This blog is part of an ongoing series about my "bucket list" while I'm 24 years old. This blog post is about achieving #6, #7, and #8. Check out my blog post about all 24 goals here!
I've had various amounts of success with my personal fitness throughout my life. Growing up, I was involved in sports, with most of my success being found through soccer. But I stopped playing organized sports in 7th grade because the soccer/football we would play during recess was extremely competitive - I felt like it was more fun and just as intense, so I just did that and spent more extra-curricular time focusing on my music. Moving to NY for 8th grade and high school saw the same focus, I was spending most evenings on music, but still stayed relatively physically active through activities on Conesus Lake, playing paintball with cousins, etc.
Grove City College IM Football
Throughout college, I was involved in IM Flag Football, did plenty of running around during activities as a counselor for a youth group and summers at camp, but never really progressed physically more than being active enough to not gain significant weight. I've always been lean, and my height has certainly always made me appear to be even more skinny than I really am. Thankfully I have been blessed in life with a very active metabolism that never allows me to significantly change my physique, regardless of the food I eat. This was very helpful through college avoiding the weight gain that many students experience.
I was always excited to get more involved in fitness, I always enjoy being active and getting tired out, especially during any games or activities that involve competition. The plan was to get more involved when I graduated college and didn't have so much time at the desk studying, etc. But when I first moved to Asheville for the year long volunteer program, it was hard to get seriously involved because of our "simple-living" stipend. Obstacles like relying on public transportation and not being able to afford a gym membership were a problem, but ultimately the main issue was not having enough food to nourish myself if I were to fully commit to gaining muscle while already being 6'3" and using my energy at my work placement moving furniture. It just wasn't realistic to pursue more physical activity at that stage of my life.
Disc Golf Life Group - Jason's Hole in One
After the volunteer year ended and I decided to stay in Asheville, I started to incorporate more physical activity into my life like going on more hikes and participating in physically engaging life groups at The Gathering Church. But I wanted to do more, and didn't really know of a way I could get more involved. I checked out a gym, but I really wouldn't have known what I was doing if I got started with that, and couldn't afford an instructor/classes.
An opportunity presented itself to me during one of the infamous sauna nights in late October. I was in the process of developing my New Year's Resolutions for 2018 (I prefer to start resolutions in November so that way I have a head start and it is a routine by January), and I mentioned to one of the guys that I was interested in getting more physically fit. We were all half-naked around the fire, and I could see that he was a solid slab of man-muscle. I figured if he can do that while being a dad of three with a fourth on the way, then he'd have some tips for me.
That's when he told me about F3.
F3 (Fitness, Fellowship, Faith) is a national network of free, peer-led workouts for men that plants, grows, and serves these groups to invigorate male community leadership.
It was free, so I figured I should give it a shot. I told him that I'd be there on Tuesday, 11/7/2017. Since that day, I've only missed a few weeks of F3, and it has completely changed my day-to-day life.
First post with F3 - November 7th, 2017
The first workout was quite memorable. It was cold and rainy, my body went into complete shock from the exertion, and I got this terrible migraine headache and almost threw up. I remember showing up at men's breakfast life group at Chick-fil-a immediately afterwards and telling them that I have never been so close to puking without actually puking in my life, and I loved it! Even though my body was completely rejecting what I was doing and I was a physical embarrassment in front of all these guys who I didn't know, I immediately knew that it was exactly what I needed. Here are some of the core tenants of F3 and how they have benefited my life:
Early Mornings - Currently I participate in F3 four times a week: 5:30am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and then 7:00am on Saturdays. This combined with my 6:30am Church setup on Sundays means that I have a consistent early-riser schedule. It has become a saying of mine lately that life is too short to not enjoy every sunrise. The mountains of Asheville are beautiful in the mornings, and I love getting up that early and starting my day with something other than my job. Even on Mondays and Fridays I get up early to get some reading done before heading out to work. As I go throughout my day, I rarely have a harder-to-make decision than the one I already have made that morning - getting out of bed early. The choice to attend a workout with F3 is made the night before by getting to bed on time and having everything I need already out. Being able to consistently wake up has helped me make better choices in life when by body is tired. It also makes me live my life in a way that I'm getting to bed earlier instead of being awake for the hours that have the potential to cause the most damage to my bank account and liver health.
Free - I'm pretty strict with my finances, and being able to allocate the money I would be spending at a gym to put towards my grocery bill allows me to be a bit more lenient in eating more. Healthier food is also more expensive, so I'm able to meet my calorie count while also focusing more on consuming more produce.
Outside - I love being outside, and being in the elements certainly makes F3 more exciting. The hardest is definitely in the dead of winter when there's ice and slushy snow that freezes up my hands while doing push-ups, but for the most part I'm prepared with the winter gear from years in NY that helps me stay somewhat warm. But even on the days where my fingers don't ever get warm or it's pouring rain or the North Carolina summer heat makes it too humid to breathe, being out in the elements helps develop the mental fortitude that I'm going to get it done regardless. Getting into the warm shower afterwards creates a greater sense of accomplishment that I was able to beat the "battle of the bed" and get out from the warm bed-sheets to improve myself that morning.
