We’re sharing a convo Ben had recently with Louis of the Talk4 Podcast. They explore Ben’s transition from personal trainer to elite level coach, shedding light on the psychological aspects of fitness and the importance of decision-making. They also discuss the evolution and impact of CrossFit, its unique approach to fitness, and how it has revolutionized the fitness space. ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Hatch 🔗 Momentous [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 The Perfect Jean [code: EXCELLENCE15] 🔗 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.

In this episode, we’re revisiting our three guiding principles: Awareness, Intention, and Action. We explore how these principles can be implemented in everyday life, transforming complex concepts into simple, actionable steps. We’ve also got listener questions about improving the overhead squat, ideal body fat percentages, and how to know if surgery is the right decision. ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Factor Meals [code: EXCELLENCE50] 🔗 Neurohacker [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.

This week, we're diving into a variety of topics that touch on all aspects of fitness. We tackle your questions about supplementing CrossFit with hypertrophy training, the role of protein supplementation in a clean diet, and how to recover effectively after an intense travel day. We also discuss the concept of “resetting” personal records as we go through different stages in life. ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 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 answer your questions about balancing weightlifting with running, getting enough protein as a vegetarian, and figuring out if over-training is affecting your sleep. We also tackle a big, open-ended question: How do you know when you've "made it" in your career? Finally, we give you permission to do something you should be doing but aren't yet. ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Shopify [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 OneSkin [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 CompTrain 🔗 Hatch 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 talk about the importance of integrity in the gym and share some of our strategies for faster recovery after intense physical activity. We also revisit one of our original decision-making frameworks, and close out with a chat about focus and flow. ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Notion 🔗 Momentous [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 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.

We’re diving into the importance of maintaining endurance while doing CrossFit, the balance between promoting health and allowing indulgences and managing the emotional journey of job hunting. We also answer a listener's question about how to navigate long-time friendships as people change. To end the episode, we share some of our recent favorite books, podcasts, movies, and activities. ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Mando [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Factor Meals [code: EXCELLENCE50] 🔗 Chirp [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 sharing a conversation Ben had recently with the folks at the Food, We Need to Talk podcast. They delve into how elite athletes can teach us valuable lessons that can be applied to our everyday lives, the five foundational behaviors that contribute to optimal health and performance, and how to overcome obstacles and cultivate a growth mindset ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Chirp [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 answering your questions about the current state of the CrossFit affiliate space, discuss training strategies for demanding jobs, and tackle the importance of vulnerability in relationships. ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 LMNT 🔗 OneSkin [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 CozyEarth [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Notion 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’re revisiting the top episode of 2023 and exploring the power of daily actions in pursuing a fulfilling life, the significance of nasal breathing during intense workouts, strategies for cultivating discipline, and the daily actions that will strengthen the 5 factors of health. ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 LMNT 🔗 Factor Meals [code: excellence50] 🔗 Neurohacker [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Lectric eBikes 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 how to navigate the influence of others on our kids’ habits and actions, plus listener questions about strengthening shoulders, improving ankle mobility, and how to be a transformational leader inside the military. ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Momentous [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Neurohacker [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Chirp [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 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 exploring the importance of maintaining a well-rounded approach to health, the impact of muscle mass on long-term well-being, and strategies for navigating the challenges of Halloween candy indulgence. We’re also talking about ambition, complacency, and climbing the second mountain. 🔗 Subscribe to the CE Weekly Newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 Notion 🔗 Shopify [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Chirp [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 diving into the archives this week for a conversation we had in 2019 on the topic of recovery. We explore its importance and give a bunch of strategies for optimizing it. Expect to Learn: The distinction between soreness and pain The benefits of self-myofascial release How active recovery exercises can enhance recovery Strategies for optimizing the recovery process The role of recovery in maximizing performance ❤️ Subscribe to the CE Weekly Newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 OneSkin [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Momentous [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 LMNT 🔗 CozyEarth [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 examining the challenge of maintaining our priorities and values when facing criticism from those close to us who may not fully understand our lifestyle choices. We’re also answering questions from listeners looking for guidance on topics like achieving fitness goals and improving recovery practices. Expect to Learn: Concrete steps to set and achieve a goal like weight loss or increasing pull-ups Simple yet effective at-home recovery methods How to have constructive conversations when values clash with friends/family Signs your passion may be tipping into an unhealthy obsession Actionable ways to live balanced while still chasing excellence ❤️ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS 🔗 LMNT [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Neurohacker [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Chirp [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.

As we reflect on the year coming to a close and look ahead to the new one, we explore the importance of finding stillness amidst adversities and embracing discomfort as a catalyst for growth. Expect to Learn: The concept of negative visualization and its application beyond sports How to develop resilience in the face of overwhelming challenges Strategies for reframing situations and letting go of resistance The power of awareness in navigating triggers and maintaining inner peace Practical tips for setting realistic expectations and embracing change ❤️ Subscribe to the CE Weekly Newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Cozy Earth [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 OneSkin [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Momentous [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Chirp [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 discuss the importance of consistent training, finding balance in life, managing tendonitis and arthritis, maintaining health during stressful times, and how Ben is rethinking the business model of the CrossFit gym. Expect to Learn: The role of consistent training in personal well-being Strategies for prioritizing family and fitness Tips for managing tendonitis and arthritis in CrossFit Techniques for maintaining health during stressful periods ❤️ Subscribe to the CE Weekly Newsletter THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 CompTrain 🔗 Momentous [use code EXCELLENCE] 🔗 BetterHelp 🔗 Shopify [use 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 the impact of working in offices for long hours, the potential benefits and risks of lab-grown meat, and not taking criticism from those we wouldn't seek advice from. Expect to Learn: ✦ The impact of long office hours on our well-being ✦ The potential benefits and drawbacks of lab-grown meat ✦ The importance of considering the source of criticism ✦ The limitations of human beings in our modern world ✦ The significance of not settling for complacency 🔗 Subscribe to the CE Weekly Newsletter Thanks to our sponsors: 🔗 LMNT 🔗 OneSkin [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Cozyearth [code: EXCELLENCE] 🔗 CompTrain About the Show Every Tuesday, we answer listener questions about health, fitness, fulfillment, and what it takes 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 exploring stoicism, conscious leadership, and the significance of fully experiencing emotions this week. We're also answering your questions about body weight and performance, along with what to do about the lasting effects of emotional responses after the triggering situation has concluded. Expect to Learn The correlation between body weight and performance Strategies for handling lingering emotional responses Insights from the "15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership" The true meaning of stoicism and how it can be misunderstood THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 ReliefBand [use code EXCELLENCE] 🔗 Lectric eBikes 🔗 Momentous [use code EXCELLENCE] 🔗 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 have a chat Ben had recently on the Mindset Advantage podcast hosted by DJ Hillier. In it, they discuss 15 lessons learned over Ben’s 15 years of high-level coaching. Expect to Learn: How to turn the page and focus on the next event or challenge The importance of tuning out distractions and ignoring external noise Why you need to cultivate the right mindset to maximize performance and minimize self-sabotage How to practice being non-judgmental and present-focused THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Oneskin: oneskin.co [code: EXCELLENCE] Shopify: Shopify.com/excellence LMNT: drinklmnt.com/excellence Momentous: lifemomentous.com [code: EXCELLENCE] FIND US ON SOCIAL: Ben: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Patrick: https://www.instagram.com/pscummings

This week, we’re answering listener questions about snacking healthier, starting a career in fitness, and teaching mental toughness to kids. We wrap the episode up with a new Cool Down, where we give you permission to (perhaps) do the thing you know you should be doing, but aren’t. The questions we’re answering this week: 1️⃣ From Aidan: Do you have any suggestions for healthy and clean snacks? 2️⃣ from Kevin: I think I want to pursue a career in fitness, but I'm struggling with how to start while still supporting my family. How long should I try to see if the new position is something I'll enjoy? 3️⃣ from Victor: How can a parent teach their child a lesson on mental toughness? 4️⃣ from Orsi: How can I determine if an activity or experience, like a multi-day solo bike ride and camping with my 1-year-old, is a wise decision that will benefit her long-term development, considering potential disruptions to her daily routine and possible sleepless nights? THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Cozy Earth: cozyearth.com [use code: EXCELLENCE] Lifeforce: mylifeforce.com/excellence [use code: EXCELLENCE40] Policygenius: policygenius.com FIND US ON SOCIAL: Ben: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Patrick: https://www.instagram.com/pscummings

This week, we’re talking yoga for CrossFitters, getting teenagers to move more and look at screens less, balancing life with your spouse, and more. Specific questions we’re answering: 1️⃣ How can I attract more CrossFit athletes to try my beginner-friendly yoga class and benefit from the mobility training it offers? 2️⃣ Should I have a conversation with our daycare provider about not giving highly processed foods to my kids, or should I just continue to feed them top-notch foods outside of daycare? 3️⃣ How can we motivate my 16-year-old son to be more active and involved in physical activities without pressuring him to exercise or go outside, given his decreasing interest in sports and growing preference for video games and online videos? 4️⃣ How do you and your spouses balance family and household roles, schedules, responsibilities, etc., to maintain a healthy work-life balance? We’re also talking about a documentary you should watch. Learn more about that here: https://smalltownstrongdoc.com/ THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Momentous: livemomentous.com [use code EXCELLENCE40] BetterHelp: BetterHelp.com/excellence FIND US ON SOCIAL: Ben: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Patrick: https://www.instagram.com/pscummings

The questions we’re answering this week: 📍 How can I improve my training to achieve better progress and keep up with the competition, considering my busy lifestyle as a self-employed PT and lack of easy access to a CrossFit box? 📍 Has the Fulfillment Framework process evolved for you and Ben since you first talked about it 2 years ago, including the macro-to-micro approach to goal setting and checking off 20-25 items daily as part of your routine? 📍 How can athletes, whether amateur or professional, stay present in the moment and balance their daily activities needed to achieve their goals, without feeling guilty about prepping when they have family obligations? 📍 As an elementary school physical education and health teacher, I want to develop a health curriculum for grades 4-6 based on the five factors of health. Can you provide essential principles for each factor that are geared toward elementary school students? THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: ONESKIN: oneskin.co (use code EXCELLENCE) RELIEFBAND: reliefband.com (use code EXCELLENCE) LIFE FORCE: mylifeforce.com/excellence (use code EXCELLENCE40) FIND US ON SOCIAL: Ben: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Patrick: https://www.instagram.com/pscummings

