She Does Better

Emilie Burke

Last Two Weeks in Workouts // W39 & W40

1 Comment // Fitness

Reading Time: 3 minutes

In this week’s installment of workouts, I’d like to remind you that this is real life. I am far from perfect, but this is what the reality of life looks like. Spending a week on vacation, followed by a week at three (!!!) conferences means that some things fall to the back burner. That is true for answering emails, reading for pleasure, and getting a workout in. It would have been easy to try to completely call this time a wash, but I’m glad I was able to at least get these three workouts in.

Sunday 9/16

This Sunday was a strength day. (Workout Source)

Tread block 1:

  • 1 min push 3% incline
  • 1 min base
  • 1 min push 2% incline
  • 1 min base
  • 1 min all out

Tread block 2:

  • 1 min push 4% incline
  • 1 min base
  • 1 min push 3% incline
  • 1 min base
  • 1 min all out 2 % incline

Tread block 3:

  • 1 min push 5% incline
  • 1 min base
  • 1 min push 4% incline
  • 1 min base
  • 1 min all out 3% incline

Tread block 4:

  • 1 min base 5% incline
  • 1 min push 3% incline
  • 30 seconds all out

Floor block:

There are six exercises, but split up into groups of two repeated twice, followed by 300m row. If you finish the full set, you just go back and complete the exercises in order – no repeat, no row.

  • Single arm neutral grip step up – 8 each & Split stance single arm high row – 8 each
  • Suitcase squat – 8 each & Hip hinge single arm low row – 8 each
  • Biceps curl – 8 each & Plank low row – 16 total
  • Core Blast (2.5 min)

I got:

  • 13 splat points
  • 437 Calories
  • 144 Avg HR

Thursday 9/20

I dropped-in to Crossfit Mile Zero while in Key West. (Workout Source)

Metcon (AMRAP – Reps)

3 Rounds for Total Reps

  • 90 Seconds Max Inverted Barbell Row
  • 1 Minute Rest
  • 90 Seconds Max Hand Release Push-Ups
  • 1 Minute Rest
  • 90 Seconds Max Rep Burpees
  • 1 Minute Rest
  • 90 Seconds of Max Calorie Row
  • 1 Minute Rest

I got:

  • 224 Reps

Friday 9/21

I dropped-in to Crossfit Mile Zero while in Key West. (Workout Source)

Warm-up (No Measure)

“Sally”

STRENGTH

Back Squat – 4 x 10 at 55 lbs
Front Squat – 4 x 10 at 45 lbs
Overhead Squat – 4 x 10 at 35 lbs

Reflection

My goal for these two weeks was to not undo all the progress I’ve been making lately- in gains, in strength, but also in mindset. It’s like my head has finally warmed up to the idea of going to the gym regularly when I throw myself my own curveball, making it hard to be diligent. And, frankly, this update doesn’t paint the whole picture. It doesn’t include the 5+ miles that I walked on Tuesday. It doesn’t include the tons of walking I did around Key West. It doesn’t include the half-mile hike it was from the conference to my hotel room in the second week. It is, though, the cut-and-dry metrics of whether or not I worked out, and that’s what this is capturing.

Looking Forward

As I type this the hair dries on my head from my post-workout shower. It is Monday, and I am back at my routine. I am already excited at what diligence, routine, and slow progress can do. This week will be overwhelming with the sheer quantity of things that need to get done, but putting my workouts at the beginning of the day will allow me to prioritize them before life gets hectic.

Last Week in Workouts // W38

1 Comment // Fitness

Reading Time: 4 minutes

For the second week in a row, I’m sharing my week in workouts. This is insight into real life workouts for a regular unathletic person. It’s important to remember that doing something is usually better than doing nothing. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

Sunday 9/9

Macros: 65P, 222 C, 54 F, 1634

I went to Orange Theory on Sunday for a very confusing power day. (Workout Source)

Tread Block 1

  • 90 sec row for distance

Floor Block 1

  • 30 sec full thruster
  • 30 sec burpees
  • 30 sec sit-ups

Tread Block 2: 6 min.

