Sunday Story…Compete

We all do it on some level. Even when we say we don’t, we do. You might be subtle about it or you might deny that you have the “competition gene” but you do.

As humans we are programmed for competition. But the further we move away from our primitive heritage the less appealing competition is to our sensibilities. Cooperation seems better suited to our modern world.

Yet we pay athletes obscene amounts of money to compete. We sit for hours watching other people compete at games we played as children. We create games our children play that mimic the games we watch other people play. Competition is in our blood.

I compete to be better. I compete to prove to myself I am better. Not better than the next person or the other competitors but better than I was a moment ago. Competing feeds my life force. Competing affirms that I am vital and alive.

Don’t misunderstand me. If I am in a contest I want to win. I like winning. But I don’t compete to win. I compete to improve, to affirm my human-ness, to know I am better.

I compete for myself. If it is a contest between us I want to win. But when it is over I will also win if I am better. Competing is a no lose proposition.

Be better. Compete.

John Mariotti
www.crossfit-odyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
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Sunday Story…Stress

Food, Rest & recovery, and Exercise are all components of a healthy lifestyle. There is another, however, that may be more important. Stress is the piece that will kill your efforts in every other area.

Stress occurs when our body thinks it is in danger. It is an ancient, primordial reaction to real or perceived threats to life and limb. Tens of thousands of years ago stress kept us alive through predator attacks, starvation, and other real dangers. In our modern world stress comes from other places and much of it is self induced. We can’t do much about real world stress from outside forces other than learning to stay calm and breathe through it. But things like traffic, finances, or relationship stress can be managed. Your body does not differentiate real stress from perceived stress. In other words your body is going to react the same way whether you are being chased by a bear or you get mad at the talking head on TV.

Some people manage by looking at the worst case scenario. What is the worst that could happen…this is a strategy I don’t recommend, personally…since the worst that could happen could be pretty bad and just give you more to worry about. I have never found it to be especially useful but some do. There is no right way to manage stress but there are some things that are not good…drugs, alcohol, and eating all come to mind. All of these things actually create even more stress in your body. This is an evil circle that will take you down the drain.

Manage stress through breathing, meditation, soothing music, exercise (endorphins) spending relaxing time with loved ones (endorphins again). A large part of this management process has to do with understanding that there is no “normal”, no perfect. These are all constructs we create designed to have us feel even worse about our performance or general being. Let it go. Worrying is a useless activity. If you can change it, change it. If you can’t change it don’t worry about it. I can’t change the traffic. I can’t change my arrival time. I can change how I feel about the traffic. Change that and relieve the stress you are putting on yourself.

So…relax, breath, and smile. You are in charge of your attitude. So take charge.

Breathing,

John Mariotti
www.crossfit-odyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
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Sunday Story…Food (again!)

If you come to me and want to talk about nutrition the first thing I am going to ask you to do is to give me a 3-5 day food log. I can’t give you any valid feedback on what you should be eating if I don’t know what you are eating. Anything I might say will be based on general guidelines designed to elicit a response in a large population.

So…if you want that general advice…eat meat and vegetables, starchy tubers in moderation, a little fruit, some seeds and nuts, healthy fats all in quantities that will support activity but not store fat. Avoid sugar, alcohol, and dairy. Don’t eat processed food. If you don’t know how it was produced don’t eat it. If you must eat out do it in an establishment that prepares food in a healthful manner using quality ingredients. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store, not the inside aisles. Learn to cook and use Tupperware!

It’s been a while since I logged my food though, primarily because it’s kind of a pain in the neck. But I want to dial in my nutrition better to perform better so a couple weeks ago I started a food diary.

I started logging my food in My Fitness Pal. It’s on the computer and my phone. It has a way to add recipes I use at home and lots of restaurants have their menus posted on there. You can find me there under my name…Johnmariotti (no space). If you join me you can look at my diet and we can talk about it. And if you post your food I will look at it and make very specific suggestions. I know that when I log my food I often think twice before I eat something questionable.

We can also have our resident expert Whitney Reichlin start following you and she can help you as well.

80% of your results in the gym are found in the kitchen. If you aren’t eating right all your hard work under the weights and running your tail off will be akin to running uphill in a snowstorm…you might get to the top of the hill but it won’t be easy or fun!

Get on My Fitness Pal. It’s free. It’s pretty easy. And we can have a meaningful discussion about what you are eating based on facts and information…not the vague comment like “I eat pretty clean.” Really? Compared to whom? The guy in “Super Size Me”?

See you there!

John Mariotti
www.crossfit-odyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
Follow me on Facebook and My Fitness Pal!

Sunday Story…Ohana

When you walk in my door you become family. When I say that I mean I become invested in you, your success both here in the gym and in life. When you aren’t here it shows up as a missing in my life.

Over the last few years I have watched people come and go. I have seen friendships forged and bonds created. I have had strangers become family. I have the good fortune of getting to do this in an environment I love. My work is my home, my home is my work. It isn’t a job. It’s my life.

I have seen people transform their lives not unlike a caterpillar to a butterfly. I have had the privilege to be the catalyst for that metamorphosis. I get to be the cheerleader and the shoulder to cry on, the firm disciplinarian, and the loving parent. It is an honor and gift to participate in your process.

I miss you when you aren’t here. I worry about you. You are never far from my thoughts. You may think you are just another warm body in the gym but you aren’t…you are part of the fabric of my life…even those of you who just now joined us.

I celebrate each and every one of you. I revel in your struggle, jump with joy for every PR, for every victory no matter how small, and look forward each day to discovering a little bit more about you and your life.

Thanks for being family!

John Mariotti
www.crossfit-odyssey.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
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