In this episode, we answer listener questions about working on weaknesses, combating habits derailing progress, and deepening connections with significant others. We also share personal experiences and advice on balancing pushing kids without over-scheduling, reflecting on legacy, and prioritizing meaningful moments. Specific questions we’re answering: 📍 How do you maintain good habits and routines when struggling with depression? 📍 How can you make others understand the importance of reconnecting with your partner when they don't see anything wrong in their busy lives? 📍 To work on weaknesses in the gym, should I focus on 2-3 specific things before each training session or cycles of one specific thing I’d train at least three times per week? 📍 Should parents prioritize their children's busy schedules and extracurricular activities to teach executive functioning, teamwork, and time management skills - or is there a risk of burning them out and over-scheduling them? What are your thoughts on the matter? THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Momentous: livemomentous.com [code: excellence] LMNT: DrinkLMNT.com/excellence Shopify: Shopify.com/excellence FIND US ON SOCIAL: Ben: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Patrick: https://www.instagram.com/pscummings

The questions we’re answering this week: 📍 How do you advise introducing complex movements like the split jerk to people new to fitness and give them proper progressions, especially when trainers may be teaching them without proper mechanics? 📍 What is the best way to reach a protein goal of 160g while staying within a fat goal when tracking macros to lose weight? 📍 How can I address the priorities as a couple when planning a massive wedding that holds significance for my fiance and her family, but not for mine? PLUS: We’re talking about Ben’s experience this summer trying (and struggling) to balance family life with work life. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: 🔗 Policygenius: policygenius.com 🔗 Life Force: mylifeforce.com/excellence (code: EXCELLENCE40) 🔗 Lectric eBikes: Lectricebikes.com FIND US ON SOCIAL: Ben: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Patrick: https://www.instagram.com/pscummings

The questions we’re answering this week: 📍 How can I increase my stamina for doing burpees during workouts? 📍 How can I avoid making snap judgments towards people? 📍 Should I wait until my baby can sleep longer stretches before getting back to CrossFit? 📍 How can I balance feeling unhappy with my career and wanting to make a change with being a financial provider for my family? THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Ice Barrel: https://icebarrel.com (use code: EXCELLENCE) Momentous: https://livemomentous.com (use code: EXCELLENCE) BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/excellence FIND US ON SOCIAL: Ben: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Patrick: https://www.instagram.com/pscummings

We're answering three of your questions this week: 📍 Can a CrossFit athlete's performance become worse due to running, and if so, how much running is too much? 📍 Why is it important to stay informed about the news and politics, even if it can be seen as mostly entertainment and outside of our control? 📍 How can one build a relationship with oneself after spending many years focused on being who everyone else wanted them to be, especially after a divorce and at a young age? PLUS: 📍 We're talking about when Ben went to prison to learn more about a program bringing CrossFit to inmates. 📍 We wrap up with another round of our Recommendation Roundup, where we talk about what we've been reading, listening to, and enjoying lately. ✦ THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS ✦ LMNT: https://www.drinklmnt.com/excellence  FEEL GOOD LAB: https://thefeelgoodlab.com/ (use code: BEN) ✦ GET A QUESTION INTO THE SHOW ✦ Drop Patrick a DM: https://www.instagram.com/pscummings/

We're talking through 4 listener questions this week: 📍 As an aging CrossFit athlete, are there resources available to help me push myself to be better while ensuring that I am doing so safely, especially when it comes to knowing when to push through an injury and how to monitor my heart rate effectively? 📍 How can you determine the appropriate food intake to support exercise without promoting fat gain? 📍 As a firefighter working 48-hour shifts and living in a different time zone, should I play catch up on sleep during my off days or stick to a normal 8 hours? And when on shift, should I try to go to bed at my normal time in my home time zone or the same time for the work time zone? 📍 How can I continue to use positive language to help my children understand that eating healthy and exercising are about being strong and healthy, rather than valuing being "skinny" for the wrong reasons, given my past struggle with an eating disorder? Plus, we'll be recapping the 2023 CrossFit Games to close the episode out. Thanks to our sponsors: LMNT | Shopify | Momentous Get a question in the queue: 🔗 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!

This week, we discuss making strategic long-term decisions, embracing challenges, and prioritizing long-term goals. We emphasize the importance of structuring a training plan that prioritizes function and progress without causing injury, as well as the benefits of functional movements in CrossFit for maintaining strength and mobility as we age. Additionally, we’re talking about the challenges of being an affiliate owner and parenting. Expect to learn: The optimal training schedule for most people. Why we focus on functionality and longevity, rather than just looking good on the beach or bodybuilding. How to recognize our own triggers and take responsibility for our reactions to communicate with our kids better. Thanks to: 🔗  Policygenius 🔗  LMNT 🔗 Ice Barrel

In our last Benchmark of the summer, we’re throwing it back to August of 2018 and a conversation about how to be more competitive in the sport of CrossFit. Topics include getting better at muscle-ups, tips for improving your double unders, and Ben’s best advice for athletes who don't have a coach. ===========  OUR SPONSORS:  ===========  🔗 Lifeforce  🔗 Momentous (code: excellence)  🔗 Betterhelp  ===========  GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  ===========  🔗 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  ===========  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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

This week, we’re discussing whether pursuing excellence is selfish, the point of health, playing infinite games, and much more. =========== EXPECT TO LEARN ===========  📍 Whether we need to worry about recovery drinks 📍 The difference between (and value of) stretching, mobility work, and yoga 📍 Why how you read a book affects what you get out of the book 📍 Some recommended reading for parents 📍 Ben’s favorite CrossFit Games events (so far) =========== OUR SPONSORS =========== 🔗 Lifeforce 🔗 Momentous (code: excellence) 🔗 Shopify ===========  GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE ===========  🔗 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions! ===========  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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

In this episode, first published in November of 2019, we take a 10'000 foot view of how to make better decisions, discussing how to factor in our principles, priorities, & purpose to make sure our lives are headed in the right direction. =========== OUR SPONSORS: =========== 🔗 LMNT 🔗 Eight Sleep 🔗 Policygenius =========== GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE: =========== 🔗 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions! =========== 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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

This week, we’re talking about how the 5 Factors of Health look across the spectrum of Sick, Well, and Fit, why we want to make sure we don’t let ourselves get distracted in our pursuit of health, and much more. Also: listener questions about wall walks, charting your own path in life, feeding kids, and athletes who no-rep themselves to the top of the leaderboard.   =========== OUR SPONSORS:  =========== 🔗 BetterHelp.com (code EXCELLENCE) 🔗 Lifeforce 🔗 OneSkin.co (code EXCELLENCE) ===========  GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  ===========  🔗 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions! ===========  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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

In this episode first published in April of 2017, we talk about why happiness doesn't live on the other side of achievement, gratitude, & why relationships matter more than money. =========== OUR SPONSORS: =========== 🔗 LMNT 🔗 Eight Sleep =========== GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE: =========== 🔗 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions! =========== 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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

What do we do when we find ourselves working a job with people who don’t align with the healthy, meaningful life we want to lead? That’s the listener question we’re answering this week, talking about how to measure the strength of our relationships, why it’s so hard to prioritize, the importance of balance, and more. ===========  EXPECT TO LEARN =========== 📍 If focusing on fitness now (eventually) leads to health issues later in life 📍 The difference between the coach and the critic in our minds 📍 How to deal with folks who have strong opinions about health that you disagree with 📍 How few men claim to have close friendships (and why that is) 📍 A couple books and movies we’ve been enjoying lately ===========  OUR SPONSORS:   =========== 🔗  Timeline Nutrition =========== GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE: =========== 🔗 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions! =========== 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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

In this episode, first published in September of 2021, we talk about putting our ladders up against the right walls and about the system Ben uses to chase fulfillment, accomplish big goals, and stay focused every day. =========== OUR SPONSORS: =========== 🔗 LMNT 🔗 Eight Sleep =========== GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE: =========== 🔗 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions! =========== 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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

Cole Sager joins us as he’s preparing for his 10th straight CrossFit Games appearance to answer listener questions about how to know if you’re competing too much, how to stop hijacking conversations, what it looks like to live on autopilot, and much more. ========= EXPECT TO LEARN:  =========  📍 How and why Cole and Ben first started working together 📍 When competing too much might do more damage than good 📍 What parasympathetic lash-back is, and why you want to be careful of it 📍 What Cole’s training looked like after Semifinals 📍 Why it’s important to be the most curious person in a conversation ========= GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE: =========  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  =========  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 & podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

Ben recently announced that this will be his last year coaching elite athletes to pursue success at the CrossFit Games. We talk this week about why, the future of CompTrain, the three elements of resilience, and much more. ========= EXPECT TO LEARN: =========  📍 How to build an equipment-free, CrossFit-inspired workout program 📍 What to do when you realize you’ve been triggered but can’t get past it 📍 Whether CrossFit’s original nutrition prescription is still relevant 📍 Why the most important thing in the gym is to ensure you never take steps back 📍 How to get buy-in and make smart decisions as a leader =========  GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  =========  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  =========  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 & podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

Chasing objective, easy-to-measure goals are one thing. But chasing subjective, hard-to-measure ones are another thing altogether. So, how do we get started making progress on things like improving our empathy or being a better spouse? That’s what we’re diving into this week. ========= EXPECT TO LEARN:========= 📍 How to training when your CrossFit gym cancels your favorite class 📍 Why the goal of mindset shouldn’t be indifference, but a lack of judgment 📍 How to wrangle life admin tasks that can feel endless 📍 Why trust is so important to build as a leader 📍 Who we would add to our apocalypse team ========= OUR SPONSORS:========= 🔗 BetterHelp ========= GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:========= Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  ========= 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, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding. Find him on Instagram.

We’re taking a listener question about helping our kids avoid some of the adversities of life and talking broadly about stimulus and response, being generation breakers, and why “what we do around here” is such a powerful force. =========== EXPECT TO LEARN: ===========  📍 How to improve our aerobic capacity 📍 Why your gym community can serve as a useful decisional filter 📍 How defaulting to simplicity is a powerful communication strategy 📍 The importance of awareness in rebuilding a relationship 📍 Why it’s essential to give our phones a job and a place =========== OUR SPONSORS:  =========== 🔗 Caldera + Lab 🔗 Timeline Nutrition ===========  GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  ===========  🔗 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  =========== 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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

We’re answering a listener question about whether CrossFit affiliates are offering a “watered down” version of CrossFit, and whether that’s a good thing if so. We’re talking about the CrossFit Games, standardization across gyms, Hyrox, and more. =========== EXPECT TO LEARN: ===========  📍 Whether our mobility work should be consistent or varied 📍 How to stop comparing yourself to your gym buddies 📍 Ben’s recommendations for bloodwork 📍 How to make time for yourself with young kids 📍 A strategy for leaders to work with folks who are resistant to coaching =========== OUR SPONSORS:  =========== 🔗 LMNT 🔗 Ice Barrel 🔗 Eight Sleep ===========  GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  ===========  🔗 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions! ===========  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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

Should we sacrifice now for security later, forgo security later and enjoy now, or find a balance between the two? Friend-of-the-show Julie Foucher joins us to talk through that and listener questions about why she’s training now, how to handle rep shavers, and more. =========== EXPECT TO LEARN: ===========   📍 How hard it was for Julie to transition out of being a CrossFit Games athlete 📍 Why “feeling” fitter might be more important than chasing specific numbers 📍 What parasympathetic lash-back is and why performers need to be wary of it 📍 How to deal with rep shavers and workout cheaters 📍 Our experience trying to cut our social media use by 50% ===========  OUR SPONSORS:   =========== 🔗 Landkind 🔗 Timeline Nutrition ===========  GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  ===========  🔗 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions! ===========  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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

In February of 2021, we released an episode called “Overcoming Excellence Fatigue.” It started with a question about how to exist inside the gap between where we are and where we want to be. Here’s a clip about how Ben thinks about that gap. ==========SUBSCRIBE ========== Apple Pods: tinyurl.com/3nu78tsh Spotify: tinyurl.com/ekhp3cce YouTube: tinyurl.com/9uktjdfs 

We talk about the five factors of health all the time, but what are the books, movies, and people we turn to to learn more about them? We’re giving you our list this week. ========== EXPECT TO LEARN: ==========  📍 The question to ask yourself before (or while) you’re watching the news 📍 How to combine CrossFit with seasonal outdoor pursuits 📍 Some strategies for eating clean when you’re days are packed 📍 How to recover, train, and eat while breastfeeding 📍 A surprising revelation Ben had recently while in Sweden ==========  GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  ==========  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  ==========  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, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding. Find him on Instagram.

