For many athletes, the dream of competing at the CrossFit Games feels out of reach. For Anthonee, it became reality this past year through relentless commitment, sacrifice, and a willingness to step into the unknown.
Anthonee recently returned to the Happy Healthy Human to reflect on his first Games appearance and the year that reshaped his life. The conversation highlights more than just training; it’s about environment, mindset, and the personal costs that come with chasing excellence.
From California to Tennessee
A year ago, Anthonee was still balancing a full-time job in California while training on the side. Frustrated by inconsistency, he made the leap to go “all in,” relocating to Tennessee to join the PRVN Fitness camp. Surrounded by elite athletes and coaches like Kefir, he found the structure and intensity he needed to grow.
Sacrifice and Resilience
The move wasn’t easy. Anthonee left behind his family, community, and the comfort of California weather. Loneliness and self-doubt crept in — yet he managed these challenges by keeping perspective, grounding himself in gratitude, and reminding himself that he’s living the very life he once prayed for.
Professionalism in the Details
One of Anthonee biggest lessons came not from workouts but from attention to detail. Whether it’s re-wrapping ropes correctly, aligning dumbbells perfectly, or keeping a clean training environment, these small habits reflect the professionalism that defines elite athletes.
Nutrition
Anthonee also shared how he’s refining his nutrition and aiming for a leaner body composition — not for aesthetics, but for optimal performance. His focus is on whole, single-ingredient foods, strategic supplementation, and maintaining the balance between being lean enough to compete and strong enough to perform. While qualifying for the Games as part of a team was a major milestone, Anthonee isn’t stopping there. His eyes are now set on qualifying individually, knowing the gap to the world’s best is narrow but determined to close it.
Lessons for All of Us
Anthonee’s journey is about more than CrossFit. It’s about:
- The power of environment and support systems.
- The importance of perspective and resilience in hard seasons.
- The reality that sacrifice often comes with chasing meaningful goals.
- The way professionalism in small habits creates big results over time.
As Anthonee put it best, success means doing everything you can to “leave no doubt.”
Full Transcript:
00:00:00 – 00:01:01
What up, Triple H podcast? Today we have Anthony Yim back on for another episode where we discuss the five factors of health and how he used all five of punches to get to the first CrossFit games of his life. Listen up. Enjoy. What’s up, dude? What’s going on? Welcome back. Am I the first um reoccurring guest? I think you’re I think you’re the first recurring guest. That’s dope. Yeah. I was here for the first episode and then Yeah, you’re the first one back, bro. Let’s go.
00:00:38 – 00:01:46
Chase you. Let’s go, dude. Um, dude, last time we spoke, you were here in Cali. Well, no, last time we spoke, I was in Nashville. Nashville. But, uh, but last time you were on the pod, you were here in Cali. Um, you were a year out from semi-finals and not making semi-finals again. Yeah. Um, and now semi-finals is online now for online and in person. Yeah. Yeah. And and last time you were still in Cali and now you have partially moved and gone all the way to the games, man. Congratulations.
00:01:12 – 00:02:21
Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate it. That’s wild, huh? Yeah, it is crazy. A lot could change in a year. Yeah. Yeah. Um, I feel like Yeah, a year ago you were It sounds like you were figuring a lot of things out. How’d you end up How did you end up in Tennessee, man? Um, shoot. I was working with a coach. Uh, things weren’t really working out. And, um, I kept seeing, uh, I don’t know if you know who Kefir Lambie is. He’s a coach under Proven. Well, he’s my coach now, but I kept seeing him at like every
00:01:45 – 00:02:55
single comp that I went to. So, um, we ended up connecting on social media. I reached out and then um yeah, started working with uh Proven Fitness and it’s kind of how I got there. A year ago, obviously you didn’t qualify for a semis. Yeah. And we were like we’re talking about questioning a lot of things. You know, you’re um going full-time into it and the first year you’re like the first year I go full-time into it. I don’t make a semi versus when I was working. I make one
00:02:21 – 00:03:37
and you’re like, “Dude, is this is this the right way? Am I doing the right things?” And last year was what were the games coming out of that summer? Were the games in sight 12 months ago? Um, well, I don’t think so. I just wanted to get back to a semi and then the way the season changed with being able to do both team and individual uh changed a lot I would say for me. What um what do you feel like were the big adjustments that you’ve made in the last year lifestyle wise?
