by Michael Plank
These days, when I demonstrate a movement, or talk about fitness tips, or health, or wellness, in general, sometimes people say some version of “easy for you to say – you can probably eat whatever you want and never gain a pound.” Or “you’re probably just naturally good at this.” Or (saracastically) “easy as that, huh?”
Here’s the deal: I wasn’t always a fitness professional.
Fifteen years ago, I was several years into gaining 5-10 pounds per year, which I convinced myself was muscle, even though I kept having to buy pants with bigger waist sizes, getting new belts, and had to get emergency tailoring two days before our wedding on the shirt I planned to wear so that I didn’t pop a button at the ceremony (that’s a true story). I had sleep apnea and terribly high cholesterol. And when I saw myself in pictures I was shocked at how much bigger I looked than what I expected.
That train I was on was going one direction, and it wasn’t toward health. At my peak, I was 50 pounds over where I am today. I’d tried the diets in magazines (fifteen years ago, remember), I’d tried all the workouts I could find in Men’s Health magazine, and it was sheer luck that I ended up sitting next to a guy in a class who started talking about this thing called CrossFit that he did at the University of Chicago gym, where I had a neighborhood membership.
That changed my life.
I learned about nutrition that works. I learned about accountability. I learned about exercise programs that get results. And before I set out to coach or open a business or work with other people, I completely changed myself. I look (and am) far healthier now at 41 than I was at 26.
And here’s why I say all of this: because most people who start with us have a story like mine. They’ve tried everything. They’re not happy with how they look and feel. They maybe have some health problems. They don’t know how to get results.
I can help with that. Our gym can help with that. All of us on staff have been there. We’ve all struggled. We’ve all learned. We’ve all grown. And we’ve all found what works for us, and – even better – we’ve found out what works for a bunch of other people too.
You don’t have to go through this stuff alone. If you’re struggling, just reach out HERE and we can help you move the needle in a big way.