Mel getting after “Helen” with the Rxd kettlebell at 35#.
Im tired. Im sore. Im beat up. Im also trying to run a small business. Im up at 5:30 nearly every morning and go to bed at 12 if Im lucky. Yet I still find time to workout. I fit it in between ordering new equipment, balancing the books, training other people, grocery shopping, and a million other things that fill up a day. You would think that owning and working in a CrossFit gym would make working out a cinch. You would think. I find it very challenging to get my own training in some days. Some days I dont get a chance to workout until everyone is gone for the day and the gym is empty. The energy from the group dynamic is gone, the music is on but Im not feeling the beat, and no one is there to push me on when I falter. Yet I resist the urge to pack it up early and go home for the night. Why? Because I know when its done I will be a better person for it. CrossFit is my sport. Fitness is my vehicle for self enrichment. Its also my livelihood. As busy as I believe that I am though I begin to think of those of our members that have children and husbands/wives, or are full time students, or just have other major commitments. So here is what Id like. I want to know how you guys make time for the WOD everyday? Tell me how you keep so consistent. How do you juggle the responsibilities of life with staying in incredible shape? Tell us how you make working out a priority. It will help the rest of us in our own juggle of life and health.
WOD
For time:
Row 1000 meters
Body weight Bench press, 30 reps
Row 1000 meters
Body weight Bench press, 20 reps
Row 1000 meters
Body weight Bench press, 10 reps
We GREATLY appreciate all that you do to make OCC the BEST Crossfit gym JMF! I know you’re up late each night as I typically get onto the blog about 11:30 to see what you’ve posted for the gallery and the next days WOD. You’re hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed by your friends and memebers.
See you in a week!! Happy 4th of July everyone!!!
I’ll start off! Since I’m the exact candidate that you spoke about above. I am married, have a 4 year old son, and a 6 week old baby, and a full time career. And to top it off, we live in San Juan Capistrano.
Since I met Justin in January and started CrossFit, I have gone from 16% body fat at 217 lbs down to 9% and about 200 lbs. All the while gaining muscle due to a good Zone diet and making myself workout with the WOD’s. I only get up to OCC twice a week at best, but I’ll make sure that I can get in at least 3 other WOD’s by myself at home so that I can keep pursuing my own personal goals.
I made a pull up bar with galvanized pipe in my garage, have a set of rings hanging as well. Got a good Jump rope and made a 24″ box to jump on. If I can’t make it to CrossFit, I can at least get a really good 20 minute workout like “Cindy” or others in. I want to continue excelling in my times, and getting my name all over that PR board at OCC.
My goal, as I’m almost 40 is to stay in top shape for the rest of my life. I want to always be that “Fit Dad” that is able to run and play sports with my kids, and be a great role model for them on Fitness and Nutrition. These days there is so much crap food available for kids to eat that produces fat and lazy kids. Helping them to stay active and healthy, and leading by example will benefit my entire family.
Keep up the good work everyone!
Ron A.
JMf, thank you for all you do for OCC, we have no idea of all the sweat and planning you do to make the box so succesful, but we appreciate all of your labor.
I am not an authority, but I will try an answer your questions. I treat my workouts as a fundamental part of my day. I eat, sleep, brush my teeth ….workout! I have learned to be a better editor of what I do each day and I make sure I do crossfit otherwise I will feel like a missed a meal – and Justin knows I like my food! Plan your day when you wake up, we all have responsibilities, and visualize what needs to be done and then execute it. Sure unexpected things come up and you juggle them, but stay focused and keep the goal in sight!
To answer your question JMF… Crossfit is part of my life and daily routine, I leave for work in the morning with my gym bag packed, I head straight over after work. I get as much enjoyment out of working out at OCC as I do hanging with my best of friends. We make time for things that are important in our lives and crossfit is extremely important to me.
As many of you know I travel quite a bit and I always research Crossfit Affiliate gyms in areas that I travel to, I do this in advance, contact the gym and see if I can “drop in” when I am in town. Every crossfit gym I have gone to has welcomed visitors with open arms.
Crossfit is a way of life for me! I LOVE IT!!!
I missed Monday (I have been on Mon-Wed-Fri schedule) and felt like shit all day Tuesday so I headed in for the night session, and when I was flipping that gigantic tire out back I realized how important this routine has become for me to relieve stress. The discipline in doing something that is painful is carrying over to the rest of my work and the elimination of a fair amount of my double chin is also encouraging haha. So, to answer your question, it has become very easy to do it simply because I need and want to continue to improve my fitness. In order to get your workout in, just keep challenging Zac to duels during/right after the evening class and we can all place bets and turn it into our own version of Michael Vick’s dogfights!
Justin: You pose some thoughtful questions, to which it is difficult to find simple answers. That said, at the core is that thing that drives us, is what we each hope to find… our passion. Passion and commitment is what makes us put our feet on the cold floor at 5:30 in the morning and go do it all over again. It’s what makes us tick [at least some of us].
There is not one of us who knows you even just a little bit who would not say, you oooze passion, commitment, motivation and skill in your craft, and are a terrific inspiration. Without you, not just any trainer, you – OCC would be just another retangular room with rubber mats, monkey bars and lots of heavy objects to play with. You make this place tick my friend and there is noone here who doesn’t know it. Your effort is easy for all to see.
Running a small business is hard, energy sapping and challenging, but with clever problem solving, many of the routine things like balancing the books, ordering equipment and buying groceries can be overcome…….. but without passion and drive, it will never happen and is destined to eventually fail.
I am a better person for having jumped on board when you opened in March. You see me 5 days most weeks, because I have made my choice to put other things aside to be with you and my new found pals…… and after all, your fees are a lot lower than a good therapist and your services much more effective.
I am a lousy accountant but call me if you need someone to shop at TJ’s…. paleo of course!
First off, JMF, your dedication, passion and hard work is admirable. I appreciate every day I get to work out and finish a WOD at OCC. So thank you very much.
Next, your question! I don’t have a full time job, I am not a full time student since its summer, but I DO have a lot that keeps me busy. I have a full plate of chores, errands, parents to please, and odd jobs throughout the week. It is not easy making everything fit together, but like Mel Mel said, we make time in our lives for what matters to us. Crossfit has become a top priority for me in the past couple of months because I decided I want the best for my health. I want to be as fit as I can be. I care. Because I have decided to make going to OCC a daily routine, I justplan ahead. I make sure I can go at least once sometime during the day and I make an effort to show up. The atmosphere is so wonderful and welcoming, I hate being away!
JMF as I said in my blog post you truly lead by example. A trainer, a motivator and a masochist; you get the point. I have worked out most of my life mostly for the stress relief it provides and the feeling of completing something that was not easy. Since I walked into Crossfit and completed the first WOD I knew this was something completely different. That first day Crossfit became a priority and I was hooked. There is much more a sense of accomplishment than just doing the same “gym rat€ workout day after day. The camaraderie, spirit and energy is far and away better than any other type of workout I have ever done. So the day is something like this wake up, eat, work, eat, eat, power nap, eat, Crosssfit, eat, crash. Keep up the good work!