The choices we make today will compound and affect our tomorrow. In the Still Got It series, we are highlighting people who have made fitness a priority and experiencing compounding results.
Meet Jim Carkner. He's a former Green Beret turned financial advisor who stays fit through CrossFit.
1. Can you share who you are and what you do to stay fit?
I am a 50 year old husband, father, and grandfather of three, soon to be four.
I have been a financial advisor with Edward Jones since 2003. Prior to that I served six years in the Army as a Green Beret. I ran track and field at Washington State University.
What I currently do to stay fit is CrossFit.
2. What are some of the challenges you face with scheduling “fitness” into your daily routine?
Everyone has challenges scheduling anything. I think it comes down to prioritizing. When something is important enough to you, you are able to make time.
I can’t think of a night when I didn’t brush my teeth, because it’s important.
When I was younger I often chose not to work out when I didn’t think I had time to get in a really thorough work out. That was a perfectionist mentality and totally counterproductive.
You alway have time to do something, even if it's just 10 pushups and 20 air squats.
3. Why do you make fitness a priority?
I make fitness a priority because I feel good when I’m fit. My confidence is higher. I also just want to be ready for whatever obstacles or opportunities that come along in life. I feel an obligation to be physically prepared so I can be helpful.
4. What are the results or compounding effects of your habits over the years?
As far as results, I’m still getting stronger. In the last year I set a PR in Deadlift and Squat for example. People keep asking me what I eat or what I do for exercise, so I guess that means the program is working.
5. Are there any “Still Got It” goals you want to achieve?
My current goal is to make it to the CrossFit Games. I just placed 4th at Wodapalooza in January, which was my goal for the last 5 months.
Jim is an example of an everyday athlete. You don't have to be a professional athlete to place in competitions, you just have to make fitness a priority everyday, even if it is just 10 pushups and 20 air squats.
We will be following Jim as he makes a run for the CrossFit Games.
How do you build fitness into your life? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.