Made for More
Made for More
Redefining Strength: Haley Adams on Crossfit, Mental Health, and Finding Herself
In this compelling episode, join Reagan as she sits down with Haley Adams, the renowned Crossfit athlete, for a candid conversation about a journey beyond the barbell. Haley opens up about her personal struggles with mental health and the pivotal decision to step away from Crossfit for an entire year.
Delve into the depths of Haley's experiences as she shares the challenges she faced, the transformative year of self-discovery, and the evolution of her goals and mindset. It's a raw and honest exploration of the intersection between physical and mental well-being, providing listeners with insights into the complexities of maintaining balance in the competitive world of Crossfit.
Discover the resilience that defines Haley Adams as she reflects on her path from burnout to breakthrough. This episode is not just for Crossfit enthusiasts; it's a powerful narrative about strength, vulnerability, and the unwavering commitment to personal growth. Whether you're an athlete, fitness enthusiast, or someone navigating their own mental health journey, Haley's story is sure to inspire and resonate. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the mind behind the muscles and be prepared to be moved by this unfiltered conversation with a true champion.
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Hello friends, welcome to another episode of Made For More. I am Reagan, if we have not met, and I'm so thankful that you're tuning in today. Whether you're on a walk, whether you're in your running era and you're listening on a run, maybe you're cleaning, maybe you're in the car, wherever you're at, I am so thankful that you're tuning in and also just so grateful for the feedback and just the support and the shares on social media of the podcast. It seriously means a lot. Obviously, with podcasting, it's not something that I mean I'm not making any money off of it and it's not something that I'm trying to make money off of. It's just something that I love doing and hoping to add more value to your life and it adds more joy to my life and it's just a way to connect with more people. So, that being said, I always appreciate that I really forgot about you can leave reviews on Spotify and Apple Podcast until I was listening to another podcast the other day and they were like, yeah, leave us a review on Apple and Spotify. It really helps the podcast. I was like, oh, I don't think I've ever asked anyone to do that. So if you feel led and you do enjoy the podcast. Seriously, that would mean so much and it would help more people see the podcast and Apple Podcast and Spotify. So that would mean the absolute world to me and I love you so much for that.
Speaker 1:I'm so excited for this episode. This is something a few weeks ago probably a month ago I put on Instagram. Who got like, who do you guys want to see on the podcast? And I was like just throw any names out there, like I will just I'll message them and see if we can get them on there. And this one actually came up a bit and it is Hailey Adams. She is seriously the sweetest person ever.
Speaker 1:I have looked up to her strength and her grace and the way that she carries herself for a few years now, since I've kind of known who she was and actually met her. I think I tell her this on the episode, but I met her at CrossFit Mayhem probably two years ago. But just seeing a female who is so strong and strong in her faith and lifts heavy weight and is just an animal in the gym, like it's so inspiring. And then here recently, her speaking up more about her mental health and her relationship with food and body image and being strong enough and vulnerable enough to talk about that and take a step back from the CrossFit space for a year, and I'm so excited for you guys to listen to this, so I'm just going to go talking and we will get into it.
Speaker 1:I will link everything as far as her social media, her new apparel line that she just launched, which is so cute. I pre-ordered a sweatshirt and they're just so fun and so her, but I will link everything in the description and if you guys want this one, please let us know, share it and let's get into it. Hi, hailey, thank you for joining me today. I'm so glad that you're here.
Speaker 2:Me too Super pumped to be here.
Speaker 1:Thanks for making time. I was before we started recording. I was telling Hailey that a lot of you guys had requested having hearing Hailey's story and having her on the podcast, so now we got it on here, so I'm excited.
Speaker 1:And so I learned a little bit more about you and your story. So I did a little bit of research, obviously, which I like already know who you are, which when I lived in Nashville we would always come up to CrossFit Mayhem and like do drop-in workouts and I remember I like saw you once and I'm like, oh my gosh, that's Hailey, but kind of full circle, but can you tell us, obviously, like in the CrossFit space and stuff, but you're from North Carolina, right? Yes, okay, north Carolina, we're at North Carolina, lexington. Okay, is that a small?
Speaker 2:town, very small town. Okay, yeah, small town.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So what did you do growing up? Did you play any sports or athletics?
