GYM GIRLS LOCKER ROOM - Why Training for Aesthetics Is Holding You Back... Elite CrossFit Training, Burnout & Nutrition with Aimee Cringle

Episode Date: March 17, 2026

S3 EP7 - Why Training for Aesthetics Is Holding You Back... Elite CrossFit Training, Burnout & Nutrition with Aimee CringleIn this episode, we’re joined by Aimee Cringle, a female CrossFit athlete currently ranked 8th in the world, who shares what it really takes to compete at the highest level.CrossFit is often misunderstood, many people assume it’s only for elite athletes or that you need to already be in incredible shape to start. But in reality, the sport was designed to be scalable and accessible to everyone.We talk about how she first got into CrossFit, what it’s like training and competing at an elite level, and the mindset shifts required to train for performance rather than aesthetics.From the outside, elite athletes can look superhuman, but behind the scenes there’s a constant balance between pushing limits, prioritising recovery, and managing the mental challenges that come with high-level sport.We also dive into body confidence in the CrossFit space, dealing with self-doubt, and why nutrition and recovery are just as important as the training itself.Whether you’re new to CrossFit, training competitively, or simply trying to build confidence in the gym, this episode offers something for everyone when it comes to making progress physically and mentally.In this episode, we cover:*Aimee’s journey from discovering CrossFit to becoming a top 15 athlete in the world*How and why CrossFit can be for everyone *Training at an elite level and what it takes *How recovery and nutrition factor into performance*Balancing intense training with rest to avoid burnout*Body confidence in a performance-driven sport*Training for strength and performance over aestheticsThis episode is a reminder that elite athletes aren’t defined by perfection, they’re defined by resilience, consistency, and learning to trust the process.When you focus on what your body can do, rather than how it looks, training becomes more powerful, sustainable, and rewarding.🎙 New episodes every Tuesday⭐ Follow the podcast and leave a 5-star rating, it helps us grow the community.

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Hi guys, and welcome back to the Jim Carls Lockerun podcast, hosted by me, Sydney Cassidy. Today, I am very excited for today's guest, a very dear friend of mine. And I'm actually, I'm surprised she hasn't come on sooner because she's probably one of the most inspiring people. I certainly know. But before we get into the episode, I want to do Sid Session, which is the segment we do at the start of every episode, where I tell you what random workout I'm up to. Because as we all know, I love to do pretty much anything. I am a yes man. Currently training for high rocks.

Every day looks different. I'm doing CrossFit today. Bar muscle up skill work. which I'm terrified of because for context, I get this message on the CrossFit group chat at like 7.30 this morning. It's like, just be aware, guys, you're going to need a strong mindset for this one. We did so well, though. It was gritty.

So I'm like mentally prepared reading that. So the workout is for time with an 18 minute time cap, the wad of the workout, which is like the workout of the day. So you would have done like a little bit of skill work before that is 10. bar muscle ups 15 snatches eight bar muscle ups 12 snatches six and nine four and six two and three and trying to do it in 18 minutes

I can't do bar muscle ups so I'm I'm guessing that the session will probably be me doing some practice and then after that I will probably be doing pull-ups I think pull-ups is what I'll probably be doing but that's why I kind of like about CrossFit because actually oh my gosh for our guests it makes perfect perfect sense that I'm doing a cross-sit class today

but yeah the thing I love about cross-fit that I think a lot of people don't realize is that they can hugely scale the workouts they can literally do it for somebody who's never set foot into the gym before I'm not kidding and all the way up to somebody who's like competing at the CrossFit games so that's why I do love about it but yeah before we get into the episode

do give this video a big old juicy five-star rating if you haven't already. It helps us out so, so much in terms of pushing out the podcast further and to reach bigger audiences, which we hugely, hugely appreciate. And don't forget that we're on YouTube now. So if you do want to watch us, head on to Jim Carlsokam. Give us a like, comment and subscribe. And yeah, I think that's pretty much everything on with the episode.

