Performance vs. The Scale

I always encourage my athletes to chase PERFORMANCE in CrossFit and all areas of their life. When you do that, things like the scale will work themselves out. Obviously your health numbers like weight, body-fat, blood pressure, etc. matter and they…

I always encourage my athletes to chase PERFORMANCE in CrossFit and all areas of their life. When you do that, things like the scale will work themselves out. Obviously your health numbers like weight, body-fat, blood pressure, etc. matter and they are a good measuring stick to keep you honest. Health is important and we should all make it a priority. However, our idea of health has gone astray in the last few decades.  We evaluate health according to weight, age, and BMI charts and the like. Although these have a place in the medical world, they have little significance when used on their own. We need to start thinking of health as sustained fitness as opposed to just not being sick. The girl in the picture should be focused on keeping her heels down and squatting correctly, as it’s one of life’s basic movements.

Many people fail to move correctly but feel they are healthy because they weigh a certain weight. Let’s face it, weight does matter, and we all care about how much we weigh. However, what really matters is our health. There are people who are known as “skinny fat” and although they show a good number on the scale, they are actually very unhealthy as their body composition is poor (skinny, not a lot of muscle, and too much body fat).

Performance is key, as it will dictate your true health.  Why do we exercise? Some of us like it; others feel like we have to, and then there are still others who want to be able to do what they want physically for the rest of their lives.  I do it for the ladder and although at one time in my life I worried about the scale or the mirror, I now let my performance dictate my goals.  Once I did that, my body looked better than ever, and my weight has been consistent for a long time.

If we focus on our numbers, we will never be satisfied.  Look at the girl in the picture. She looks good in my opinion, but is still unhappy with her weight.  Due to the fact that she probably has poor athleticism, judging by her ability to simply squat, she is unhappy with the way she looks. Many of us are not where we want to be physically, as we are still on our journey.  However, we will be a lot more comfortable with our bodies, if we realize how far we have come, and appreciate how much our performance has changed.

So stay focused, kill your weaknesses, and WOD on.

 

Coach, Sil