By Coach Joel – R & T CrossFit

Most people come to the gym to get healthier—whether it’s to lose weight, get stronger, feel more confident, or improve their overall fitness. And while those are all great goals, they’re not enough to keep you consistently showing up and making progress.

What’s missing? Competition.

Not just competition with others—but competition with yourself. Pushing a little harder. Lifting a little heavier. Moving a little faster. Competition keeps you engaged, forces you to set goals, and stops you from falling into the trap of “I’ll just skip today.”

Why Seeing Workouts as ‘Training’ (Not Just Exercise) Changes Everything

When you view your workouts as just another task on the list—like washing the dishes or taking out the trash—it’s easy to put them off. “If I don’t train today, no big deal, I’ll do it tomorrow.”

But here’s the problem: Fitness doesn’t work like that.

Every skipped session makes the next one harder. Every time you say “I’ll do it later,” you lose momentum. And before you know it, you’re back at square one.

Instead of seeing your workouts as just exercise, start seeing them as training. Train for something bigger than just “getting in shape.”

• Sign up for a 5K, Spartan Race, or local CrossFit competition.
• Set a goal to PR a lift or finally get that first pull-up.
• Challenge a friend in class—“I bet I beat you tomorrow.”
• Push yourself to improve just 1% every day.

The Most Important Competition: Yourself

Competition doesn’t mean you have to be an elite athlete. It just means you show up with purpose every single day.

Ask yourself:
✅ Can I add more weight to the bar?
✅ Can I go faster in today’s workout?
✅ Can I improve my form or learn a new skill?

The moment you embrace competition, you stop making excuses. You show up even when you don’t feel like it. You become more consistent, and consistency is the real secret to long-term health.

“But What If I Get Hurt?”

One of the biggest excuses I hear is, “I’m scared of getting injured.”

I get it. No one wants to be sidelined. But here’s the truth:

Not training is far more dangerous than training.

• Weak muscles, stiff joints, and lack of movement make you more likely to get injured in daily life.
• You don’t control outcomes—you only control your effort.
• If you tweak something, you learn, adjust, and keep going.

Nobody stops walking just because they might trip. Nobody stops driving because they might get into an accident. Training is no different. Injuries can happen, but the real risk is sitting still and letting your body waste away.

Train Like Your Future Depends on It (Because It Does)

Your body is a use-it-or-lose-it machine. Every day, you’re either building strength or losing it. There’s no maintaining.

So ask yourself: What are you competing for?

• If you don’t have a competition, sign up for one today.
• If you haven’t set a goal, write one down right now.
• If you’ve been skipping workouts, stop making excuses and commit.

I’ve never regretted a workout. Never. Whether I crushed it, struggled through it, or even got banged up along the way—I always came out stronger. Now, I am doing things most people wish they would have started years ago. Even at my age, I still hit PR’s try new things because training never stops!

If you’re ready to train with purpose, build real strength, and stop going through the motions, come talk to me. I’ll see you on the floor.

🚀 Let’s get to work.

Click here to Get Started!