  • 1 min push
  • 1 min all out
  • 1 min walking recovery
  • 1 min push
  • 1 min base
  • 1 min all out

Floor Block 2: 6 min

  • 5 dumbbell snatches, each arm
  • 10 TRX pull-ups
  • 16 scissor kicks

Tread & Floor Block 3:

  • 90 sec row for distance and same floor

Tread Block 4: 6 min

  • 1 min push
  • 1 min all out
  • 1 min walking recovery
  • 1 min push
  • 1 min base
  • 1 min all out

Floor Block 4:

  • 10 each lateral step ups
  • 10 Superman

Tread & Floor Block 5:

  • 90 sec row for distance and same floor

I got:

  • 17 Splat Points
  • 529 Calories
  • Avg HR of 152

Monday 9/10

5:30 PM Crossfit (Workout Source)

Macros: 141 P, 124 C, 60 F, 1600

STRENGTH:

  • Overhead Squat 5-5-5-5-5 : 55 lbs, 60 lbs, 65 lbs, 70 lbs, and 75 lbs

CONDITIONING:

12 Minute AMRAP

  • 2 Hang Power Cleans at 65 lbs
  • 4 Front Rack Lunges at 65 lbs
  • 6 Burpees over the Bar

I got: 9+3

Tuesday 9/11

Macros: 114P, 148C, 64F, 1624

6:30 AM Crossfit (Workout Source)

9/11 Tribute WOD

Buy In:  2001m Row

Then…

2 Rounds

  • 11 Jumping Pull Ups
  • 11 Power Snatches at 55 lb
  • 11 Box Jumps at 20 inches
  • 11 Back Squats at 55 lbs
  • 11 Strict Hanging Knee Raises
  • 11 Push Press es at 55 lb
  • 11 American Kettlebell Swings at 35 lbs
  • 11 Sumo Deadlift High Pulls at 55 lbs
  • 11 Goblet Squats at 35 lbs

I finished in: 31:01

Wednesday 9/12

Macros: 94P, 198C, 45 F, 1573

6:30 AM Crossfit (Workout Source)

STRENGTH:

  • 12 Minutes to establish a 3RM Deadlift; I ended at 205 lbs

CONDITIONING:

  • 21 Deadlifts at 135 lbs
  • 7 Box Dips
  • 7 Dumbbell Strict Presses at 35 lbs
  • 7 Hand Release Push Ups
  • 15 Deadlifts at 135 lbs
  • 5 Box Dips
  • 5 Dumbbell Strict Presses at 35 lbs
  • 5 Hand Release Push Ups
  • 9 Deadlifts at 135 lbs
  • 3 Box Dips
  • 3 Dumbbell Strict Presses at 35 lbs
  • 3 Hand Release Push Ups

I finished in 8:30.

Thursday 9/13

Macros: 132P, 169C, 58F, 1726

I took Thursday as a Rest Day 😄

Friday 9/14

Macros: 98P, 217 C, 92F, 2088

I went to 6:30 AM Crossfit. (Workout Source)

STRENGTH:

Strict Press, 3 x 2 at 75 lbs

CONDITIONING:

    • 30 Med Ball Sit Ups at 10 lbs
    • 5 Ring Rows
    • 200m Run
    • 30 Strict Hanging Knee Raises
    • 5 Ring Rows
    • 200m Run
    • 30 Med Ball Sit Ups at 10 lbs
    • 5 Ring Rows
    • 200m Run

I finished in: 9:45.

Saturday 9/15

Macros: 132P, 165C, 79F, 1899

I went to another very confusing Orange Theory workout, but this time an endurance workout. (Workout Source)

A little bit unusual template: Partner A is pacing on the treads while partner B is doing exercises on the floor. When tagged, partner B starts pacing on a rower, and partner A does the floor exercises until tagged, then partner B continues exercises where they left off.

