A lot has happened since our last episode!  Rachel competed with great success in the CrossFit Age Group semi finals and Hannah crushed her 50K trail race finishing in 1st place.  In this episode we each reflect on the 10 most significant lessons/takeaways from our respective epic challenges.  From the power of the mind to how you approach failure, we cover the highs and lows of earning these accomplishments and how we can use these lessons to make us better humans. Happy listening!

Congratulations Rachel for qualifying for the Crossfit Age Group Semi Finals!!  In this episode we reflect on the different training paths we have pursued this year and how dialing back intensity could well be the key to Rachel's recent success in the realm of competitive fitness.  We compare notes on how our bodies felt during Quarter finals and there is quite the difference!  But what to do next?  Over the next 2 weeks Hannah will run her first trail 50K and Rachel will compete at the next level in the sport of Crossfit but then what is in store for us after these challenges are complete? Happy listening!

Have you ever questioned where your confidence comes from?  What is it that enables some people to take on crazy wild challenges even though they know it's going to hurt?  In this episode Rachel takes the reins and quizzes Hannah about her mindset and training as she gets closer to her 50K trail race.  We also talk about our approach to coaching and whether we sit in the tough love camp or the participation award camp and how different styles of coaching and different types of athlete require and respond to different approaches. Happy listening!

When you think about it, coaches have a great responsibility.  A great coach can make a monumental difference in someone's life but a bad coach can cause both physical and mental damage.  What is your experience with different coaches?  How do you rate the coaches that you have in your life?  If you are a coach what do you consider to be your strengths but also the areas that you need to work on?  We talk about our experiences of being coached and also what it is like to wear the coaches hat.  We would love to hear in the comments what your experiences of coaching or being coached! Happy listening!

Ever found yourself feeling like you are missing out because someone else is doing something you feel like you should be doing to?  Or maybe you have to take some time out due to injury or trying to focus your energy and efforts elsewhere but it kinda sucks to miss out?  Whatever the reason you may be feeling like you are missing out it can be hard to stick to your plan and not get lured in to do more.  We talk about our own experiences of FOMO when it comes to training as well as chatting about and our thoughts and feelings around this year's Crossfit Open and if/why it is important it is for us to compare ourselves to the rest of the world. Happy listening!

Finally we get Season 4 underway after multiple technology fails thwarted the release of Episode 1 (see IG post for pitiful explanation).  We are so excited to be back with a new season and in this episode we talk about why it is important to do hard things and what you can take away from pushing yourself into dark places and extreme situations.  With the Crossfit Open coming up we talk about how to get into the mindset of getting that one more rep even when your body is screaming at you.  Is it worth it to go into the pain cave to avoid the disappointment of having someone beat you by one rep?

We went out partying and then calculated the caloric cost!!!  It was high but lots of fun was had and this is not something we do every weekend so we are not stressed about it but we started to think about how often "we" lie to ourselves about our lifestyle choices. Wondering why you are not making progress?  Perhaps it is the small snacks that you don't track that add up, or the weekend choices that wipe out the hard work you put in Monday to Thursday.  Wonder why you are not getting fitter, faster and stronger?  Maybe that 8 out of 10 effort you claim at the gym is actually more like a 6. Is there a disconnect between who you want to be and how you choose to live your life?  Why is it hard to own who you are right now? And how often does your ego override honesty? Happy listening!

Well hey!  Remember us?? Just kidding, we didn't disappear just got a little off schedule thanks to life and being pulled in many different directions.  The best laid plans and all that... In this episode we go over lessons learned from our online team competition experience and how to manage your best athletic performance between work meetings.  We dare to explore the possibility of being ok with maintenance rather than constantly striving to be thinner, thicker, faster, stronger etc.  And we talk about body composition changes as it relates to different athletic goals.  Rachel checks in on Hannah's thigh gap (where did that come from?) and we talk about having the conversation with someone when you notice body composition changes, is it ok to ask if they are ok? Happy listening

Age does not have to be a barrier to entry!  What an epic experience it was to be a part of the Old Dirty Masters Competition.  Believe it or not we were among the youngest athletes on the competition floor and we still walked away insanely inspired by the skills, strength, capacity and tenacity of the other teams.  From 70+ year old women crushing pull ups and olympic lifting (in spite of having a hip replacement and a stroke between them) to a 50+ year old male repping the most beautiful butterfly pull ups and of course the sheer number of "old" athletes flying above the bar doing bar muscle ups.  When we signed up for this there was some work to do but with focus and determination, we were able to cruise to a victory and check the box on some personal goals. Happy listening! 