Way back in October of 2020, the writer James Clear (author of the wildly successful “Atomic Habits”) joined us on the show. In this clip from that episode, we talk about the patience required to build the kinds of habits that have real impact. Watch the full episode here. =========== Subscribe:  =========== Apple Pods: tinyurl.com/3nu78tsh Spotify: tinyurl.com/ekhp3cce YouTube: tinyurl.com/9uktjdfs

Life, business, and sport continually give us setbacks. How do we know when those setbacks mean we should quit or that we should put our head down and keep working? That’s the listener question we’re talking about this week. =========== EXPECT TO LEARN:  =========== 📍 How often Ben uses chalk in the gym 📍 Fueling strategies for a 24-hour burpee challenge 📍 Tips for getting over performance anxiety 📍 Why the ultimate success might be peace of mind 📍 A strategy to fall asleep faster =========== OUR SPONSORS:  =========== 🔗 LMNT  🔗 Ice Barrel  =========== GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE: =========== 🔗 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  =========== 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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

Why is it so easy to get so busy? In this clip from a longer conversation Patrick had with the Digital Barbell podcast, he talks about some of the strategies he’s implemented to stay busy without getting overwhelmed. You can listen to the full conversation here. 📍 Subscribe: Apple Pods: tinyurl.com/3nu78tsh Spotify: tinyurl.com/ekhp3cce YouTube: tinyurl.com/9uktjdfs

Kelly and Juliet Starrett are world-class trainers and longtime leaders in the CrossFit space. They join us this week to talk about their newest book, Built to Move, which is a masterclass for all of us who want to continue to kick ass into our 90s. EXPECT TO LEARN: 📍 Why Kelly and Juliet wanted to write Built to Move 📍 What the 10 out of 10 Club is (and why we should want to get in it) 📍 How the book can be used as a roadmap for both coaches and athletes 📍 What “rewilding” the body means and why it’s important 📍 Why the aim of our health should be greater durability Thanks to our sponsors this week: LMNT | Ice Barrel GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

In this clip from a longer episode from 2019, Ben and Patrick talk about responsibility, focus, and the need for all of us to better pay attention to the few things inside our control. Watch the full episode here. 📍 Subscribe: Apple Pods: tinyurl.com/3nu78tsh Spotify: tinyurl.com/ekhp3cce YouTube: tinyurl.com/9uktjdfs

How can we increase the skill of adaptability? That’s the listener question we’re talking through this week, hitting on the reality of change, the role our ego and attitude plays, and what we can learn from Sesame Street. EXPECT TO LEARN: 📍 How to incorporate training for a half-marathon into CrossFit 📍 If there should be an upper limit on daily protein powder intake 📍 The shift in routine Ben has made to prioritize more sleep 📍 What to say to someone who complains too much 📍 The new 30-day challenge we’re kicking off Thank you to our sponsors this week: Timeline Nutrition | LandKind GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE: Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions! 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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

Here’s a clip from a conversation Ben had recently with Bryan from the Young & Alive Company. They talk about focus, distraction, the voice in our heads, and what we can learn from the Navy SEALs. Watch the full conversation here. 📍 Subscribe: Apple Pods: tinyurl.com/3nu78tsh Spotify: tinyurl.com/ekhp3cce YouTube: tinyurl.com/9uktjdfs

How do you set priorities when so many things feel important? That’s our question; we’ve got our friend Jon Gilson here to help answer it. Also, your questions about Zone 2 training, doing work we don’t hate, and outgrowing friends. Learn more about Optimal Agency here. Thanks to our sponsors this week: LMNT | Caldera+Lab | UCAN EXPECT TO LEARN:  📍 What Zone 2 training is and whether CrossFitters need to prioritize it 📍 What to think about when balancing financial security and interesting work 📍 Why it’s important to consider your friend group over the course of a decade 📍 The problem with the Rocks analogy we so often hear 📍 Why Ben thinks we should all be using kitchen scissors more often GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

Here’s a clip from a conversation Ben had recently with James Geering of the Behind the Shield podcast. They chat about how to get the conversation moving in the right direction as it relates to health, manufactured stress, and how to be influential. Click here for the full episode. 📍 Subscribe: Apple Pods: tinyurl.com/3nu78tsh Spotify: tinyurl.com/ekhp3cce YouTube: tinyurl.com/9uktjdfs 

In many ways, the 5 Factors of Health are as much a hedge against stress as a pursuit of performance and longevity. We unpack how stress manifests itself in the body and why it’s so important we are aware of it. EXPECT TO LEARN: 📍 How to think about weightlifting as you get older 📍 What you need to recognize as you make progress on losing a lot of weight 📍 Some suggestions for what to do if you find yourself getting sick a lot 📍 How to create balance when working from home 📍 Four books and two podcasts Ben and Patrick have enjoyed lately GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

Ben was recently on EC Synkowski’s podcast, The Consistency Project, talking about how CrossFit New England thinks about nutrition challenges. Here’s a segment of that episode where Ben discusses the 3 challenges that the gym currently runs. Click here to listen to their full convo. 📍 Subscribe: Apple Pods: tinyurl.com/3nu78tsh Spotify: tinyurl.com/ekhp3cce YouTube: tinyurl.com/9uktjdfs

Chris Kresser is one of the most respected clinicians and educators in the fields of Functional Medicine and ancestral health and one of Ben’s go-to’s for all things nutrition. He joins us this week to talk about nutrient density, feeding kids, gut health, and a bunch more. EXPECT TO LEARN: 📍 The reasons Chris says eating a clean diet isn’t enough anymore 📍 Why our microbiome is so important to our overall health 📍 The various ways you can get a sense of your own gut health 📍 The benefits of organ meats 📍 Some bad news about chicken Learn more about Chris here. Big thanks to our sponsors this week: Miracle Made | BlueChew GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions! 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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

In this Quick Set from a previous episode, Ben shares his experience living with and dealing with dyslexia. For the full episode, search the feed for “What We’re Reading #02.” 📍 Subscribe to the show:  Apple Pods: tinyurl.com/3nu78tsh Spotify: tinyurl.com/ekhp3cce YouTube: tinyurl.com/9uktjdfs

We’re talking about what it means to “trust the process” this week, breaking down the 10 things we all need to keep in mind as we pursue our goals. Also, your questions about breath work, leadership, feeding kids, and more. EXPECT TO LEARN:  📍 Where F45 may fall short in comparison to CrossFit 📍 Why awareness is the most important step of making things better 📍 The reason why Ben switched his breathwork practice 📍 Why leadership is the hardest job in the world 📍 How the steps we take toward a goal matter more than the goal GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  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 and podcaster. Find him on Instagram.

How do you define success? What impact do you want to have? What problem are you trying to solve? Just a few of the big questions we’re talking about and through this week. We’re also cooking up a new monthly challenge, so stay tuned til the end! EXPECT TO LEARN: 📍 What “overload” looks like in the gym, and when you should use it 📍 What to consider if you’re not losing the weight you think you should be 📍 The first big goal in getting back from an injury 📍 Why we can always have more compassion and empathy 📍 How to get the universe to nudge you in the right direction Thanks to our sponsors this week: BetterHelp | Miracle Made | BlueChew GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  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, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding. Find him on Instagram.

Friend-of-the-show EC Synkowski joins us this week to answer your questions about training for a 500lb deadlift into a sub-5:00 mile test, back injuries, and whether CrossFitters should try to work out during multi-day fasts. EXPECT TO LEARN: 📍 EC’s woo-woo moment that helped her tackle her long-time back problems 📍 EC’s first big question to ask about fasting 📍 Ben’s prescription for a weak back 📍 What to focus on when selling transformational coaching services 📍 The core memories that got us hooked on CrossFit 10+ years ago Thanks to our sponsors this week: LMNT | UCAN | BlueChew GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  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, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding. Find him on Instagram.

Steven Kotler is expert on flow. He joins us to talk about why it’s important to develop multiple pathways to flow, why our mindset around aging needs a major rewrite, and the surprising correlation to lifelong confidence. EXPECT TO LEARN: 📍 What flow is and why it’s so important 📍 Why dynamic motion training is essential 📍 What it means to “get geezered” 📍 Why stability equals confidence 📍 The protocol for peak performance aging Big thank to our sponsors: Miracle Made | BetterHelp | Blinkist GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  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, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding. Find him on Instagram.

Introducing the CompTrain 3x3, where Ben answers your questions about the pursuit of elite athletic performance and mental toughness. This week, we’ve got 10 questions from the first 6 episodes of that show to give you a taste. Find the show on YouTube Learn more about our sponsors: Blinkist | LMNT EXPECT TO LEARN: 📍 When to know if self-induced pressure is a good thing 📍 How the male/female calorie ratios on the bike or rower were calculated 📍 How to know if you’re a “competitor” 📍 The most important thing to think about when you’re injured 📍 What concurrent training is, and why CompTrain programs that way GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions! 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, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding. Find him on Instagram.

We’re talking about the actions to take (nearly) every day to balance the five factors of health. We’re also answering questions about red light therapy, cutting people out of our lives, and nasal breathing during CrossFit. EXPECT TO LEARN: 📍 The usefulness of nasal breathing during hard CrossFit workouts 📍 Why meditation and breath work are hard habits to stick to 📍 Some tips on eating well while in big cities 📍 Why the people you spend the most time with matter so much 📍 Some recent recommendations for things we’re enjoying This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  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, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding. Find him on Instagram.