Floor Block 1: 13 min

  • 10 Full Burpees
  • 10 DB Half Squat Swings
  • 10 DB overhead tricep extension
  • 20 Sprinter sit-up
  • 10 DB S/A neutral full thrusters
  • Partner A:
    • Round 1: Run 0.3mi at push pace
    • Round 2: Run 0.25mi at push pace
    • Round 3: Run 0.2mi at push pace
  • Partner B:
    • Round 1: Row 500m
    • Round 2: Row 400m
    • Round 3: Row 300m

Tread Block 1: 6 min

  • 90 sec Push
  • 30 sec All Out
  • 45 sec Walking Recovery
  • 60 sec Push
  • 30 sec All Out
  • 45 sec Walking Recovery
  • 30 sec Push
  • 30 sec All Out
  • SWITCH

Floor Block 2: 6min

  • 10 Squat jacks
  • 10 Reverse Mountain Climbers
  • 10 High plank alt arm reach

Floor Block 3: 13min

Switch Partner A/B and do the first partner block again

I got:

  • 19 Splat Points
  • 530 Calories
  • Avg HR of 147

Reflection

This was a good week of solid workouts. I felt strong. I (mostly) wanted to be in each of my workouts and, even though they were not always fun, I felt accomplished after completing each of them.

Looking Forward

I’m looking forward to vacation but am hoping to not totally derail my progress.

 

Last Week in Workouts // W37

1 Comment // Fitness

Reading Time: 4 minutes

I’m going to try this new thing where I share all the workouts from last week and the macros for those days. I’ve shared before that I haven’t loved where I am physically right now, in part because I can see how backward I’ve come in the last 18 months, but the fact of the matter is I’m still in great shape. I’m still doing tons. Working out is hard. Going to the gym with some semblance of regularity is hard. This is a reminder that I am doing something, even if I’m not doing as much as I’d like to be doing.

Sunday 9/2

I did one hour of Orange Theory. It was an ESP (Endurance Strength Power) Day. (Source) Right now, my base pace is 5.5 mph, my push pace is 7 mph, and my all out is 8 mph, though that changes over the course of the workout.

Macros: 257 C, 107 F, 55 P

Tread block 1:
1 minute push @ 3%
1 minute AO @ 3%
1 minute walking recovery
2 minute push (flat road)
1 minute base
1 minute AO
90 second walking recovery – get to base when you can
Tread block 2:
45 second push @4%
45 second AO @4%
1 minute walking recovery
2 minute push (flat road)
1 minute base
1 minute AO
90 second walking recovery – get to base when you can
Tread block 3:
30 second push @5%
30 second AO @5%
1 minute walking recovery
2 minute push (flat road)
1 minute base
1 minute AO
Floor block 1:
400 meter row (once)
Bench static lunges with weights
Palms to elbows
Floor block 2:
300 meter row (once)
Jump lunges
Plank low row
Floor block 3:
200 meter row (once)
Speed skater lunges
Alligator TRX 🐊

I got:

  • 20 Splat Points
  • 525 Calories
  • 151 Average Heart Rate
  • I spent 47 minutes in green, orange, or red.

Monday 9/3

I took Labor Day off as a rest day!

Macros: 261 C, 92 F, 54 P

Tuesday 9/4

I did 1 hour of Crossfit, doing a birthday WOD for one of the coaches. (Original Workout) I scaled the original WOD to what’s below.