Fasten your lifting belts because today's guest is a pure powerhouse. She's a professional crossfit athlete, currently ranked 14th in the world and third in the UK. She's already hit the CrossFit Games twice, finishing 13th on her debut and smashing her way to 8th place this year in New York. At just 26, she's gone from a small village in the Isle of Man to global CrossFit fame, proving that consistency, grit and determination can take you all the way to the top. Please welcome the Queen of Burpees, Barbells and Big Games, Amy Cringle. How are you doing, Amy? I'm good, thank you. How are you? Yeah, good. I feel like we haven't spoken in a while.

I don't even know when the last time I was I spoke to you. You don't need AI agents, which may sound weird coming from service now, the leader in AI agents. The truth is, AI agents need you. Sure, they'll process, predict, even get work done autonomously. But they don't dream, read a room, rally a team, and they certainly don't have shower thoughts, pivotal hallway chats or big ideas. People do. And people, when given the best AI platform, they're freed up to do the fulfilling work they want to do.

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Go do this. Always in passing. You're actually like one of the first gym shock friends I ever met actually. You were like, I was like, I met this girl and I was like, yep, she's a good egg. I like her. At the start of every episode, we always like to ask people, as a nice little like icebreaker, what is your current workout split? So could you tell us what you're currently doing?

Currently, I'm just trying to get back into it all. I've been competing and I've been away. So this week is like my first week back. So, for example, I'm just trying to get through it, basically. We'll discuss it all. We'll let all the girlies know exactly what happens when you're like peaking and when you're like getting back into it. What are you, what does this week actually look like for you? Obviously, are you kind of alluding to the fact that you have like off seasons and on seasons?

Like have you just come out of like a break or where are you at with your training right now? So I've literally just taken two weeks off. I've never had two weeks off in my life. No, I have. But like since I've started sport, I haven't like had this long off. So it's been good mentally like literally reset. But now I'm like, I've never had that long off. I don't know what CrossFit is anymore.

So a bit of intensity. It's like I've done Fran. So like my lungs are like, uh. See, I'm just trying to get back into it. Find my feet again. Try not get imparted when I can't do a bar muscle. What was that reason why you took that two weeks off, having not ever done that before?

I've just been back and forth to America just competing. So it's just been a lot on the body and things. And then I was competing again in California and we were just like, wow, we're out that way. Why don't we go to Mexico? So me and Lewis, my boyfriend, went over there and had an all-inclusive 11 nights. And yeah, it was lovely.

I say well needed, but it was well needed. Yeah, I think sometimes it's like even if physically you're like in the best shape or like never ever having any niggles or anything, I think just mentally to be able to get to a point where you've like had a rest and you're actually itching to go back. Probably I'd imagine does you the world of good. That's what I think. That's what I kept saying to myself. I'm like, you know what, I need this. But you see that everyone else training and things. And I've actually, I actually declined a competition called Rogue.

Have you heard of that? That soon, isn't it? Mm. So I sadly declined it. I mean, I wouldn't have gone away for that long if I was doing it. But yeah, my, I've got like these little wrist niggles and things that just aren't going. So I need to like rest. I was actually having a conversation recently about, um, with someone about how like,

you, kind of doing all these competitions is all well and good. But actually sometimes it, because you're like, I don't know if you guys do the same in CrossFit, but because you're like tapering and then you kind of do the competition, then you have a little moment to like recover. That actually, if you do so many competitions, by the end of it, you realize that you've actually missed out on like vital chunks of time to be working on your skill, working on like, yeah, your conditioning, that sort of thing.

You're just up and down, like peeking and recovering from competitions. You're like, I'm not even getting better here. I'm just managing. So what is that first week? How has that been for you? And what have you been up to in that first week back? I've been through it before, like, post-competition and things. I just feel awful.

I know, like, in a few weeks I'll be okay. It's just, like, hard to see you. It's hard to see what I was. And now I'm, like, struggling to string, like, two bar muscles together. They can do them. It's just, they're just, like. So this week, I've done, like, a swam. I swam for the first time in, like, half a year.

Getting into the weightlifting again, like lower percentages, like Bulgarian split squats, cleans, lungers and accessories, a lot more like health accessories as well, because they're so important. Just do random stuff, don't we? So we need to like bulletproof our body. A bit of low-scale conditioning, rope climbs, sled push, bike. I'm back doing intervals with the squad now. They're like savage, but you feel so much better after them.