We get philosophical this week, discussing a way to think about the purpose of suffering and the very nature of existence. We also answer your questions about blending CrossFit with yoga and dealing with negativity at work. EXPECT TO LEARN: 📍 The ideal body fat percentage for long-term health 📍 Why the fear of death is actually an amazing gift 📍 How lucky we are to experience emotion 📍 Why this might be heaven 📍 All about our latest 30-day challenge Learn more about LMNT here. GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE: Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions! 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, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding. Find him on Instagram.

We’re sharing a conversation I had recently with Chris Irwin of the Rare Sense podcast. We get into a lot, including the power of visualizations, adapting the elite athlete mindset to everyday life, and what my morning routine looks like these days. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

In this throwback episode from 2018, we’ve got our top 10 ways to improve sleep. We’re talking about why optimizing our sleep is really optimizing our health and how spending money on better sleep is a worthwhile investment. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Your questions are back! We’re talking about the anxiety that comes with being a hard charger, eliminating gossip from a work culture, my thoughts on whether a coach has to be the fittest person in the room, and more! Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Questions About: 00:55 - Dealing with the stress of being a hard-charger 12:55 - Taking care of yourself without guilt as a parent 16:04 - Healing a back injury without feeling lazy or undertrained 17:40 - Learning how to deal with comments about weight loss 09:00 -  Recommending healthy snacks 21:50 - Ridding a work culture of toxic gossip 25:25 - Knowing how often to max out your lifts 27:10 -  Being a coach without being the fittest person in the gym 28:55 -  Becoming competitive in CrossFit without PEDs // About Us: 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Colin O’Brady is back to talk more specifically about his new book, the 12-Hour Walk. Patrick and I give our own experiences doing the walk, we talk about self-limiting beliefs, identifying your personal Everest, and more. Find out more about Colin’s new book, The 12-Hour Walk, here. Find us on Social: Colin | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We’re joined by explorer and author Colin O’Brady. We chat about life as an explorer, the zone of comfortable complacency, his belief that we all have reservoirs of untapped potential, his new book, and much more. Find out more about Colin’s new book, The 12 Hour Walk, here. Find us on Social: Colin | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We’ve got four questions this round of HopperTalk - discussing ways we think the CrossFit Games season could improve, Eckhart Tolle, noise, misinformation, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Questions Answered: 01:00 -  What are two ways you would make the CrossFit season better? 06:00 - What’s the one problem you want to be known for helping solve? 08:30 - What are we living in the golden age of? 15:35 - What is the single most liberating thought you’ve ever had? // About Us: 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We’re bringing you a conversation I had recently with DJ Hillier of the MiFit podcast. We dive into transformational coaching, how I got into the mental side of competition, balancing passion and obsession, and more. Find us on Social: DJ | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Your questions are back in the spotlight this week! We’re talking about how to design a non-competitive after-school program, why being clear is kind when running your gym, why CrossFit Games athletes don’t move perfectly, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Question About: 01:00 - Distinguishing between complaining and helping 03:00 - Responding to death in the family 06:10 - Dealing with grandparents and junk food 07:50 - Stretching right after a hard workout 09:30 - Getting strong with limited equipment and time 10:40 - Designing a non-competitive after-school program 12:50 - Blurring the line between moving fast and moving perfectly 15:10 - Coming back from a bad working 16:20 - Creating selection criteria for a sports team 17:50 - Distributing cubbies fairly in a CrossFit gym 20:00 - Having different prices for different members of a gym // About Us: 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We’re talking through a simple, actionable nutritional framework this week. We discuss the spectrum of ultra processed to ultra clean, why being hungry sometimes isn’t a bad thing, and why awareness is so important. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick // About Us: 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

I’m giving my thoughts (good and bad) on the 2022 CrossFit Games. We’re talking programming, whether I’m excited about the future of the event, why the Capitol was such an amazing event, and much more. -- Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

In this throwback episode, we’re revisiting our 10 principles of connecting with each other. We’re talking about why small things are big things, gossip, listening sincerely, and leading with tough love. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We’re talking this week about how to maintain high expectations without getting overwhelmed by self-induced pressure. We discuss the relationship between disciple and surrender, peak performance, judgment, and learning. -- Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We’re sharing a conversation I had recently with Michael Caz. We dive into leadership, Unlocking Potential, simplicity, making moments matter, using pain as a gift, and so much more. Find us on Social: Caz | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Patrick & I talk about the last five books we’ve each read, some of our biggest takeaways, my experience with dyslexia, how to strengthen the habit of reading, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Books mentioned: Life Force by Tony Robbins Indistractible by Nir Eyal The Talent War by Sarraille & Randle The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey Insanely Simple by Ken Segall The Minimalist Entrepreneur by Sahil Lavingia Marketing Full Circle by Wayne Mullins Free Time by Jenny Blake Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz The Scout Mindset by Julia Galef 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Heather joins us again, this time to discuss what it looks like to chase excellence in marriage or relationships. We talk about values, bringing intention to hard conversations, not letting ego get in the way, and lots more. Find us on Social: Heather | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Find us on Social: Heather | Ben | Patrick Question Answered: 01:40 - What did you finally realize was just a huge waste of time? 17:00 - What skill or life lesson do you wish your parents would’ve taught you? 33:36 - If you had enough money to build your dream house, what’s a strange room or feature you’d include? // About Us: 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Your questions return this week! We’re talking about visualizing failure vs success, talking with kids about hard work, bench presses, knowing when to quit, and a bunch more. To get your question in the cue, send Patrick a DM on IG. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Question About: 01:50 - Making sure our professional ladder is up against the right wall. 07:30 - Knowing if quitting something is the right move. 09:40 - Ensuring fitness is a priority when work is overwhelming. 13:20 - Why CrossFit doesn’t include more bench pressing. 15:18 - Passing judgement on someone’s love of the gym. 19:35 - Visualizing failure vs success. 22:30 - Understanding strength endurance. 25:20 - Being competitive in CrossFit as an ectomorph. 26:45 - Helpful cues & phrases for coaching a longer metcon. 29:25 - Using tone to avoid complaining. 30:20 - Talking with kids about hard work. 33:00 - Building a positive environment from scratch. 34:45 - Doing everything at a gym vs starting my own gym. 40:00 - Encouraging kids to have a curious competitor mindset. // About Us: 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding. // About Us: 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

I recently joined the gentlemen from Mark Bell’s Power Project for a wide-ranging conversation and wanted to share it here. We talk about word choices, why success isn’t binary, the mantra for a happy life, and much more. Find us on Social: Mark | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We’re revisiting an episode from the archives this week, reminding ourselves of our 10 principles of training. We’re talking about starting with mechanics, understanding relative intensity, weaknesses, thresholds, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

In this edition of HopperTalk, we’re talking about the one law we would create if we could, how much money Elon Musk makes every day, why weddings aren't worth the money, Jurassic Park, playing CDs in the car, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Question Answered: 01:10 - What is something that is practically useless but it is treated as a luxury item? 06:30 - What are some things your children will never experience the way you did? 13:50 - If you could create one law for your country what would it be? 24:00 - What’s a crazy statistic? 33:20 - If you could go back in time 10,000 years & make a cave painting to confuse everyone in the future, what would you draw? About Us: 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Ishan Shivanand is a mindfulness teacher and founder of Yoga of Immortals. He joins us to talk about the 4 aspects of meditation, integrative healing, starting from a place of joy, the responsibility of organizations, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We’re talking about the three levels of focus this week, diving into how to wrestle with the internal distractions that get in our way, what anxiety feels like and where it comes from, gaining traction, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Question About: 01:30 - Getting a spouse into CrossFit 05:50 - Knowing if it’s too late to be a competitive Games athlete 10:30 - Making the best of a sub-optimal job choice 16:00 - Incorporating spirituality into the think factor 23:20 - Earning trust as a coach 29:00 - Raising children to embrace challenges 34:20 - Learning how to move better in the gym 37:30 - Training athletes who don’t eat meat 41:50 - Thanking new members of your gym // About Us: 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

I recently chatted with Peter White of Coffee, Pods, & WODS, and wanted to share it here too. We covered a lot, including my ideal CrossFit Games athlete, the three decisions that dictate our future, reading books, and more. Find us on Social: CP&W | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Perfectionism is a curse amplified by highlight reels on social media. How can we learn to stop judging ourselves, develop hindsight in the present moment, and focus on our character? That’s what we’re unpacking this week. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

This round of HopperTalk has us talking through life’s cheat codes, things that are criminally over-priced, lessons from the pandemic, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Questions Answered: 01:05 - What are some cheat codes you’ve found in the game of life. 07:25 - What improved your quality of life so much that you wish you did it sooner? 15:20 - What’s criminally over-priced to you? 24:30 - What seems harmless but is actually dangerous? 30:50 - Looking back at COVID, what are some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned? 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We’ve got your questions on tap this week. We’re talking about what a de-load week looks like, how to prioritize health when life is busy, choosing the best kind of bodywork, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Questions Answered: 01:55 - Building confidence as a coach 04:15 - Admitting our least productive habits 06:45 - Dealing with long-term challenges 13:00 - Choosing the best kind of bodywork 15:10 - Designing a better physical education fitness test 22:20 - Understanding de-load weeks 26:20 - Motivating kids to workout 28:00 - Prioritizing health when life is busy 34:40 - Getting better at metcon workouts 38:45 - Buying a gym and eliminating class offerings 48:10 - Predicting the success of the young guns in CrossFit 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Stephen MR Covey has made a career of teaching people about trust. He joins us to talk about his new book, the difference between a trust & inspire leader vs. a command & control leader, shifting paradigms, & so much more. Learn more about Trust & Inspire here. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick // About Us: 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.  👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We're talking about our top nutrition principles in this rebroadcast from one of our most popular episodes. We talk about avoiding sugar, eating more veggies, understanding good vs bad fats, and eating mindfully. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Your questions are back this week! We’re talking about goals versus purpose, whether anonymous leaderboards might work, how to think about Fran, buying a gym, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Questions Answered: 02:50 - Working with a challenging employee 06:30 - Focusing on goals or purpose 08:45 - Earning trust with co-worker 11:15 - Taking vitamins & supplements (or not) 12:30 - Training when not sleeping enough 17:20 - Doing Fran for fitness or as a test 21:10 - Getting better at burpees 25:30 - Making leaderboards anonymous 29:50 - Buying a gym 36:00 - Making a Peloton-like version of CrossFit About Us: 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Dr. Nate Zinsser is the author of the book “The Confident Mind.” He joins us to discuss the mental toughness strategies he’s developed over 30 years of working with cadets at West Point and elite athletes at every level. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

The 3x3 is back! This round, I’m giving some strategies you can use to improve your confidence levels, increase your earning potential, and leave a lasting legacy. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

