Confession: I’m Not as Fit as I Look

I was heavily into CrossFit competitively nine or so years ago. I had a 422 ‘Fight Gone Bad’ score, a 245lbs snatch, and a 2:12 “Fran” time, but I didn’t look nearly as fit as I do now. I was much more skinny with less musculature, but my training volume, compliance, and focus was much higher that it is now.

While bodybuilding, quality nutrition, and past training can make for a muscular, fit looking build, it will take both physical and neurological grooming in order to express the potential of the body. This has very little with how we look and very much to do with how we’re training.

Looks can be deceiving because many of us have a misguided view as to what fitness is in the first place.And, this is the first lesson I’d like you to learn from my example above. The lesson is that fitness is about what you can do, not what you look like. If you’re evaluating your fitness by what you see in the mirror, you’re making a big mistake. I’m not saying aesthetic goals don’t matter, I’m saying don’t confuse aesthetics and ability.

I find it important to note that most people would assume by observation that I’m fitter now than I was then, and I believe who heartedly the exact opposite to be true. I believe the opposite to be true, not just because I know the numbers, but because I know how much training I am and am not doing.

This brings us to the other lesson here, which is that capacity is earned through training. Your ability to put out work in a variety of different capacities should be respected mutually exclusive of aesthetics. Furthermore, in contemporary fitness practices many fit looking people aren’t nearly as fit as you’d assume.

Logan Gelbrich

@functionalcoach