How Doctor & CrossFit Athlete Julie Foucher, MD, Stays Robust

After chatting with doctor and former CrossFit athlete Julie Foucher, M.D., M.S., I do not know if I am going to ever complain about being busy once more. The board-certified household doctor, who’s now based mostly in Kentucky, has a level in biomedical engineering from the College of Michigan and completed her residency coaching on the Cleveland Clinic. She additionally has a grasp’s in vitamin and accomplished an integrative medication residency program via the College of Arizona.

Oh, and I ought to add: She’s additionally one of the profitable girls athletes to ever compete within the CrossFit video games. From 2010 to 2015, Foucher competed within the video games (whereas persevering with her training, I’d add). At her top, she completed second in 2012 and third in 2014—and by no means completed exterior the highest 5 in all 4 years of competing. Her profession ended with a devastating Achilles tendon harm in 2015, a yr she was thought-about a favourite to take the title. 

Now, Foucher brings that drive and keenness to her apply—the place she focuses on methods to marry health, vitamin, and medication for full-body well being. 

Julie Foucher, M.D., M.S.: I feel it’s the day-to-day that is the toughest, proper? It is easy to indicate up when you have got numerous followers and also you’re on an enormous stage, however it’s tougher to indicate up day-to-day. 

I went via many alternative phases of studying and progress throughout my competitors years, and nearly all of it was within the psychological facet of competitors. 

Whenever you begin, it is simple to do one thing once you’re good at it—you simply need to preserve going as a result of, properly, you are good at it. It is easy to assume, In fact, I am going to preserve going.

As soon as issues obtained actually troublesome—which is after I began medical college, so my complete life was coaching and going to high school—I spotted I hadn’t requested myself why I used to be doing this or why competing was vital to me. 

And till I answered that query, it grew to become very difficult for me. I struggled so much—even simply feeling motivated to apply. I additionally developed numerous anxiousness and was even depressed for some time. What helped me essentially the most was actually figuring out why I needed to do that.

Foucher: The opposite facet of my progress was how I realized and grew each single yr. I used to be constructing upon my very own confidence in competing. I used to be at all times somebody who did fairly properly, however I do not assume I ever really knew that I used to be adequate or what I used to be able to. I at all times ended up stunning myself. 

And I feel that is what held me again from most likely doing higher. I used to be on the rostrum twice however by no means gained the CrossFit video games. And I feel the most important purpose for that’s as a result of I did not really imagine I used to be able to it deep down—that’s till my final yr, after I tore my Achilles [so I couldn’t compete in the final competition that year]. 

Foucher: I can provide one instance. It was the 2011 CrossFit video games. The yr earlier than, my first yr as a rookie, I had positioned fifth. There was so much for me to be taught, however I used to be doing properly—and I used to be able to successful that yr, or not less than being on the rostrum. 

There was a particular occasion the place we needed to push a sled throughout the stadium, and there have been three rounds. The primary two rounds I used to be main the occasion and had no drawback pushing the sled. Then within the third spherical, I spotted that the girl who had gained the yr prior was proper behind me. And for some purpose in the midst of that spherical, I ended pushing the sled to shake my arms out. She handed me after which I completed. 

However initially, it is a bit misleading to say I used to be doing each your entire time as a result of it was just one yr wherein I used to be really full velocity forward on each. It was throughout my first yr of med college after I was competing. And through that point, I used to be very fortunate to have the ability to juggle some issues in med college so I may compete. Then from there, there have been occasions after I would take off competing or I targeted on analysis and prolonged my med college. 

So, one factor to recollect is that once you take a look at of us who’re doing issues that appear to be unattainable—properly, are they really doing them? As a result of it sounds so intense—med college and CrossFit. And certain, it was actually arduous, however there was solely that one yr that I used to be all in on each endeavors.

The opposite facet—one which I do not like—is there have been so many areas of my life that suffered. I am not pleased with how I dealt with it, as these two issues have been my sole focus. Numerous different issues dropped to the background. For instance, I did not put money into numerous relationships. 

As soon as I exited that stage of my life—you realize, college, residency, competing, and achievement—I lastly took a deep breath and took time away. I spotted how I had numerous this backward by way of placing achievement above every part else. 

Foucher: Effectively, I at all times have been somebody who simply has to prioritize sleep as a result of if I do not, I do not perform. I suppose I did it after I was in school: I bear in mind going via prolonged intervals of sleeping 5 or 6 hours an evening and pulling all-nighters. However since then, no, I can’t perform after an evening or two like that. 

Foucher: I feel I used to be definitely way more strict on my vitamin—particularly by way of the standard of meals—after I was competing. I’d barely eat any sugar. I bear in mind at one level my cheat meal was like a sq. of darkish chocolate. 

Foucher: I’ll at all times do CrossFit. I feel it’s the greatest, most effective strategy to keep match. 

However for me, it appears very totally different today. I’d say the exercises I do now are principally the warm-ups I used to do. However the focus has shifted. So as an alternative of my focus being on my efficiency and the numbers that I am placing up, it’s so way more about how I really feel and about my psychological well being. It is nearly feeling good.

Numerous occasions that appears like a fast exercise that I do in my storage health club. And I nonetheless love going to CrossFit associates after I can and being in that group and the category surroundings. 

Foucher: I feel the primary piece of recommendation is to maintain making an attempt issues till you discover one thing that you just like. I used to be fortunate sufficient in that my dad and mom inspired me to attempt numerous totally different sports activities after I was youthful. Then I noticed some ladies on the playground on the bars and requested my mother to signal me up for gymnastics—and that grew to become my predominant sport rising up. 

Even after gymnastics was accomplished, I actually felt this deep want to proceed competing and proceed creating my health. However I did not know the place to go till I discovered CrossFit a pair years later. 

Foucher: The opposite recommendation I’ve comes from a girl who competed in CrossFit earlier than I began, Lindsey Smith. She as soon as advised me that she thinks about train or transferring your physique simply the identical method she thinks about brushing your tooth: It is simply one thing that you just do each morning.

Foucher: One of many causes I really like CrossFit is as a result of it permits each one who participates the expertise of being an athlete—extra so than you may should you simply go to the health club and run on the treadmill by your self. 

I feel one of many predominant classes that I realized via competing in CrossFit and coaching CrossFit that I apply in the remainder of my life is how it’s so vital to interrupt issues down into the subsequent step.

I feel once you take a look at an general purpose, it may be very overwhelming. For instance, you may say, “I need to compete within the CrossFit video games a yr from now,” and so your coach provides you this program. It could be damaged down by weeks, however then you definately see the entire issues you’ll want to try this week. You begin to get anxious. 

However should you simply concentrate on what you’re doing proper now and what’s subsequent, it turns into a lot clearer. Give attention to doing the most effective that you may within the second—do not take into consideration the 5 different issues you need to do later.