Speaker 2:Yeah, growing up I basically played every sport softball, soccer. Most of my childhood was span gymnastics. I did competitive gymnastics for seven, eight years, swimming, cross country basically every sport. So I was always busy doing something or going to practice in the morning or at night, or yeah, so it was my childhood. It was basically still training, just in different sports, and I have a twin brother, so that was fun growing up, but, yeah, that kind of something.
Speaker 1:Were, you guys really competitive against each other.
Speaker 2:Actually no, he was really smart and good in school and I was the athletic one, so we kind of had different things that we enjoyed more to do Got it?
Speaker 1:What with sports? What was your favorite Like? What did you enjoy the most?
Speaker 2:I think I enjoyed softball the most, but I was really good at cross country. I was okay at gymnastics. I was kind of tall, but yeah, I think softball was my favorite.
Speaker 1:I love that. I played softball too. What position did you play?
Speaker 2:I pitched.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's so fun.
Speaker 1:So in 2016 is that's like when you went to the games for the first time. Yes, how did you decide to start training for CrossFit and what was your purpose behind that? Did your parents push you?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I was still doing gymnastics in 2015, basically to the end of it. But there was a CrossFit gym beside of my gymnastics gym. I always, always see these girls lifting weights, hanging from the pull up bar, jumping rope, all the things, and they had big windows so you could see in. I was like I really want to try that, like I'm getting burnt out on gymnastics. I just really want to do something else, and so then I finally convinced them to take me, and so for a while I was doing CrossFit and gymnastics at the same time. I would do my gymnastics practice from like three to seven and then I'd go to like the 730 class at CrossFit. So I did that for a while and then, when I really was like I'm done with gymnastics, I just switched over to CrossFit fully in like January of 2016, and then the open was that next month and I ended up qualifying for the teenage game. So it was just like nonstop.
Speaker 1:Dang. So you, like you had, did you have any expectations going into the open for the first time?
Speaker 2:Well, I knew that there was a teenage vision and I didn't know, like, how I compared to anyone else. I just knew that I really wanted to make it. But again, I didn't know where I stood against any other girls, since I had never done like a competition or anything, and it was still. I was still learning all about it. I didn't know much about it still. So, yeah, it was. That was a crazy time for sure.
Speaker 1:Were you still in high school then?
Speaker 2:Yes, I was in ninth grade, ninth grade.
Speaker 1:Wow, what was it like having to tell your friends at school whenever you qualified for the games. Like did they understand at?
Speaker 2:all. No, no one really understood. I mean, I think everyone knew that was kind of like a big deal, but I was still in public school at the time. So, um, yeah, I mean I told my friends and I guess word kind of got around and I was like the cross it girl, I guess that's awesome.
Speaker 1:Oh, good for you and um, okay. So 2016, you ended up getting second at the games as a teen. And then let's see 2017. You got second, and then 2018, you got the fittest teen on earth. Yeah, so what was with going through the games as a teen and I guess I mean moving into as you got older as well? Did you struggle at all with like imposter syndrome, or I'm not good enough to be here, or I don't? You know, like I'm not as big as everyone else?
Speaker 2:No for sure. My first year at the games in 2019, which actually ended up being one of my favorites. I was so scared going there because I was like I feel like I don't belong here, I'm not strong enough like all these girls. Like I've looked up to them for so long, like why am I out here with them? Like I just I really struggled with feeling like I belong there, which was why 2019 was such a cool year for me, because I ended up like getting six, which was so like surprising, and made it through all the cuts, like meet a lot of the girls that I looked up to. So that was such a role one year.
Speaker 2:But also is one of my favorite years because I went in without any expectations. I just was just going to have fun, because I also barely made it in like I got like a backfill spot, so it's like I'm just gonna keep, you know, having fun and I just kept slowly making the cuts and I was like oh, wow, and then ended up making the top 10 cut, which was insane. Everyone was so surprised. I was so happy, but also struggled a little bit with like I feel like I don't deserve that, even though I had just made it, you know, but that was one of my favorite years, for sure.
Speaker 1:I thought it's so cool to see and like compete alongside the girls that you looked up to for years.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that was also insane, because I was still feeling like a fan girl a little bit and here. I am like I'm beating them, but yeah, they definitely helped pave the way, so it was really cool to get to compete beside them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, when did you move to Cookville?
Speaker 2:I moved to Cookville when I was 17, so in 2018, very young.
Speaker 1:Okay, so that was the first year after you had started training there.
Speaker 2:Yes, I had made it as an individual that following year.