Macros: 109 C, 56 F, 103 P

8 Minute AMRAP
31 Wall Balls at 10 lbs
9 Deadlifts at 75 lbs
4 Thrusters ad 75 lbs
87 Single Unders
2 Minute Rest
8 Minute AMRAP
31 Strict Hanging Knee Raises
9 Deadlifts
4 Thrusters
87 Single Unders
2 Minute Rest
8 Minute AMRAP
31 Hand Release Push Ups
9 Deadlifts
4 Thrusters
87 Single Unders

I got:

  • 1 + 31 Wall Balls + 9 Deadlifts
  • 1 + 16 Hanging Knee Raises
  • 1 + 20 Hand Release Push Ups

Wednesday 9/5

I did an hour of Crossfit. (Original Workout)

Macros: 158 C, 43 F, 86 P

STRENGTH:
Find 1RM Front Squat

CONDITIONING:
2K Row

I got:

  • 145 lbs on my Front Squat
  • 9:06 on the 2K Row

Thursday 9/6

I did an hour of Crossfit and ripped my hands. I wanted to DIE. I hate ripping so much. Ugh. (Original Workout)

Macros: 187 C, 96 F, 81 P

GYMNASTICS:

Death by Kipping Pull Ups

CONDITIONING:

10 Rounds

6 Box Jumps at 20 inches

6 Strict Dumbbell Push Presses at 25 lbs

I got:

  • to round 4 of the Kipping Pull ups before I totally smoked my shoulders and had to scale to ring rows. I felt the blister developing, but there was nothing I could do about it.
  • 15:06 on the scaled WOD. It was supposed to have snatches, but I ripped warming up the snatches and decided to pass.

Friday 9/7

Since my rip was still fresh, I took the day off.

Macros: 183 C, 60 F, 119 P

Saturday 9/8

I did an Orange Theory class, but got into a fight with my monitor and it won. (Source) It was a strength day.

Macros: 187 C, 65 F, 83 P

Tread block 1 
1 min push(flat road)
1 minute base (flat road)
1 minute base 5%
1 minute base flat road
90 push flat road
30 second AO
Walking Recovery
Tread block 2
1 min push(flat road)
1 minute base (flat road)
1 minute base 5%
1 minute base 4%
1 minute base flat road
1 minute push flat road
30 second AO
Walking Recovery
Tread block 3
1 min push(flat road)
1 minute base (flat road)
1 minute base 5%
1 minute base 4%
1 minute base 3%
1 minute base flat road
30 second push flat road
30 second AO
Floor block 1 – Reps 10/6/10/6 THEN Row for distance
Side lunge bicep curl (total)
Plank low rows (total)
Floor block 2 – Reps 10/6/10/6 THEN Row for distance
Deadlifts
Bench jacks – new exercise
Floor block 3 – Reps 10/6/10/6 THEN Row for distance
Bench backwards lunge
16 bicycles

Reflection

This was a good week. I got a solid number of workouts in. My macros were all over the place, but this week I’m really focusing on hitting my protein target. Except for that hand tear, I’m pretty pleased.

Three Strategies for Evaluating Your Fitness Goals

4 Comments // Crossfit, Fitness, Goals

Reading Time: 8 minutes

At this time of year, it seems like everyone is setting fitness goals and, frankly, I’m no different. I set one fitness goal this year: to get into AND sustain the best shape of my life. Last year, my goal was to get into the best shape of my life- and I did. In July/August, I really was in the best shape of my life. Since August of the previous year, I had been going to the gym 4-5 times per week, barring work travel. Even when I was traveling for work, I aimed for a 20 minute sweat session. In fact, I even got my first set of pull-ups when I was traveling for work!

The thing is that [insert my series of excuses here- traveling, traveling for work, expense of an additional gym membership while traveling, etc.] kept me from getting to the gym, or better, gave me an excuse to not to go. So I didn’t. I’m certainly far from “out of shape” in the “two-thirds of Americans are obese” way, but I’m out of shape compared to where I was in July.

I definitely hit my goal- I got into the best shape of my life- but being a goal-oriented person, without a goal to continue to work towards over the seance half of the year I lost my motivation to go to the gym at all. I recognized this at some point in the middle of year, but when I shared it with some people, I often heard things like “Well, you should just want to be better.” or “You just must not want it bad enough.” No, I’M JUST THE KIND OF PERSON THAT NEEDS GOALS TO WORK TOWARDS. Trust me, I know myself. I know the kind of person I am.

