Devine Ranting 11.2

    So many of you know that the last few weeks have been pretty rough for me. We had to put my dog down, and then several days later my Grandmother passed away. Both of these events mustered up a quick flashback to my Level 1 Certification and the explanation of "functional fitness." In it, many of the instructors elaborated on the idea that you don't just go from being physically fit and functional to wheelchair-bound in a single day. Weakened joints and muscle breakdown occur gradually over time. When we talk about fuctional fitness vs. the B.S. that you do in a globogym isolating muscle groups, we are talking about dynamic movements that use multiple joints, create power in you daily activities, and most especially prevent injury.
   My dog Zach was a 125# Yellow Lab. I liked to think of him as more of a brother than a possession. He and I had a choppy upbringing as he was constantly biting whenever food was around. He seemed misguided throughout much of his youth. It wasn't until I started bringing him pheasant hunting that he mellowed out. After this, he seemed to mature and look out for our family more. What didn't change was his rediculous infatuation with food- whole loaves of bread, a tub of my mother's german chocolate ice cream, sticks of butter... Oh yeah. Over time, Zach gained weight and surprisingly it wasn't his heart or lungs that took the toll- it was his joints. In the end, Zach couldn't even stand up on his own anymore. His heart, lungs, brain, and everything were totally fine. Unfortunately, he felt like he was doing something wrong with his immobility and was in quite a bit of distress constantly attempting to get up. So, our family made the difficult decision to let him rest.
   With that in mind, I want each of you to think about your mobility and the importance of your major joints. Think about how they support you in your job and personal happiness. After doing so, think about what you will do to protect that amenity. Your efforts could include preventative dedication to CrossFit, technical proficiency, proper nutrition, etc. Just a thought. See you in the box...