Speaker 1:yes, Okay, and let's see 2019, you got rookie of the year that was yeah. Okay, so that was the year that was your favorite.
Speaker 2:When you got the year that, I was just completely blown away about that, making the top 10, my top six.
Speaker 1:Sometimes it's good to have no expectations.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I know that's why I had so much fun that year, because I just didn't care. I just was like I'm gonna do my best and whatever, if that's 30th or whatever.
Speaker 1:How I always think about. Like I did my first marathon this past year and I could not sleep going into it. Like I was nervous I'm not even competing or trying to win and I'm like, what about people that do the CrossFit games? Like I cannot even imagine the nervousness that you feel going into it.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely honestly, the day before is always my least favorite, because you're like you just wanted to start but it's still like far away and you're thinking about all the things that are gonna go wrong and you're scared and a lot of that also comes from pressure as well. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, but yeah, the day before is just like oh, it's so rough.
Speaker 1:Do you feel like getting into the CrossFit community, being so young and having maybe that title on like on you of being the fittest teen and coming into the games like? Do you feel that there was a lot of support going into it, like from other competitors and from other people?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think people were just really excited to see, like because I believe I was the first one to make the transition from the teenage to the individual, so I think people were just excited to see what that was gonna look like and how it was gonna be able to hold up against the older girls from doing so well the year before in the teenage division. So I think people were just really interested to see what was gonna happen.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's awesome. I think with I can imagine like stepping into something new and being the youngest one, just feeling a lot of pressure and nerves.
Speaker 2:Yeah honestly, though, I was having a great time. That whole weekend had a great time.
Speaker 1:Good, I love that. So are you still living in Cookville right now, like you and Tennessee?
Speaker 2:No, I actually just moved to Virginia, okay, yeah, so I'm a lot closer to home here and my coaches that are helping me this year are also going to be here, so I just made the most sense to come here and again, the family thing being close to them has been really like heavy on me lately to just spend more time with them while I can. But, yeah, I really love it here and I loved my time in Cookville. It just I've been there for five years, so it's quite a long time and I'm just I really like my coaches this year and, yeah, so there's just a lot of exciting things happening in that area. Love everything about Tennessee and all the people there. It's time to make a change, so, oh, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the doors are opening. That's exciting. Have you? Is it hard, since you are there for training? Have you? Is it hard to move to a new city by yourself and not really have a ton of connections?
Speaker 2:Well. So I had been here quite a few times this year so I got to make some friends at the gym, so I already had like a little community before I moved here. So it's actually been really nice. Everyone's been so welcoming. They wanna help in any way. They invite me to everything. I've definitely made quite a few friends here, so I really love it.
Speaker 1:Where are you at? In Virginia, Blacksburg. So it's whatever Virginia is.
Speaker 2:Okay, is it freezing? Yeah, it's. Yeah, that's pretty cool. It's like 30 degrees yeah. I know Tennessee is pretty cold too, though, so yeah, honestly, all the places where I've lived are like the same. So like North Carolina and Virginia and Tennessee they all look and feel the same yeah.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, that's all, that's exciting.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So I wanna talk about, kind of I guess, the past year, what that has looked like for you and earlier.
Speaker 1:I was gonna say earlier this year, but it was last year in 2023, in February. Yeah, you had made a post about taking a step back from CrossFit and I, like wrote down some of the one of the things that you said. I'm gonna read it just for people that are listening. But it says I've suffered in silence and because of the pressure to make everything okay. I kept a smile on my face. It's been a hard few years when every single day is a battle. This isn't a new chapter. It's a new book. 2024 comeback is gonna be big.
Speaker 2:No, I'm gonna give you chills. I haven't read that for a while.
Speaker 1:It was so powerful what you wrote. I remember reading that and it's like everyone that I followed on Instagram was just. I'm so proud of you and thank you for speaking out about this. Do you wanna talk about that and kind? Of what led you to have that realization?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So basically, the last like two years of competing were not so fun for me. I was not enjoying what I was doing. I was in a really, really bad mental spot and it was caused me to spiral in a lot of other areas. I didn't have, you know, good relationships anymore. I kind of isolated myself from everyone and I just really just hated what I was doing but also felt so much pressure to keep doing it and perform a certain way, or no one's gonna love me or be proud of me. You want to be my friend, and so it was just like an ongoing battle every single day with telling myself these lies and Just hating going to the gym.