In this round of HopperTalk, Patrick and I give our thoughts on lies we tell to make other people feel better, why grades shouldn’t be taken so seriously, how to react when something bad happens, and much more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Mark England and Kimberly Kesting from Enlifted Coaches are back to continue our conversation about the victim mentality, should statements, soft talk, the imposter syndrome, writing down our scary thoughts, and much more. Find us on Social: Enlifted Coaches | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We’ve got Mark England and Kimberly Kesting from Enlifted Coaches in town this week to talk about the victim mentality, soft talk, owning your story, pressure language, and much more. Be sure to tune in next week for part two. Find us on Social: Enlifted Coaches | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Your questions return this week! We’re talking about how making the most out of training solo, dealing with the challenge of injuries that keep coming back, prioritizing balance, and a whole lot more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

I recently had a chance to chat with Chris at the Modern Wisdom podcast. We talked about a whole bunch, including Castro’s exit from the Games, Katrin's decision to stay in Iceland, risk, flow, leadership, and a bunch more. Find us on Social: Chris | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Patrick & I pull together the last five books we’ve read, talk about how we picked them, what we’re getting from them, why reading with purpose beats reading at random, making connections, diving deep, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

How do we stack awareness, intention, and action to make the most out of this one life we’ve got? That’s what we’re talking about today in this short episode. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

HopperTalk is back this week! Patrick and I are talking about what we think are scams, why nothing should start before 10 am, integrity, generosity, little things that are signals that a person is good, and a lot more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We're talking about the different areas of focus for a CrossFit Games athlete and someone who's chasing health, diving into maximizing your minutes, keeping the frisbee of life in balance, and developing a single-minded focus. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We’re unpacking the two most important things to get right in your business, talking about the marketing hourglass, creating a calm organization, distinguishing between coaching for development vs. performance, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We're revisiting our most popular episode ever to kick 2022 off right, diving into the 6 steps we need to take to develop more mental toughness, including becoming a learner, expecting adversity, and killing the critic. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Your questions are back this week. We’re talking about what to do between double sessions to recover, dealing with family members who aren’t on the same nutritional page as you, training for a Spartan Beast, and more! Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Multiple-times Games athlete Cole Sager joins us this week to talk about being a pro athlete, seeking solitude, being grateful, becoming a father, having curiosity, and a whole lot more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We're talking this week about health as an integrated system and about how the 5 Factors are all essential inputs in that system. We dive into the knowledge/doing gap, kicking ass into our 90s, the age of abundance, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

In a (somewhat accidental) follow-up to our conversation about the Fulfillment Framework, we're talking about why pride looks selfish in the short term, making the right kind of difficult choices, why being joyful is brave, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We're rebroadcasting a conversation I had recently on the Keep Going Podcast. John and I talk about the hierarchy of mindset, why taking massive action matters more than anything else, how to work through bad days, and a bunch more. Grab the new book here. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Dr. Amishi Jha is a researcher, professor, and author of the new book, Peak Mind. She joins us to talk about the work her lab is doing to uncover the power of mindfulness training on attention, focus, and resilience. Find us on Social: Amishi | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We've got my co-writer on Unlocking Potential, Christine Bald, on to talk about the process of writing a book, getting things wrong until you get it right, balancing patience and ambition, and a bunch more. Find us on Social: Christine | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

For the last few years, I've been working on a new book. It's called Unlocking Potential, and it's about leadership, getting a team into group flow, the mistakes I've made, and a bunch more. Get a sneak peek in this episode. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

In this throwback to 2018, we're rebroadcasting an episode all about the habits we have that we should finally kill - including hitting the snooze button, yelling at people in traffic, and using your phone while you eat. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Author Ron Friedman joins us this week to discuss his new book, "Decoding Greatness." We talk about the three ways to find success, the "scoreboard principle," and what it looks like to practice in three dimensions. Find us on Social: Ron | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

This week, Patrick and I trade answers about whether CrossFit should have had Monster Energy at the Games, what we want every teenager to know, the big changes we've made that have had the biggest positive impact, and more! Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Before you decide to go keto or vegan or low carb or high protein, take a listen to this short conversation about the most important question you need to ask and answer, first principles, and starting with the end in mind. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Lauren Johnson is a mental performance coach for professional athletes and entrepreneurs. She joins us to talk about the difference between challenges and threats, the power of self-talk, separating facts from feelings, and more. Find us on Social: Lauren | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Your questions are back in the spotlight! This time around, we're talking about how to make sure your ladder is up against the right wall, the pros and cons of an open gym period, lactate threshold training, and a bunch more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We've talked about making sure our ladders are up against the right walls, but how do you also make sure you're climbing up the ladder? We dive into that here, talking about the system I use to chase fulfillment, from my big goals to my daily tasks. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Sergey Young is an author and investor working to radically extend human health and lifespans. He joins us to talk about the definition of aging, the technology of the near future, creating lives worth extending, and more. Find us on Social: Sergey | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Is comparison the thief of joy? That's the question we pose at the start of this week's episode, talking about intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation, what a true competitor looks like, and how to use our ambition for good. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We're getting into some best practices for delivering effective GPP programming. We're talking about programming for horsepower, why 18-minute WODs shouldn't be considered "long," and why we offer three different programming tracks to our members. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We're revisiting one of our most popular conversations from the early days of the podcast, talking about why I prefer to keep my nutritional advice simple, the value of getting blood work done, & why both quality & quantity matter. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

HopperTalk is back this week. Patrick and I talk through the adult problems nobody prepared us for, whether Tia is the most dominant athlete in CrossFit Games history, things from the 90s that we miss, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Questions Answered: 02:05 - What's a quote that's permanently changed the way you look at things? 11:10 - What is something free on the internet that everyone should take advantage of? 24:00 - What benchmark workout should appear in the CrossFit Games? 28:40 - What is the worst minor injury? 31:50 - What is an "adult problem" that nobody prepared you for? 37:50 - Is Tia Clair Toomey the most dominant athlete the CrossFit Games has ever seen? 40:50 - What has no right to be as difficult as it is? 54:00 - What is a simple, painful fact that people need to just get over & accept? 59:05 - What's something from the 90s that you miss? 63:54 - How many fist pumps are acceptable in a training session? 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We're talking through my experience at the 2021 CrossFit Games - from NoBULL's first year as the sponsor, to my thoughts on the programming, CompTrain's overall performance, and the young guns making a run for the podium. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

The 2:00 Drill is back, featuring your questions on the chasing excellence approach to dating, why we don't program strength-only days at CrossFit New England, choosing whether to go to the gym early or sleep in, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Questions Answered: 02:10 - Approaching dating with an attitude of chasing excellence 04:20 - Differentiating one-upping and trying to relate 06:40 - Determining whether to go to workout early or sleep more 08:50 - Spending $65 a week on groceries 10:50 - Giving marketing tips to personal trainers 13:00 - Handling life when your significant other isn't down with CrossFit 14:40 - Breathing better during metcons 17:15 - Adding a strength portion to daily programming 20:55 - Working with a member with bad body odor 23:00 - Preparing yourself to work at the CompTrain Academy 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

In this edition of our 3x3, I'm talking through some of the small things that CrossFit New England does well, how I think about building stronger relationships, and ways to make our lives simpler. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We're revisiting one of our most popular conversations from the early days of the podcast, talking about why it's important to determine our level of discipline and then never break the chain of daily success. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

We talk all the time about the five factors of health, but how do they apply to our kids? We're diving into that question, talking about how I ensure that my kids are eating well, how we set up the house to reduce food conflict, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Your questions are back in the spotlight. We're answering questions about programming when you have limited time and equipment, why I don't think we need to establish a VO2 Max threshold for Games athletes, dealing with CrossFit skeptics, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Questions Answered: 01:45 - Dealing with comparing ourselves to others 04:30 - Increasing coaching skills with limited time 06:40 - Moving from living to thriving 10:40 - Determining VO2 Max for CrossFit athletes 12:00 - Training for physique and health 14:45 - Programming for limited training time 18:30 - Communicating patience for members looking for progress 21:45 - Seeing women become Navy SEALs 24:00 - Surviving as a gym without social media 28:45 - Taking cold showers in the morning and hot ones at night 31:50 - Running faster by running faster 34:35 - Dealing with CrossFit skeptics 43:00 - Moving the CrossFit Games out of the USA 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Greg McKeown is the author of Essentialism and Effortless. He joins us to discuss why easy things aren't always trivial, having faith that the process will work, working backward from our optimal max, and a whole lot more. Find us on Social: Greg | Ben | Patrick 👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. 👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

This week, we're republishing a conversation I had with Chris Williamson on his podcast, Modern Wisdom. We go deep on what it means to live a life of excellence, the hierarchy of mindset, living for the remembering self, and a whole lot more.

HopperTalk is back! This time around, Patrick and I are giving our thoughts on normalizing naps, what we'd change about CrossFit's early days, whether we think first impressions are usually accurate, our favorite Games events, and more!

Dr. Jonathan Fader is a performance psychologist who's worked with pro athletes in the MLB and NFL. He joins us this week to talk about earning trust, getting our mental reps in, why he sees life as a sport, and a bunch more.

Our 2:00 Drill is back! We're answering your questions about learning how to relax without guilt, helping athletes fulfill their dreams, understanding the difference between discomfort & pain, & lots more!

Modern medicine might define health as the absence of disease, but that's not a good enough definition for us. So we're offering our own, in a format that many CrossFitters will recognize. (See full episode description for text.)

Michael Jordan didn't pay Tim Grover to be his trainer. He paid our guest to not be anybody else's trainer. The author of the new book, Winning, joins us to talk about why showing up is not half the battle and so much more.

This rendition of our 3x3 has us talking through tips for creating useful BHAGs in our businesses and lives, ways to remember that we're all going to die, and my recommendations for improving mobility.

We've got some more great questions on this month's 2:00 Drill. We're talking through low intensity for CrossFitters, constructing a useful warm-up, what to say to an athlete right before a performance, and more!

Peter Rahal co-founded RXBar inside of a Chicago CrossFit gym, eventually selling to Kelloggs. He joins us to talk about the original vision of the business, the power of dyslexia, building culture, and the messy process of figuring out what's next.

HopperTalk is back! This time around, Patrick & I share our answers to questions about CrossFit going mainstream, what hell might look like, what businesses we'd start regardless of our qualifications, and a handful more.

Lots of interest lately about the importance of breathwork, so we're talking about my 100-day experiment with Wim Hoff breathing, what I learned from the Navy SEALs about stress management, and where I recommend you start learning how to breathe better.

Robb Wolf is an author, the founder of LMNT, and co-host of Healthy Rebellion Radio. He joined us to dive deep into a bunch of nutrition questions I've got, including nutrient density, how to feed our kids, and keto for CrossFitters.

Your questions are back in the spotlight today. In this edition of the 2:00 Drill, we're talking about adrenal fatigue, box breathing, how much volume is too much when pursuing health, and a whole bunch more.

Matt Fitzgerald is a coach and author of more than twenty books, including "How Bad Do You Want It?" In this conversation, we talk about pacing by feel, mental toughness vs mental fitness, competing for our identity, and lots more.

The 3x3 returns! This round, we're answering questions about questions. Here are the questions I think we should all be asking ourselves regularly to improve our lives, our businesses, and our performances.

