The last heat of “Amazing Grace” our annual charity event based upon the workout “GRACE” – 30 Clean & Jerks for time (#95/135). This year Diablo chose 3 CrossFit gyms in Asheville, NC that were completely destroyed by floods during Hurricane Helene. Our Community raised enough to send more than $1,250 to each of the 3 gyms to help with their recovery!
“It is easier to act yourself into a new way of thinking, than it is to think yourself into a new way of acting.”
Millard Fuller
PREVIEW
- Magic Pill
- Fall Classic on Saturday
- We Owned A Pro Sports Team
- Surita & Peter Are Amazing
- Positive Algorithm
JUST POP A PILL? There is a LOT of discussion lately around the use of Ozempic or Wegovy (both manufactured by the same Danish company, Novo Nordisk) for weightloss – especially given the US Government’s consideration of approving the drugs, GLP1’s, for payment with Medicare and Medicaid. Now, a newly released research report has shown that the semiglutide drugs may also help suppress demand for opiods, alcohol or other addictive drugs. It’s easy to understand how GLP1s might work to curb addictions since the drugs affect the pleasure pathways in the brain to reduce hunger cravings with diabetics.
Could GLP1s be the miracle drug to cure addiction? Should GLP1s be the 1st course of action for addicts or people suffering with obesity? Some in the fitness business say “NO!”, these drugs are not a cure, and will likely become a lifelong dependency at an enormous financial burden for the user and, if approved, for tax payers (estimated $1-3 trillion a year). Of course there are also numerous reported side-effects with these new drugs. Ironically, Denmark, home to Novo Nordisk, has not approved the drugs for weight loss – instead recommending diet and exercise. The US is the largest target consumer.
On the other hand, I have personally witnessed the ravages of alcohol and drug addiction in my family. Alcoholism killed my father. He could not quit. Millions of Americans (and their families) struggle with addiction and many die. If there’s a drug that could help “break” the cycle and allow addicts to focus on recovery without the overwhelming desire to relapse – I think that’s a good thing. Similarly, food addiction is real! For millions of Americans suffering from morbid obesity, the use of a GLP1 offers hope for breaking the cycle of obesity. I have spoken to 3 such people recently and their stories are incredibly emotional and also inspiring – GLP1s work for some.
My position is this: GLP1s can be a powerful intervention for addiction – food and maybe drugs & alcohol, enabling many people to transition to healthier lifestyles – hopefully with professional support. And as with ALL drugs, GLP1s should not become a life-long subscription.
COME SUPPORT OUR LIFTERS! DIABLO FALL CLASSIC – OCT 26th. Diablo’s annual USAW Certified Weightlifting Competition is back and IS sold out! Lifts begin at 10:30AM. Come watch, cheer and maybe change weights for lifters.
SOBER WALK-TOBER CONTINUES – KEEP LOGGING YOUR RESULTS! No Alcohol + 11,000 steps earns 4 points.
A BIT ABOUT DIABLO… We owned a professional sports team and it was a very expensive, but incredibly fun and rewarding experience.
In 2014, the Media Director for CrossFit, Tony Budding, resigned in order to create a new professional team sport based upon CrossFit movements: The “National Pro Fitness League.” The idea for a new team fitness sport was derived from CrossFit’s annual International Team Competition. In 2013, the event sold out a 10,000+ seat arena in Berlin Germany and was a huge hit in the CrossFit community. Tony had the experience – he and his media team at CrossFit helped propel the CrossFit Games to National attention with a broadcast deal with ESPN. Tony reached out to me early in 2014 to help design the sport, the league, and the rulebook and secure investors.
Shortly after launching the NPFL, the sport was given a name, “GRID” – derived from the 4-quadrant grid that is the playing field for matches. Investors dived in and team owners lined up for a chance to own one of the first teams in this nescient pro sport. The rulebook was published and a head judge was hired. The season structure was thorough and published early in 2014 with the first matches scheduled for late Summer in large arenas around the Country, including Madison Square Garden.. There would be a “combine” along with a very professional, team draft at the end of the combine. The GRID draft mimicked the NFL. The National Pro Grid League was truly a full-blown, professional sport.