Speaker 2:So last in December yeah, it was December of 2022. It's actually my birthday I kind of just really hit like a rock bottom and I had been having like meltdowns before, but this one was just like Different, like I couldn't go to the gym. I just was having like panic attacks and I Just finally just had a real conversation with myself and my family. I'm like I don't think that I can do this anymore right now because, like I'm just not doing okay and I don't know what's gonna happen if I keep doing this, like I'm just so unhappy and Finally being able to tell someone that was like a thousand pounds lifted off my shoulders and I felt like that was like a door had just opened, like oh, like there is a way out, like you don't have to keep Doing this.
Speaker 2:So then, as time a few more weeks go on, I had finally decided that stepping away for the year was gonna be the best thing for me. And it was a really, really hard decision, obviously, because I was like, am I just being Like unmotivated or lazy? And you know just the constant, you know self-destruction in your head. But yeah, I ended up finally deciding not to compete and when I did decide that, again it felt like so much pressure had been lifted off and I could finally just start to like breathe and live my life and just be happy and just find joy. And you know we rekindle relationships and all that stuff. But those few months were definitely life-changing and I look back at it now and it just felt like there was no way out. And if I could just see where I'm at Right now, a year ago, I would not believe it, because it felt like there was seriously no way out. So if anyone's watching that and they feel really stuck.
Speaker 1:There always is a light and then yeah, you're completely on the other side of it.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, it's not even Comparable at all.
Speaker 1:I know social media is like such a highlight role, but I feel like you can tell that through your photos and stuff, too, on social media. Just yeah, I've gotten that.
Speaker 2:I've got not a lot and I used to always get comments Like when I was competing and stuff. They're like she looks so miserable, like she looks so unhappy.
Speaker 1:I was like yeah, probably because I was yeah but no, I get that a lot now. So Well, you should be proud of yourself. But yeah, like you said, with anything there is a light at the end of the tunnel. So anyone listening, like I, know that they're definitely is. I can't even imagine how hard that was for you to have that conversation, oh it was.
Speaker 2:It took everything in me because, again, like part of my problem was I felt like people only liked me Because I did cross fit, or they only cared, you know, about whatever, just because of cross fit. Like cross, it was literally everything. I didn't know who I was, thought that that's all anyone cared about in my life, just so, just being able to hear someone be like we just are worried about you and we want you to be happy and healthy. It's like, oh wait, you okay about me.
Speaker 1:Like Haley Adams. Yeah, all spiky girl in my head.
Speaker 2:That's all that I thought.
Speaker 1:Anyone thought of me so which is very fair to me. It's been such a big like changing part of your.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, for sure, and I'm super thankful for it too, because it has changed my life in a lot of ways. I just got really really lost in the process of it.
Speaker 1:So did you With cross fit and with competing like prior to To like having that conversation? Did you ever really struggle with like body image or food? Is that something like a route that you went down?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I went down that road really, really hard. I remember when I started I was like Already someone told me I needed to count on macros, like because that's what everyone does. Well, I remember I already started like restricting my calories and I was like 15 years old and counting macros, so I think that's just kind of how it started and I started to get a pretty bad, really shit with food. And then the body image stuff didn't start till later.
Speaker 2:I was actually telling someone the other day it's like if you scroll down my Instagram, you can kind of see like just the evolution of like I used to dress, like I Don't want to say normal, but like normal like I'd wear a sports bra and spandex to the gym, like which is super uncommon for me, but or now at least when. If you scroll on Instagram, you can just kind of see like where that slowly just goes away, like where I started covering up more and like wearing bigger clothes and this and that. But yeah, I struggled very badly with body image and had some pretty bad eating issues, but yeah, but that also was just kind of like part of all of that, like it all looped in together. It was almost like in In a way, like I thought I was doing something good for myself, but I really was just hurting myself, you know. No, yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you for sharing that.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, for sure I know it's. There's a lot of people that probably it could help someone else hearing it, so Don't mind sharing.
Speaker 1:I mean because when you look at people on social media, whether it's in the CrossFit space or in like the hybrid space or anything, you see, oh, like they're living their best life. They wake up, they eat, they train for a few hours, they get to like hang out with everyone they train with, and then they don't have to like have a, you know, normal job, I guess, and it can make it seem like it's just the ideal life.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, that I wish I could do what you do. You just get to work out all day. I'm like, oh, really, because it's not just working out, it's also doing things. You're really bad at things that hurt really bad. You're tracking your sleep, you don't go out. You're tracking your calories, you're doing everything. I'm like it's not just working out, but okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because you were at Tennessee Tech right.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Okay, did you ever graduate or did you finish with anything?