00:02:59 – 00:04:24
Um, well, even before last year that when I missed out on semis, like I was still working full-time pretty much. Like, it was just the open where the open and quarterfinals where I was like working a lot less. So, I mean, this this is really the first year of being able to pursue it full-time. So, that’s obviously the biggest difference. And then just being at the proven camp like every day with uh Kefir like my coach and other professional athletes. It’s been the biggest game changer ever. So
00:03:42 – 00:04:59
yeah, super grateful and have made so much progress already. So I’m excited to see Yeah. how or what I could do this next year. Obviously, do you feel like this is the beginning of something new or like Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I I mean, you just realize like how I know people do it with like a full-time job and like they make it happen and stuff, but like just being around other athletes like that do it. That’s all they do. It’s just so much I don’t know. I it’s just so much more different like with it
00:04:20 – 00:05:30
actually being your job and doing it full time. It’s like okay you can see why the best stay the best because this is all they do like all day every day. Everything in their life revolves around this. So you can see why they’re the best and stuff like that. If you were hypothetically, you know, now that you’ve a year later qualify, I’m sure you want to go back. Yeah. And as long as the sports around, you want to try to pursue winning the games, I’m guessing. Yeah. Um, just on the fir first year alone, just
00:04:54 – 00:05:51
being able to qualify and and I guess materially like participate and and and hitting a goal that you probably didn’t think you would this year. Do you feel like it gave you enough clarity on like what what let’s just say hypothetically you’re like, I’m not going to do this anymore starting today. Mhm. Do you feel like you learned enough about yourself in this last year that you’re like it would spur you to know what to do next or you’re still like early in that? That’s still unknown to me like what I
00:05:23 – 00:06:35
want to do next. I mean, I’ve already learned so much about like life and stuff through CrossFit and just pushing myself every day. But career-wise, it’s still like I feel like there’s an unknown. I mean, yeah, I know. Like, you always want to have a plan B. Yeah. Have something ready, but I don’t know. This is like the only thing that feeds my soul right now. Like, like excites me. Mhm. Everything else is just like, “Okay, I’ll do that for money.” Or there’s nothing else is like, “Oh, I’ll
00:05:59 – 00:07:11
do that for free.” You know what I’m saying? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, I’m still trying to figure it out. I know I love like fitness and like pushing myself every day, but I don’t know. I’m I’m still like undecided about it. I know I want to be around in the fitness industry. So, how was it? I mean, how was it moving, picking up and just leaving? Yeah. I originally went out there just for the open. That’s right. There was no one. That’s right. Yeah. I was just only supposed to be
00:06:37 – 00:07:46
there for 3 weeks and then uh That’s right. I had we had a online team semi-finals coming up. So it’s like and that was like what was the gap? Yeah. What was the gap? It was like a a month. So I was like I had in that 3 weeks I had learned so much and like every day was so impactful. I kind of just asked like, “Hey, is it okay if I stay like just throughout like from now to online semi-finals and they’re like, “Oh, yeah, of course.” Like, “We love like having you here.”
00:07:12 – 00:08:24
Mhm. And then playfully, Nick, the CEO, he was like, “Yeah, just just move here.” And then, I mean, I was, it was a joke, but I kind of went home and I was like, “I’m learning so much here.” And like just in the 3 weeks, I felt like I got so much better just from being in a camp and being around coaches full time. Cuz prior to that, like just doing everything on your own, like in my garage or at the gym, like just on my own, I hadn’t really been around like elite other elite athletes. So
00:07:47 – 00:09:14
just being there was like a game changer for me. What was it? Um I mean 3 weeks is a very controlled short predictable time and um so you what started off as a as a joke and then obviously you guys qualified so you’re like I’m just going to stay here through the games um what was what was that process like thinking I’m just going to be away and like what was the mental side of that like for I mean, at first it was like exciting. Like, I feel like it’s everything I’ve always like dreamed of or like wished for.
00:08:33 – 00:09:43
Yeah. So, it’s like at first it’s like, “Oh, man. Like, let’s do it. I can’t wait. Like, this is where I want to be.” But then like um I don’t know. It’s like I just didn’t know realize how much I would miss like California. Yeah. and like my family like I don’t know just you don’t you don’t appreciate what you have till you don’t have it. Sure. Like don’t get me wrong I’m like super grateful to be there and like Yeah. Like this is where I want to be for sure
00:09:07 – 00:10:12
cuz I’m just getting so much better just by being there. But yeah. What things do you miss the most here? Yeah. The weather there. It rains. Like it’ll be I don’t know. It rains so much. It’s humid. Um just like gloomy sometimes and it’s like I don’t like in California it’s just sunny every day. So the weather is that good here. It Yeah. It’s a price you can’t pay for. Damn. Like you don’t you don’t realize how much it makes an impact on you until you
00:09:41 – 00:10:55
leave. Yeah. Until you leave. Like I miss the weather. I miss um just being around my family. Like yeah, I don’t know. Just I have such a big family so it’s like no matter what there’s always somebody like in the background like just like background noise or like I don’t know just I I’ve never just been away from my family for sure this long. Like it still like I know I moved to Tennessee but it still feels like this is home. So yeah. Yeah. I just miss my family and weather.
00:10:17 – 00:11:11
That’s that’s what I miss the most honestly. You think you would How would you feel? What if they all moved out there with you? That’s never going to Well, yeah. But in the like would it be like Okay. You know what? I don’t miss Cali. Um, no. I’d still miss just the weather and like California is the best place. Dang. In the world. I feel like I’ve you know it’s interesting cuz like I’ve so I was telling I’m I’m like at the end of this travel season of my life
00:10:44 – 00:11:36
for for a minute but in the last 5 years I’ve taken 40 flights for like business conferences whatnot and that’s too bad. And you don’t feel the same way? Like I feel the same way but everyone that I meet from outside of California tells me how piece of crap of a state that we live in. Like oh like oh you’re you’re so biased cuz you’re from Cali. I’m like dang. Maybe it it kind of it kind of gets in your head of maybe it’s not that great and they’re like, “Dude, like leave Cali more often.
