Dear 17-Year-Old James, you’ve ruined your life

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is built by Brute Strength, the Official Online Training Sponsor of the Morning Chalk Up.

Every day, it seems like there’s a new black hole thread calling your name with endless fitness hacks and, well, hoaxes. Stay clear of fads — and spot the difference between too-good-to-be-true and too-legit-to-quit — with Brute Strength’s free guide to picking your online training program.

“If you are the barrier to your success, get out of the way.” — Tami Dawson

I’m on a boat.

Everybody look at me cause I’m sailing on a boat.

So a couple of your swolemates are looking for a fun little getaway with warm weather, margs on the rocks, beaches, boats, and WODs — that sort of thing.

Well we sure have something for you.

Margaux Alvarez, Dan Bailey, Brooke Wells, Spencer Hendel, Chyna Cho, Patrick Vellner, Austin Malleolo, Rich Froning, Josh Bridges, Jenn Smith, and Conor Murphy have rented a boat and they want you on it.

And it’s a big boat. Like a cruise ship.

You had me at Dan Bailey.

The cruise is from January 25-29, 2019, setting sail from Miami, FL to the Caribbean.

Tickets go on sale today at 7AM Pacific TODAY and here’s where you can purchase.

MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL.

Regionals Reflections.

Frederik Aegidius — “This is not a RETIREMENT announcement. 9th consecutive Regionals and pushing 31. I’ve been in the sport since 2009 and I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing it grow from backyard to mainstream. I have been fortune enough to compete at the Crossfit Games in ‘12, 13’ and 17’ and qualifying is no easy task. ‘10, ‘11, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16 and 2018 I never missed out by more than two spots and no matter how disappointing it is to end the season early, I have to look at the bigger picture. Being in the top8 in Europe for 9 straight years, IS a big accomplishment. That being said, the next months will have more benching, squatting and curlin’ than heavy breathing.”

Things To…

HEAR: The Original Firebreather

Greg Amundson started CrossFit at the original box in Santa Cruz, California, back in 2001. He joins the CrossFit podcast to talk about his new book and what it was like in the founding days of CrossFit 17 years ago. 

TUNE IN.

EAT: Zucchini Pizza Crust Recipe

Absolutely delicious low carb zucchini pizza crust! Easy to make, gluten free, paleo-friendly and a great way to use up zucchini. This zucchini crust holds up well and can be topped whatever veggies or meat you’d like. Ready in only 30 minutes!

PIZZA. PIZZA.

Today’s edition of the Morning Chalk Up is built by

Chalk Up Community

• MARINE CORPS + CROSSFIT — This is how are Marine Corps recruiters using CrossFit to get their recruits ready for boot camp.

CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES (a highlight reel around social media of CrossFit pros and average joes)

Party time. We just hit the big 100K mark on Facebook. If you haven’t already press that like button. And while you’re at it, follow us on Instagram too.

For when you have a 15 minutes, Refinery29 details the rise and fall of milk and the new heir apparent, Almond Milk…“There is perhaps no greater emblem of the major makeover American food culture has undergone in the past three decades than the fall of dairy and the rise of almond milk. In the 1970s, Americans drank over 30 gallons of cow’s milk per person per year. By 2016, we only drank 18 gallons, and the numbers keep going down. Meanwhile, the almond milk industry is only growing: As of February 2018, almond milk is raking in $1 billion a year, up from $646 million in 2014, a 14% increase, per
Nielsen data. Compare that to the next most popular alt-milk, soy, which is only a $245 million business, a 12% decrease compared to four years ago.”

Greg Glassman Heads to Portland to Support Cleveland HS CrossFit Program — “CrossFit founder Greg Glassman talks with students at Cleveland High School in Portland, Oregon, at Friday’s PPS Throwdown, a community competition organized by Cleveland students to fundraise for the school CrossFit program.



“Four-hundred kids are currently signed up for Cleveland’s fall 2018 CrossFit class—facing budget and staff cuts that would prevent almost 100 students from participating, the students are fighting to save CrossFit at Cleveland High. CrossFit HQ and the CrossFit Foundation are committed to supporting #CrossFit at Cleveland High and throughout the Portland Public School district.”