Speaker 2:No, I have about two and a half years of credits, and then it was just like a little bit overwhelming and I wasn't full time either.
Speaker 2:So I decided just to wait, because I eventually want to be a dental hygienist and go into dental hygiene school and I don't have many prerequisites for that left. So I was like I'm just going to like, hold off a little bit because I'm not going to do hygiene school until I'm done with CrossFit. So, yeah, you can always go back to that. Oh yeah, no, I'm for sure going to finish it. I just put it on pause right now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, that's. I was going to ask like what, what were, like, what did you always want to be growing up, when you were little?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've always wanted to do something in dentistry. Okay, so I think, a dental hygienist.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, that's good that you know that, and that's not just like workout all the time.
Speaker 2:No, for sure For sure.
Speaker 1:So over the past it's crazy that it's almost been a year, but over the past year, what have you like? What are some other things that Hayley enjoys Like? What have you found that, other things that bring you joy, that have been kind of masked?
Speaker 2:So I got to travel a lot this year and really got to enjoy that, because before, when I would travel, I'd just be stressed out about training and, you know, wouldn't enjoy myself. So getting to actually like vacation this year and just enjoy everything about it was one of the highlights of my year. I got to meet a lot of cool people this year that I'm excited to move on into the new year with. I'm also found I'm kind of obsessed with Disney World. Yeah, so that's been a new realization, since I obviously spent all of my childhood years just grinding away. Yeah, like you're healing your inner child, yes, yes, I also just kind of found a new love for CrossFit again and working out, and I truly love what I do now, which I never thought I would say again either. But yeah, I just love being in the gym again and, yeah, it kind of sums it up, have you?
Speaker 1:was it a hard transition from like making that post and saying that you're going to step away? Did you take time away from the gym after you did that?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I didn't even want to be in CrossFit Gym. I was like I don't hear the word, I don't want to see it, like I don't want to be in it, because I was still in a very uncomfortable spot with CrossFit, like I just felt so much like angered towards it. But yeah, I was going to Planet Fitness with my mom doing bodybuilding and cardio and all that stuff, so it took me a minute to want to be back in a CrossFit Gym.
Speaker 1:That's a good. I'm so glad they are back in that place Just starting over at Planet Fitness.
Speaker 2:like yeah, I still like it. I still go there like twice a week to do bodybuilding because it just feels like, you know, just a breath of fresh air just from being in a CrossFit Gym. I'm stopped, so I know people hate on it, but I still like going.
Speaker 1:Have you the past year? Have you done a lot of inner work or therapy?
Speaker 2:Yes, I for sure have Just like learning about, like, the thoughts in your head and just all your mental health stuff. There's definitely been eye opening and why you feel the way you feel or think the way you think, and just how to work through things as well, just because, like, you're still going to have bad days. I think that's the part that freaks me out the most, because I'd be having a bad day, like even now, and sometimes I get scared, I'm like, oh, am I about to go down that again or go through that again? But it's like, no, it's just a bad day, it's not doesn't mean you're going back to that Like. So just learning how to deal with that and your thoughts is definitely been an important skill alone.
Speaker 1:When you notice yourself kind of getting in that negative space again. Is there a certain thing that you do that kind of helps you get out of it?
Speaker 2:I try to just like remind myself basically what I just said, like you're not going backwards, like people have bad days, it's OK, and kind of also just allowing myself to feel what I feel, instead of just trying to push it away or hide it or mask it before it just all builds up and explodes. So just allowing myself to you know if I'm sad, feel sad for a minute, you know, or yeah, so that's that's helped me a bunch, because I used to just hide everything and push it away until it all just exploded, which is not good. So that's that's helped a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that you've gotten been able to work through that too, because it's so easy to. I mean, I can imagine being in the fitness phase as well, like when you have a bad day, just go to the gym and avoid it and like push it to the back. But now you're able to find these parts of yourself that like have been hidden for so long. Right, how it's going to help you so much more. Like as you get older and have a family and have kids, and like how impactful that's going to be on them too. Oh for sure, like this stuff isn't just for now.