We're diving back into our conversation about the future of CompTrain, talking this week about our Elite athlete experience, what we'll look for in future Dev Team members, and what the Training Academy will one day look like.

What is the CompTrain Academy? That's the big question we're answering this week. I'm talking about the origins of the idea, why it wouldn't have happened without a change in CrossFit's ownership and a new CEO at CompTrain.

A special CrossFit Open edition of our 2:00 Drill this week! We're taking your questions about finding a coach, using CompTrain but missing the community in the gym, and my take on who gets to call themselves a competitor.

With so many people talking about how to chase excellence, it can be hard to continue moving forward when it feels like there's still so much left to figure out. Here are the strategies that have helped me keep perspective.

We're giving this new episode format a second go this week, talking through 14 random questions like where Lebron James might place at the CrossFit Games, what old person things that we do, pet peeves, and lots more!

Greg Everett is the founder of Catalyst Athletics and the author of the new book, "Tough." In this conversation, we dive into pursuing toughness by developing our character, our capability, our capacity, and our commitment.

We're reaching back into the grab bag of your questions for this month's 2:00 Drill, talking about helping kids with mindset, scaling businesses, my thoughts on the value of hypertrophy training alongside CrossFit, and more.

Steven Kotler is the author of 13 books, including "The Rise of Superman." His newest book, "The Art of Impossible" is a deep dive into how to achieve peak performance, and is out now.

We're always getting questions about the books, movies, and podcasts we've enjoyed lately - so this week we're doing a 3x3 to help fill your bookshelves, Netflix queues, & Spotify playlists. All links are in the show notes!

Is the advice to "just do what makes you happy" a bad strategy? That's what we're talking about today, diving into what creates fulfillment, why we have to be careful about always opting for "fun," and loving the process.

The 2:00 Drill is back this week, answering your questions about discipline and consistency, why I no longer do certain movements in my training, and my advice for how to work with and lead "sled dogs."

We're testing out a new (fun?) show format this week called 10 Questions. Patrick and I share our answers to a handful of random questions, including popular things that are annoying and the most underrated CrossFit athletes.

Do you need to develop a killer instinct to get to the top of your chosen sport or profession? That's what we're talking about today, diving into my hierarchy of mindset and the 80/20 rule for tapping into the dark side.

In this month's rendition of the 3x3, I'm tackling not obvious things to do before opening a gym, lead more effectively, and ways to develop more of a growth mindset.

Back at the 2:00 Drill this week, answering your questions about the importance of heart rate, how to work with clients who aren't bought in, how Katrin overcame her back injury, and lots more.

This week, I'm breaking down the five traits all coaches need to strengthen to be effective: enthusiasm, curiosity, empathy, confidence, and subject matter expertise.

We're back at our 3x3 this week, talking self-fulfilling prophesies that don't serve us, ways to enter into difficult conversations, and the lessons I've learned the hard way.

What would I do if granted the ability to design and implement a high school health curriculum? That's the hypothetical we're talking about today, covering the different ways I'd introduce the Five Factors to the students.

We're home from the 2020 CrossFit Games and have lots of thoughts, hope for the future, and work to do. Here's my recap of our time out in Aromas.

Author James Clear joins us this week to talk about opportunity costs, why reading is such a valuable habit, and why entrepreneurship is such a powerful engine of personal growth.

We're jumping back into your questions this week, covering things like training for the CrossFit Games as a teen, how to warm-up for an early-morning workout, and the advice I hear all the time that I think is bad.

Reflecting on the last six months of being in lockdown, today we're talking about being a realist, what to do when we're surrounded by negativity, and balancing being in the moment and anticipating the future.

I recently joined Greg McKeown on the Essentialism podcast, where we talked about measuring the most important things, learning about my leadership biases, and editing our lives to be sure there's space for the essential few. Here's our conversation.

Post Stage 1 of the 2020 CrossFit Games, we're talking about the lessons I'm taking away from the weekend, the benchmarks I'd use to assess an athlete's capacity, and what I'm anticipating for the future of the sport.

There are best practices that every CrossFit coach can use to make their classes more professional and more effective. They include things like starting workouts better, not making eye contact, and using too many filler words.

We're diving back into your questions this episode, covering topics from Wim Hof to why we don't program high-level gymnastics movements at CFNE to my advice for gyms as we continue to navigate these tough economic conditions.

In early 2017, we did an episode about simplifying nutrition. This week, we're continuing to think about how to cut through the noise, focusing on how our goals and our eating styles should determine our nutrition strategy.

These days, I'm no longer training for peak performance, but for longevity and function. In this episode, we break down the ten principles you should be focused on in the gym if you want to do the same.

In this round of our 3x3, I'm giving my three hot takes on skills worth developing, health metrics to track, and strategies for staying resilient. We touch on the power of focus, parenting with a growth mindset, and more.

We're diving back into listener questions this week, talking about the difference between being proud and being prideful, my advice for using weightlifting shoes during metcons, what's on the horizon for CompTrain, and more!

We often talk about using CrossFit to get better at CrossFit, but what if your athletic pursuits happen outside the gym? We're talking about that this episode, focusing on lifestyle, competitive, and endurance athletes.

We've talked before about paying attention to all ten of the components of fitness. Today, we're looking at how I might measure and assess each one in an attempt to understand where an athlete's weakest link might lie.

We talk a lot about the power of mindset. Today we're bringing many of the principles we've touched on before down to the level of tomorrow's training session, discussing tips for before, during, and after a workout.

The 2:00 Drill returns this week! We're answering your questions about self-sabotage, using movements like burpees as punishment for kids, and the powerlifting program I'd recommend alongside CompTrain programming, and more.

The 3x3 is back! I'm offering some thoughts on 3 silver linings I'm paying attention to, 3 factors that determine performance, and 3 signs that will make me hopeful about CFHQ's new leadership.

EC Synkowski from OptimizeMe Nutrition is back to talk about how the five factors compare to the four measurables she tracks through The Consistency Project and the importance of simplifying our pursuit of health.

These last few weeks have certainly been the craziest in the history of CrossFit. We break down what's happened, the current state of things, and my thoughts on CFHQ's new owner.

We're back with an AMA I did on the CompTrain Instagram page. I'm answering questions about coming back to the gym post-COVID lockdowns, if we'll continue doing CrossFit benchmarks, getting better at toes-to-bar, and more.

This week, we've got an AMA I did on Instagram Live, answering some of your questions on the current state of CrossFit, affiliation, and certification, as well as my hopes for the future.

Writer Ryan Holiday joins us to talk about Stoicism, the current unrest in the U.S. as we grapple with racial injustice, and the importance of developing self-awareness.

Jason Khalipa, former CrossFit Games champ and founder of NCFIT, joins us this week to talk about the AMRAP Mentality, earned confidence, and the value of consistently checking in with yourself.

If you're struggling to keep your head up during these tough times, if you're stressed about what might happen, if you need a reminder of just what you're made of ... this episode is for you.

This week's 3x3 includes three ways you can assess your mental toughness, three things I'm focused on while being in lockdown, and three things gyms should keep in mind as they begin to reopen.

Talking this week about how we're thinking about and planning for the 2020 CrossFit Games, my advice to athletes looking to continue making progress during the lockdowns, and why programming for yourself is a bad idea.

We asked you guys to send us some lockdown specific questions for this week's 2:00 Drill, and you didn't disappoint. We tackle whether I think gym members should be paying full price right now, limiting words, and what to do to make sure we don't get too down.

The 3x3 returns this week with my hot takes on the 3 supplements every CrossFit athlete should take, the 3 exercises we should be doing (that won't show up in your CrossFit programming), and 3 ways to develop trust.

This week, we're revisiting one of our most popular episodes - but for our quarantine times. Here is my list of 10 bad habits to avoid while we're all locked in our houses.

This week, Patrick and I catching up after a few weeks of quarantine and talking about shifting our routines, how we responded at CFNE, and the best way to fight the anxiety of the times.

This week's episode is borrowed from Jason Khalipa's podcast, Business of Fitness. Down at WODapalooza this year, Ben & Jason sat down to talk about managing, working hard, delegation, & leadership.

We're talking about knowing how to differentiate between when it's time to go (change gyms, leave a job, end a relationship) and when it's time to make the situation better by making ourselves better.

The 3x3 is back this week! I give you 3 books every athlete should read, 3 pieces of gear I'd recommend for any home gym, and 3 ways to get at better night of sleep tonight.

We're breaking down the process I've used to transform my higher-level goals into daily actions, why accountability partners are so helpful, and why it's not enough to say things like, "I want to lose 15 pounds this year."

The 2:00 Drill returns! This time around, we're answering your questions about whether we should be doing HSPU, how triathlon training can help someone's CrossFitting, and what kind of benchmark workouts you should be keeping track of.

We're talking about how you can raise concerns and have difficult conversations without feeling like you're whining, complaining, or making excuses.

The 3x3 is back! This week, I'm offering my take on the 3 numbers every gym owner should know, 3 ways to get organized, and 3 ways to deal with difficult people.

We're taking a few listener questions this week about how I'd coach somebody through performance anxieties that are getting in the way of competing, training, and enjoying the process. We talk about how to make practice more like game day, why Rich Froning loves EMOMs, and what I'd do with an athlete who gets nervous when the weight gets too high.

We're diving back into your questions this week, including my thoughts on four-day workweeks, how to judge a gym from afar, and how I prioritize what I focus on every day.

We're diving deep into the 6 steps we all need to take if we want to develop more mental toughness, including becoming a learner, expecting adversity, and killing the critic.

This week's 3x3 is looking at mistakes I think everyone should make, shortcuts to assessing overall health, & self-development books I've found helpful.

We're answering a few listener questions this week about how to respond to people who don't get why you're dedicating your time and energy to something they don't understand (like trying to make it to the CrossFit Games).

Another 2:00 Drill this week, covering questions about cheat meals, getting the most out of what you're reading, and tips on gaining weight.

We're going behind the scenes of my recent TEDx talk, talking about the kind of prep I did, the process of cutting it from 50 minutes to 12, and what it was like working with a coach.

We're back with another 3x3! This week, we're talking about 3 things I recommend everybody do every morning, 3 tips for parents of teenagers, and 3 ways to stop being so addicted to your phone.

We're answering a listener question today about responding to adversity, the balance between staying Stoic & being complacent, & how to know when you're reaching for something beyond your control.

We're back for more of your questions this week! We're talking about whether CrossFit should be in the Olympics, my tips for triathlon training, and my thoughts on "faking it until you make it."

We're breaking down the fifth of our 5 Factors of Health, this time diving into the principles you should keep in mind as it relates to training for health and longevity.

We're talking about why reinvesting back into the business is really just investing in yourself, how to know when you're ready to go all-in, and whether I think differently about reinvestment today than I did ten years ago.

The 3x3 is back! This time we're tackling 3 things you should be spending your money on, 3 excuses we should all stop using, and 3 movements to do next time you're on the road and away from the gym.