RELATED: Want to learn more about your personality type? Check out Gretchen Rubin’s The Four Tendencies.

That’s why this time of year I never poo-poo the goal setters. Whatever you’ve set, if setting that goal is what you need to get back into your fitness routine, do it. Let me know about it in the comments and I’ll be cheering you on! If you want an accountability buddy, shoot me an email and I’ll be that for you. We can conquer this year together!

Not all goals are created equal, though. Yes, you read that correctly. This is because some goals are goals, and some goals are pretty sentences we like to tell ourselves are goals. I’m going to use myself as an example

Get into the best shape of my life.

WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?! Exactly the problem. Now, in my goal setting process I got really granular with it. Since Crossfit is my primary form of physical activity, I’ll be using the measurements that are prominent in this form of training to measure my progress and my success. In July last year, I hit a 245 lb deadlift. In 2018, I would like to hit a 300 lb deadlift. (Over 210% of my bodyweight so, you know, not an ambitious goal at all.)

In October 2014, in much worse shape than I have been at any point since graduating college in June 2015, I ran the Tower of Terror Ten Miler at Disney World with my cousins. To that point, that was the longest distance I had every run. I’m bummed, though, that in the last 3+ years, I haven’t 1. done anymore running or 2. run a half marathon. In 2018, I would like to run a half marathon and, while I don’t have a speed number in mind, I’d like my speed to reflect all the time that I do spend in the gym.

The third and final way that I’m going to be measuring my progress towards the best shape of my life is the much elusive Double Unders. A double under (DU or DUs when plural) is a movement that occurs when jumping rope where the rope rotates around your body twice in one jump. If you’re doing 10 DUs, you only jump 10 times, but the rope goes around your body 20 times. For nearly a year, I have been working on getting these double unders. Since February 2017, I can comfortably string together a high volume of single-single-double (high volume being limited only by my cardio ability). For some reason, though, I can’t seem to get past that. I have gotten the occassional series of 3 or 4 double unders. My form has gotten better and I’ve stopped piking, but double unders are still outside of my reach. By the end of 2018, I will be able to comfortable pick up a rope and knock out 10 double unders whenever I want.

Hopefully, you can see three transitions there from a meaningless sentence- “Get into the best shape of my life”- to three useful and clear goals:

  1. Do a 300 lb deadlift.
  2. Run a half marathon.
  3. Knock out 10 double unders whenever I want.

We’ve all heard about SMART goals. Though I’m not crazy about marrying myself to an acronym when it comes to goal setting, these are a great way to think about setting your goals. SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. My goals are all time-bound by nature of being yearly goals. They are relevant because I care about my fitness. They are achievable because I already have a fitness routine in place, though I don’t have a running routine in place, so that will require extra effort, but effort I am willing to put in!. They are measurable in that they are all quantified, and I’ve made them all very specific.

What SMART goals lack, though, is an emphasis on process. My friend Rana Campbell of the Dreams in Drive Podcast (must-listen!!) talks about how it’s not enough to just know your final destination, but that you must also use your GPS to plot out your route to get there. In other words, it’s not enough to say “I want to hit a 300 lb deadlift.” If I want to do that, what do I have to do to get there? Increasing my one rep max by nearly 25% isn’t going to happen on its own. What changes do I have to make in my life in order to get there? In my case, my process is going to be made up of the following steps:

  • Go to the gym every day that it is open (Monday through Saturday)
  • Spend 30 minutes on the assault bike on Sunday mornings
  • Push myself while in the gym
  • (At some point this year, though not right now) Start tracking my macros again flexibly

Those four things should help me build a sustainable lifestyle that should propel towards not just my deadlift goals but ALL of my fitness goals. If I find that I’m not make enough progress on my deadlift goal or if I’m not trending in the direction of getting stronger, I can add a corrective measure into my routine- an extra training session, extra movements focused on building those muscles specifically, etc. For now, though, I’m not looking to hit ONLY that goal, so I don’t want to focus on it too aggressively.