Speaker 2:It's like you know, forever yeah.
Speaker 1:That's amazing. With so now going into this next season, are you planning on doing the open this year?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I am planning on competing, which I'm really excited about. Didn't think I'd say that, but I'm very excited to give it a run again in this time in a different mindset and just in a way better place.
Speaker 1:That's exciting. Do you have any expectations or you feel like you're? Going to just for fun.
Speaker 2:I mean, I'm going with the intent to like compete again Right, like this spate in the season, but I just don't want to place expectations on myself because I'm such a perfectionist which is also. It's just who I am I always want to do good and everything I do. So I feel like if I don't place expectations on myself and just go do my best and honestly, I'll probably be happier and might even be better.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's so exciting Whenever I do. I forgot to ask you this Whenever you made your post and talked about it, did you get a lot of messages that like so much support?
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, I have never felt so much love in my life, like the messages I got, the comments. I didn't even see one bad thing, like I thought I was going to get real, but just like a bunch of bad stuff.
Speaker 2:I did not see one bad comment Like there was so much love and I was like, wait, people actually do care about me, yeah, but that I still think about that these days. Just how happy and how much love I felt. I was actually at Disney World when I made that post, so yeah, I know.
Speaker 1:The one in Florida, that's right. Have you been to the one in California too?
Speaker 2:No, I haven't. I really like Disney World.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, I've heard.
Speaker 2:Disney World's better. Yeah, I'm just a Disney World diehard. I don't want to go anywhere else Was that your first time going like no, okay, I've been a few times around as a kid. I went on New Year's that year as well.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And then in February, when I knew I wasn't competing and I knew that that week was going to be pretty hard for me, I was feeling that I was going to have to make that announcement, and just with all the emotions of the season starting. So my mom and I went to Disney World for eight days.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh Is it. Do you go because the characters and stuff, or do you ride their rides?
Speaker 2:I just like I don't know. I just really liked Disney World, I think, because I went after the games, also in 2022, and that was like the first place. I just felt like happiness. I didn't feel like I had to do something, I just felt so happy there and I think because it was there, I just like last on to that, feeling Like I'm sure I could be happy and like anywhere else, really like on vacation, but just because that was the first place that I just felt something, I just kind of last on to it and like just want to keep going back. I love that.
Speaker 1:That's funny. I was listening to a podcast this morning about healing your inner child because, like I've been realizing, a lot of the things that come up is because of like the inner child that you struggled with when you were little and all the things. That's like a whole topic on itself. But it was talking about how to heal your inner child. You have to go back and do things that your younger self loved doing and like Disney World, or on the podcast she was like I watched high school musical the other day, yep, actually did too.
Speaker 1:I was like Hannah Montana and all the things I texted my friend that I'm seeing next week. I'm like, can we please watch like the sweet life is like Cody or Hannah Montana.
Speaker 2:This is the way it really plays. All those years, yes, yeah.
Speaker 1:I love that you did that Like that's. I love that.
Speaker 2:Oh, I know, I know people make fun of Disney or whatever for adults, but I'm like I don't really care.
Speaker 1:I feel happiness there, so that's all that matters, you could, you could be, you could like, like be addicted to other, worse things.
Speaker 2:So I know I was going to say it could be a lot worse. So I'm not harming anyone.
Speaker 1:I love that I do. Let's see with. So are you training with anyone else right now that is going to be competing to like? Are you with like other competitors, or do you have a great coach?
Speaker 2:Well, athletes. But the owner of the gym here is a masters athlete who was okay, was to making it to the games last year, and then my coach and his wife who also helps coach me. She's really, really fit. I'm not sure what her plans are this year with competing, but she could probably for sure make it if you wanted to, as a master. Yeah, so I've got some sick people still working out with me, just not any like direct competitors.
Speaker 1:Oh okay, so you're not under like a big branch. No, oh okay. Oh that's awesome. That has to be cool to get just like channel.
Speaker 2:Yeah, just like a new start. And again, I really like my coaches their names, josh and Haley on real low, so they've, they kind of are part of the reason I'm even competing in the first place. They kind of just, you know, started helping me back and, like I think it was July, they're like let's just have fun, like, you know, no pressure, like let's just try. And they really like believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. And it just was really nice to have two people that you could tell cared so much about you, not just for you know what you can bring for them or competing or whatever, but genuinely just I could tell that they cared a lot about me and that meant so much to me. So basically, from that point on, I just knew that I really wanted them to be a part of my journey. And yeah, here we are now and they'll be here soon and get to train with them all the time, but yeah, they're the best.