They're like a three on, three off times eight. So alternating like, it'll be four of each in total. Just like V-O-2 max cardio barbell stuff. Awful. I feel like even I'm like, what the hell is she talking about? So break that down. So are you talking about running sessions or no, for the intervals, what do you mean? For example, three on, three off.

Three reps? Sorry, three minutes on. Right. Side note. Cross it terminology. Oh my gosh, it's taking me a hot minute to get to. You guys have so many abbreviations. I always stand there in class like, right, so which what is this again?

Right, okay, so three minutes on. Yeah, three minutes on, three minutes off, right. Times eight and four of each. So we did 20 box jumpovers, 10 wall walks into Amrap Calorie row. So that's like, I guess the harder you push, the more rash. then three minutes off and then the other one was 23 calorie echo bike

into an amrap of six hang power clean into eight burpees over the bar so just hard yeah I was gonna just just a hard a hard time I feel like before we should get any further as well

we should probably just for anybody that doesn't know could you explain to us like what in the nutshell CrossFit is I've actually had that a few times on holiday because people are like I'm like some musly person and just walk around the pool, like, I guess when people don't know what that is, it like, what does you do?

I'm like, yeah, I do CrossFit. I don't like to talk about it loads because I just feel like I don't want to talk about myself all the time, but if people ask, I'm like, okay. I think it's hard to avoid, if you walk around the pool, Amy, I think it's hard to avoid you because you have, like, the most insane physique, which also is like a very, I feel like a crossfitter's physique is a very, like, you can really tell, I think, when someone does CrossFit. Yeah.

Yeah. But go on. Sorry, you were saying. I don't even have the best explanation for it, but I'm just like, yeah, I do CrossFit. It's like a sport of fitness. It tests like cardio, weightlifting, gymnastics, running, sprints, agility, coordination, like, all in one. And it's like the CrossFit games is the equivalent of like the Olympics, I guess.

It's basically like what don't they do? Because you guys do everything and you're always adding. new things to the games and to the sport, aren't you? And like every workout in a competition is different. That's the amazing thing about it. Like, I've never done the same workout twice. Well, unless I'm repeating one. Like, I've got a competition in December and I like,

you just don't know what you're training for. I'm my training for the right things. Am I not? It's something I haven't trained for going to come up, maybe. It's just a guessing game. You've got to get it right because you can't be too heavy because you need to be good at the running and you can't be too light because you need to be strong.

You just need to be. be so good and so all-rounded at everything and then just have limited weaknesses really. I think I am getting better at but I still have those things. I'm just like, okay, that won't be good if that comes up. I find it incredible because to be like you say, that much of like a all-rounder is insane and to be so successful at it. What are your upcoming competitions that you've got that you're working towards? There's this new league called the World Fitness Project. Oh, right. No, I've not heard of it at all. new thing so they've selected the top

like 30 athletes they want to sign as pros and then there's like three competitions a year I've done two of them and then you like depend on why you place you like get scored on this leaderboard and the final competition is in Copenhagen and I'm actually ranked one like first

okay so pressure's on so like let's like dive back into like how you got into it because I always think like people my experience even having just like dappled into it is I think a lot of people hear CrossFit and they're immediately turned off because they're just like, oh, it's too skilled for me. Oh, you know, I'm not anywhere near that sort of thing.

I'm not an athlete, whatever. So in some ways, I guess people think that there's this like high barrier to entry. You started quite young, didn't you? With it. I started when I was 14 and I'm 26 now. When I started, it was like just some fitness. It was just like rowing and lifting some kettlebells and things. and I'm like, what am I doing? Yeah, but I was sporty anyway, so I had like an idea of moving. But yeah, when I say like before, like it's the equivalent of the Olympics,

that is like the top. Like anyone could start CrossFit, like anyone. And it's just like a, it's like a community sport as well, isn't it? Like you do it. Hugely, hugely. It's so sociable. And I think something that I didn't realize

is how, I mean, kind of in ways that maybe other sort of facets of the gym don't accommodate. CrossFit will literally, you'll be able to scale the whole damn workout, you know, like just because you see the athletes like yourself doing all of these things you can imagine doesn't mean that you can't do the workout at all because actually they will always, in my experience, they've always catered for people that have zero skill whatsoever, which I think is so lovely.

