by Michael Plank
Coming hot on the heels of the CrossFit games where we’ve seen the best of the best of the best accomplish amazing feats, it’s super common to look at our own training and think “I need to train more!”
Is that true?
Maybe. Maybe not.
One of the coolest things about the CrossFit Games is seeing these top tier athletes do workouts that you’ve done, and dig deep like you do, and struggle and triumph just like you do. It’s awesome, and it makes the professional level of this sport way more accessible and relatable than many others. And as we’ve gotten to know these top athletes and been able to see their training, we see them doing 3, 4, or 5 workouts per day; adding Olympic lifting work and gymnastics work; doing 10 mile “recovery runs”; working out 5, 6, or 7 days per week. If that’s what they do, should you train more?
Maybe. Maybe not.
What are your goals? Do you want to be a professional CrossFit athlete? Meaning, do you want to quit your job and focus all of your efforts at being one of the 100 best athletes on the planet?
OR (and this is a lot more likely if you’re reading this post) do you just want to be healthier, happier, more confident, and able to do more stuff without sacrificing everything else in life that’s important to you (including vacations and the occasional ice cream cone)?
If that’s the case, then how much you should train will depend on your fitness level, your recovery needs, and your lifestyle. In other words, it will be different for everyone (a coach can help you figure that out – UPCF members, ask us about a goal review session!).
Here are some questions you can ask and answer yourself to figure that out…
- Do I look the way I want to look, or am I moving in that direction? (slow movement counts!)
- Do I feel the way I want to feel (especially mood, sleep, and energy), or am I moving in that direction?
- Do I perform the way I want to perform (especially with workout weights and times), or am I moving in that direction?
- When I get a blood panel done, is my doctor happy, or are things moving in the right direction?
- Am I happy with how I spend my time and energy in my life?
So here’s the one definitive answer to the question that started this post: if the answer to all those questions is “yes,” you 100% do NOT need to train more.
If the answer to any of them is “no,” then maybe you do need to add a training session, OR maybe you need to add some nutrition coaching, or rest, or sleep, or mindfulness, or therapy. Maybe you need a new job, or a financial advisor. Maybe you need to add some healthy habits.
Our mission is to use fitness and nutrition as a platform on which to build a strong community of genuine belonging, where people are welcomed and valued, held accountable with love and care, and thereby see growth in all areas of their lives. Training is the easy piece of that puzzle to look at, but it’s only part of the equation. The part that you will get the most benefit from tackling next is unique to you. And if you need help figuring it out, just let us know. That’s what we’re here for.