Speaker 1:Special when does the open start?
Speaker 2:I think it's the last week of February, so we saw the time Okay.
Speaker 1:So I put up a question box whenever I said that I was going to have you on the podcast and a few people asked like some little quick questions that we can run through. So I think I'll stir. Oh no, I think her phone must have went out. Let's see how it goes this.
Speaker 2:I'm so sorry, it's okay. I'll cut that little part out. My hand just fell and hit the end button. I'm so sorry, it's okay.
Speaker 1:I'll cut that part out. Okay, okay, let's see. Okay, here we go. Okay, whenever you do get ready for a big competition or anything that you're training for, obviously with CrossFit, what do you have? Any certain affirmation or anything that you're telling yourself to build confidence and get in a positive head space?
Speaker 2:I feel like that's a good question to ask me in a few months, because before I would just feel so much pressure and anxiety that I don't even know what I did to help myself. I think I just listen to music, honestly, to not hear my thoughts, which I'm not sure that's a great answer, but it's honest.
Speaker 1:So what's your go-to workout song If you need to have a bomb lift?
Speaker 2:Okay, it changes every day and it's probably not what you think, but sometimes the sad music like Billie Eilish, nessa Livio Arrigo, all that music fires me up. Those sad songs, it just makes you feel something I just want to get after it. And then recently I've been really into movie soundtracks, so like the Star Wars soundtrack that will give me pumped up Tron, all of those. So I used to listen to a ton of rap, but I try not to as much anymore, just feel like, because I feel like all those lyrics have to go somewhere. I don't want to be listening to that so much that I just, you know, just in my brain. So I try to switch it up a little bit more.
Speaker 1:I have to listen to movie soundtracks. I get that about the sad music though. Like Tate McCrae is her new album is all that I've been listening to. I think that's just really good, so I love that. Okay, what's your favorite meal that you're loving right now?
Speaker 2:Hmm, okay, something that I've never had before. It sounds like crazy, but okay, you know the bag salads, where it has like the ingredients in it and like. I don't know why I'm obsessed with those Like for the whole bag like in a bowl, yeah, and it has these toppings on it. And sometimes I add stuff. I'm obsessed with them. I'm obsessed Like a different flavor all the time, like the everything ones. There's like the um, the Dill Pickle ones. I love them so much, so tasty.
Speaker 1:It's like Kava at home, basically, yeah.
Speaker 2:I like to it. Um, this is like a whole little bowl. I love it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, little, cheap, quick, lazy girl. Yes, girl day. Um, seriously With. Okay, let's see. Do you have any other fitness goals outside of CrossFit, as far as any other races or things that you would want to do?
Speaker 2:Uh, I want to do a high rock. Yes, yeah, I feel like that's something I would be good at, so I want to do one of those.
Speaker 1:I love it. I um, I've done three and then I have three coming up, but I love it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm, I need to find one.
Speaker 1:Yeah, especially if you um like love running. Well, maybe not love running, but like our fast and have a good big base.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:On obviously.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it kind of fits into my training as well.
Speaker 1:Um, I think a lot of CrossFit people are going to start getting into high rocks.
Speaker 2:I think so too.
Speaker 1:It's like I really think it's the next big thing. I agree, I agree. So maybe yeah, that'd be cool if it's something that you can tip yourself into and help um make it popular too. So yeah. Exactly Mine as well. Yeah, maybe like in the off season, cause I know Worlds is in May or June, so then it starts back up in the fall. Oh yeah, sure, it kind of fits my season then, yeah, there's one in DC.
Speaker 2:I'm coming to it in the beginning of March, but obviously like oh wait, I've heard of people from my gym here going to that one.
Speaker 1:Really they're trying to get me to come. Yeah, yeah. Well, you also let me know if you go. But, um, that'd be fun if you could do it, but I'm sure you couldn't because of the open and stuff.
Speaker 2:I mean, maybe you got it.
Speaker 1:You're feeling spontaneous. Yeah, Um, what's your favorite type of workout? Like if CrossFit was not involved? Like what's your favorite ideal workout to go to the gym and do.