It don't have to be good start. That's what people think, I think, and it's a shame. But it's easy to feel that because you just see all these pros doing random, heavy stuff. And it's this scary to see. And so, like, how did it kind of progress from there? So did you sign up, like, why CrossFit as well? Like, did you just sign up on your own accord? I was just in school and I was on the bus, I think, to my friend's house or something.

And one of the boys from the year above was going to CrossFit. yeah because he like I think he was doing some work experience there or something and he's like yeah you should go so me and my two friends also amy and amy went on this yeah I know there's so many amies in our year just went on a Sunday like 10 to 11 and then did our first kid session and literally from there I have never not been so it's just lived in like a really slow progression so I like did that for a few weeks and then probably a few months actually Then, turn 15, probably still going, then 16, I was old enough to do the adult sessions, so I'd go on a, I remember I'd go on a Monday night and do like a half five to half six adult session, which involved more like barbells, more skill work, I guess. Yeah, then I'd increase that to twice a week and three times a week, and then my coach at the time put on like accessories.

so you'd stay after and do some like extra accessories like body care dumbbell work just a bit more weightlifting or something then I remember doing my first competition which was the Castle Games have you heard of that no I haven't quite a long one a while ago and I came third in that and I think from there I was like do I enjoy this yeah I might as well give it go I would just do it for fun but this was still alongside athletics doing long jump for a bit as well but I just kept in chin splints

and I just couldn't manage that anymore I'd be one of those ones that would go like CrossFit straight to long jump and just try to squeeze everything in I think I just loved it so much I'm just like I'm just going to do everything that is the thing when you do enjoy what you're doing so much but you're also doing a sport that's so physically taxing. I think that's what I'm starting to learn. It's like, you can't, you can do it all, but within reason. You can't do everything all the time all at once, you know? So at what point

did you start to think, okay, I might be onto something here. I'm pretty good at this. Like, was your progression quite fast, quite quickly? Or, you know, it's funny, because I've, I've only realized I'm quite good. It was the year of, you. the year I qualified for the games the first year. So, what, that's like three years ago? Before then, I was like, I still don't think I'm even up there. But it's mad when you do start believing, it's like, oh, I am really going to the top. So yeah, the first year I qualified for the games, the competition was the semifinals in Leon, in France.

And yeah, you had to get top 10 in Europe and I came top five and I was like, yeah. And like to be up there with the top girls, I was like doing that all weekend. So yeah. And I don't really execute. I don't really back myself to execute. And I, and I did that weekend. And I was like, yeah, I can do it. And then I just had to keep that up, I guess.

It's crazy to me, though, that you, that's been such a recent realization to you. you that you are doing so well because you just told me like in one breath that you your first cross-fit competition you came third. God knows if I came third in a competition I'd be like okay I mean me I I I do like remotely well at anything and I'm like maybe I should do this as like a profession but like that came to you later why do you think that was like do you think you're just I don't know a much more humble person I think I just don't have enough confidence to be like, I'm good at this. And because I see so many people also good at it, I'm like, yeah, I'm just not as good as them or them or them.

So I'm just not as good. And I don't know why that's been in my head for years. And it still is in my head. I'm like, I'm just not where I want to be. But I guess training more scared than thinking I'm it, maybe that helps me. how does it feel like training i mean now when i watch you at your competitions i'm watching you like on the tv and you're literally yeah girl of course i do i literally i remember i like had my friends over and i was like that's my friend literally i mean yeah i think i when i am

competing it like did you watch the games yeah yeah i'm like oh i don't know even who's watching here but yeah oh no so so unbelievably proud and like you know even like getting all like I just was getting all like giddy and silly for you just like when you were doing the running um in new york yeah yeah um so there was like running for um new york and you were like literally up with like the likes of like tier who is like an absolute legend like how does that feel for you is that someone that you've i assume always kind of like looked up to i myself used to just watch the crossfit games and like just be glued to the telly like wow i'd love to be there And now I'm embracing her.

