Episode 17: Waking Up through Fitness with The World’s Fittest Man | James FitzGerald
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When you hit 40 years old your physical potential is done.
This isn’t easy to hear. Some athletes have this reality thrust upon them early with injuries but most have to face it as they age. I came to terms with this when I decided to shed the armor and drop 30lbs of muscle. Pushing my body to extremes daily had run its course and I had to let that part of me go. Today’s guest has been my coach throughout the entire process.
My guest today is Crossfit Games inaugural world champion and coach of coaches James Fitzgerald. James was early in CrossFit. He lived to wake up at 4:30 AM. Hit his basement and compete to be the best in the world. Every single morning. After becoming the 2007 World’s Fittest Man he was hit hard with the realization that CrossFit was optimized for sport and it wasn’t optimized for longevity.
James has spent the last 20 years ruthlessly developing systems and tools to help coaches run successful businesses, develop real relationships, and coach clients to think deeply about their goals.
To say that James is intense is an understatement. He might even seem harsh at times, but it comes from a place of heart. He has helped thousands of people transform their lives. James knows that it isn’t easy and so he brings the level of intensity needed to solve the problem.
Please enjoy this powerful podcast with my coach James Fitzgerald
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We Discuss:
3:50 - The human element of the drum
9:59 - From fanboy to family
14:10 - James’ ability to be unapologetically himself
18:50 - Detached caring isn’t not caring
21:07- The highest order form of caring in a relationship creates autonomy
32:10 - James recognizes that he is nothing more than a number
36:20 - Morality vs Reality
40:00 - The beginning of CrossFit
47:10 - Becoming the world’s fittest man and the destruction of the beauty of the journey
58:10 - CrossFit as a tool for sport. Not a tool for health.
1:11:26 - How to build a business around your practice
1:13:48 - A “Coach” is not valued correctly today
1:40:10 - How to show up for your kids
1:52:20 - International Functional Fitness Federation
1:54:30 - Robots vs Humans
2:07:53 - You got what you got. Deal with it.
Resources:
CrossFit Game World’s Fittest Man - A Complete List of CrossFit Games Champions
James Fitzgerald Helen Video - OPT does Helen Sub-7:00
Food Hygiene Practices - Nourishment
You are what your Grandparents ate - You Are What Your Grandparents Ate: What You Need to Know About Nutrition, Experience, Epigenetics and the Origins of Chronic Disease
Mixed Modal Exercise - Mixed Modal
Peter Crone Broken Brain Podcast - Broken Brain with Dhru Purohit: #55: How to Redesign the Subconscious Mind from Limitation to Freedom with Peter Crone on Apple Podcasts
True Coach - TrueCoach: #1 Personal Trainer Software
Connect with James Fitzgerald:
Twitter | https://twitter.com/JFitzOPEX
Instagram | James FitzGerald (@jfitzopex)
Big Dawgs Podcast | The Big Dawgs Podcast on Apple Podcasts
James’ Business | OPEX Fitness: Fitness Coaching Education, Courses, and Certifications
Email | james@opexfit.com
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