Broken Chain = Broken Habit

DON’T BREAK THE CHAIN Meghan White recently shared a strategy for developing better habits that Jerry Seinfeld used to become a funnier comic. Seinfeld said ‘the secret to creating better jokes was to write every single day.’ In order to motivate himself he used a large wall calendar and big red marker. Each day that […]

Depression + Exercise = :)

It’s no secret: exercise can make you feel better. It can boost your mood, confidence, self-esteem, and can help you achieve personal goals and challenges in your life. That being said, what if exercise could alleviate, halt, and reverse, depression and anxiety? Exercise works to ease depression and anxiety by releasing and enhancing the effect […]

On and "Off" Day

Do These Things On Your Off Days Every good training program has rest days. When you find yourself on an off day, here are three things that you can do to maximize your recovery so you are ready for the next day of training. Myofascial Release. Big fancy term for rolling out. Rolling out is […]

Pain Face

Going To The Dark Place   The Dark Place. Where you feel searing pain. Where doubts fill your mind. Where you want to give up. Where your knees buckle. Where your lungs bleed. Where you can’t breath. Where you want to cry. I haven’t experienced the dark place very often as an athlete. It’s scary, […]

I've been called lots of names…

            I’ve gone by many names in my lifetime—Brock, Brocolli, Brocker. Recently, I began answering to a new title. I packed a bag with a change of clothes and shipped out to Ft. Benning, GA for Army basic training. From May to late August I wasn’t ever called Broccoli—just “Private Crystal.” […]

Self-Talk Affirmations

Gary Mark, author of “Mind Gym,” explains that “We all have conversations going on inside our heads. I call it self-talk. Every athlete hears two competing voices. One is a negative critic, and the other is a positive coach. Which voice we listen to is a matter of choice.” What voice do you listen to? […]

Your Mental Game

Your Mental Game Genna Smith and I recently attended a Sport Phycology Seminar, presented by Mike Caruso, Pro-Strongman competitor.  Here are the ‘knowledge nuggets’ from that seminar. The brain is a muscle – if you work this muscle it will improve and grow. Tommy Kono, an American Weightlifter, developed a model to successful weightlifting, where […]

Should I take Creatine?

Creatine is not just a fitness supplement. It is found naturally in our body, and is also contained in meats and fish! There are many different types of creatine on the market, created by many different companies. The most tried and true type is Creatine Monohydrate. Not only is it the most used, most common, […]

You Are Not a Number

You Are Not A Number Sometimes we allow numbers to rule our life and determine our self-worth. The number on the bathroom scale. The size of your jeans. The number of calories you eat. The weight on the barbell. I’ve spent the majority of my life letting numbers dictate how I feel about myself; If […]

Benefits of Hydration

Water is the cornerstone of life. We can’t live too long without, and it’s the one thing we all think about during grueling workouts. But even with its heavy importance, many people find themselves suffering the effects of dehydration. The effects can range from muscle cramps, light-headedness, dizzy spells, hindered performance, and low energy. Something […]