It's like, wow. I need to just take that and be like, you've just kind of not, I didn't nearly beat her, but you were up there with like the girl, you, you were up there. So yeah, I just need to take the little wins like that, yeah. I think sometimes like when you are so, when you're, you know, so successful at something and when you're so in it and for you like your training is just this never-ending thing that you're working on, imagine that like it does take some sort of like discipline I guess to kind of take a moment to just pause and kind of reflect otherwise you could just quite easily keep moving forward and

always focus on like what you haven't yet to achieve when actually if you kind of reflected on how far you have come and how well you're doing it's I think it's amazing it's incredible it's so inspiring yeah yeah I try I try to do that I'm like just look where you've come and then I think because I want more. I keep, like, I'm like, oh yeah, I came third, but that's just not good enough. Mm-hmm. Which is, like, bad for me, but, like, I take it. And then I'm like, okay, what do I need to work on now?

Yeah, the discipline, that is something I don't think I'm great at, but I think I'm, I think I love the sport so much because I'm not too strict with myself. Like, I will go out and eat a croissant and have a coffee and take a coffee and take, my time and but then there's things I can really improve on like bedtime sleep protein intake things like that but it's all work in progress Marvel television's Wonder Man an eight episode series now streaming on Disney Plus a superhero remake not exactly what we'd expect from an Oscar winning director Simon Williams audition for one of me I'm gonna need you to sign this

assuming you don't have superpowers I'll never work again if anyone found out. My lips are sealed. Marvel Television's Wonder Man. All eight episodes now streaming. Only on Disney Plus. Oh, absolutely. And there's always things you could do, isn't there?

For the everyday person that's maybe like dappled in CrossFit or whatever, like for me, as an example, like I will just turn up to a class and I'll do the sessions with somebody. But obviously for you, like, how does it work with you? and do you train with people like a lot of the time because to kind of train with intensity, I personally feel like you always have to be around someone to kind of really push yourself. So what does, yeah, what do your training sessions look like? Do you ever do them solo or? No, I agree. I much prefer training with people.

I will train on my own, like, because my program is specific for me. And there's like one of the guys around or someone to jump in, he wants to jump in with me. I'm like, please, anyone? Just to like... Somebody. It just makes it so much better. Because they're just in pain with you. Whether they scale it or just do less reps,

it's just like someone doing it with you and keeps you accountable. Before in your head, you're just like, should I just do less reps? Should I just not do another round? Yep. But when you're doing it with someone, it's like, okay, I can't back out now. Not that I can't.

Yeah. No, totally. Yeah. Like even, even like those, you know, seconds of breaks that you're just like, when you're by yourself, you're like, okay, I'll just rest a little bit longer. Yeah. But I do, yeah, I do do things on my own. But there's always people in the gym.

Like, there's a group that went, a team that went to the games on a team. I always training. Harry Lightfoot, who is like my training partner, but we don't train together all the time. You're just like a male version of me, I guess. And then like Lewis, my boyfriend and his friends all come in from work and then they'll all be training after. So there's always people there. Yeah. And Fraser my coach is most of the time around to keep me on it.

So do you do you mostly train with guys? Because I know there was that sound that went quite viral recently that Tia Claire Toomey did. And it was like, they said like, oh, how do you train? Do you know the one I'm talking about? They were like, and she said, oh, do what the boys do and some. Yeah. But I think as a woman, it's a really good way to kind of like push yourself to train with men. I actually like training with men because I feel like with a girl,

especially a girl, like, say like another one of me, it would be like if she beat me, am I not good enough or like, you know, just a bit like competitive? So if I train with Harry, it's like, if he beats me, great. I'm not great. Yeah. You're in your own league. Oh, you can see where he's at. Because I'm, say if we do like a piece that's more like cardio midline focused,

if he like is near me on that, that would be good for him because I'm quite good at that stuff. But if I'm near him on like a thrusted echo bike burpee thing, it's like, oh, that's good because he is like the king of all that stuff. So on like a Wednesday morning and a Saturday, we do like a interval club on the Wednesday. and then a Saturday we do like an athlete camp. So whoever's around and everyone needs to work on rope climbs, hands and push-ups, hands-and-walk, because they're always going to come up. So every coach will alternate the programme in every like four weeks for that.