00:11:10 – 00:12:03
Like you’ll understand.” I’m like, I feel like people like that like they come and visit like LA or something though, like where it takes an hour to go 2 miles and it’s like okay we don’t live in LA. Yeah, we’re in the Yeah. So it’s different. Like you’re an hour away from the beach. You’re an hour away from the mountains. Like you have everything right here. Like, yeah. And it’s sunny January through December. Like over there in Tennessee, like it’s
00:11:36 – 00:12:31
already 50° at night. I’m like, “Oh, it’s starting to get cold.” Like, there’s really seasons here. I feel like it’s pretty much summer all year. Like, not summer, but it’s spring, like warm all year round. Even in December, like it may be like gloomy and cold in the morning, but then midday, it’s like 70. Yeah. Like 68, 70. Like, yeah. how we’re dressed right now. This is this is I only dress I I don’t have clothes outside of this. Yeah. When I went there
00:12:04 – 00:13:07
in the beginning of the year for the open in February. Like you bought a sweater, huh? Yeah. I had Yeah, it was it was free it was snowing. I was like, “Oh my gosh, it’s freezing.” So like I don’t know. Dang. Yeah. Do you feel like your lifestyle routine out there is the same as out here? No. That’s that’s another thing. like out there. It’s like it’s just CrossFit. Like there’s no there’s no type of distraction like here. Not that there’s distractions
00:12:34 – 00:13:27
here, but it’s like oh like just like little things like on the weekend sometimes like my family obviously my brothers play sports so it’s like oh we got to go to their games or like not that I have to but like I want to. Yeah. So, it’s like, “Oh, let me I mean, I always do all the training, but it’s like, did I get a good enough warm-up in? Did I cool down properly?” It’s like in the in the like moment, it’s like, “Okay, it’s just a cool down. I didn’t
00:13:02 – 00:14:07
stretch or like cool down properly.” But over time, like if you keep doing that, like it adds up. Or like if you miss like a good warm-up and then like you tweak something, it’s like cuz you’re in a rush. It’s like damn. like, “All right, so walk walk me through that now that you’re kind of you’re basically like actively living in training camp training camp mode, right? Walk me through what’s what that’s like from a mindset, lifestyle, physical training standpoint. Um, what’s your
00:13:34 – 00:14:38
life like in that mode when you’re living there versus when you’re in training mode here?” Like just it it sounds like distractions. Yeah. Is it just cuz you have no other options or or you don’t give yourself other options while you’re give myself any other options? It’s like I’m already there sacrificing so much. It’s like why am I going to why am I going to like go out or you know when I’m I don’t know I I have cuz like you go back and forth. It’s
00:14:06 – 00:15:11
like, okay, yeah, this is your life, but you also have to have balance or like live life, you know, like, but I don’t know. I feel like I’ve sacrificed so much already. And it would be different if I was like a lot younger, but I mean, I’m already older. So, it’s like I feel like I don’t have much time in the sport left, so I’m just trying to make the most of it. And yeah, it’s I feel like I have such a like gap to fill, too. So, it’s like I’m trying to expedite that. And
00:14:39 – 00:15:43
if I was younger, I’d be like, “Okay, I have 10 years left to chase this.” But it’s like I don’t have 10 years. I don’t see myself I don’t think I’ll be able to be doing this while I’m like 40. So, not in the open division, right? Yeah. It’s like I don’t know. you like you hear people say like, “Oh, you got to have balance or you gotta still enjoy life and like but I mean it’s not that hard because I this is what I enjoy like pushing myself and see seeing like
00:15:10 – 00:16:29
how or what I can achieve and just proving myself right.” So, what do you feel like the is the biggest um mental shift and thing that you’ve learned about yourself in the last 12 months? I don’t know. There’s not like the a big shift mentally like for me I feel like I’m still I mean I’ve definitely grown but yeah how so just like in professionalism like in the way I do things and like just being surrounded by the best people in the sport. It’s like you just see the way they carry themselves and how they
00:15:49 – 00:16:59
attack every day. And yeah, so um I mean it wasn’t like mentally I was like super immature or didn’t like work hard prior. So it’s just little things that I kind of felt like I already or not already knew but thought and then like the best people just reaffirmed it to me. Yeah. Let’s let’s walk through like um so so has has your view on you know last year we talked about your the way that you approach training like the five factors of health right like you’re you’re saying in this season right now
00:16:25 – 00:17:31
it’s not about health right do you feel like that’s shifted at all or now that you’re pursuing this at a higher level there maybe is more emphasis on health I mean yeah cuz you want to have longevity so it’s like it’s it’s just about pushing like how far your body can go and like without breaking injury. Yeah. Without breaking and like obviously it’s about health. Like if your body can’t perform then you can’t pursue the sport. Yeah. So I’m I feel like I’m doing all the things
00:16:58 – 00:18:03
I can to have a healthy body and Mhm. But I like during games training, like when it’s like the most training you’ve ever done, it’s like, okay, I know this isn’t like it can’t be healthy, but you’re you’re pursuing performance, not health at that time. So, um, yeah. How has the actual volume of your training changed in the last year? Is it the same or is it simply just being an atmosphere where like Yeah. What’s it like? Was it how is it different? I would say the volume is pretty
00:17:30 – 00:18:48
similar. Um, it’s just being in a better environment and sometimes the intensity could be a little higher cuz you’re training with other people and stuff like that, but um, yeah, during games training it’s different. Yeah. But, um, like year round I feel like it’s pretty similar. It’s still a lot. It’s a lot for sure, but what’s different about the games training? It’s just all day. Walk me through a day. Um, it’s like you start at like around 9 and then you’re pretty much hitting piece
00:18:10 – 00:19:22
after piece after piece up until like 5:30 or 6 usually. And that’s like every day all day except for like your rest day. And that rest day is like so appreciated because the days just seem so long. So yeah, it’s crazy. I I remember last year we were talking um a lot a lot of the effort was going to like how do I need to show up and what do I need to tweak like like you’re I remember it was almost like an attitude of something’s got to be different, right? I got to keep showing up the same
00:18:47 – 00:19:56
way, but something’s got to be different cuz I want to make semis against your um and obviously assuming that semiis was going to be completely in person. What would you tell what would you tell yourself like what do you know now that you would tell yourself a year ago that you didn’t know? That what you’re doing is is the right thing, but like you just don’t have anybody around to affirm it. So it’s like I was doing all the right stuff. I just didn’t know like what I was doing or if it was right. But I mean
00:19:21 – 00:20:28
