We're jumping back into your questions this week, covering things like training for the CrossFit Games as a teen, how to warm-up for an early-morning workout, and the advice I hear all the time that I think is bad.Find us on Social: Ben | PatrickJump to:01:50 - I feel like I've lost my mental game. I used to be able to push through anything but lately I've been super fragile and defensive. What are some ways I can fix my mental and we can train together without fear of falling...
We're jumping back into your questions this week, covering things like training for the CrossFit Games as a teen, how to warm-up for an early-morning workout, and the advice I hear all the time that I think is bad.
Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick
Jump to:
01:50 - I feel like I've lost my mental game. I used to be able to push through anything but lately I've been super fragile and defensive. What are some ways I can fix my mental and we can train together without fear of falling out?
05:20 - What is the most valuable lesson you have learned from fitness? How do you apply that lessons to your day to day life?
08:30 - What is meant by “smashing the body?” Should we avoid those workouts that leave you lying on the floor, questioning why did I do this? I personally love those I feel I learn and grow, but trying to strike a good balance.
13:15 - What is the best type of exercise the day after a cheat meal? Does one exercise or type of workout prove better than the other when it comes to working out the day after eating poorly ?
15:30 - How important is cooling down after a CrossFit workout?
17:40 - I’m 15 years old and this is the 3rd year I’ve been doing CrossFit. My goal is to go at the CrossFit Games. My gym organizes only 2 CrossFit teens classes per week and I feel frustrated because I want to improve my skills at CrossFit and I think that only 2 classes per week aren’t enough. So I started running 3 times per week, doing yoga 2 or 3 times per week and doing squat therapy everyday. I’m also using every source such as podcasts or books to learn even more about CrossFit and I’m really paying attention on my recovery, sleep and nutrition. Am I’m doing right? Is that something else that I can do to improve my CrossFit performance?
20:30 - If I want to get my morning workout in, what’s a good way to quickly get my body moving well right after waking up? I often feel stiff and like I’m just not neurologically ready for explosive movement, even after a pre-workout drink. I usually have less than an hour before I have to get to work and would like to make the most of it on those early mornings.
22:45 - I am a 17 year old CrossFit athlete that loves the sport. Obviously there are already some phenoms in this sport and I will continue to put in the work regardless but will the kids at the top now continue to be the dominating in, say, 10 years?
27:50 - You’ve mention that elite athletes are not necessarily on the same gently sloping trajectory at a distant horizon of health that other CrossFitters are on. I was hoping you could talk more about the risks of the way elites train that might not end them up at the same distant horizon.
32:00 - I have a small group class of 6-8 athletes, pretty consistently the same people. Recently there has been a change and suddenly a couple of people in the group have become quite competitive around scores, weights used, etc, and are accusing others of miscounting or are lowering their own standards around range of motion to score higher. It’s bothering a few of my more scaled members who are trying to keep their workouts to themselves. How would you advise addressing this?
37:45 - I’m a member and a coach at a gym who’s owner is absent. I mean both mentally and physically absent. Very little care in programming, very bad communication, inconsistent leadership, etc. It might seem easy to say, “Well just leave,” but I feel like this is complicated. I do not want to enable this behavior, but I’ve been at this gym for five and a half years. I feel these members need people that care about them and put in effort because it is not coming from the top. Aside from simply leaving, is there any advice for coaches in a situation where their gym owner’s effort is lacking? If this behavior was being exhibited by my boss in my professional career, I would leave. But for some reason I have a hard time cutting ties in this scenario.
40:40 - We are transitioning to 2 coaches per class and are discussing how to best split the class between the 2 coaches. How do you best split the class between 2 coaches? Do you have a senior and junior coach? Is 1 person taking the lead? Do you split the class just in half?
42:33 - To steal from Tim Ferriss, "what's the advise you hear all the time, however is garbage or not recommend. Best bad advice."
About the Show
Chasing Excellence is dedicated to dissecting what it means to live a life of excellence, inside the gym & out. New episodes every Monday.
About Ben
Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CFNE and CompTrain.
About Patrick
Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and brand coach to gym owners & entrepreneurs.