Speaker 2:Um, I don't know if this is considered CrossFit, but like it kind of is. But I love E-MOM style workouts, like on the minute and you're just switching movements or cardio machines, I don't know. I feel like it makes the time go by fast. It keeps you structured. Um, yeah, that's just my favorite kind of workout, got it?
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then, how has your relationship with Christ changed at all since making the decision not to compete? Um, timing changes, speeds change, steps change, buildings change.
Speaker 2:I feel like it's probably about the same. Okay, yeah, cool.
Speaker 1:Someone asked that question, like that's okay, yeah, yeah, I'm sure it's saying to you like appreciate your I don't know, be like being strong in your faith to make sure you look at your body a different way, and like take that back and being like okay, you know this doesn't matter, and like you're still beautiful oh yeah, and like having those affirmations yeah.
Speaker 2:Like you're still, you know you're so loved and you're so worthy, and yeah.
Speaker 1:How has your appreciation for the things that your body can do for you, how has that changed? It can be over the year or over the past few years.
Speaker 2:I've definitely realized it more this year. I've been so much more appreciative of how appreciative I am, of what I've allowed my body to do when it's on me, to just from taking a step back and saying like, wow, look at all of those years of work that you've put in, like I honestly it's still mind blowing how much my body is done, but it's definitely made me want to respect it and feel it and so that I can keep going on longer, or is like before I was just digging myself into a hole and not giving it what it needed as well. So, yeah, it's definitely given me a different approach this year for that.
Speaker 1:And, lastly, the. I want to talk about the clothing and the pair of line that you dropped. It's so cute, thank you, thank you. So tell us a little about it, is it? It's? You are enough.
Speaker 2:Right, yeah, okay, it's kind of a bunch of different little things this year that I believe in and have been a part of my journey.
Speaker 2:So you are enough, which goes back to us talking about like me, feeling like I wasn't enough and anyone else's eyes if I wasn't with CrossFit or this or that. So, truly learning to believe that this year was a big part of my journey Work in progress, because you are always work in progress, like I'm not 100% healed and it's always, you know, a work in progress, no matter what you're doing, and then the be kind to your mind, just because this year I learned a lot about mental health and how it correlates to everything else, and so just learning to take care of yourself and putting your mental health first has been really big for me. So I wanted to put that in there. So this whole clothing line and even the designs of it, the colors I just wanted it to be something that resembled me. So, of course, maybe a little girly, which is okay, it's whatever. I just wanted it to create something that resembled with past year for me and something to look back on and see people that I love wear. And, yeah, I'm really proud of it.
Speaker 1:I'll have to link it in the description, but I saw you like post little teasers and thank you. I'm going to order a sweatshirt but I think two people wearing it. It's like when you are wearing it, knowing that you're not alone in that and you can be quiet for people of there is hope on the other side to.
Speaker 2:That was my goal for it.
Speaker 1:So I'm excited to get my hands on it.
Speaker 2:I just love it, so like if anyone knows me. They look at that and they're like that is Haley.
Speaker 1:Like the color.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love like bright colors, all the stuff, so I'm really proud of it.
Speaker 1:Do you feel that, like outside of CrossFit in this past year, you've been able to just like be more of yourself and just have fun and like that spark again of this who you? Yes.
Speaker 2:I've learned so much about myself this year of things that anyone realized and things or places where I like going and people you know, new friends and just all different kinds of things that I like to do now and I just I feel like I know who I am deep down now and I'm I'm not willing to ever sacrifice feeling like that again. So I try to keep myself in check a lot. Even the gym, if I work out, goes bad or something like hey, it's okay, like you know, this doesn't define whatever, like you're okay and I'm able to just walk away with it. So just learning that this year my time in the gym Okay, we're going to work hard for this two hours and then we're done for the rest of day, like you're not thinking about it has just really helped a lot and not getting called up and things, and I just feel like I you know, really know who I am now instead of just CrossFit.
Speaker 1:So well, that's so powerful and it's only going to continue to just pour over into every part of your life. And I know you've been such an inspiration, like to me and to so many people, and even whatever happens this year at the games, like again, you're so much more than you are in the CrossFit community and you're going to continue to inspire people, so thank you so much. Well, thank you so much for being here today, and I'm so excited for people just like to feel so encouraged and inspired by this too.
Speaker 2:Yes, for sure, and I hope that, if anything, that if again, if someone's gone through a rough time, that they know that there is always hope.
Speaker 1:So yeah, that will all link everything in the description and thanks for tuning in.