all the best people like they’re the best but they are just like normal people. Yeah. They’re humans. So it’s like you I mean but they are like don’t get me wrong they’re different like the way they approach everything like every there’s like attention to detail in every little thing. Yeah. So it’s like they’re just I don’t know it’s just greatness. So you you have a specific story or memory of like little moments where you saw I’ll give you I’ll give you an example. I
00:19:55 – 00:20:52
remember when I was when I was coaching um when I first started coaching, right? So I didn’t come from the the CrossFit world. Um I came from the strength conditioning world, right? So collegiate sports mostly. And prior to that, I mean, you’ve you’ve been at both high school, collegiate level, and you’ve seen how drastically different the coaching is at the two levels, right? Even like really good high school is very different from, right, entry level college, right? Or even Jo or four year
00:20:23 – 00:21:30
university, right? And and and I can only imagine that cuz I’ve never coached at a D1 level, but but I did D2, right? Na D2. And what I noticed like about how even um so I used to be a athletic trainer. They’re like the guys that like tape your ankles, tape, do the ultrasound on your body when you tweak something. Uh ice. Um and I started off at PCC where I was like basically like the like a water boy when I was in Jo. So I would I basically was like in charge of Gatorade, right? And then and here and
00:20:57 – 00:21:57
then they’ll let me work with an athlete, right? And then as you as you work your way up, you get to do more stuff. Yeah. And I remember learning that and then uh every so often they would have um they would they would host like invitationals where like big schools would come and big division one athletes would be there and stuff like that and just just to use the use the track or use the facilities and you would see how different athletic trainers operate. And then I transferred and I remember seeing like just how
00:21:27 – 00:22:21
like when you’re around excellence, you can feel like, oh wow, these guys it it would be the smallest things. It’ be like I would notice like oh these athletic trainers, it sounds super corny, but like their shirts are always tucked in like the right way. It’s like the shirts are always tucked in the right way. Their shirts always look clean. Like nobody looks nobody looks raggedy, right? Um their their uniform is on point. Yeah, they’re professional. Yeah. Um the way that they even the way that they
00:21:54 – 00:22:50
like stand would I don’t know it’s like their posture was a little bit different. Um and I remember just like kind of noticing that and then I remember like it’s funny my my third year in school and this is some mad cordy. I started tucking in my shirt like just like everyday wear. Yes. Right. And it was it was like it was the wrong like it was wrong. It was like I I I didn’t nail it, but it was like it was the it was like what I was trying to become. I was I was like, “Oh, like I should I
00:22:22 – 00:23:14
feel like it.” And it was it was funny cuz then I started doing it and then one of my buddies in my class, he started tucking in his shirt and then and people like make fun of us. Um but it’s funny cuz I look back on it. We’re like, well, he’s not anymore. Like I I’m the only one out of my entire graduating class that’s doing something in fitness now. Oh wow. Right. And it’s like, but it’s because I obsess about these little small details of like, okay, maybe I’ll try this. I
00:22:48 – 00:23:36
could be wrong. Like, cuz I we look like nerds, bro. Like, we I was wearing like a Obey like a Obey propaganda shirt and I tuck I tucked it into my workout shorts, bro. Oh, man. And I just put I just thought like it’s somehow like I’m trying to be a grownup, man. Right. Right. So, I don’t know if you like what are some small things that you’ve noticed that you were like, “Oh, I picked this up or just things that you noticed like, damn, like I don’t do that, but maybe I will.” I don’t know.
00:23:11 – 00:24:13
Well, I mean, in the gym, it’s just like the attention to detail everywhere is just crazy. Like the way we have to put our dumbbells back, like all the numbers have to be facing like the same. The rogue sign has to be up. Like after we use something, we clean it right away. Like I remember one time I was doing like rope climbs and um we have a rig, you know, the rig in the back and then how the rope is hanging. After we’re done, we’re supposed to like put it around in a loop and like tighten it and
00:23:44 – 00:24:58
hang it. Okay. You get what I’m saying? Yeah. Can you kind of picture what I’m talking about? Yeah. And then um I finished the rope climbs and they’re all the ropes are like hung a certain way. Uhhuh. Like clockwise, I think. Okay. Around the pole. I did it counterclockwise and it wasn’t tightened all the way down like snug to the pole. Uhhuh. And um Tia texted Kefir, my coach, and asked like, “Hey, can you have Anthony uh like redo the the rope around the pole?” And she wasn’t even there, but
00:24:20 – 00:25:21
she I I guess she was watching through a camera. Just like little stuff like that. And it’s just like I mean I wasn’t mad about it, but I was just like, “Wow, yeah, this is crazy.” So, and that was like when I was first there. So, I mean, just little stuff like that, like the minute attention to detail in every little thing that they do. Like, it’s like how you do anything is how you do everything. Like, I think they live by that. And I’m I just been trying to implement that
00:24:50 – 00:25:53
into my life. And it’s like you can’t be some way at home and like and be a different way like in the gym. Like, it all kind of adds up like And yeah, that’s good. That’s That’s a good story. Yeah. I like how you shared one of where you came short. I like I’m not proud of it, but it Yeah. Uh what happens if you lease something out? Oh, we we cuz we need some advice here at Reason, bro. Like I mean getting left out, bro. They’ll take a picture of it and send it in group chat with all the athletes
00:25:22 – 00:26:25
and what happens and be like I mean nothing but you don’t want to be that person like you get flamed. Yeah. So, I think everybody takes pride in like being clean and Yeah. Dang. What uh any Have you made any changes on your like nutritional protocol or like diet? Take take me through a regular day. Obviously, you’re kind of on vacation mode right now. Yeah, I’m still pretty clean with my diet, I would say. You’re what? Pretty clean with my diet and stuff, but um cuz I’m trying to actually lose some
00:25:53 – 00:27:07
weight for the next year. Yeah. I think I feel like I’ve been too heavy. What uh what did you weigh last year? Like 205 to like 208. And then what do you Yeah, we weigh the same but you’re weigh more jacked. Uh what do you And then uh what do you weigh now? Right now I’m like I’ve been cutting so I’m like 196. Dang. And you want to be even lighter? Um just like a better body composition. like stay around like 195ish. Cuz like I mean I’ll be like 205 but at at the end of the day I’m like 210 like
00:26:30 – 00:27:28
last year. Yeah. Yeah. So like I want to just be around like 190 to 195. So basically you want to drop body fat? Yeah. Dang. You have body fat to lose. Yeah. How much what’s your body fat percentage? Uh last time I checked it was probably like 14 13 14. I don’t know. Oh, it’s in it’s in my little inbody in my garage. So, who knows how accurate. We’ll find out right after you. There’s an in body right behind you. Oh, wow. Okay. Yeah. There’s no way. You’re 14, bro.