My friend Paul Southern (also a CF affiliate owner) and my current business partner, Jeremy Jones decided to be team owners of the San Francisco franchise: named, “The San Francisco Fire”. Paul acted as the COO, running all aspects of the team operations and Jeremy was our team Coach. Our first home match in August, 2014 took place at Haas Pavilion at UC Berkeley. We dominated AND had an absolute blast.
There’s a lot to tell about GRID – the matches are fast pace and a lot of fun to watch. Teams of 10 athletes (5 men & 5 women) competed in 9 “races” per match, moving down the 4 quadrants of the grid to complete various lifts or gymnastic tests. Fans could easily tell which team was winning. Men competed with and against women. The format for each race (movements & number of athletes) stayed the same each week. Mid race substitiutions made for exciting strategy.
GRID survived 3 seasons before finally going bankrupt in 2016. Many top Diablo athletes were drafted and played for the Fire. And the matches produced some of the most exciting moments in fitness sports ever – in my opinion. Fortunately, one of the team owners, Mather & Ruby Wiswall (brother/sister) have kept GRID alive with an incredible grass roots effort in the South East. The United Grid League is thriving and fills small venues with plenty of fans and lots of exciting athletes.
We’ll have Mather on our podcast this Wednesday to fill us in on their amazing success!
PROGRAMMING
October Focus: 1. Barbell Cycling 2. Front Pause Squats 3. Bench Press + Lunge
- Mon: E4MOM w/1m Rest. Buy-in 400/500m Row. Amrap 6 S2OH + 4 Chin Ups #95/135
- Tue: Front Pause Squat. Metcon: Amrap 6m: Buy-In 3 Clusters, then Max Cals Air Bike
- Wed: Snatch Complex. Metcon: 50,40,30,20,10 DUs + 12 DB Snatch #35/50
- Thu: Bench Press + Lunge. Metcon: Amrap 8m. 400m SB Buy-In, then 6 Burpees + 12KBs
- Fri: “Out & Back” – 800m Run, 25 T2B, 50 PP, 25 T2B, 800m Run
- Sat: 3RFT – 15 Power Snatch, 15 BFBurpees #95/135
- Sun: 5RFT – 400m Run, 15 Lunges, 6 Strict Pull Ups
- OCT 23RD: HISTORY OF GRID – Mather Wiswall – United Grid League – Lots to talk about this one!
- **Last Week!: Surita Sharma – Oct 16 – ANOTHER AWESOME – tear-jerking episode! Foster fail! Surita will be sharing her and her husband, Peter’s incredible foster to adoption story of their 2 beautiful children. WOW!
- Week of OCT 28: Meal Prep with Yvonne Howard & Kim Hilen!
Dialing in my Instagram Algorithm. I’ve really got my IG dialed in to all things health, fitness, CrossFit and of course, doggos & funny memes. I’ve unfollowed the negative and preferenced the positive. As a result, my content is pretty damn interesting and motivating for me. Some of my favs include:
- @andreipuchkou – CrossFit gymanstics – bar & ring muscle up tips and progressions
- @peterattiamd – Outlive Author and health guru
- @hubermanlab – Stanford PhD -heath & fitness guru
- @foundmyfitness – Rhonda Patrick PhD – CrossFit enthusiast, podcaster & data freak heath guru
- @drjamesdinic – Awesome motivational & simple health tips for health, lifestyle, nutrition & exercise
- @dr.caleb.burgess – Same!
- @wod_science – CrossFit science geeks out of Switzerland. Coolest, data-driven CF social media. Love it.
- @anatomy.of.motion – literally. Their transparent human demos are freaky and so informative!
- @thefittestdoc – this is my latest fav! Dr. Nick is fit af and posts really good content that’s motivating, data backed, and easy to read.
- @itscoachgoodman – same! Really good stuff. Motivation.
- @marksissionprimal – OG Primal Blueprint author
- @bodybymark – Mark walks the streets and interviews random fit people on what they do to stay fit. Fascinating and not surprising. There are some really fit people out there.
