The Battle for Mental Wellbeing

Let me say: I am neither a professional trainer nor a mental health professional—what’s here are my own opinions. That said, Mental Health is a plague that impacts us all to varying degrees. For those of us that are experiencing deep depression or have a loved one depressed, seeing a professional therapist is the wise choice. Please, ask for help and have no shame about it.

For those of us experiencing the flux of mind—the battle between our divine nature and our needy, child-like mind—you are not alone. Not only are you not OYO, everyone you meet is in their own battle as well. I have found no better text than QSource in helping me wage war against the flux: Against my lesser self.

To Get Right by taking the DRP in order to Live Right by extending beyond our own selfish nature and serve our loved ones is the path to joy—the only place, mentally, that I have found to keep my inner demons starved of oxygen. In serving others, you go beyond yourself and embrace Fellowship with them.

“No OYO” is a common phrase we use when discussing Mental Health, because seeking Accelerated Fellowship is a shield against your sabotaging -self. What I mean by “Accelerated” Fellowship are people that will make you a better version of yourself because they seek the same Advantage.

Fitness is a key component. Here’s your WOD…

Duration: 45 minutes

Warm-up (5 minutes):

  • Side Straddle Hops: 1 minute
  • Arm circles: 30 seconds forward, 30 seconds backward
  • Leg swings: 1 minute each leg
  • Imperial Walkers: 1 minute

Consider your struggles mentally. What are you doing that leads to poor mental health? For example, drinking too much and/or too often; being overly negative in certain situations; etc. What can you do to improve? In F3 terms, what bricks do you need to lay to create guardrails?

Main Circuit (35 minutes):

  1. Jump Squats: 4 sets of 12 reps
  2. Merkins: 4 sets of 15 reps
  3. Lunges: 4 sets of 12 reps each leg
  4. Plank: 3 sets of 45 seconds
  5. LBC’s: 3 sets of 20 reps (10 reps each side)
  6. Burpees: 4 sets of 10
  7. Mountain Climbers: 3 sets of 30 seconds

Who do you know that’s struggling? What signs are they giving that lead you to think they are struggling with mental health? What can you do to support them? Sometimes sympathy is needed. Sometimes, tough love. These considerations are difficult to get right—I often default to tough love and that is not always best. Be intentional about what they need. Be adaptable to the situation, to the moment. Approach this with love for them.

Cool Down (5 minutes):

  • Downward Dog Stretch: Hold for 30 seconds
  • Child’s Pose: Hold for 30 seconds
  • Cat-Cow Stretch: 1 minute
  • Forward Fold: Hold for 30 seconds

Remember the 5 C’s of virtuous leadership: candor, commitment, consistency, contentment and courage. These are valuable tools for building our own character and dealing with the challenges of mental health—for ourselves and for others.

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Tabata Party in the Rain

Tabata Party

1 minute intervals/30 seconds rest
Kettlebells/weights other equipment will be provided

Kettlebell Upright Row
Kettlebell Deadlift
Weighted LBC
Jump Rope
Kettlebell swings
Suicides with Cones
Kettlebell Tricep Extensions
Slam Ball Toss
Kettlebell Halos
Kettlebell Squats

Abs workout afterwards

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Taste of CT Workout

Warmup
Abe Vigodas
Alternate toe touches,
Merkins
Michael Phelps
side straddle hops
Honeymooners and downward dog calf stretches

Partner workout.
– Short Mosey to road near school
– one pax starts to work on a team effort of 150 burpees while the second pax runs backwards across the parking lot, does a “Bobby Hurley/Lionel Simmons (who’d scored more than Bobby in his career)” then runs back across the parking and switch.
– After 150 burpees, onto 300 squats onto 200 big boy sit ups, then onto 200 Imperial Walkers.

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Dawn Patrol On the Rise

When: 0615 Tuesdays and Thursdays

Site Q: Double D and Jekyll

Where: Tuesdays: Veteran Park; Thursdays: Kingsley Amphitheater

Slack channel: #ao-dawn-patrol

The Thang:

One of the opportunities we are afforded as leaders is to step up and lean in when there is a vacuum, or an opportunity presents itself.  We have identified a need for a later posting time.  You name the reason: fartsack, Kotter, work from home, kids schedules, etc. For going on 12 years, The Fort has been Open to All Men (willing to workout at 0515).  We’re expanding the access in 2024!

We now have 2x per week 0615 workouts.

Tuesdays: Fort Mill Veterans Park: Run or Ruck

Thursdays: Kingsley Amphitheater: Bootcamp

If you feel the 0615 time will work for you, we look forward to seeing you in the Gloom.

Also- this is a great opportunity for a double down!

Aye!