After you’ve finished setting your fitness goals, evaluated them for SMART-ness and for process in getting from where you are to where you want to be, I suggest you evaluate them with three additional criteria. This is because fitness goals are unique in a few different ways; from societal pressures to sheer vanity, from unhealthy habits that make us look healthy to being too focused on a number on a scale (or body fat percentage), fitness goals can seem good when they’re really quite destructive. When you’ve finished setting your fitness goals, sit down and ask yourself these questions.

Did I decide this?

Where did this goal come from? Is it something I want? Did someone else suggest this or pressure me into this? Is there an external factor at play here that might be shifting your sense of reality? For example, I’ve had a lot of people ask me if part of my motivation for getting into better shape is related to my wedding coming up later this year. While yes, I absolutely want to look great on my wedding day, I, more-so, want to build a sustainable lifestyle that is full of healthy habits, including a regular fitness routine and wholesome eating. Knowing where your goal comes from and your motivation for getting there makes it easier to work towards it.

What does success look like?

When I was originally thinking about my goals for the year, I wanted to just “get DUs.” I thought that when I got them, I’d know it, so I didn’t really need to quantify it any more than that. The problem with that mentality was that it would be very easy for me slip into settling for something less-than actually “getting” DUs, such as getting them for a video but not being able to regularly conjure them. Defining success will help you going beyond quantifying a goal and ensure you’re aligning your goal and your process with your motivations.

Does this get me closer to where I want to be?

I often hear people say that they can’t set yearly goals because they don’t know where they’ll be in a year. This is a load of if I ever heard it. Your goals are not the Rosetta Stone carved into rock and on display in a museum for forever. They can grow and change with you over the year. You can decide something is no longer relevant if that actually becomes the case.

I think that you NEED to set yearly goals. We all have some vision for our lives. We all dream about the future. Your yearly goals are your 1-year plan for getting closer to that future. You don’t need to know how or where your forever home is going to happen- with the Army, I certainly don’t know where ours will be- but that doesn’t keep me from dreaming about my luxurious master bathroom with the clawfoot tub or concrete countertops with a butcher block island. Maybe these things are trendy, and I won’t want them when we’re actually at that point in life, but you can see my point. I still know what my North Star is, even if I can’t map out every adventure between here and there. Goals should be taking you towards your North Star, whatever that might be for you.

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Photo Courtesy InDependent

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RELATED: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown is a great read!

Your turn:

  • Let me know your fitness goals in the comments!
  • Email me if you want me to be your fitness accountability buddy.
  • Have you evaluated your goals for their SMART-ness? Do you have a process plan?
  • Did you find my three new criteria helpful?

Whenever you’re reading this, right now is a great time to make a change. Let’s do it together!

Gym Is Not Life

2 Comments // Fitness

Reading Time: 5 minutes

I recently shared with an acquaintance that I was a feeling a little bit demotivated at the gym. I haven’t really gotten settled into a gym routine since getting home (actually, I haven’t really gotten settled into any routine since getting home, but a discussion for another time). I was sharing with this woman that I didn’t know why I was feeling so demotivated lately, and that while I was definitely feeling guilty about it, I was not feeling so guilty that I was planning on changing anything.

She came back with this snooty response about how she makes the most of every opportunity she has in the gym and holier than thou blah blah bullshit. Her answer pissed me off.

Here’s the thing: I have other things going on. I am not exclusively about going to the gym. Right now, I’m building technical skills and a business. I’m planning a wedding and constantly working on my relationship. I’ve got goals I’m trying to hit and not all of them are helped by me being in the gym. In fact, every minute that I spend in the gym is a minute that I’m not spending working on my other goals- like those that require me to be seated at a computer.

Going to the gym is something I do when it can help me work towards my goals. I really wanted to do 24 pull-ups on my 24th birthday. I had something I was working towards so being in the gym plenty was important to me because I didn’t want to risk my birthday passing and me not hitting that goal.