So be a variation of like things, like a skill piece, a strength and push-pull piece and then like a Metcon and then accessories. will literally be in the gym for like from like two till six just faffing around but it's good yeah it's what you love I guess isn't it 30 minutes of actual crossfit the rest uh questionable um so your your gym that you actually train at is that a specific one like I'm imagining this this gym that's like full of these like absolute like units and that you've all kind of like specifically gone to that gym or is it by pure chance that you're all just there? and extremely, like, good.

The gym I'm at, based in Worcester, that I moved here to train at that gym. Right. I'm just there by... Chance. Yeah. Yeah.

My coach Fraser owns part of the gym, and then, like, Harry's coach, Mike, has a team called AOD, and they own, there's three boys that own, part own that gym as well, who also train at the gym.

So Harry, another Harry, Mike and Adam, who also have shares in the gym. We're like the training people, I guess. Oh, so you have kind of come together. Yeah, so they were already there and then Harry Lightfoot moved up from Cornwall, Lauren, Adam's girlfriend moved from London.

So, like, we've all kind of come, not like purposefully. I mean, the gym is, like very inviting like it is a good environment so and do you have like your so I'm guessing that you do have your everyday kind of crossfitters as well that train there or not so much so there's like two sides of the gym so there's like a open gym and then it's a class side so you still got your classes on and things that's what I love I love I actually really love the classes and then they do like a they do the crossfit then they do high rocks at lunchtime and then

sometimes in an evening, which is very popular now. Yeah, so I do classes all the time. But I won't. Yeah, no, well, because you're, of course, like, working towards a specific goal, but I mean that I love this idea that, like, you know, even though people think CrossFit isn't approachable, actually you have, like, this space where someone who is literally up there, like, smashing it at the CrossFit Games,

is still in the same sort of vicinity and same space as people that maybe have just stepped in for the first time, which I think it's so cool. So speaking of like specific movements and like having to work on things like what are your strengths and what are your weaknesses? So my strengths are like basically the first games event. It was like a four mile run into a 3K row into a two mile run. So like simple endurance cardio based things. And I'd say I'm okay at like kind of high skill gymnastics with like ergs involved. Yeah, carries and toes to bar, GHD's,

tens of some walking, double unders. Then my weaknesses are like, like a one-ret max lift. Right. Like thrust to speed, you know, uh-huh. Thrusters, like power output. I think I've been doing athletics for too long to have that way. I was going to say, like, is that just a case of like, it's only a weakness because you just have so much to cover

and you probably haven't covered it enough? I think, generally I'm just, I'm just not as like powerful as some people. Some people are just built. Yeah, overhead work I'm not great at at all. It's like, that's why I said I declined row because my wrists are just not great. So obviously you've mentioned you've got a coach,

but in terms of like, you know, everything around recovery and nutrition, do you have like a team for that? Or what does that look like for someone who is a crossfit athlete? I don't really have like a physio or a body, mechanic person. I need to actually find one if you

know it. But yeah, I guess sleep is a big part, nutrition is a big part. And then Laris has a sauna in his garden. So we've been regular in there. Drewmy. Nice.

So it seems like you have quite a like relaxed approach. Like I don't know why for some reason. I kind of imagined it to be like we're having exactly these cows in. You're doing this. as soon as you finish a workout, but actually are you quite... Yeah, I think I am a bit, maybe too relaxed that I'm...

That I just... Do do-to-do-do-law long. No, I like that. I've never really tracked it, so I don't... I think that would stress me out if I tracked my food. But I, yeah, I never... Yeah. I don't think that's for me.

I think because I'm such a snacker as well, that I just like picket things and... I don't want to ever get to the point at a night. I'm like, I'm not allowed to eat that. So just eat it anyway. I think also for like the amount that, I mean, how many days do you train? It's a lot, isn't it? Depends on if I like traveling and stuff.