Phew it's been a minute and we apologize for leaving you in the lurch but it will all be worth it (we promise).  September has been a whirlwind of a month with all sorts of incredible experiences that we can't wait to share with you. This episode kicks off Season 3 where we will be expanding our horizons to talk more about training, mindset, health & wellness and nutrition as well as our previous primary focus, body image.  We will be sharing all about our experiences as masters athletes, our struggles and triumphs in and out of the gym with the goal of helping you to achieve everything you have set your heart on accomplishing. We recorded this episode right before throwing down in a masters Crossfit competition so tune in to find out how prepared we felt, the new skills we had to master to complete the workouts and whether or not a new puppy helps with athletic performance ;) Happy listening!

Ever heard of body preoccupation, body checking or even muscle dysmorphia?  In this episode we consider an alarmingly long list of body image issues and discover that we relate to almost all of them.  We try to bring a rational approach to how to deal with the feelings we have towards these issues and highlight the difference between a "normal" response and when it is time to seek a qualified therapist.  Side note - Barbie has a lot to answer for!! Happy listening!

Oh how we love to train but when is it too much?  In this episode we challenge you to consider if your training is actually moving you towards your goals or unintentionally breaking your body down.  We identify the difference between exercising and training and the importance of being fueled correctly to support your energy output while maintaining optimal health.  If you are a frequent gym goer, ask yourself how it would make you feel if you arrived at the gym one day and it was closed? Happy listening!

After thinking long and hard about our last episode we felt it was important to follow up with some ideas about how to break through those times when you don't feel great about being you.  We also discuss the injuries we are currently dealing with and how that feeds into our feelings surrounding body image and self worth. Happy listening!

Oh hey!  It's been a minute. Travel and adventures got in the way of recording but we feel like that's a pretty good excuse to take a break.  In this episode we catch up on what we have been up to.  Rachel admits to falling in a crevasse and liking her Llamas on the chonky side and Hannah confesses to experiencing a phase of feeling a little insecure around body image.  But did she wear the damn shorts anyway? Happy listening.

How does it makes you feel when someone pays you a compliment?  How do you feel about complimenting others?  Is there a right way or a wrong way to do it?  Should we even compliment others on their body at all?  So many questions to unpack.  In this episode we talk about how to receive a compliment even when you feel awkward about it, how to tackle comments about your body that are unsolicited and what is and is not appropriate when it comes to paying a compliment.  Happy listening!

How much pride do you take in your appearance?  How do you want others to see you?  How much do you care about what others think about your look?  What factors determine how you present yourself to the world?  Is there a certain outfit that makes you feel powerful? So many questions (and not quite enough time to answer them all).  In this episode we contemplate our image and personal styles and how certain looks make us feel powerful or vulnerable, strong or silly.  It turns out that personal style is a complex and intricate topic one which we only just scratch the surface of so there may be another episode on this topic in the future! Happy listening!

Are your expectations of what your body can do and what you want it to look like in line with what you are putting into it?  Are you expecting your body to perform like a Ferrari while fueling it like a moped? In this episode we talk about management of expectations when in a caloric deficit, the importance and significance of putting quality foods into your system and we attempt to pronounce some of the outrageous chemicals that are legal additives to foods in the USA that are banned elsewhere in the world.  Ever wonder why that bread you are eating seems so soft and pillowy?...Maybe because it shares the same chemicals that can be found in yoga mats!!! Happy listening!

In our last episode we talked about the adventure we were about to embark on - climbing Mount Whitney in extreme winter conditions.  Well we are please to report that we survived and despite battling altitude sickness, sunburn, trekking across avalanche flows, falling in a tree (you will have to listen to find out about that one) and experiencing altitude induced angioedema of the lips, we had an incredible adventure and a true once in a lifetime experience.  In this episode we share our experience and attempt to give you a top 10 list of moments/lessons/takeaways.  We hope you enjoy reliving the adventure with us! Happy listening!

Yes it may come as a shock to some of our younger listeners but it is entirely possible to keep on getting better even when you reach middle age!!  In the first of a 2 part mini series we talk about how we both surprised ourselves by making it to the quarter finals after the Crossfit Open, continuing to PR our lifts and how on the release date of this episode we will be on our way to climb Mount Whitney in sub zero, wintery conditions.  We discuss how all of the awesome physical accomplishments we have already achieved or are about to attempt have everything to do with what our bodies can do and little to nothing to do with what they look like. Happy listening!

It is estimated that 28 million Americans will experience an eating disorder during the course of their lifetime!  But what is the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating?  Does one lead to the other?  What do eating disorders and the people who suffer from them look like?  With numbers so high, it is likely that you know people who are going through this but are you aware of what they are experiencing or is your "normal" looking friend actually dealing some with hidden issues?  We talk about our personal experiences and relationships with food and eating and share some resources if you wish to learn more. Thanks for listening!