It's funny how encounters occur. I have never really gotten to know but a few of my fellow CrossFit brethren. I know of a lot of them but to actually know someone like I know the members of my gym, I can't say I've done my best to make the effort to be approachable as a person and athlete. I am a good guy and I love being around people but I just have this thing about me. This front that screams standoffish. I am a humble guy who believes in effort and desire, who bleeds passion. I want people to want things like I want things. If it is there for the taking and If I want it, I will take it. That is who I am. At the same time, that is not an attitude of laid back and an easy to talk to guy.
I've lost members of my gym because of this. I have current friends that I don't talk to as often as I'd like because of this. I'm a hard head. The one outlet that allows me to be different is technology. It's funny because it is true that technology has rid our society of face to face communication but I have never really been that good at it anyways and with texting, emailing, tweeting, and facebooking, I have created an alter ego of sorts. It has allowed me to really open up and let people know who I am. I would even venture to say that people probably like my alter ego than the real me which is ironic because that is the real me.
In any sense, this has made it tough for me to portray who I really am to those in my sport. It is a work in progress though and something that I continue to battle with on an everyday basis. I will be an unstoppable force if I could ever become that approachable, easy to talk to coach/athlete. It will happen but it isn't easy for me.
This has crossed over into many other aspects of my life as well. I am a strong, focused coach but I know I can be better. I am a well educated, experienced nutritionists (not in the traditional sense) but I know I can be better. I am limited in my ability because of my need to be a better people person. I need to open up more like I do through technology.
What has worked for me, are my accomplishments as an athlete and coach. These things have opened up doors for me. I am heard of in the CrossFit world because of my athletes and a bit of because my performance on the big stage. I have met people who are tremendous in both their business savvy and sporting accomplishments. The CrossFit community is without a doubt one of the best in all of competitive endeavors. I love the world community. It is what drives me to make CrossFit Omaha one of the best around. To give this middle of the country state an opportunity to shine with the big boys of both coasts and the south.
One of those people that I have not had the pleasure of meeting in person but because of technology, we have met nonetheless is Web Smith. Web is part of the CrossFit Central crew and competed on their affiliate team and his wife, Lindsey Smith, is the 12th fittest woman on the planet. A pretty fit couple If I say so myself. Web is also associated with SICFIT.com. SICFIT is a media outlet that covers all things fitness. It really is a cool idea and their website is just that, SIC.
I met Web through Twitter but now I wish I would have met him in Carson but luckily there is always next year. Through meeting Web, I have come across his many blogs and a wealth of information. This is great because I am always looking to educate myself and my clients or at least help them to understand what our gym stands for and how to help them teach their families and friends of what our gym, their gym, is all about.
When it comes to Paleo, I always hear my clients talk about how it is difficult to explain fully how we eat and why we do it. Or how to explain to everyone why we eat so much fat and meat and that we shy away from grains and dairy. The outside world thinks its dangerous. That its heart clogging, etc. In them believing that, we ourselves can become confrontational and even seem to hurt the cause rather than help people to understand the benefits of a primal diet.
Well, Web Smith wrote on this very topic and as I was reading it, I saw a lot of myself and the things I do when it comes to Paleo eating. I can almost see myself becoming someone that I wholeheartedly make fun of. I learned something from this article and because of that, I am posting it here for you to read. It is a very good article and I think you will learn how to follow the diet with more common sense and help support the cause rather than support its demise. You are the walking billboard for Paleo/Primal.
Primal Eating, Modern Perspective, by Web Smith - CrossFitChron.com
Read it and post your thoughts to comments. Let me know what you think.
Thanks Web for a great article and I look forward to meeting you and your family in the very near future.
3 comments:
Great article. Just started reading Web's blog after I saw your tweets back and forth with him. Love his writing style - really introspective and honest.
He makes some excellent points - I find it hard to explain Paleo eating without people thinking I'm being dismissive or judgmental about other 'diets.' (me, judgmental! I'm as surprised as you are...) I'm getting better at it, and I notice people being more receptive to what I'm saying.. especially those who have noticed the benefits I've gotten from it.
Now that Games 'season' is over, I'm also trying to find that balance between making consistent good choices while still enjoying myself in social situations. It's always a slippery slope for me - it's not super-difficult for me to stay strict, but once I loosen up it's hard to not go overboard - especially now that the pressure of performing well is put on hold for a while.
I remember when Jon first put a bug in my ear about the Paleo diet at my initial consultation. I thought it sounded crazy an unsustainable. Now, 8 weeks later of "living the lifestyle"...or fairly close to it, I'm a convert. I notice the days I eat poorly, which motivates me to make better choices in the future. My husband and I have more energy and are reaping the physical benefits. That being said, it is helpful to have colleagues also following the Paleo plan and we keep each other motivated. We try not to be a Paleo-clique in the office, but when Web mentioned calculating other people's non-paleo plates it brought it resonated with me.
** P.S. I like your intense personality....I find your passion to be contagious and motivating. It pushes me to want to do better and to want more for myself
Wow,
Ricky I am honored, my friend. Thanks so much for the shout out and please know that I have known about you for a long time. Jeremy has been talking you up since I've known him. I will do everything I can with SICFIT to raise the profile of an affiliate that obviously produces BEASTS!
You're a good man for admitting your faults in a public forum. I know how difficult that is. I look forward to meeting you in the near future and getting this party started. This is only the beginning.
Web
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