Yes, I have gym goals. I’d like to hit a 300 lb deadlift in the next year and get double unders, but they’re mostly just the general direction that I’m heading towards. I’m not working at them that aggressively because other things are more important. Other things are my priority.

“The” Thing vs “A” Thing

For some people, going to the gym is the thing that they do all day. Some work at the gym, some just go. This is not a judgment on their lifestyle; it’s just an observation. For some people, the gym is a key priority in their day.

I am not one of those people. The gym is a thing that I do during the day. It is much more like brushing my teeth than it is like crossing off a big accomplishment.

When I first started going to this gym, Crossfit Raeford, where I’ve been a regular attendee since August 2016, here was the time commitment involved:

  • 6 minutes to get to the gym (I was almost always just on-time or late)
  • 1 hour class
  • 10 minutes of mingling
  • 6 minutes home

Since we moved in March, my gym commitment looks like this:

  • 20 minutes to get to the gym
  • 1 hour class
  • 20 minutes to get home

Doing just the bare minimum at the gym now takes 20 minutes more than it used to when I was very, very committed.

Priorities

While I felt guilty prior to having this realization, I no longer do because my lack of affinity for being crazy committed to the gym is just a reflection of the fact that the gym is not my priority right now and that is 100% okay!

But Emilie, you’re getting married, shouldn’t you care?

I don’t have the energy, will, or interest in the emotional labor of dealing with this statement which I’ve only heard 29873 times as I tried to work through these feelings out loud with others.

I don’t go to the gym because of some arbitrary visual standard. I’m fit enough now where if I just go three days per week and eat the way I do, I’ll be fine. I’ve been a cookie cutter size 4 for the last three years and I’m 💯 with that. It would take a LOT of work for me to drop a size and I don’t want to put in that much work.

Stage of Life

Right now.

I don’t want to put in that much work right now.

This might not always be true, though. It’s true right now because my focus is on other things and other aspects of my life.

When I first started at my gym, though, I was very into it and it was the most important thing at that moment.

Being the fittest or most active version of yourself is a deeply personal decision that only you can make because no one knows your stage of life or life priorities better.

This idea isn’t unique. I’m not the first person to have it. It’s probably not even the first time I’ve said or written this.

I noticed the people attending the 530 AM class are not consumed by CrossFit. Instead, they are using CrossFit to become a more effective person in other aspects of life.

But here’s why this unbalanced life is ok: these are simply seasons of our life. They come and they go, they ebb and flow, and they are ever changing and always evolving. So when there was a moment recently when I looked in the mirror and stood in shock for a minute and came to terms with the fact that I didn’t recognize the body in the reflection, within seconds, I shrugged and reminded myself that this is temporary. This is simply the season I am in, and the price of pouring 100% into something that isn’t the gym means my body’s gotten a little softer.

Self Examination

While this piece is in part a rebuttal the pedantic comment of my contact’s clearly narrow-minded mindset, it’s also in part an examination and evaluation of myself. In thinking through where am I right now on my fitness journey, where my physical goals fall into my priorities, and the other aspects of my life, I am forced to answer these questions in a direct way.

If you’re trying to evaluate your relationship with your fitness routine, here are a series of questions that I would suggest:

  • Is my fitness routine working for me?
  • How does it fit into my day?
  • How do I feel going to the gym?
  • How do I feel after the gym?
  • What am I working towards right now?
  • How important is that goal to me?
  • How does my fitness goal compare to some other goals I’m working on right now?
  • How much time am I committing to my fitness?
  • How do I feel about that amount of time? Would I like to commit more or less?

It’s okay if “Gym is Life”; it’s also okay if it’s not. Here’s the key takeaway: if it’s not, don’t feel guilty about it. If the gym or your fitness routine is not the top priority in your life, that’s not a problem, as long as that is a decision made with intentionality to support the other priorities in your life.

Where does the gym fall on your list of priorities?