The photo was taken by zachy Bell.
Are you enjoying morning chalk up? Membership Rx gives you access to more exclusive interviews, analyses, and stories.
There is a simple message for people who are dealing with mental health issues. Bell, who served with the Marines from 2007-11, first enlisted when he was 19 and said the mind and body are the same thing. Mental and physical fitness are related.
“What I love about fitness and in particular CrossFit, is this is stuff you will use,” said Bell, who has been doing the fitness program for three years. You need stronger legs, a stronger back, and a higher quality functioning life if you want to live a good life. I can make my heart work better by making my bicep bigger.
One of the biggest mental hurdles people have when trying to incorporate fitness into their lives is worrying about how they are going to fit in.
It sucks, I was working out before this, but I wasn’t happy with it.
September is National Suicide Awareness Month, and Bell is a constant champion for mental health awareness, as a way for people to talk to each other, create meaningful dialogue and become better in the process. Mental health is a serious issue for the military, with 70% of suicide victims being males.
There was a new post-9/11 high in veteran suicides. More than 30,000 active duty personnel and veterans who served in the military after 9/11 died by suicide in the next two decades, compared to the seven service members who died in combat in the same period. Military suicides are four times higher than deaths that occur during military operations.
Part of this is starting with the idea of prevention, but also allowing military veterans, who are trained and bred to be tough, to realize that weakness is not something to hide. It is possible to see fitness and mental health as a unit working together for one’s self.
Bell is working on running more because running has never been a good fit for him physically. Bell believes that deficiencies are not set in stone.
I don’t know if it’s a good idea to turn our weaknesses into strengths, but we have the ability to improve our weaknesses, and that’s awesome
He said that fitness, whether it’s running, or CrossFit, or lifting heavy sandbags, can offer the mind a “reset” and allow us to expel negative emotions that may have been building up.
It is a way to check in as well, my car broke down yesterday, and it broke down the day before that, but I missed a workout two days in a row and I was starting to feel it. I felt it in my mind.
It all adds up, according to Bell. He can take care of his body and mind if he takes care of his wife and two daughters as well. He created strong communities where people are able to put the best versions of themselves forward to family and friends.
I don’t want to sound like a guy who just led a spiritual camp or Tony Robbins, but my weakness was I wasn’t present as
You can get help if you or someone you know is in a crisis. You can call or text the 988 suicide and crisis hotline.
It’s a daily digest of all things crossfit. Competitions, tips, recipes, deals, community, and more.