2:53 pm
I so love the honesty of this family! So many of your reasons are my own. I’ve lived 42 years of screwed up alcohol driven priorities and the fear that this new found joy could slip through my fingers motivates me like nothing else can.
I LOVE TO PLAY… trail running, canyoneering, mud runs, bootcamps and CrossFit… and the door has barely cracked open.
But even more than all the present and future games is that I adore being able to help others find their own freedom.
What are my weaknesses? Plain and simple… A thousand different fears teamed with a body that’s missing the athletic gene.
Enjoy the party tonight and remember… what happens at graduation stays at graduation. Shhh!
Comment by Trail Runner Con Dios — July 18, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Tough question, Nate. I could provide several bullshit answers when asked “what my weaknesses are” and “what motivates me to stay fit. I could cite several of my fitness related “interests.” It’s tough introspective honesty time.
“Talent is often the killer of diligence and hard work.”
“Hard Work Beats Talent When Talent Doesn’t Work Hard”
These two phrases always come to mind, and seem to have always plagued me. I’ve always been in sports and martial arts since I was about 6 years old. Kenpo Karate, Little League Baseball, Shotokan Karate, AYSO Soccer, Songahm Taekwondo, Boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, Jiu Jitsu…you get the picture.
It seems that in some capacity I’ve had a good deal of natural ability at all of these things. While most people would kill for that, in retrospect I’ve come to realize that it’s this very thing that has always enabled me to avoid having to really work hard, and thus ever achieving the level I’ve strived for. So aside from all of the glaring weaknesses that I have in terms of CrossFit (mid and long distance running, pull ups, push ups, sit ups, clean, dips, push press, shoulder press, the list is quite long), my biggest weakness is diligence and consistency, of which my being overweight is a consequence.
It seems that as soon as I get a taste of starting to get good at something, I start to back off. This cycle has plagued me in all of my athletic endeavors. Most recently when I was on my way to being a world champion in Songahm Taekwondo, but somehow managed to fall away.
What motivates me not really to “stay” fit, but to get fit is the realization that human potential is far more powerful than I can imagine, and that I would be a pretty damn good MMA fighter if I was actually fit.
Time to journey inward and really get some insight about this through some even harsher introspection. More to come on my blog.
Comment by Just Pablo — July 18, 2008 @ 5:17 pm
What motivates me to get fit is the challenge and my increasing sense of adventure. I want to know that if I get left out to sea from a dive (which has happened to me before), get pulled out to sea by the currents while kayaking (also happened), I can muster up enough strength to overcome these obstacles and keep on living.
My main goal is to have fun and not be stopped by physical limitations. I want to have enough strength to hold on to my kite when I go kite surfing, be able to waterski without back pain, climb mountains and reach the top, race in adventure races, and kick someone’s ass if they try to hurt me or my friends!
I must admit that I also enjoy seeing my body change–going from loose flab to tightly toned muscles. And to think that I actually considered a tummy tuck at one point….ha! The CrossFit lifestyle is doing more wonders for my body than any previously attempted fitness regimen. It also gives me a great sense of accomplishment because I know how tough the workouts are. Maybe that’s why I consider CrossFit to be so much fun.
As far as weaknesses, it’s the upper body strength and flexibility. Now that I am aware of them, I can be cause over how they progress. And treat it like a challenge.
Lisa
Comment by AdventureSeeker — July 18, 2008 @ 5:35 pm
I am motivated by my wife and returning home to her at the end of every day. I am motivated by our current life together and our future with a family. I need her to believe that if at any time God calls me home I went down fighting to live at her side. I pity the wretched fool who attempts to keep me away from “my motivation”.
Comment by Nick — July 18, 2008 @ 11:08 pm