YOU ARE ENOUGH
YOU, yes YOU... You are Able, You are ENOUGH, you are WORTH IT.
I have recently been gently reminded about why I do what I do. As a coach it so easy to lose track of the moment, to enter full robot mode and coach day to day, client to client in monotony. Excuse the vulgar visual but I think I just threw up in my mouth admitting that out loud. I have these amazing people coming to me to change their lives, and sometimes I take that for granted. I have a blessed profession. It is one that matters a great deal to me, and it sets fire to my soul that I can ever allow myself to enter those ruts. Each of you are worth my care, attention, and time on a daily basis. I firmly believe that.
My wake up call happened through a very special member in my bootcamp class. She inspired me to write this blog post... hmmm...well how about we call it an open letter, to my current, possibly future, and past clients.
You ARE Able, You ARE Enough, You ARE Worth It – and I am going to tell you WHY.
I was recently showed this blogpost from another CrossFit Box, a ‘Box’ is another name for a gym in our crazy cultish CrossFit world (for anyone reading this that is not currently a CrossFitter but aspires to be one). The article addressed the dire need for becoming selfish about your health, like putting yourself first for once. Your needs. Your health. Your future. Your longevity. I know, I know it is such a cliché statement. But I believe it is a true and necessary discussion. I highly recommend reading that article, but if you don’t I will give you the basic argument.
Our priorities tend to be here:
Family
Career/Money
Health
It should be changed to this hierarchy of importance:
Health
Family
Career
Wes ( a CrossFit Coach) explains it further by painting this picture …
Here’s how I see it: If I spend my whole life putting my family and career before my health, the outcome won’t be what I was expecting. While I’m young this would be fine, but as I start to age I notice some love handles. That’s okay right? It’s called a “dad bod!” Next, my doctor makes a weird face when he sees my blood pressure at a routine check up. “Nothing to be too worried about, but that is a little high” he says. A few years later, I just don’t seem to have the excitement I used to for my job, I’m tired all the time and need three cups of coffee a day to stay awake, and those love handles have now turned into needing a new wardrobe. During the next check up with my doctor, he tells me I need to go on blood pressure meds and to start looking into my diet and an exercise program, telling me “If you keep this up you’re on the path to an early death.
Is your gut telling you this is far too extreme, that it isn’t realistic?
Your gut knows there is a dark truth hiding in that order of events. These calamities of life could happen to you if you don’t take some time to check your priorities. That’s right, I am talking to you. I am poking the bear. (RAWR)
I want you to know that you can spare an hour a day to add years of time with the ones you love. I want to help you have more energy, to in turn be more active with your kids, who will then be more active (encouraged by you) and learn good habits at a young age. It is a cycle of knowledge. The knowledge that CrossFit, or Bootcamp, or Zumba, or Weightlifting or whatever fitness craze you take part in is worth so much more than the action itself. It is empowerment, it is confidence, it is habits, it is mental fortitude, and it is your temple. Your safe place to be anything you want to be, to do far more than you ever thought possible. That discussion can have a blog post all to itself, back to my point . . . . . .
It is NEVER too late to start and you are NEVER too far gone to take back your health.
CrossFit can get a bad rap due to the extremely fit, robotic like human machines you see on Instagram, Facebook, or TV. You must understand that those individuals make up 1% of the CrossFit Community. CrossFit was created to help the other 99% of the world population find health and wellness. At the very foundation of the now worldwide sport, you will find hardworking blue-collar, white-collar, heck, even no collar men and women looking to take back their health.
Somewhere the cornerstone of improving clients' overall health and wellness got lost in translation.
As a trainer, coach and educator going on my eighth year, this deeply pains me.
Behind the expectations, the rippling six-pack abs, the fitness professionals, and the beautifully created Instagram food posts you find the mother of three stepping foot into a gym for the first time in 26 years. Understand the depth and breadth of that statement. Think about the anxiety she overcame to take that step, the demonizing voices she silenced, the self-doubt she left at the door as she walked in, it is awe-inspiring. It humbles me to my core. Personally, I cannot remember the last time I tried something new. It is terrifying.
I live and breathe for the chance to work with that mom. That mom is courageous, she is inspiring, she understands her priorities, and she is gifting me with the opportunity to improve her health. I take this responsibility seriously. I don’t coach for ‘fun’, I don’t work at the gym because it’s a hobby that happens to come with monetary benefit. This is my life. Improving your health and wellness are my primary concerns. This is my full-time profession.
But this is not about me, this is about YOU.
This is about my clients, current and future.
I wish I could let my clients (each of which I believe have an athlete inside of them waiting to be unleashed) see themselves through my eyes. When I think about it, I have always been a glass half full type of person, which makes coaching natural for me. Every human that walks through my door is able, enough, and worth it. Oh what’s that you say?
“Not me, I’m too fat”
“I have too many health risks, I cannot do THAT”
“I won’t fit in there, everyone will be watching me and judging”
“I cannot keep up with THEM”
… blah blah blah. The list goes on and on. Guess what, I have heard it all. Guess what else, it is rubbish to my ears. And most importantly it is my JOB to find a way for YOU to do THAT.
Want to know what it isn’t? It isn’t your job to worry about when you will ever be able to do THAT.
Great coaches are able to program workouts to target a specific adaptation and ensure all athletes receive the same stimulus despite their individual variations in mobility, experience, or skill.
The founder of CrossFit and CEO Greg Glassman states, “Ahead of efficacy is safety.” When you come into my gym I vow to first and foremost keep you safe, from there I will push you to further your efficacy of various movements. It all takes time, patience, and trust in your coaches.
If you take that leap. If you come to A3 Performance, our staff will make sure you are able to do the workout. Because you are ABLE. You will leave feeling you did enough, because you are ENOUGH to keep coming back. Lastly, you will understand that it is worth your time just like you are WORTH taking back your health.
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
Are you enjoying life with those you love most, being active and able, or are you stuck in a sedentary life, far too achy and out of shape to enjoy the life you have been blessed with? If Option A sounds better to you, (it sure sounds great to me) then put your health first and find a fitness community. You are able, you are enough, and you are worth it.