00:26:59 – 00:28:03
Last time I checked, you have visible abs, right? I think so. I just don’t I just don’t think I’m that um What does yours say? 19. But I feel like I feel like you’re like 10% less than me, bro. I don’t know. We’ll see. Well, we we’ll find out. We’ll find out. Okay. That is That is surprising. You think Do you think there’s an ideal body fat percentage for what you want to accomplish? No. I mean, it doesn’t help if you look like you’re 5% body fat, but you can’t perform. So,
00:27:34 – 00:28:26
it’s like No, that’s what that’s what I mean is but you feel like it would somehow be like cuz 5%. So, let like like let’s say No, I don’t want to be five. Are you trying to get to 10? Yeah, that that would be okay. So, it’s a minute changes, but still like it can mean a lot like Yeah. Yeah. We have a We don’t It’s not here. We have a fat block in the other room, but um it’s like a it’s a it’s a it’s a fat block and it’s like 5 lbs is actually
00:27:59 – 00:29:16
muscle instead of fat like that could like change your performance a lot. Yeah. Yeah. Um what uh how’s your nutrition changed since last year? So you I last I remember um I know. Yeah. Like I know you’re you’re you’re a meat and rice guy and you supplement throughout the day. Is your supplementation game the chance? Are you are you required to have proven subs? Yeah, I’m Yeah, I’m a proven sub athlete. So I use all their supplements and it’s been great. But um Do you know Tim from from the Tim? Uh, I
00:28:40 – 00:29:42
met him in Denver. Simpsons, I think. So, the coach? No, no, no, no, no. He uh he’s like he’s one of the partners for with Shane and Tia on the supplement line. I met him in Denver. Oh, no. I don’t I don’t think so. Okay. Yeah, he’s like 40 something. Yeah. I mean, maybe I’ve dude. Yeah. Yeah. What was your question? Sorry. Oh, no. Just has your supplement game changed and then nut like food game. Um food I’m just trying to eat like a lot cleaner. I would say just um
00:29:11 – 00:30:28
just single ingredient food type of deal like a lot of rice, fruit, veggies, meats. Yeah. Just less processed stuff. Do you track? Yeah. What’s your caloric intake right now? Right now it’s like three. Dang. I would have thought more. I mean I my load is light right now just cuz I’m coming back from like injury and stuff. So, I only have like a session a day. So, I’m sure once that that uh volume builds up, I’ll be eating a lot more. But, yeah. What were you eating like in season?
00:29:50 – 00:30:57
At least 4K a day. Yeah, that’s what I was going to guess. How How do you feel like uh like relationally? Um emotionally, relationally, how do you feel like the last 12 months? How’s that changed? Right. Obviously, you’re away from your family. Yeah. Um, how do you how do you stay healthy in those zones? Yeah, it’s been tough. I feel like that’s the toughest part about the this journey is like um I don’t know there’s a lot of days especially when I mean you know you have your good and bad days in the gym.
00:30:22 – 00:31:39
So it’s like on the bad days it’s like sometimes I kind of question like what am I doing out here? Just like I get lonely sometimes. So, it’s a lot of moments of like um questioning myself like am I doing all this and is it going to pay off? Whatever that even means like is a chance that I could do all that and like or sacrifice all this and this is the best case scenario when I’m striving for more. It’s like you never know. you’re never promised just because you put in like everything, you put in all
00:31:01 – 00:32:15
the work, like there’s nothing that’s promised to you at the end. So, it’s like I guess in those times of like sadness or whatever, just having perspective like just realizing like, okay, this is where I pray to be. This was where I was like like myself two years ago would have wished to be in this position like you would you would have given like yeah everything given a tow so don’t take it for granted like and then I think about just it’s just all about having perspective like
00:31:38 – 00:32:42
my like anybody would pray to be in this position and like I have like a friend that’s going he has leukemia and like that’s a real problem like that’s a real like worry like he has a family like everything my age and he has he’s battling leukemia like that’s a real like stress in life like when I’m I’m over here stressed about am I going to make it to the games next year stuff like that’s not a real so just having perspective in those like lower Yeah like or those times when I’m
00:32:10 – 00:33:11
that helps you like enjoy the journey a little bit more yeah yeah and it’s all about like the journey so I think about that all the time too you know um I’m like I’m pushing 40 this year. I’m pushing 40 in two years. And like I’ve done a lot of things where I’m like, “Damn, you look you just looked at me like you looked at me like I was about to die, dude. Bro, you he was like you looked at me like, damn, dude. That sucks. I know. You know, you should be proud of of your journey.”