Ends in a "Circle of Trust" - Each workout ends with all the guys sharing a little of what is going on in their life. Being in a group of guys that is willing to be vulnerable with each other is very important. The lack of deeper social connections in the world of social media is affecting so many people in my generation - you see colleges creating "safe spaces" for their students, because their students aren't in families/communities that are naturally a source of socialization that every human needs. Being in this group, I know that if for some reason I were to lose my job, I'd be able to find some work within the group as I get back on my feet. Listening to the F3 podcast, I've heard examples of this exact scenario happening all the time. I often say that one of the healthiest things for the 24 year old me is the fact that I'm plugged into community with men from other generations who have gone through life and through example show me how to be better leaders, fathers, husbands, workers, etc. Praying with and for each other is something that I'm very glad is a part of my life.
Peer-Led - Every day is something different. The guys bring different perspectives and levels of expertise to the workouts, so unless I'm the "Q" (leader), it's a fun surprise every morning when I show up. Since we don't have any weights to use besides what we bring from home (sandbags, weighted vests, etc.) or large rocks, creativity is key, and leads to some pretty interesting and fun workouts. In leading myself, I've also become more comfortable leading a group of people. It has solidified my love for precise instructions, and has made me a better communicator which has benefited me outside of F3. I led my first workout in mid-January, and made it a goal for myself to lead at least one workout a month going forward.
Reverse "Fight Club" - Similar to crossfit and choosing to be vegan/gluten-free, F3 is something that you have heard about if someone you know does it. Because it has such an influence in my day-to-day schedule, affecting what times I socialize with others and the type of activities I do, it is hard not to talk about it when I'm talking about things in my life. My life does not revolve around F3, but my schedule certainly does. Therefore, you're most likely gonna hear about it when you ask me how I'm doing.
Races - With F3, I have accomplished the two most physically demanding activities I have ever been faced with - the Ultimate Challenge Mud Run and the Blue Ridge Relay. While I am ultimately much more proud of my performance in the Mud Run (x2) than the BRR, doing it all is something I'm very thankful of and I'm glad I'm adopting running races as a hobby.
Breakfast at JK's - My favorite meal of the week is breakfast on Saturday's. After posting at our south location, a bunch of us go out for breakfast afterwards at a nearby breakfast diner and I love breakfast food so this one speaks for itself.
F3 Names - This one is fun. Everyone who attends F3 is known by their F3 name. When someone first attends, they're known as F.N.G. (Friendly New Guy). During the circle of trust, an F.N.G. is required to tell the rest of the group about themselves and the guys come up with a name for them. On 11/7/2017, I was dubbed "Garfunkel" after letting the guys know that I worked at Homeward Bound and liked music. I've been Garfunkel ever since, and I legitimately think I have one of the best F3 names. It sufficiently represents the goofiness of my personality while also being odd enough without being completely embarrassing.
Regarding my fitness goals for the year:
Lead at least one workout for F3 per month - Has been achieved, and I'll continue this going forward. I explained the multiple benefits of this above.
Healthy Weight Gain - My goal was to gain 20 lbs the right way this year, and I have achieved that. The cardio focus of F3 has helped me transfer the little fat I had into some lean muscle, and I've gained the 20 lbs by evenly distributing muscle throughout my 6'3" frame. As I look for the next milestone that I want to achieve, I'll probably continue to have lean runner style body, because right now I don't have the time or resources to pursue a heavier muscular figure which would require pushing myself up to 200 lbs. Ultimately my goal is to get healthier and decrease my physical limitations, so whatever my body looks like while achieving those goals is fine with me.
Run a Race - F3 has provided various opportunities of races, and I have done three this year. I have discovered that my favorite races are definitely team races that include obstacles. I loved the Ultimate Challenge Mud Run because of the team aspect that is more stimulating on a mental/strategic level. Although most of the obstacles don't require too much thinking, the larger ones that require a significant amount of teamwork have many opportunities to cut down on time which makes them a lot more fun to me than just running on pavement for hours. What makes these races fun to me is being in a team or a crowd of people running through the city. I enjoyed one of my legs of the Blue Ridge Relay when it was at night and I ran up and down rolling hills throughout the mountains and got to see the stars that I don't get to see in Asheville. But the actual running in and of itself? Meh. Give me a football or an obstacle course and I'll enjoy running around more.
Final Thank You
This blog is my thank you to the F3 guys for supporting me this year and helping me grow as a man and make my body better so I have the capacity and energy to glorify God even more. Especially to David "Little Punk" who encouraged me to join and fully commit. Going all in with F3 has led to so many improvements to my life and my physical, emotional, and spiritual health. I strive to pass along the same support to others that all the guys have given to me, and help others make significant health improvements in their lives.
Thank you for reading, and God bless!
Jeremy
Want to try out F3? Check it out and find a workout near you. Female? Check out FiA!
Gallery:
Blue Ridge Relay - From left to right: Cannibal, Buehner, Ball Boy, Free Weekly, Natty Daddy, Crayola, Little Punk, Garfunkel, The Governor, Ridge Runner. Not Pictured: Herb Tarlek, Slim.
10/30/18 - 18 strong for Garfunkel's Q.
34 strong for F3Asheville's 3rd Birthday! (I was down in SC running the Mud Run with Buehner)
Some of the creative ways F3 uses materials to work out.
Approaching one of the obstacles during the Ultimate Challenge Mud Run
Ultimate Challenge Mud Run - Buehner and I joined up with two guys from Charlotte to run.
A picture where I look tougher than I am.
45 total for Father's Day workout. I'm pretty sure I was the only without a child.
My medals after running the Ultimate Challenge Mud Run x2 - I spent $60 and gas money to get down to South Carolina, so I had to run it twice to get my money's worth.
Showing off my Blue Ridge Relay patch with the man who got me into all of this - "Little Punk"