The Secret Sauce of CrossFit Programming

We're joined by our good friend Cole Sager to tackle some of your questions this week! We start by discussing whether Masters athletes, particularly women, can continue to lift heavy and compete in CrossFit well into their sixties, and how to navigate that intelligently. We then dive into the differences between central nervous system fatigue and muscular fatigue, exploring how to identify and address each. Our Workout this week is the value of the CrossFit Open for non-competitive CrossFitters - is it the best test of fitness, or are there better ways to assess our progress? ❤️ Weekly Newsletter & Premium Subscription THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Get all the benefits of a regular sauna from the comfort of your own home with the BON CHARGE infrared sauna blanket, helping you burn calories, detoxify, improve circulation, and relax your mind and body for better sleep and reduced stress. Save with code EXCELLENCE. 🔗 Discover the ultimate jeans (or should we say The Perfect Jean) that offer unrivaled comfort and style. Say goodbye to uncomfortable pants and embrace the perfect fit for any occasion. Get 15% off with the code EXCELLENCE. 🔗 Transform your sleep and enhance your overall wellness with luxuriously soft bedding from Cozy Earth that regulates temperature, providing ultimate comfort and indulgence for a rejuvenating night's sleep. Save 35% off your purchase with code EXCELLENCE. 🔗 Get trustworthy and in-depth news from the Washington Post on health, wellness, mental health, nutrition, fitness, aging, and more with personalized articles and the option to listen to them while you multitask, all for just 50 cents per week for your first year. ABOUT THE SHOW Every Tuesday, we answer listener questions about health, fitness, fulfillment, and what it takes to chase what truly matters. ABOUT US 📍 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. Find him on Instagram. 📍 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, writer, and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

In this episode, we delve into the concept of being an ideal team player, exploring the three virtues of humility, hunger, and people smarts as outlined in Patrick Lencioni's book of the same name. We examine how these qualities extend beyond the workplace and into our daily lives, fostering better relationships and a more fulfilling existence. Finally, we discuss the role of insecurity as a barrier to embracing these virtues and the importance of seeking feedback for personal growth. ❤️ Weekly Newsletter & Premium Subscription THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 OneSkin is a revolutionary skincare brand offers scientifically validated products targeting the root cause of aging, improving skin health and appearance. Use code EXCELLENCE to save. 🔗 Lumen is a handheld device that measures your metabolism through your breath, providing personalized nutrition advice, tracking fat and carb burning, and helping improve overall metabolic health for easier weight management, better energy levels, and enhanced fitness results. Use code EXCELLENCE to save. 🔗 Cozy Earth wants you to experience the ultimate comfort and luxurious sleep with bedding products that are soft as a mother's touch, temperature-regulating, and crafted with superior fabrics and materials. Enhance your sleep quality and overall wellness with this exclusive offer. Use code EXCELLENCE to save. 🔗 Shopify is the global commerce platform that empowers businesses to sell products and reach customers online, providing tools, support, and an all-in-one e-commerce platform to grow and succeed. Get an exclusive offer with by using this link. ABOUT THE SHOW Every Tuesday, we answer listener questions about health, fitness, fulfillment, and what it takes to chase what truly matters. ABOUT US 📍 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. Find him on Instagram. 📍 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, writer, and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

This week, we're diving deep into one of our foundational frameworks, exploring what we've previously referred to as the "hierarchy of mindset" but are now reframing as the "mindset continuum." We unpack the reasoning behind this shift in terminology and take a closer look at the different stages that comprise this continuum, from the victim mindset to the pinnacle of mental fitness: the competitor mindset. Along the way, we'll offer practical insights and actionable strategies for recognizing where we currently reside on the continuum and how we can work towards cultivating a more resilient, growth-oriented perspective – one that empowers us to embrace challenges and adversity as opportunities for personal growth and evolution. ❤️ Weekly Newsletter & Premium Subscription THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/excellence 🔗 Momentous: http://www.livemomentous.com [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 BON CHARGE Infrared Sauna Blanket and other wellness products: https://boncharge.com/ [code: EXCELLENCE] ABOUT THE SHOW Every Tuesday, we answer listener questions about health, fitness, fulfillment, and what it takes to chase what truly matters. ABOUT US 📍 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. Find him on Instagram. 📍 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, writer, and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

Something different this week. Ben was joined by his wife Heather for a talk they gave at CrossFit New England sharing insights and practical strategies for incorporating the 5 Factors into our daily lives. They emphasize the importance of leading by example, creating awareness, and fostering a supportive environment for ourselves and our families. Additionally, they provide valuable advice on how to effectively communicate these principles to our children, ensuring that the next generation embraces a holistic approach to wellness from an early age. ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Neurohacker [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Cozy Earth [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 OneSkin [code: EXCELLENCE] ABOUT THE SHOW Every Tuesday, we answer listener questions about health, fitness, fulfillment, and what it takes to chase what truly matters. ABOUT US 📍 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. Find him on Instagram. 📍 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, writer, and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

