I Get What You’re Saying, But Can We Find a Different Way?

At social events I’m always tempted to lie about what I do. Something that doesn’t have a ton of follow-up. I’m thinking Marine Ophthalmologist or something along those lines. Something without a ton of follow-up conversation. Don’t get me wrong – I LOVE talking about the intricacies of fitness, behavior change, strength, and conditioning. I started a podcast so I could jibber-jabber even more.

What’s really been bothering me lately is peoples’ reaction to finding out I work in fitness. More specifically, their almost-instantaneously descent into negative self-talk upon learning what I do. What’s worse is that there’s no amount of convincing that pulls people off that ledge of negativity and self-destruction. Here are some of the more recent “conversation starters”

  • I’m way too fat to work out.
  • I tried working out once but…
  • I’m too old for that.
  • I’m sooo busy.
  • My knees hurt.
  • I like chocolate WAAAAY too much.
  • I’d be the slowest one in the room.

Ugh. What a buzzkill. But, I’ve been thinking about these conversations a lot lately. What’s really beneath all that negativity. What are you really saying? 

A good friend, member of the gym, and physician really opened my eyes to what’s beneath these negative statements. Her approach to her patients losing weight is one of the best I’ve witnessed. Instead of lecturing and giving orders, she asks (I’m sure I’m butchering this): “How is smoking/gaining weight/drinking/whatever serving you?”

I love this approach because it is non-judgemental and helps people reach their own conclusions. After thinking about this question, I finally realized why people react to working out with such weird negative self-talk. When they say “I’m too old” they don’t really mean they’re too old. Hell, I saw a 74 year old woman do an unassisted strict pull-up yesterday. So what are we really saying?

I’m not ready to change.

AND THAT’S COMPLETELY OK. There are so many things I’m not ready to do – and it’s completely fine that I’m not ready to do them. Would you ever recommend that someone have kids when they feel they’re not ready to do so? Of course not! While not as life-changing as parenthood, adopting healthy habits is nothing short of fully pervasive.

So my plea is that we change our language to be a little less self-hating. Stop speaking such negativity about yourself and be honest – you’re not ready to change certain parts of your life. That’s OK. It doesn’t mean that you won’t be ready someday but, in the meantime, be kind to yourself.

 

Ep 49 | Is Organic all that Great | Tonos Radio

This week on the show we examine organic food and produce. We ask questions like: Is organic more nutritious? Is organic safer? Does organic taste better? The answers, as you might assume, aren’t so simple. In addition to organic, we chat about meat sweats, finding the right trainer, and former athletes re-starting a workout routine. Thanks for listening, subscribing, and sharing with a friend!

The Hill: May Newsletter

Announcements

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

Friday, May 26th – No 5:30pm class

Friday, May 26th – Pre-Murph Potluck 5:00 – 7:00pm

  • We’ll have the grill going and do a brief on Murph options
  • BYOeverything – drinks, food to share, and meat to throw on the grill
  • Friends, Family, Kids welcome. No dogs please.

Saturday, May 27th – Memorial Day Murph 10:00am

Monday, May 29th – Closed for Memorial Day

 

TWO NEW SPECIALTY COURSES:

Buns N’ Guns-
Starting May 31st and running Mondays & Wednesdays, this is a glute and toning focused lifting class for ladies only geared toward hypertrophy training.

Swole Patrole-
Starting May 30th and running Tuesdays & Fridays, this is an hour-long bro sesh with plenty of bench press, curls, and heavy lifting.

These classes are going to be LIT… reserve your spot today!

 

FREE NUTRITION SEMINAR:

Saturday, May 20th–
Learn how to use food for performance, improved body composition, and feeling better. Register today for this free, fun, and informative class!
 

 

May’s Featured Athlete

Kimiko Gilmore

CrossFit makes me feel powerful. I have a better understanding of what I am capable of and I don’t say, “I can’t” any more I say, “I can’t YET!”

Assistant City Manager, lover of deadlifts, and eater of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, meet this month’s Featured Athlete!

GET TO KNOW KIMIKO >
 

 

From the Coach’s Corner

Tonos Radio: Ep 43 | Standing Desks, Stretching Disputes, and Hormones

Who should use a standing desk and is stretching helpful?  [Subscribe on iTunes]

HAVE A LISTEN >

 

I Don’t Care About Your Goals

“I don’t care about your goals because achieving your goals will not make you happy. What will make you happy?…”

          CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE >

May Featured Athlete: Kimiko Gilmore

Assistant City Manager, lover of deadlifts, and eater of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, meet this month’s Featured Athlete!

 

 

 

 

1. What’s your athletic background?

I never considered myself an athlete.  When I was in junior high school I played basketball and softball.  In high school I ran track one year.  I was not a stand out performer.  Looking back I know that I could have been decent but I wasn’t encouraged.  The coaches really didn’t “coach.”  They had one goal and that was to win.  If you weren’t a natural high caliber athlete they didn’t spend much time on you.

 

2. What was your first experience with CF?

My BFFs started going to River Market CrossFit and convinced me that I should try it out.  I went to the free class and even though I thought I would die…I was hooked.

 

3. When did you start CF?

I started doing CrossFit in January 2013.

 

4. Why did you choose CrossFit Memorial Hill?

After River Market closed I started going to Do Work which was 5 minutes from my house.  When I moved to midtown I had to find a new box.  There were a lot of choices but Memorial Hill had a great reputation and several of the RM folks were there and I knew if they were happy I would be happy!  And I am! I love the coaches, the facility and the community!

 

5. What keeps you coming back?

The coaching.  It is consistent and that is important to me.  You can tell that there is some thought put into the programming from introduction to cool down.  The coaches pay attention to the ALL of the athletes at ALL times.  You help us make adjustments and you stick with us until we get it.  I appreciate professionalism and business sense that is demonstrated each and every day I’m there.

 

6. Why do you live in KC?

I have lived in KC since my father was transferred here when he worked for TWA.  We were originally from New York, moved to St. Louis and then KC was the last stop.  I HATED Kansas City for a long time but now I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

 

7. What do you like about KC?

This is a great time to live in Kansas City, Missouri!!!!! I work for the city as Assistant City Manager and it has been an honor to be a part of the growth that has occurred over the last 10 years. Downtown, Crossroads, streetcar, Google Fiber, small businesses, arts and culture, and so much more! Kansas City, Missouri is on the move and we have only just begun!!!!!

 

8. What are one or two improvements you have seen in your life since starting CF?

CrossFit makes me feel powerful. I have a better understanding of what I am capable of and I don’t say, “I can’t” any more I say, “I can’t YET!”

 

9. What are your goals for 2017?

CONSISTENCY!!!!! That has been my big obstacle. Work, life, there’s always something.  I know that I won’t be able to reach any other goal without that.  Beyond consistency I would LOVE to learn how to do double-unders, pull ups and rope climbs.

 

10. What would you say to someone thinking about starting CF?

DO IT!!!! DO IT NOW!!! When people tell me that they COULD NEVER do CrossFit I get on my soapbox and proceed to tell them why they could and should. I don’t know how many I have convinced but if I can get just one person to try it I have done my job!

 

11. What’s your favorite & least favorite CF movement?

Deadlifts are my favorite!!!!!! Besides the obvious… burpees, my least favorite is anything that I can’t do YET!

 

12. What’s your favorite cheat meal?

Any gourmet grilled cheese sandwich, a mojito and an apple walnut cobbler from Houston’s.

 

13. Anything else you would like to share with The Hill family?

I want to thank you for welcoming me to The Hill. I can say that this is the best CrossFit experience that I have had and I am grateful that I found you.