We are getting some business coaching (so get ready for some great changes in the last part of this year) and the first question our coach asked me is “Why are you doing MDSoF?” There are many reasons why I decided to start MDSoF and many reasons why I continue to try to make this thing work. It’s funny because the reasons why I started are not really that relevant anymore, and the reasons that I continue are multi-layered. However, the first layer, and probably foundational, is that I love being able to help people do something they haven’t been able to do before. Here are some quotes that are more valuable than any money I may make at MDSoF:
“I was able to help move crates up my driveway and felt fine the next day”
“I can ride difficult horses and can focus on riding them and not just staying on.”
“I can put my luggage in the overhead compartment by myself.”
“When I was passing my new born son back and forth with my wife, I was aware that I was in weird positions and had to keep my abs tight.”
“I lost 14 pounds in the last 6 weeks, just by eating differently.”
There are many others, but you get the idea. These comments show that MDSoF is, and will always be, about General Physical Preparedness (GPP), that is we prepare you to do something not just the workout. You have to decide what you are preparing for, it could be a weightlifting meet, triathlon or a run, CrossFit Games or being the best mother/father you can be; however, while we may write your Fran time on the board, we don’t really care what your Fran time is because that is just preparing, it’s not doing.
Certainly your Fran time is one measure of your fitness, but there are other measures of your fitness, i.e. your preparedness to get s#!t done, that are important too. These other factors, like mobility, ability to recover, ability to move in a functional and efficient manner and plain old happiness are equally important.
So now I turn the question to you, our dear reader, why are you doing MDSoF? Please let Susan or myself know if there is anything we can do to help you get something done!
Hi Saul,
I joined MDSoF (back when it was MDF) in April of 2010 because I was tired of feeling weak. I knew that regular exercise was important for my health and general wellbeing, and also for “doing stuff” in my everyday life as you mention in your post. I’ve never enjoyed physical sports, going to a typical gym, etc. and never felt like I had the basic know-how to design my own workout routine.
MDSoF has been the only exercise routine that I’ve stuck with for over a year (with the exception of when I was a child and my parents forced me to participate in a sport for physical activity) and is pretty much the only physical activity that I’ve actually enjoyed doing. A lot of the enjoyment comes from feeling more confident in my everyday life: running to catch the train without being out of breath, moving heavy boxes around without feeling strained doing so, etc. A lot of it also comes from doing things that I couldn’t do before (like three ring pull ups in a row). I still remember the first time I deadlifted by body weight; that felt like an amazing triumph.
While I’m going to be leaving MDSoF for the east coast in the near future, I feel more optimistic than I ever have before that I’m on a solid trajectory for continued physical development.
Best,
-Jared-
Wow, Jared. Thanks for coming to MDSoF… I think it’s amazing when people come to a gym because they ‘know’ it’s good for them, even though they don’t necessarily enjoy it. The benefit of feeling confident in everyday life, as you point out, is an effect that a lot of people mention about training – especially about training with weights. And it’s just neat to feel good in your sprint for the train, moving stuff around.. etc.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
And Happy Birthday!
I joined MDSoF because I wanted to get my wife involved in Crossfit and she had no desire to work out with me and my buddies in a college wrestling gym. *I* certainly didn’t need the coaching, of course. *eyeroll*
My goal in doing Crossfit has always been to become a better Crossfit athlete. I wanted to get as strong as I could possibly be at all of the movements, to defy my friends and family who say with a superior attitude that once I hit 30 I am doomed to a spiral of flabbiness and weariness.
Saul was invaluable to me on this path, coaching me, encouraging me to compete even when I didn’t think I could, and though I was not as strong a competitor as my teammates, they and Saul always made me feel welcome.
Even though I moved away and can’t train at MDF anymore, I *wish* I could! I haven’t found another gym yet that offers as much, even at much higher prices, and I still use Saul as a sounding board even though he may sigh when he sees my emails knowing how long they are!
You guys are awesome, and I continue to hope that you succeed fabulously with MDSoF, however you define success.
…and I joined to lift more than Samantha…she kicks my ass at everything and I just won’t have it (cue hissy fit)
Even though I can’t get down there as often as I would like to, I still pester Saul with questions and read this blog religiously. My GPP is fabulous, I’m getting stronger every day, and I have muscles that ripple in the sun (which let’s face it is the real reason I started CF). 🙂
XOXO Saul, Susan and Sam!
Mildred and Kris – you are two of the people we miss A LOT.
I joined MDSoF to learn better lifting form, and discovered a world of fitness & nutritional knowledge that continues to amaze, challenge and delight. Paleo/clean diet. Olympic lifts. Mobilization. Recovery. Sleep.
Wow.
Although my initial motivation (and, to be honest, the main reason I don’t flip Saul off during the workouts) was to improve my sport specific performance, I now have a broader vision of health and fitness. Super ultra bonus: my husband and daughter are coming along for the ride.
MDSoF makes a healthier community, one person and family at a time.
Thank you!
I joined because some friends showed me the CF website, and I thought things like muscle-ups, clean/jerk, handstand pushups, etc. were badass. I’ve also always liked pushing myself, and I love being able to consistently write down new PRs for various things (or, heck, even just do things right–I’m still working on double-unders). It doesn’t hurt at all that, as Kris said, it’s good to be getting fitter past 30 rather than weaker.
Thank you Susan!
I just put CF to good use this weekend when I moved. I kept dreading each piece of furniture only to find out carrying everything was surprinsingly easy with the entire unloading taking less than 1 hour. Moving for time! Just realized that 80% of my eartly possessions consist of exercise equipment. hmmm