Heather stops by to talk about how she thought about doing CrossFit while she was pregnant, and we answer some listener questions about what training and nutrition advice we'd give for folks before, during, and post pregnancy.

We’re back with another episode of the Two Minute Drill! This time around, I’m answering questions about how to raise money for gym improvements from your current membership, training in a fasted state, & the discipline I most attribute to my own success.

We're taking a 10'000 foot view on how to make decisions, discussing how to factor in our principles, priorities, & purpose to make sure our lives are headed in the right direction.

We’re breaking down another one of our 5 Factors of Health, offering up the 10 principles of thinking meant to get your mindset right.

We’re talking about 3 nutrition tips you probably haven’t heard, 3 fitness routines (that aren’t CrossFit) worth trying, & the 3 types of people everybody should have in their lives.

A listener question about our intro sequence triggers a conversation about control vs concern, reactions vs responses, and the moments right after something happens during which our choices make a world of difference.

We’re tackling 14 more listener questions in this 2 Minute Drill, including how I think about the value of strict movements versus kipping, how we respond to athletes who show up to class late, and the difference between self-assessment and self-criticism. Thank you to everybody who sends in questions! Keep them coming, please.

We’re breaking down another one of our 5 Factors of Health. We’re talking about avoiding sugar, eating more veggies, understanding good vs bad fats, and how to eat mindfully.

We're talking about the technologies & metrics I use to optimize training, the psychological effects of wearing the leader's jersey during the Games, & how I push my athletes out of their comfort zones without risking injury.

We’re introducing a new episode format this week, breaking down 3 limiting words that are holding us back, 3 time-saving hacks, & 3 great movies that anybody chasing excellence should watch.

We’re taking a look at the CrossFit convention of prescribing specific weights, the arguments for and against doing so, and the importance of understanding the intended stimulus of a workout.

We’re answering more listener questions, including my tips for increasing your pull-up strength, how to recover better when you’re an older athlete, and whether CompTrain will ever field a team at the CrossFit Games.

We’re talking about how to create a culture for kids that’s all about developing a growth mindset, how I would suggest parents create a physical education curriculum for their kids, & why I don’t think it’s the job of the leader to push a kid to find their passion or purpose.

We’re taking a look at a theoretical scorecard I put together to judge how effectively a class is being organized and run. We cover subjects like how you set-up the room, why you coach more and talk less, & how to use music to create an exciting environment.

We’re going over the ten general physical skills that we’re trying to maximize in the gym, the sports that test them best, and whether I think practicing is more difficult than training.

EC is back to tackle some listener questions! We talk about supplementation for average CrossFitters, what a healthy diet looks like for kids, and whether gut microbiome tests are worth doing.

We’ve got the co-founder of NOBULL, Marcus Wilson, on to talk about how to spot the right people to work with, why NOBULL had to build a brand before they had products to sell, and how it was that they had the confidence to go up against the big guns in the footwear and apparel business.

We’re discussing how I would advise different kinds of people who want to start CrossFit but who are unable or unwilling to go to an affiliate.

We’re talking about the dangers of comparing ourselves to others, the role education has in setting us up to chase the wrong things, and how we can learn from our peers without letting their lives dictate our own pursuits.

We’re diving deep into marketing, branding, and advertising. We cover topics like the marketing hourglass, why advertising doesn’t work for CrossFit affiliates, creating talk triggers, and understanding your three uniques.

We’re answering more of your questions, covering topics from how to deal with doubt midway through a workout to what advice I’d give leaders who are tasked with motivating reluctant people.

E.C. Syncowski of OptimizeME Nutrition is back for a round of rapid-fire questions. We get her thoughts on everything from probiotics, dairy, and bacon, to bread, powdered greens, and alcohol.

We’re talking about what type of athletes thrive in a one-on-one environment, the differences between progressions and periodization in your programming, and whether I think coaches should specialize in either group or individual training.

We're talking about a bunch of ways to recover from our workouts better, from simple foam rolling to electric stimulation and float tanks.

We’ve got Max Isaak in to talk about what we’re doing at CrossFit TILT, how I think about scaling culture across multiple gyms, and the distinction between being a leader and a business owner.

We’re talking about failing, the difference between pain and suffering, and why I think the ability to learn from our failures is a skill everybody should learn to cultivate.

We're tackling some more of your questions this week, including the food I'd recommend you eat before a workout, what I'd do differently if I was starting CFNE today, and my tips on overcoming performance anxiety.

We’ve got EC Syncowski of OptimizeMe Nutrition in to talk about the fundamentals of a good diet, the 800g Challenge, and whether it’s more important to focus on the quality or the quantity of our food.

We’re walking through the framework I’ve developed for building CrossFit New England, which has five areas of focus: Culture, Product, Marketing, Management, and Systems.

We’re exploring some of the common trends we’ve seen come and (sometimes) go within CrossFit over the years, including the Zone Diet, post-workout chocolate milk, and subscriptions to mobility programming.

We’re tackling the concept of chasing excellence head on, talking about putting first things first & why pursuing success isn’t as meaningful as the pursuit itself.

We’re diving into all the changes at CrossFit, why the Sanctionals are better tests than Regionals, and how re-learning what it takes to get to the Games now.

We’re covering some of the foods you want to consider avoiding in your pursuit of better health, as well as a breakdown of how some simple changes can have a huge impact on the overall quality of what you’re eating.

We’re tackling more of your questions, talking about training seniors, active recovery, and whether I’ve ever considered a vegan diet.

Katrin is back to talk with us about the difference between pursuing health and optimal performance, as well as some of the hacks we’ve found to sleep better, eat cleaner, and train harder.

We’re diving into some ways to avoid overuse injuries in the gym, how to think about coming back from whatever setbacks may have derailed your training, & what we do as an affiliate to try to minimize injuries from happening at all.

We’re covering the ten ways we can all do a better job of connecting with each other - things like seeking first to understand, asking interesting questions, and complimenting without hesitation.

We're tackling some of your questions, covering topics from mobility, to what I think about people who train to the point of sickness, to whether bodybuilding has a role inside of CrossFit training.

We’re talking about how to climb the ladder of leadership with your athletes, why you should never ask a client why something isn’t working, and how to get the most out of your coaches.

We’re talking about some of the ways you can set yourself up for nutritional success at home, at the office, and when you go out to eat.

We're talking about how CrossFit New England on-boards new members, the three things we believe can guarantee our members' success, & why gyms should be paying attention to their churn rate.

Heather joins us in this episode to talk about living a life of honesty, dealing with the judgments of others, & why being vulnerable is how we can build trust.

I'm answering your questions on subjects like ideal body fat for health, whether fear is a good motivator for change, & what I would do if I had to start my coaching career over from scratch.

Katrin joins us to talk about how we came to start working together, how we think about & build toward our goals, & when we start creating the year's training plan.

We're breaking down what I mean when I say that I'm seeking balance in my life.

We're talking about the journey I took from being a personal trainer to building CrossFit New England as it stands today, what young trainers who want to start a gym should do first, & my best advice for owners who have just opened their doors.

We’re talking about developing better sleep habits & why optimizing our sleep is really optimizing our health.

In this episode: We're talking about strategies for maximizing the competitive career of a master's athlete.

We're talking about evolutionary sources of fear, the role it has played in my life, & how to use fear to make yourself better.

In this episode: We're covering the books & other resources that I most frequently recommend.

We're talking about the best practices & common mistakes of keeping your nutrition on point during your next CrossFit competition.

We're talking about putting first things first, the number of hours the average American spends watching television, & how I schedule my days & weeks to ensure I'm being effective.

We’re answering listener questions, including my advice to young athletes who want to make CrossFit a professional endeavor, recommended approaches to uncover food sensitivity issues, & my morning routine.

We're talking about the philosophy & the process we take at CFNE to hire new people, the value of trust, & how to share your vision so that the whole team buys into it.

We're talking about some of the reasons we're set up to fail when trying to eat clean, as well as a bunch of foods & ingredients to look out for as we pursue better health.

We're talking about whether Katrin, Fraser, & Tia are more talented than other athletes, the value of deliberate practice, & why I think it's important to first define what you would consider a success.

In this episode: We're talking about how to attack weaknesses in the gym, how to play to our strengths outside the gym, & how I've come to think about the areas in my own life I want to focus on improving. Show Notes: 01:54 - How I think about getting to the bottom of movement or performance issues 8:55 - Why I don't only competitive athletes should be focusing on their weaknesses 16:48 - What I think are the cross-over benefits to real life of learning how to attack weaknesses in the gym 23:14 - My thoughts on whether it ever makes sense to go hard on our weaknesses, even in lieu of strengths 28:55 - How I've come to think about & through my own areas of weakness // Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2lCdeWb Subscribe on Google Play: https://goo.gl/VPYj3G Grab the book: http://amzn.to/2vSjU4q Chasing Excellence is a show dedicated to dissecting what it means to live a life of excellence, both inside the gym & out. On each episode, we'll deep dive on various aspects of running a CrossFit affiliate, becoming a better coach or athlete, & maximizing your potential. Web: http://www.benbergeron.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachbenbergeron/

In this episode: We're imposing some imaginary constraints to explore some of my health & fitness principles. Topics include which CrossFit benchmarks workouts I'd pick to repeat forever if I had to, what single meal I would eat if I had to only eat one meal for the rest of my life, & what single movement I'd choose if I could only do one. Show Notes: 01:30 - My pick for what movement in the gym I would pick if I could only do one for the rest of my life 08:00 - If I could only do 3 CrossFit benchmarks workouts, on repeat, for the rest of my life, these are the 3 I'd choose. 15:49 - My answer to which would be worse to endure: Sleeping only 4 hours a nice, every night; eating only food at the local house of pizza; or only working out twice a week. 19:00 - Some of my go-to workouts when I don't have any equipment to use 22:20 - The single meal I would eat every day, for every meal, if I had to limit myself to it. 28:00 - The people I would gather around a table to learn from, if I could pick from anybody past or present. // Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2lCdeWb Subscribe on Google Play: https://goo.gl/VPYj3G Grab the book: http://amzn.to/2vSjU4q Chasing Excellence is a show dedicated to dissecting what it means to live a life of excellence, both inside the gym & out. On each episode, we'll deep dive on various aspects of running a CrossFit affiliate, becoming a better coach or athlete, & maximizing your potential. Web: http://www.benbergeron.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachbenbergeron/