— Here’s more history on the Cleveland High School story.

“What Are You Doing From 9-5?” by Libby Landry, CrossFit Invictus

I’m sure for most of you reading this, the answer to the blog title is, “I’m at work…duh.” And that’s just the answer we wanted to hear. It’s where we spend majority of our waking hours each day, but sadly, the modern workplace frequently contributes to negatively impacting our health. Desk jobs lead to physical inactivity, stress that results in lack of sleep and poor dietary choices, and the rise in prevalence of chronic disease.

We look at everything that happens at work as an integrated experience that impacts daily life in and outside of the workplace, including your physical, emotional, mental, and professional well-being. We can’t reasonably expect to push our health markers (significantly) along the Wellness Continuum without changing the environments, patterns, and habits that occupy more than 50% of our time.

Think about it: you can’t outdo sitting for 8 hours, taking no breaks, and eating a #saddesklunch all hunched over your computer with one hour of exercise each day. And, ever walked into the gym for Back Squat Day after you’ve been sitting at your computer and those hips are feeling less than mobile? You’re like, “Coach, I’m gonna need at least 40 minutes for the warm-up today.” Not good! So, it begs the question…what are you doing from 9-5?

5/25 – 5/27: West Regional (Del Mar, CA)

5/25 – 5/27: Central Regional (Nashville, TN)

5/25 – 5/27: Latin America Regional (Rio de Janiero, Brazil)

5/26: Beauty is a Beast 2 (Indian Rocks Beach, FL)

5/26: Strong AF Against MF (East Windsor, CT)

5/27 – 5/28: 24 Heroes in 24 Hours (Southborough, MA)

6/1 – 6/3: Atlantic Regional (West Palm Beach, FL)

6/1 – 6/3: Meridian Regional (Madrid, Spain)

6/1 – 6/3: Pacific Regional (Sydney, Australia)

6/2: Kegs and Kilos (Manhattan, KS)

6/2: Long Island Masters (Hauppauge, NY)

6/2: Texas WOD Fest (Houston, TX)

6/2: Tacos and Tequila Throwdown (Highlands Ranch, CO)

6/2: Meshugge CrossFit Summer Melee (Overland Park, KS)

6/3: Summer Sizzler Individual Masters Competition (Burlington, MA)

6/8 – 6/9: Bricktown Throwdown (Bricktown, OKC)

6/9: Beastette Bash at CrossFit Ananda (Arlington, TX)

6/9: Gulf Coast Games (Mandeville, LA)

6/9: WOD Wars 6 (Humble, TX)

6/9: Big Orange Brawl (Knoxville, TN)

6/9: Heroes of the Platform (Meridian, ID)

6/9: Triple Crown Fitness Event (Greenville, NC)

6/9 – 6/10: The Heartland Games 2018 (Chicago, IL)

6/9 – 6/10: Alaka’i SUPER Summer Slam (Kapolei, HI)

6/16: Battle on the Creek (Johns Creek, GA)

6/16: Full Battle Rattle (Robinson, IL)

6/16: East Coast War (Wilmington, NC)

6/19: Gauntlett VIII – River Rumble (Portsmouth, OH)

6/22 – 6/24: The Bacon Beatdown (Daytona Beach, FL)

6/23: Garage Girls CrossFit Grit (St. Simons Island, GA)

6/23: 2018 Summer Swolestice (Gresham, OR)

6/23: HAMCO Heat (McLeansboro, IL)

6/23: The Greenville Games (Greenville, SC)

6/23: The Burn Out (New Bern, NC)

6/23: Battle of the Border (Phenix City, AL)

6/23: Battle of a Beauty with a Beast (South Hadley, MA)

6/23 – 6/24: Asbury Park Summer Games (Asbury Park, NJ)

6/23 – 6/24: The Dakota Games (Fargo, ND)

6/30: Summer Stampede (Bethlehem, PA)

6/30: Battle of the Ballpark (Seattle, WA)