00:32:40 – 00:33:39
Hey, I’m closer to your dad’s age than I am to you. Huh? Like, how’s your How’s your No, you’re closer to me. Oh, close to you. He’s 47. Uh, you’re 30, right? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. You’re closer to me by like a year. You’re right in the middle. Right in the middle, bro. Um, actually, I can relate to both, bro. Yeah, exactly. You’re in the sweet spot. All my closest friends are like in the late 40s, bro. Like, all my best friends are like 46 to 50. My best friends,
00:33:10 – 00:34:11
they’re wise. They are wise. They’re wise. And I get to freeload that wisdom. Um but um you know I ask myself like a lot of those questions where it’s like yeah like 20 20ome year old me would look at my life today and uh it’s like a dream right like the things that I get to do like the impact I get to have and then I’m even in a stage of like still exploring like what what am I supposed to do now? Um, and and then balancing that responsibility with having a family, you know, I got I got three
00:33:39 – 00:34:35
three young ones and and there are moments where I’m like, you know, obviously life is still hard at a very first world level, right? It’s like I’m probably never I’m probably unless I develop like I don’t know like like a meth like problem or something like a drug problem, I’m probably not going to like piss away my life. Yeah. Yeah. So, so most likely I’m probably going to have food on the table, you know, and maybe like less lesser quality food in seasons and certain
00:34:07 – 00:35:01
aspects of life mater that most most people are trying to get something like that where it’s like you’re happy with what you do. You show up, you got meaning, you got friends, you got family, and and and you you’re making a difference in other people’s lives, right? And yet I still have that same pause of like I’ve had moments just like you where I’m like, man, like like does any of that even matter or like or do I even matter? Right. I have like those like those moments of like weakness, right?
00:34:43 – 00:36:01
Um what do you feel like for you? How do you um how do you h how do you have those moments and then still stay the course? Um, I would say it’s just about remembering what I what my goal is and just not not just like wanting to prove myself, right, but like do it for the people that support me, like my my parents. Your dad must be gleaming, bro. I mean, yeah, they’re definitely um they’re happy for me and like everything that I’ve achieved, but I mean, I still still not where I want
00:35:21 – 00:36:16
to be. So, it’s like I don’t know. I just want to be successful just to make them proud and you know, just prove myself right too at the end of the day. That’s the biggest thing is like it’s like it seems so far-fetched like the goal that I have and it’s like to win the games, right? just like I don’t know like when you’re doing it on your own you’re kind of in like this like your own world like you’re doing stuff and it’s like ah I wonder where I’m at compared to the best
00:35:49 – 00:36:53
people it’s like I wonder if I’m close like and you’re kind of like living in a fantasy like but then like when you’re there like where I am now it’s like you have live feedback like you’re with the best people and it’s like at times it can get like a little like not humbling but it’s like dang you like imposter syndrome. I don’t belong here. Yeah. It’s like, oh, dang. I’m not where like where I thought I was. Mhm. But then it’s like there’s moments where
00:36:21 – 00:37:20
like you are right there and it’s like okay like maybe I can do this. So it’s like I don’t know just trying to prove myself right and just achieve this goal and you know what’s the name of that girl that’s from Boston that runs runs proven uh Sarah. Is it Sarah? Yeah, yeah, it’s funny cuz like when I met her, I was she was like, “Oh, you’re from LA.” I was like, “Oh, no. I’m here to like meet Anthony here.” And then uh I was I was like I was like, “Hey, real
00:36:49 – 00:37:48
talk. How good is Anthony?” Hey, tell me the truth. Tell me the truth. And she she was like, “He’s good.” Like, he’s good. And she she goes, “But don’t tell him that. I told him, Sarah. I told him, Sarah.” Um Yeah. Right. cuz it’s like you you have these ups and down moments and how do you stay the course knowing that like like you got to have a belief that like whatever like what’s the ultimate goal for you right now is win the games f I mean qualify
00:37:20 – 00:38:16
first is just to make yeah individual cuz like even though I qualified team I mean no disrespect to team athletes or anything cuz I am a team athlete but like it’s it still doesn’t feel like like when I was at the games it didn’t feel like the games. It’s like you feel like JV a little bit. Yeah. And like I don’t know if it if it’s cuz like I was more prepared than I’ve ever been. So it’s like okay why why am I not getting nervous? I don’t know if it’s cuz I’m walking out with
00:37:48 – 00:38:50
other people. Yeah. But like I don’t know. Just it’s not it’s not individual. Yeah. And even though people say it’s I mean it’s still a great accomplishment but it’s just it’s a different level. Yeah. Like even in individual like the first, second, third heat like there’s different levels there. It’s like Yeah. So yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I was um we had uh Josh Oama Ashama on it. Um yeah, I saw that. That’s crazy. Did you go to Santa C? Yeah, this house is sick. The dent the
00:38:19 – 00:39:16
den is sick. Josh, that place looks insane. Yeah. Beautiful home. He’s he’s a dope dude. Um you know, and and this is someone that talking to him like he won, right? at the team level and then like I kept thinking I I don’t I didn’t ask him I didn’t ask my individual but like I kept thinking like is that like like that’s got to be an itch for cuz like you win and you think okay well is there it’s either there’s a next or I’m Michael Jordan and I just like like not don’t do the sport anymore
00:38:48 – 00:39:55
right right it’s it’s different I think I feel like indivi like qualifying individually is like a whole different accomplishment like it’s so much harder Yeah, it’s just you and like everybody’s so good. Like even to be the 30th fittest person at the games like you have to be so good. Yeah. Like just to be there. Yeah. So it’s like Yeah. I don’t know. But I feel like that’s what excites me. It’s like it’s this goal like that’s so seems so farfetched, but I want to see if I can
00:39:21 – 00:40:31
like achieve that. Yeah. Just to qualify there first. So that’s my goal right now. Yeah. I like that. Um, I was going to ask like how do you now that you’ve made it to the games? Um, it sounds like you’ve redefined success like what’s your next like how have you redefined success now that you’ve made it? I mean like I said like I made it on team but it’s it wasn’t individually. So I feel like that’s a whole new like goal. It’s just to make it on like individually just cuz it’s like I said
00:39:56 – 00:40:46
so much harder. So, how how far off do you feel like you are right now? I don’t know. Like I said, what’s the feedback right now? Like I said, it’s like there’s some workouts where I’m like, “Okay, I’m right there with like the best people, but then then there’s some where they’re beating me by like 2 minutes and it’s like, am I ever going to even get there?” Yeah. Cuz like, okay, I could be training and closing the gap, but they’re training, too. So, they’re getting better, too.
