What’s your “WHY”
It’s the new year and you’ve decided that you want to get in shape. You’ve got the shoes, the bag, the membership and now you’re ready to set the world on fire. You get to the gym, hop on a treadmill and realize that you have no idea what to do next. Without a plan you will eventually burn out trying to do this on your own.
Before we start with a plan we must first decide “What are we trying to accomplish” “What’s my goal, my why”
I’ve had many conversations with clients over the years about the difference between “training” vs “exercising” Our Dr’s tell us that exercise and a balanced diet will keep us healthy for years to come. But what does that actually mean and what does that look like?
When we decide to make that step towards a healthier lifestyle we want it to last. I mean, the word lifestyle means it becomes a part of who you are as a person. We don’t ever want fitness to be a fad. Longevity is what we’re aiming for right? With that being said, what are you trying to accomplish? Lose weight, tone up, run a marathon, play a sport? To ensure we don’t burnout, I think its wise to sit with a coach, trainer, or a mentor and lay out what your looking for. For most people, they aren’t trying to win competitions, compete in any fitness sporting event or qualify for the olympics. What they want is to feel good getting out of bed, move through life with no pain, keep their blood pressure and cholesterol down and live a long life.
Coming into a new gym can be intimidating no doubt but if you have your “why” then you should already know that you’re there for you and you alone. If you’re not trying to be the best at exercising then theres no need to push past your limits and risk injury. While we want to keep the intensity high to yield the maximum results, we need to stay within our abilities. We all hit our goals at different times based off of our foundation. First and foremost we must develop a strong starting point and build from there. Where most people get hurt is trying to keep up with someone who has been at it for over a decade. This is what exercising is. Learning the basics of body mechanics and how well we move in different planes. From there you can learn how to get better and eventually stronger.
Training however is a little different in the sense that we’re working towards a specific goal. Not that you can’t have goals while exercising; you should always have goals, but your expectations and timelines are a little different. When exercising you’re not trying to meet some deadline (for the most part). You’re just trying to get and stay fit. While training we generally have a date set for a competition, a meet, an event of some sort. So your routine is somewhat different. You’re hitting different movement patterns, strength days, fast workouts, long sessions, mobility etc.
CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program that anybody can participate in and celebrate together even if our goals are different. There can and often will be multiple ability levels in every class and you’re doing the same workout. Someone competing for the open can be doing the same workout as someone just wanting to exercise and stay healthy. The beauty of our program is that no matter your “why”, there’s always a place for you here. Your “why” is more of a mindset than anything.
Show up, put in the work to the best of your ability and stay within yourself. Have fun, give some high fives, and enjoy the process. And as always, we’d love to see you soon.
Lance Miles