But yeah, six, seven days a week. But two of them will be like just eggs. I think sometimes like, yeah, but even still, that's still working up for the rest of us. But I think like, you know, sometimes, you know, food, I don't know about you, but food brings me a lot of joy and I think I can imagine that like the last thing you want to be doing when you're you are putting yourself under that much kind of like training intensity is to be like oh yeah I need I can't eat this or I you know whatever like just for morale yeah I never want to get to that point where I'm not allowed to eat that so I think yeah the balance thing is a good way looking at it and I think I've done like a whole food's diet and I wish I could do that I just I just can't I And that's okay. How do you balance not burning out, like this sort of intensity and like the volume of training that you do? Like what are your things that you do to avoid that?

I guess, for example, I've just been away for two weeks, just being lazy as hell. Needed, deserved, well deserved. And then I, then I'm back, I'm like, I still feel, hmm. So I guess that's just this week getting back into it. I'm not going to feel great. Yeah. Then every like four weeks or so, Fraser will give me a delode. So like just backing off the high percentages and things and just still keeping intensity there but just less volume.

So I think that helps and I think that's a bit underrated. People just think like go, go, go all the time. And it's like, I guess when you look back and see the amount of reps you've done, just taking a week to just delode your body for a bit, it's actually more. beneficial and long term. I guess ages ago I would struggle and I'd be like, I don't need a delode. I just be like I've not done anything. But I think it's, I guess the older you get and the longer you've been doing it, it's like, okay, I need to listen.

How do you handle the setbacks and like the highs and the lows of kind of working towards the goal? Then you achieve it and then you kind of come back down to reality. I guess with the competitions I've just done, I came like third in both. And once it's over, it's like, I came third, now what? I guess I, until I reach where I want to get to, it's like, I still want to progress and get on that top podium. But the setbacks, it's like, it's just not a straight journey, is it? It's going to be like that which I am realising more, again, having a coach to, like, keep reminding you that.

Like, you're not the only one that's having bad days. You're not the only one that's struggling. Everyone else is out there failing lifts as well. And I'm like, okay. Some days you do, you have enough and you're like, why can't I even lift? half of what I used to be able to lift, but you can. It's just one of them days. I suppose when you look at it, you can't perform your top all day, every day.

You've progressed so, so well. And although it might not seem to you, like, it does seem like you're really, like, on this, like, upward trajectory. What was, like, the turning point for you? Do you think that there's been, like, something that you've done that's really helped you lock in and start to make some real progress? I don't think there's been a time where I've been, like, I'm going. up. When I look back at it now, I'm like, yeah, I feel like I've been in the mix of like people. I mean, like, I wouldn't think I'd be competing who I'm with now from, say, that

competition years ago. Like, I don't even know how that's come about. Enjoyed it rather than pressure on it as well. That actually is a, I think a factor because going into that last competition, the last World Fitness Project one, I was like, just enjoy it. Because I don't, I don't, it was post the game so I didn't want to put pressure on myself. Yeah. You don't perform well. So I was actually just enjoy it. And I actually, yeah, I came out third.

So I did the day, I guess it is just the placing. Yeah. I think when you go into it kind of like, you know what I am, just going to enjoy it and take it all in, then like really anything that happens will be like, there'll be no disappointment really, you know, expect nothing and kind of gain everything. Yeah, I think is a nice attitude.

best and you're happy with your performance and you know you're putting it. What more? Yeah. Yeah. So even like at that competition I, I got a personal best clean and it was like 16th place but it was a PV for me and I'd come off the floor being like that is literally all I could do and I was so happy with it and even though it was 16th place I was like, I don't know it's a win for me. Yeah. Honestly I love that because actually, actually, actually, it would be so easy to come off and be like, oh, 16th. And it's like, yeah, 16th out of like the freaking world. You know what I mean?

Like actually see the bigger picture. See that. Yeah. So I think that's lovely. What is like, you know, at the games and at these competitions, like, what is the dynamic between your competitors? Like, what's the vibe? Is it very serious?

Is it? I'd love to like know how it is amongst, yeah, the game. girls. I think the girls are more chatty than the boys, I think. Right. Yeah. Okay. I talk to anyone. I'm quite like, hey, how's it going? Yeah.