00:40:21 – 00:41:34
So, I don’t know. We’ll see. I I’m excited to put in a lot of work in this next year and see how much I can close the gap and yeah achieve any any what would you say like how do you outside of this thing of of of of this I mean it’s it’s like your thing right now that’s the it’s a it’s a onetrack mind right um do you feel like training like this has um and pursuing a goal like this has improved other aspects of your life where you’re like I don’t even think
00:40:57 – 00:42:10
about like like what how how is it growing you as a how is it making you a happier healthier human? Um, I don’t know. That’s a good question. Because you got to be getting better like or else or you’re like, dude, why like you know getting better in the sport. You mean or it’s got to feel like like life is better, right? Or else for sure. Yeah. I mean, I feel like that is um something that I struggle with like cuz this is my whole life. So like other aspects of life. I mean, I definitely when I go home, I
00:41:34 – 00:42:42
appreciate being around my family more and being more present. So, I feel like I’m a better like brother or, you know, child to my parents. But, um, yeah, it’s definitely made me appreciate my family and friends more. Yeah. Um, but other than that, like I don’t know like uh this is kind of like my whole life right now. So, I was going to ask you earlier and I forgot to ask. Has that pressure from your like to me it didn’t sound like you that your parents pressure you that hard? It sounds like a lot of like self
00:42:08 – 00:43:02
pressure. Like I remember you told me last year like you be like after a workout you’d be like doing mobility and then you’d be like part part of part of downtime is like I think you play some video games, right? To just like chill your mind out for a little bit and you tell me you feel guilty like dude why am I like watching TV? Oh yeah, watching TV or something like that. No, that’s that’s still there. That’s still there. Yeah. Um cuz you would say like, oh, like my my pops is getting up at like 3:00 a.m. or
00:42:35 – 00:43:44
something like that. I mean, it’s just more like self-imposed. Like when I’m at home, it’s like instead of watching TV, could I be stretching or Yeah. Like could I be doing other stuff that could help me? Yeah. Like in my journey. Yeah. Has that dynamic now that you’ve at least qualified and made the games and and done your first one, has that has that conversation with uh like with your pops or your parents, has that changed of like their expectation is for that? Um I mean obviously they expect a lot
00:43:08 – 00:44:22
but I mean I think my expectations are higher than theirs. Yeah. just like I don’t know like even with like like I was supposed to do WFP this past weekend. I want to know that. Okay. And um I hurt myself like a week leading into it and like I was like dreading telling my parents. I’m like oh man they put so much into it like and I’m not even going to be able to compete and Yeah. But you felt like you were letting them down. Yeah. letting them down in a way. Even like with NorCal last year, a
00:43:46 – 00:44:47
semi-final, I was supposed to do it, but my back was still messed up from the following semi-final or the week prior. So, it’s like, but they’re like, “Oh, no, it’s okay.” Like, it’s all a part of the journey. I’m like, and I’m like, “Oh, okay.” Like I thought it would I mean not that they’d be disappointed but you know like I mean they were going to rent an Airbnb like flights like stuff like that like oh like they they had things booked. Yeah. So it’s like I feel like I’m like
00:44:17 – 00:45:13
dang like I’m not going to be able to do it and I’m wasting their money and like Yeah. So it’s like Yeah. stuff like that. But I mean they’re just like oh it’s okay. Like Yeah. Like it’s all a part of the process. I feel like as a as a young father, like one thing that I learned from you and watching your life is is like I I’ve never met your like other like members of your family and I’ve never met your parents, but your pops is like the the a like he’s like the literally the peak
00:44:45 – 00:45:42
average age of like the average of my closest friends. He’s my it’s like 48, but he’s like a year around year round, right? And I’m like I feel like when you look what I learned about from you and watching your life is when you have a family and and we talked about environment earlier and I feel like that’s kind of the theme of this episode is is it’s all about environment right it’s all about like you know we even here at at reason was like this is this is like a family in a way right like you
00:45:13 – 00:46:10
train at lee it’s like that’s a family in a way like they’re like I I say gilly and power are like the the young the young 20s that like no kids crowd. It’s a no kids go hard and like there’s there’s an atmosphere there that’s like that’s their family. We have a family and I think the family that you come from is like it sounds like highly supportive would be understated, right? It’s like like it’s like you you have to come from a family like yours to to produce
00:45:41 – 00:46:50
someone like you where it’s like that’s the outcome where you you get to have someone that can pursue something like this. It’s like it’s really special. Yeah. Yeah. I’ I’ve never met anybody like or I’ve never met another family like mine like I know I might I’m biased obviously like oh my no but I mean yeah my parents are I mean my whole family is great like they’re so supportive and I sometimes I feel like my dad believes in me my more than I do sometimes like
00:46:16 – 00:47:16
