Week 1 Update – Monterey Chiropractor does CrossFit
Week 1 down and 5 months/3 weeks to go on my pursuit to define for myself what it means to be truly “FIT”. The week consisted of workouts that took me to full exhaustion each day. To be honest, my goal of 5 days/week of CrossFit for 6 months may be pretty lofty. There are workouts that are so intense that I may have to break from that regimen for recovery. That really is the whole idea though…Force the body to break it’s barriers, let it recover and grow to new levels. We’ll see how this body of mine holds up.
Why CrossFit?
Well, it may be common sense because it is quite apparent when you just take a quick look at our sedentary society, but few people adopt a fitness routine that comes anywhere near the diversity and intensity that CrossFit produces. They get slower, fatter, lazier with every year that passes. A once prolific athlete just a few years removed from competition now gets sore and tired from playing catch with his son in the backyard or considers 20 minutes on the treadmill an accomplishment of greatness and challenge.
In the given week of CrossFit programming your body and mind will be challenged to grow in Power, Speed, Stamina, Endurance, Strength, Balance, Flexibility, among others. I love this. I want to be able to accomplish tasks in my life that require any or all of those I just described.
I hear it week after week with patients in our office. Typically it comes after we’ve reduced or removed their lower back pain or headaches. When I ask a patient what they do for exercise, so often patients/people defend what they choose to do and almost try to prove to me why it’s right for them or why they like it. For example, “Dr. Gaily, I go to the gym 3-5 times a week…I workout with a personal trainer…I do pilates, yoga, etc.” is a common retort I hear. This is rarely coming from someone that has just a few pounds to drop, but typically from someone that is well over 50 pounds above where they should be. I typically ask what routine they are following and it’s typically a litany of the usual “I do cardio on the elliptical, use the weight machines, take a yoga class sometimes, etc.” Is it working??? I think it is easy to gather what the correct answer is to that question.
I just had a birthday the other day. I won’t say how old haha, I’m gonna keep you all guessing! As we age our “fast twitch” muscle fibers are converted to “slow twitch” (endurance like) muscle fibers. This happens naturally in all of us, but happens that much more rapidly if all you do is either sit around or do the same treadmill/elliptical workout day in and day out. CrossFit challenges your body in so many different directions that your anatomy and physiology are forced to “stay awake” and adapt. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be slow, achy, lazy, overweight. More importantly I don’t want to be someone that makes excuses. Nothing is gained without change, challenge, or risk.
This Monterey Chiropractor is likin’ this CrossFit thing so far. More importantly I think I’m going to like the results I will see in my life due to this new experience.
It is my goal to inspire my readers and patients to question themselves, question their choices, and challenge themselves. If you feel like I just pointed a finger at you in this post…well GOOD! It’s only because I care. The people I consider mentors and my good friends, challenge me to be a better person. Sometimes it is simply their example or their actions, and sometimes it’s their words. Either way I am thankful I have had people in my life question my thoughts and goals and challenge me to be better.
Please call our office at 831-657-0191 if you would like to determine how we may be able to help you be better in life. Low back pain, migraines, sciatica are all just obstacles that need to be challenged in order to overcome them. Don’t keep covering it up! Chiropractic, exercise, massage, nutrition are great tools to naturally overcome those obstacles. Thanks for reading. Would love to hear your comments so post below.
Your Monterey Chiropractor – Watching Your Back,
Dr. Aaron Gaily, D.C.
www.chiropractorsmonterey.com
Dr G,
You are truly inspirational to me in many ways. You came into my life in a time when I suffered from lower back pain. Thanks to you constant marketing I saw you add for a full work up and came to see you. You have changed my life by removing my pain and convinced me to do the P-90 X and get me back in shape. Since then I lost weight got stronger and now run 4 to 5 miles 3 times a week. I am going to look into this crossfit routine it sounds like something I would enjoy.
Thanks for all you have done for me Dr G
Scott
Scott,
Well, thank you for the pat on the back my man, but it takes some real personal integrity to be inspired and then act on it. You guys are doing it! It’s a journey, but I’d say you guys are on the right path. Thanks for the post.
Dr. G