In this episode: We're talking about ways to be more competitive in the sport of CrossFit. Topics include how to get better at muscle-ups, tips for improving your double unders, & my best advice for athletes who don't have a coach. Show Notes: 02:06 - Quick recap of the Theoretical Development of a Champion 03:55 - My best advice for a competitor I've never seen compete or train 09:36 - Something I think too many athletes are doing in daily training 12:35 - Something I think not enough athletes are doing in their daily training 14:41 - My thoughts on elite athletes not always eating "clean" 17:37 - Tips for getting better at muscle-ups 21:01 - Tips for getting better at double-unders 22:40 - Watch Molly Metz do 10 minutes of UB double-unders here [https://youtu.be/0-PS4jK2LOI] 26:11 - How to get better at touch & go reps 29:34 - Advice on events that have a rower/Trueform/bike, etc 32:57 - What to do if you don't have a competitive coach to work with 35:06 - A sneak peak at something new from CompTrain [Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-comptrain-radio/id1420154954] // Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2lCdeWb Subscribe on Google Play: https://goo.gl/VPYj3G Grab the book: http://amzn.to/2vSjU4q Chasing Excellence is a show dedicated to dissecting what it means to live a life of excellence, both inside the gym & out. On each episode, we'll deep dive on various aspects of running a CrossFit affiliate, becoming a better coach or athlete, & maximizing your potential. Web: http://www.benbergeron.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachbenbergeron/

I'm covering some of the most impactful parenting tips I've learned, including praising effort instead of talent, not keeping any junk food in the house, and why we don't let our kids quit. Show Notes: 01:33 - All Pro Dad article: https://www.allprodad.com/10-things-i-hope-my-children-remember-about-me-as-a-father 02:30 - Put your spouse first, not the kids 05:18 - Praise effort, not talent or achievement 05:56 - Grab "Grit" by Angela Duckworth here [https://amzn.to/2Lg2nP1], & "Mindset" by Carol Dweck here [https://amzn.to/2uuvHYy] 11:10 - Don't keep junk in the house 14:55 - Follow through on your promises 19:58 - Be vulnerable, but never complain 22:25 - Sympathize with them 23:51 - Grab "Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss here [https://amzn.to/2uydid7] 27:15 - Don't let them quit 33:08 - Talk with them about money 36:47 - The importance of sleep // Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2lCdeWb Subscribe on Google Play: https://goo.gl/VPYj3G Grab the book: http://amzn.to/2vSjU4q Chasing Excellence is a show dedicated to dissecting what it means to live a life of excellence, both inside the gym & out. On each episode, we'll deep dive on various aspects of running a CrossFit affiliate, becoming a better coach or athlete, & maximizing your potential. Web: http://www.benbergeron.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachbenbergeron/

In this episode: I'm going through ten of the ways I try to lead in my affiliate, including taking our own classes, welcoming feedback, & following through on what I say. Show Notes: 01:50 - #1: Take your own classes & follow your own programming 04:53 - #2: Move well 06:25 - #3: Eat clean 10:04 - #4: Use people's names & look them in the eye 17:14 - #5: Follow through on what you say 19:46 - #6: Welcome feedback & don't be defensive 22:04 - #7: Admit when you don't know something 24:05 - #8: Be the first to arrive & the last to leave 25:38 - #9: Never complain, never whine, never make excuses 27:44 - #10: Smile // Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lCdeWb Subscribe on Google Play: goo.gl/VPYj3G Grab the book: amzn.to/2vSjU4q Chasing Excellence is a show dedicated to dissecting what it means to live a life of excellence, both inside the gym & out. On each episode, we'll deep dive on various aspects of running a CrossFit affiliate, becoming a better coach or athlete, & maximizing your potential. Web: www.benbergeron.com/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/coachbenbergeron/

In this episode: I'm talking about the primary differences between the CrossFit that happens in our gym & the CrossFit that happens in Madison every summer. Show Notes: 02:02 - How I've come to think about the differentiation between CrossFit and the CrossFit Games 04:05 - My Mt. Everest analogy 07:01 - Why your focus shouldn't be on intensity 08:03 - Mechanics 09:59 - Consistency 10:35 - Appropriate Intensity 13:21 - How the goals of a CrossFit gym member is different than those of a CrossFit athlete 16:09 - Where I think we'll be in 30 years. // Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2lCdeWb Subscribe on Google Play: https://goo.gl/VPYj3G Grab the book: http://amzn.to/2vSjU4q Chasing Excellence is a show dedicated to dissecting what it means to live a life of excellence, both inside the gym & out. On each episode, we'll deep dive on various aspects of running a CrossFit affiliate, becoming a better coach or athlete, & maximizing your potential. Web: http://www.benbergeron.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachbenbergeron/

In this episode, we're talking about tactful conflict resolution, the benefits of talking through "If, Then" scenarios, & why thinking through what might go wrong is a great way to make things go right.

I cover 10 things we shouldn't be doing, including hitting the snooze button, watching the news, & leaving dishes in the sink.

In this short episode: I talk about the two questions you should be asking yourself consistently if you want to live a fulfilled life, and why you shouldn't always trust your feelings in pursuit of your goals. Show Notes: 00:01:55 - The first question everyone should be asking themselves 00:04:04 - The second question everyone should be asking themselves 00:04:30 - Grab Stephen Covey"s "7 Habits" [http://amzn.to/2miHUMI] & "First Things First" [https://amzn.to/2KJU9LR] 00:06:05 - Why your feelings can be misguided 00:08:00 - The role of fear // Grab the book: http://amzn.to/2vSjU4q Chasing Excellence is a show dedicated to dissecting what it means to live a life of excellence, both inside the gym & out. On each episode, we'll deep dive on various aspects of running a CrossFit affiliate, becoming a better coach or athlete, & maximizing your potential. Web: http://www.benbergeron.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachbenbergeron/

I'm answering some of the most common nutrition questions we get at the gym, from which supplements I recommend to intermittent fasting, from hydration to how much red meat is too much. Show Notes: 00:00:50 - Watch all the CFNE Way Episodes here: https://goo.gl/u8Nfkv 00:02:22 - What sources would you recommend for a deeper dive into learning about nutrition? 00:04:30 - Grab Michael Pollan's books here: "In Defense of Food [https://amzn.to/2qOazd4], "Omnivore's Dilemma" [https://amzn.to/2qLRYPl], "Food Rules" [https://amzn.to/2HfxXLv] 00:05:15 - Robb Wolf's website: https://robbwolf.com/ 00:05:57 - Grab Robb Wolf's books here: "Paleo Solution" [https://amzn.to/2K3WZuH], "Wired to Eat" [https://amzn.to/2HB2DGt] 00:05:50 - Watch the Joe Rogan/Robb Wolf episode here: https://goo.gl/qgWcff 00:06:01 - Grab Gary Taubes's books here: "Good Calories, Bad Calories" [https://amzn.to/2F2TOjp], "Why We Get Fat" [https://amzn.to/2HOkwiH], "The Case Against Sugar" [https://amzn.to/2HG74zW] 00:06:50 - Chris Kresser's website here: https://chriskresser.com/ 00:08:06 - What supplement is overused? 00:09:02 - What supplement is underused? 00:10:24 - What is cod liver oil & why should I take it? 00:12:23 - Are veggies still good if I turn them into a shake? 00:13:36 - How much red meat is too much red meat? 00:14:37 - What is a good alternative if I can't afford grass-fed/wild caught meats? 00:16:17 - If I have a race or event coming up, should I carb load? 00:16:48 - What is intermittent fasting? 00:17:53 - How hydrated do I need to be normally? 00:20:20 - Are more, smaller meals better than fewer, larger ones? 00:22:37 - If I'm eating the amount I should, why am I still hungry?

Talking about going to the doctor, why how many burpees you can do in a minute is an indication of more than just your fitness, & the difference between being a swim coach & a lifeguard.

We're talking about good habits & bad, the three steps of every habit, & about taking small steps in the right direction. // You can see the poster here: https://goo.gl/hi4BhA

We're talking about good habits & bad, the three steps of every habit, & about taking small steps in the right direction. // Grab "Chasing Excellence" here: http://amzn.to/2vSjU4q

In this episode: Answering some listener questions, including the how to balance intensity & volume in training, what I'm working to improve these days, & my recommendations for athletes coming back from injury.

We’re talking about why we put so much emphasis on recovering well, touching on nutrition, sleep, muscle work, icing versus heat, stress, & much more.

We're talking about resilience, a fixed mindset versus a growth mindset, & why hard work is more important than talent.

We're breaking down the theoretical development of a champion & what makes the difference between good athletes & great athletes.

We're answering the 11 questions posed in Tim Ferriss's new book Tribe of Mentors. Subjects include the books that have influenced me the most, how caffeine is amazing in small doses, & why I don't believe in failure.

We're talking about how CFNE, CompTrain, Project:Elevation, & working with Elite CrossFit Games athletes are all part of the same mission.

We're talking about why nutrition is so important in the sport of CrossFit, ideal body fat percentages for athletes, & what supplements I recommend CrossFit athletes take.

Talking about time management, putting first things first, & why it'd be great if email wasn't a thing.

In this episode: We're talking about why athletes who want to make waves in the sport of CrossFit need to focus on getting strong enough to actually be competitive.

We're breaking down an acronym that can help you set better goals & achieve bigger things.

We're talking about Madison, the programming, & the lessons we learned during the 2017 season

In this episode: Talking with Katrin Davidsdottir about moving to the U.S. to train, surrounding yourself with the right people, & putting in 100% effort.

We're talking about why I always start with character, the value of spending time in silence, & what most people are missing in their training.

Talking about my month-long CrossFit Games training camp, why eliminating distractions are important, & how excellence is contagious.

We're talking about the difference between practice, training, & competition, & why you should go into every session at the gym knowing which mode you're in.

Talking about why a busted ACL can be a good thing, what Brent Fikowski, Tom Brady, & Katrin Davidsdottir have in common, & why you should focus less on what happens & more on how you respond to what happens.

We're talking about why I prefer to keep my nutritional advice simple, the value of getting blood work done, & why both quality & quantity matters.

Talking about the best ways I've found to work with my members who want to compete in CrossFit, without losing their connection to our community.

We talk about why happiness doesn't live on the other side of achievement, gratitude, & why relationships matter more than money.

Cole Sager stops in to talk about growing up in a small town, his football career, & the "why" behind everything he does.

Talking about the difference between programming for competitors versus members of our affiliates, the downfalls of strength-biased programming, & why less is almost always more.

We discuss how I think about Core Values today versus how I used to think about them, & why they're so important to think about every single day.

Brooke Wells stops in during a weekend of training with Ben to talk about her background, her training, & her hopes going forward.

Talking about the different levels of leadership, the definition of trust, sincere listening, & how to build a staff of strong leaders.

Talking about goal-setting, building habits, & why you want to strive to keep the chain of success going.

Talking about how I might guide a young athlete toward future success in the sport of CrossFit.

In this episode: We're talking about some of the small (but important) ways CFNE shows their members they care, touching on topics like thank-you notes, what your programming says about your priorities, & the value of giving your coaches constraints.

In this episode: We're chatting about how I think about opportunities, some of the reasons we decided to cancel the East Coast Championships, & why I made the decision years ago to stop being a competitive athlete.

In this episode: We talk about how to maximize your CrossFit Games​ Open. Topics include how to fit the events into your normal training schedule, what might be coming in 2017, & the value of leaderboarding.