Double D & Jekyll

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Q vs Q 2024

Q versus Q is back for 24! This year we’re going to mix it up and it’s going to be SLT versus SLT. Each nantan has selected three other SLT members to represent their region with them. YHC will draw names for the matchups of the teams and the two nantans will face off on the last week of March. I’m excited to see how this different dynamic plays out and allows us to interact with some of the leadership from the other regions. The format will run the same as the previous years.

Each week there will be two Q’s, one from The Fort and one from Rock Hill. Each Q will have a total of 20 minutes broken up into two 10 minute blocks. YHC will lead the warm up in facilitate the crossover.

The PAX will judge each Q on three categories:
Difficulty
Creativity
Usage of the AO

The total score from all categories will determine the winner each week.
The 5th week will be the finals where we will have four Q’s, each with a 10 minute block of time. The winner of that week will be crowned the champion.

Q versus Q has been a stellar way to mix with the different regions, meet new people, and receive a thorough beat down. I hope that you will plan to join us for some or all of the weeks!

Feb 28th : Preview Week
March (weeks 1-4 on Wednesday’s)
April 3rd: Finals

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2024 Shield Lock Service Month

All of January 2024 The Fort is be holding a Shield Lock Service Challenge Competition!

It’s time to take a long hard look in the mirror and ask yourself, is my Shield Lock strong enough to prevail as champions of the 2024 prestigious F3 shield!!!

We will be holding the following 3rd F Service Events:

  1. Bethel Men’s Shelter 1/4
  2. Trash Pickup TBD
  3. Blood Drive 1/18
  4. Fort Mill Care Center – TBD

The point based competition will be as follows:

  • 10 points rewarded for the above service events per shield lock.
  • 5 point for any other volunteer opportunity. This is where you can get creative. Could be anything from helping an old lady across the street to getting your neighbor’s cat out of a tree
  • 3 points for every $10 donated to the Dam to Dam fund raising.
  • 2 points for attending a Bible Study (The Testament, McGospel) / Hanging With Stang

In order to get credit for the event, you have to take a picture together with your shield lock at the event or the receipt of the transaction and post it to the #2024-shield-lock-service-challenge slack channel.

The Shield Lock with the most points at the close of 1/31/2024 will win the prize of the 2024 Shield Lock Service Champion Shield.Good Luck and God Speed!!

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Pre-Convergence Convergence

Attention Pax!!!

The Wednesday AO Crew is getting together for an hour long coupon inspired boot camp convergence. That’s right! A midweek convergence and it’s NOT a holiday. This will be the hardest thing you’ll do that week.

Don’t worry runners, you’ll have your own thing.

3 Q’s, 20 minutes each, lots of fun (or pain).

Mark your calendars for December 20 at WEP with a start time of 0500. Santa will not disappoint.

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Pre-Convergence Convergence

Attention Pax!!!

The Wednesday AO Crew is getting together for an hour long coupon inspired boot camp convergence. That’s right! A midweek convergence and it’s NOT a holiday. This will be the hardest thing you’ll do that week.

Don’t worry runners, you’ll have your own thing.

3 Q’s, 20 minutes each, lots of fun (or pain).

Mark your calendars for December 20 at WEP with a start time of 0500. Santa will not disappoint.

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Marriage Mondays – it’s not Festivus

Come join other PAX of The Fort to discuss marriage. This isn’t a time for the airing of grievances nor a counseling session, but instead just a chance to share, learn and grow.

Time is 06:15 after workouts at The Fort’s favorite weekday spot, the fire pit at Kingsley, or Panera’s patio if it’s too cold.

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Winter is Coming…CSAUP 2023

IMPORTANT MESSAGE INCOMING……………… This holiday season, you may be indulging in a lot of cookies, pies, candy, and other calorie rich treats which is totally expected. That said, you may be looking and needing an opportunity to burn those calories in a way that’ll justify all of those cookies.

Well men…YOU ARE IN LUCK because on 12/16…that’s 12/16 we will be hosting a Winter CSAUP that will guarantee to burn some of those empty calories!

WHERE is this amazing opportunity? Why Tega Cay Elementary School of course. Please come ready to compete and push yourself in the winter CSAUP that will leave you sore but thankful!

HOW will I be able to burn these calories? Get your team of 4 for a competition that will push you physically and mentally (because there will be math).

WHAT are the Details I need to know?

Cliff Notes version: 4 man teams 12 stations of pain 2 hours AMRAMP (that’s right this will only be 2 hours of your day with maybe some coffee and cookies afterwards…maybe…)

Each team will compete against the other to see which team can get the most Points/Reps in the time allotted. (1 rep = 1 point)

The prize…..well that’s TBD but it’ll mostly be bragging rights.

WHY are we even doing this?????????? Well because we GET TO GUYS…..we GET TO!!!!!

More details to come in the next few weeks. Signup Genius link will be coming. Hope to you see you there!

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