and that’s like helped me get to where I’ve gotten yeah like things that I mean your mind is so powerful. So just like if you believe you’re going to be some somewhere like that’s where you’re going to be like if you feel like you could only get to this level you putting some like something like you’re putting a cap on yourself. So it’s like he’s always I mean even by his action like he’s always like dreamt of the highest and he’s achieved so much and like
00:46:46 – 00:47:46
I feel like I don’t know wherever you you put your mind to like that’s what you’re going to do. That’s a real right there, bro. Um man, as as we kind of as we kind of wrap this up uh I I got two questions. is uh I think number one is um just for people that are listening that are that are like maybe I feel like most most people that listen to our podcast are very focused on their health like just as a holistic point of view but for those that do want to pursue a more competitive edge or pursue something
00:47:16 – 00:48:41
like what advice would you give to someone that wants to go down that route? Um, it’s going to take it’s going to take more than what you think. Like I feel like people always say like, “I wish I could do this like full time or I wish I could do what you do and stuff like that.” But it’s I don’t know. The whole It’s a lot. It’s like when if you’re doing it full-time, it really feels like a job. And I know it’s like it may not be like something I don’t know. It’s something I
00:48:00 – 00:48:53
love to do. So it’s like it doesn’t feel like a job. But if you don’t love it, like don’t do it. Don’t pursue it. Cuz I feel like it could get miserable cuz it’s so much. It’s like thing after thing for hours like and you’re just pushing your mind and body for hours every single day. And I feel like that applies to anything too. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So you don’t No. Yeah. Not just CrossFit, like if you don’t love what you do, it’s like you’re going to be miserable.
00:48:27 – 00:49:34
Yeah. So, um I feel like that I don’t know if I said this, but if you’re doing something you love every day, like that’s the greatest accomplishment or one of them. So, cuz it doesn’t feel like a job. You’re not dreading like, oh, I have to go to work tomorrow. It’s like, no, I get to. Yeah. So it’s like even when it’s hard like I just feel so grateful like that my heart is something that I love. Yeah. So it never feels like like oh I have to do this. Like I might
00:49:00 – 00:50:06
be scared cuz like of how much it’s going to hurt. Like I might it might give me anxiety thinking about it the whole night but I mean I just love chasing like Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That makes me think of like, you know, you get like growing up. I was I was a hooper growing up and nobody can tell. I I hoop, bro. But uh but I you can’t tell cuz uh I’m I never stop. I I didn’t stop. I didn’t continue growing, right? Um but uh I like I I I would I loved all aspects of the game, but
00:49:32 – 00:50:25
the one thing I didn’t like um is the mo and it’s probably one of the most essential parts of the game is I didn’t like playing defense on certain players cuz they’re so fast. Uh, yeah. So, so and then I was like, I’m not tall, so I can’t body you if you’re fast, right? And, and I don’t, so what I hate playing is I hate playing offball defense, right? Cuz you’re chasing them. Cuz you’re chasing them around and like I like playing on ball defense cuz cuz I
00:49:59 – 00:50:56
can I can check him and I But um yeah, it makes me think of like it’s like and I everyone likes the idea of like playing playing ball at a high level, but until you have to do everything that comes with it like Yeah. It’s not even about like working out. It’s like, okay, I get there, I got to warm up my body and like you can’t you don’t just go there and do a metcon like the fun stuff. It’s like all the small little stuff that you need to do if you want to be like a high achiever in the sport.
00:50:28 – 00:51:24
It’s like people don’t really see like everything that goes into it. Like even like throughout your whole like like with what you eat, like what you do like Yeah. Oh, I can’t go out with my friends. God, I got to go to sleep early cuz I have training early the next day process to be respected. Yeah. It’s like everything like it’s so much that you don’t think about. That’s good. You don’t really know until you’re there. Yeah. Yeah. That’s good. Love that, man. Um a
00:50:56 – 00:51:52
year ago you said I asked you for like a closing quote in your mantra and you said I don’t know if you remember man but you said it doesn’t matter get better. Um is that is that still what you live by right now? Um, I mean it’s one of them, but the biggest thing at like Proven is leave no doubt. So that’s like the motto there. So I live that by that a lot. So do everything you can. So you you can’t question whether Yeah. No doubt. It’s good cuz I don’t know when you’re doing
00:51:24 – 00:52:34
CrossFit like when it starts to get hard, it’s all that negative self-t talk like that can creep into your brain. It’s good. If you really like um like do everything you can like I feel like the selft talk is is not as bad like the negativity that comes in when it starts to hurt. Yeah cuz you know you’ve done everything you can so it’s about checking all the boxes. That’s good. Leaving no doubt. That’s good bro. Any last words? Um no I appreciate you for having me on again and it’s always good uh catching
00:52:00 – 00:52:20
up with you. So, see you individual next year. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Is that the goal? Yeah, for sure. For sure. All right. Thanks for joining us, bro. Thanks for listening, guys.