We’re talking about the concept of regulating emotions this week, exploring different strategies to take ownership and control over them. We start the episode, though, by addressing listener questions on scaling pushups, finding the balance between losing body fat and building muscle, and setting boundaries with family members. Our workout segment dives deep into the principles of emotional maturity, discussing the importance of experiencing the right emotions at the right time and to the right degree. ❤️ Weekly Newsletter & Premium Subscription THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 BON CHARGE Infrared Sauna Blanket and other wellness products [code: EXCELLENCE]  🔗 Momentous [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Hatch 🔗 LMNT ABOUT THE SHOW Every Tuesday, we answer listener questions about health, fitness, fulfillment, and what it takes to chase what truly matters. ABOUT US 📍 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. Find him on Instagram. 📍 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, writer, and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

This week, we dive into how to avoid health anxiety and obsession with EC Synkowski. We explore the challenges of balancing health guidelines and principles without letting them consume our lives. With questions from listeners Jeremiah and Jeremy, we discuss the fine line between being mindful of our health and becoming overly fixated on every detail. ❤️ Weekly Newsletter & Premium Subscription THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Shopify 🔗 OneSkin [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Hatch 🔗 Cozy Earth [code: EXCELLENCE] ABOUT THE SHOW Every Tuesday, we answer listener questions about health, fitness, fulfillment, and what it takes to chase what truly matters. ABOUT US 📍 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. Find him on Instagram. 📍 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, writer, and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

In this episode, we delve into one of the foundational frameworks that underpins our entire approach to living a life of excellence – the five factors of health. We revisit the first principles of each factor: moving our bodies frequently, nourishing ourselves with real foods, fostering a mindset of curiosity over judgment, prioritizing restorative sleep, and surrounding ourselves with supportive communities. Through our discussion, we aim to reinforce the importance of mastering these fundamental behaviors as the bedrock for pursuing purpose, passion, balance, and poise in all areas of life. Additionally, we address listener questions on optimizing movement throughout the workday, navigating conflicting fitness goals, and finding the courage to align your career with your deepest values. ❤️ Weekly Newsletter & Premium Subscription THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 LMNT 🔗 Cozy Earth [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Momentous [code: EXCELLENCE] ABOUT THE SHOW Every Tuesday, we answer listener questions about health, fitness, fulfillment, and what it takes to chase what truly matters. ABOUT US 📍 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. Find him on Instagram. 📍 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, writer, and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

We’re sharing a conversation Ben had recently with the RoxLyfe podcast. He & Greg talk about the evolution of Ben’s approach to mindset, from a focus on positivity to realism and the warrior's mindset. They talk about how adversity can be a powerful catalyst for personal and professional growth and uncover the significance of calculated risks in athletic performance and its role in achieving greatness. ❤️ Weekly Newsletter & Premium Subscription THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 OneSkin [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Neurohacker [code: EXCELLENCE] ABOUT THE SHOW Every Tuesday, we answer listener questions about health, fitness, fulfillment, and what it takes to chase what truly matters. ABOUT US 📍 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. Find him on Instagram. 📍 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, writer, and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

This week, we’ve listener questions about the benefits and best practices of caffeine intake, modifications for double unders, and grappling with dyslexia and the importance of finding the right learning environment. Our main conversation is one about overcoming frustration and maintaining forward momentum in entrepreneurship and life. We’re also announcing the first book in our new Book Club. ❤️ Weekly Newsletter & Premium Subscription THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Momentous [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 LMNT 🔗 CompTrain ABOUT THE SHOW Every Tuesday, we answer listener questions about health, fitness, fulfillment, and what it takes to chase what truly matters. ABOUT US 📍 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. Find him on Instagram. 📍 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, writer, and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

We’re joined by CrossFit TILT co-owner Max Isaak this week for a coaching and gym ownership-focused episode. We talk about coaching techniques in the world of CrossFit, discuss the balance between training and coaching, and the challenges of opening a CrossFit affiliate. We also explore the dynamics of programming in EMOMs and Tabatas and the importance of preparation before launching into intense workouts. From the intricacies of CrossFit coaching to the excitement of high-intensity workouts, we cover a wide range of topics that will provide valuable insights for both coaches and gym owners. ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Hatch 🔗 Shopify 🔗 OneSkin [code: EXCELLENCE] ABOUT THE SHOW Every Tuesday, we answer listener questions about health, fitness, fulfillment, and what it takes to chase what truly matters. ABOUT US 📍 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. Find him on Instagram. 📍 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, writer, and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.