Change from Within

We always try to fill a void with worldly possessions or unhealthy activities. What do you do on a daily basis? Do you find yourself wanting more and more and never satisfied? Do you eat to comfort yourself? Do you exercise beyond what is healthy? There is balance in everything!

Have you stopped and looked in the mirror? I mean, really sat down, and thought about who You are? Do you like what you see? What is your anchor, that keeps you grounded?

Ok, well I have been doing some soul searching...

I had recently questioned if what I was doing for a living was fulfilling. And if it was what God had planned for me. But, thank God, He helped me figure it out! I, along with the talented group of individuals I work with, influence many people's lives through CrossFit. We help them build a stronger temple, give them confidence, face fears, and build relationships. We help them make positive changes in their lives!

"Man In The Mirror"

I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

As I, Turn Up The Collar On My
Favourite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See
Their Needs
A Summer's Disregard,
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul
They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere
To Go
That's Why I Want You To
Know

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change)
(Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah)

I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish
Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not
Alone?

A Willow Deeply Scarred,
Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
(Washed-Out Dream)
They Follow The Pattern Of
The Wind, Ya' See
Cause They Got No Place
To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With
Me
(Starting With Me!)

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Ooh!)
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change)

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm Asking Him To Change His
Ways
(Change His Ways-Ooh!)
And No Message Could've
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make That . . .
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make That . . .)
Change!

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror,
(Man In The Mirror-Oh
Yeah!)
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Better Change!)
No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make The Change)
(You Gotta Get It Right, While
You Got The Time)
('Cause When You Close Your
Heart)
You Can't Close Your . . .Your
Mind!
(Then You Close Your . . .
Mind!)
That Man, That Man, That
Man, That Man
With That Man In The Mirror
(Man In The Mirror, Oh Yeah!)
That Man, That Man, That Man
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Better Change!)
You Know . . .That Man
No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah
(Oh Yeah!)
Gonna Feel Real Good Now!
Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah!
Yeah Yeah!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah
(Ooooh . . .)
Oh No, No No . . .
I'm Gonna Make A Change
It's Gonna Feel Real Good!
Come On!
(Change . . .)
Just Lift Yourself
You Know
You've Got To Stop It.
Yourself!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
I've Got To Make That Change,
Today!
Hoo!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Got To
You Got To Not Let Yourself . . .
Brother . . .
Hoo!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
You Know-I've Got To Get
That Man, That Man . . .
(Man In The Mirror)
You've Got To
You've Got To Move! Come
On! Come On!
You Got To . . .
Stand Up! Stand Up!
Stand Up!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Stand Up And Lift
Yourself, Now!
(Man In The Mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Aaow!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Gonna Make That Change . . .
Come On!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know . . .
(Change . . .)
Make That Change.

Community and Performance Based??

So anyone who knows anything about CrossFit, knows that it is performance and community based... Or is it?

Lets not jump to any conclusions yet! I love CrossFit and stand behind its results and community aspect. But does the community stop at just the performance level, just helping people finish the workout they came to do and then leave them on their own? No group warm up? No group post workout stretch?

The people who have come to drop in from other "boxes" (gyms) have said relatively, the same thing, "I really like how y'all get in a circle and warmup and stretch." Or "Man! Y'alls warm up is a lot longer than ours!" And they even attempt to start warming up on their own and would probably just leave if we didn't have a mandatory stretching session at the end of every class... This blows my mind! These things are being said from people at respectable crossfit gyms. Do they not implement it as part of their program? Or do they just tell people to stretch after their workout and leave it at that? Because from my experience, most people half ass stretch when its left up to themselves. And in doing so, increases the risk of injury!

Ok, So I realize that this may not be all crossfit "boxes" but our classes begin with a warm up, consisting of joint mobility, dynamic stretching, and then a couple rounds of movements which will prepare the body for the actual WOD. All that will last from 15-20 minutes. Then we start our WOD. After the workout is completed, everyone then circles up and proceeds to participate in a coach led stretching progression.

We, at Westlake CrossFit, believe the community of CrossFit should not stop at just encouraging someone through a tough workout! We should warm up, stretch, and teach them why we do it and why it is important! It should be an integral part of every gym, and even every trainer/coach personal sessions!

The Power of an Enriched Environment | Mark's Daily Apple

I for one have been doing this to myself recently (referring to the link below). Bogging down, not taking enough time to "smell the roses" as it were.... I need something new, challenging, and invigorating!! If you have any ideas please feel free to approach me or drop me a line. Let me know if there is something you have been wanting to do but have just been putting it off. Maybe the we can be challenged together, grow individually together! Hope everyone is having a GREAT day!!

The Power of an Enriched Environment | Mark's Daily Apple

Here Comes Crossfit!!

Just thought people should know where CrossFit is going... Its good to hear these words from very well respected CrossFit athletes!!

Change it up!!

So, I know changing your ways is tough and sometimes it seems you are always setup to fail. And when you are doing well, not "cheating", the food seems boring, tasteless, and monotonous... Well here is a cook book from marksdailyapple.com. No, I have not read it, but I do know how it can be tough on your own and running out of ideas for something different, outside of meat, veggies, and "good" fat. So if your biggest problem is monotony, then this book should and would help change that. The author is full of knowledge and the recipes are from around the world, collected in one book!! Give it a try! What do you have to lose?

Get Back On Track!!

Well, it has been awhile since I have had the luxury to sit and write a blog post. To the few followers that I had, I apologize. I hope this will make up for the lost time.....

So tomorrow, on July 12th, it will be day number 192 of 365, week 28 of 52. A little over half way through the year. Yes, half way!! It has flown by!! Now think back to the New Year........

What did you have planned out for this year? What goals had you set for yourself? What habits were you going to kick? Through the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, we sometimes become side tracked and lose focus of what we needed/wanted to do. Well, here is your reminder, your kick in the butt!! Wipe the dust off those to do lists, put back in motion your goals, get your priorities back in order! I myself am refocusing and turning a new leaf, turning the page, and whatever other cliche you can think of. I have began this refocusing with the deletion of my Facebook page!! It was tough but I know it will be worth it. I want to also read much more, learn something, become a better person and coach. So if you see me, ask what I am reading. Ask, what am I doing on my free time. Keep me honest! PLEASE!!....

Now, what are you going to do to refocus, to get back on the the track you wanted to be on?

OUTDOOR TRAINING GROUP!!

Hey people I wanted to inform everyone that I will be starting a couple of outdoor training groups (bootcamps) the beginning of June. It will be held up north off of Anderson Mill at Springwoods Park. So grab a friend or two and come join me. Monday-Wednesday-Friday at 10:45am and Tuesday-Thursday 6:30am. Email me for further questions. And it would be greatly appreciated if you could spread the word if you have friends in that area.