I think it is important to define yourself in fitness. That way all of the insecurities that roam around your brain and make you do, or not do, certain things will not exist.
Ok, I’ll go first.
My name is Jerred. I like CrossFit with a lot of strength training. I like to wear low top Chuck Taylor Converse shoes when I lift, and yes, I will wear them without socks. I am also not afraid to wear vibram five fingers of any style. I will make loud noises if something is heavy, but not all the time. I hate how some crossfitters look at strength training as a novelty. I will drop weight from above my head if
I feel unsafe. Loud rock music pisses me off when I am doing a metcon. I like rap loud and hardcore before a heavy lift. Classical music during a metcon is not unheard of, but also not common. I am not the fastest runner, but I am probably faster than you. Likewise with strength. I can sprint faster than a lot of people. I can jump higher than any 5’11” white guy should be able to. I apply intelligence to lifting and like to use percentages, formulas, spreadsheets, and any other form of measure or metric. I believe that if a workout wasn’t logged, it didn’t happen. I believe in fish oil and paleo, but I lack discipline in the latter. I could workout at a medium intensity for 5 hours straight, but at high intensity, a 20 min AMRAP will kick my ass. I will wear a beanie indoors if I feel like it. I respect all forms of fitness and do not think what I do is better than what you do, simply different. I don’t quit workouts and I don’t work out with those who do. I like a weight belt on heavy lifts, but don’t always wear one. I think the less equipment you have the better. I think CrossFit is becoming trendy, and that pisses me off. I blog about fitness and I log my fitness. I listen to an old Bose radio plugged into my phone with Pandora rocking. I use a whiteboard to write out my workouts. I know what my workout will be today, tomorrow, and in 6 weeks. I am very quiet and rarely smile before, during or after a workout. Some will mistake this for cockiness, shyness, or attribute it to the fact that I am pissed off. None of those would be correct. I worked my ass off for many years and forced my body from ectomporh to mesomorph. I use rock climbing chalk to lift because it is better than crappy lifting chalk. I have a sub 3 min Fran time. I love CrossFit and some days I hate it, and I am not even talking about the workouts. I like to do handstands. I love being flexible. I think fitness is a lifestyle and journey and that it is not easily, if ever, mastered. I have an internal debate on whether or not CrossFit can actually claim fittest on the planet, but I still absolutely love the CrossFit Games. I don’t like any rep scheme above 25 for the sake of my connective tissue, but I will still do Murph tomorrow if I feel like it. I wish I was faster, stronger, and better at CrossFit. I learn quickly. I am self taught and can teach very well. I don’t like complaining. I fault myself for poor workout performance and do not blame it on other factors. I will start my watch for a CrossFit metcon then start the workout 10 seconds later, because I don’t care what you think about my time. I don’t like to take workout supplements but have taken a lot of them in the past. I think CrossFit is making Olympic lifting socially acceptable for weak people, which is not a bad thing at all. I will read textbooks on physiology and fitness for fun. I think people have a terrible view of fitness (a check mark in day to day life). I love fitness and will be fit for as long as I am able. I don’t care if you like me or hate me, and to quote Jim Wendler, “You want science and studies? F#!& you, I’ve got scars and blood and vomit”. I guess I’ll stop there for now. Till next time, maybe I can actually tell you WHO I am.
Your turn.