Like, trying to warm up and stuff and so am I. But yeah, everyone just like gets on and, yeah, to be honest, I've not had a bad experience with anyone. So, I think, yeah, people are just quiet and nervous, but yeah. Yeah, like, what is the atmosphere before the games, like for the athletes? Yeah, depending on the,

events, like you know when an event suits you or not. People are just like, just don't really talk much. Some people may be given a bit of banter, but I'm not really one for that. Yeah. The competition I did recently, I was actually on a team with Tia and, like, Team World against Team America, and that was really good because there was a lot of, like, chat between the teams. Because it was like a fun competition. It still meant something, but it's, yeah really fun. That was good because we'd be competing against each other normally and having everyone like cheering you on.

It was like, this is kind of cool. Yeah, that's really nice, especially when it's like a team event. I think the dynamic is so different, isn't it? Being on a team with those people, I was just like, little me would have dreamed of this. Yeah, what a pitch me moment. Like that is unreal. That is so unreal.

When you're kind of in a competition, like sometimes these competitions will draw big crowds. What are you, do you feel you're able to kind of harness all that adrenaline and use it to your advantage to perform? Or how does it kind of affect you being in front of a big crowd like that? So it depends on the workout, I think. If it's like a lift where I can like have a second and hear things,

I'll like take it in a bit more. But if it's like a one where I'm like, just doing my own thing. I kind of don't hear anything. in. Yeah. Just locked in. Yeah. I don't know if you watch the...

Did you see that pegboard event at the game? Yes. Yeah. That was... I heard that was rough. I don't even want to explain how slippery that was. I heard. Everyone at my gym was talking about it actually.

Because wasn't it an accumulation of like you guys having gone after people? Yeah. And like the bits of Matt, like on the... on the board and it's like some boards must have been slippy than others and like i i don't want to say i'm really good or anything but i can do like five like one after the other and to not even be able to do like one mental yeah what goes through your head then like when you're literally like at the games it's not going right for you oh because i had two really good first events and that was the third one. I'd come second and then I'd come third so I was sitting in second. I was like,

my heart just like dropped and I'm like I've ruined this chance of like even nearly being up there. So I think I gave like 28th and that or something out of 30. Not because of, I wouldn't say that was because of the performance. It was just because of, I don't know, I know it wasn't just me either, like some other struggled. If it was just me, I'd be like, okay, I've not been doing something We got to work on something. Yeah. When can we not, like, attempt something or cannot do something? I was like, I physically can't even, like, pull myself up anymore.

And then I had the worst doms of my life in my triceps because I've never held on for that long. For dear life, yeah. Wait, so what specifically was going through your head and, like, what was going on whilst you were trying to get up there? I was more confused. I was like, someone said it was slippy, but I did not think it was this slippy. And how did slippy feel for anybody that's, like, not done that themselves? Like, when you say you were slipping, what do you mean? Like, you weren't able to...

Like, pretend you're hanging, I don't know, off... What's a good example? Something. It felt like that. And your core is, like, non-existent and your arms just trying to do everything. And, yeah, it was just... It was horrendous. It must be so hard to, like, keep your call in those,

moments as well when like oh I'm just going to be people going to be looking at me and I just need to like block that out and just keep trying do I even keep trying because I'm just going to tie myself out and I'm even going to get a rep here I don't know yeah yeah what would um what would like a ideal cross-it games workout look like to you like what would make you like yes I love probably one that's been a in the past. It was like a mile run, 30 toaster bar, a mile run, 30 toast bar,

a mile run, 30 toast bar or something. So I'd say a lot of running in midline. Oh my God. That is so, like, to have to, uh, yeah, to do like consecutive and to do like that high amount of toaster bar is like, that is my favourite movement. I don't know why, but. Do you think that, because,

like I just get to a certain point as you know your average freaking Joe blogs cross fitter like when I am doing even like you know well any any any toast bar workouts where they're like high volume I just get to like a certain point where like

nothing's moving like nothing's moving at all do you think that you've just got like a super strong core now at this point that you're able to just survive that sort of endurance of it. My core like never goes it's my grip. Yeah.

So I actually did a few the other day and my hands have like got blisters again. My hands go through some things. Yeah. But yeah, I think my core is probably one of my like strongest

parts of me. I said before like bulletproof it. I just feel like I'm I don't want to just be all right here and then suffer from the back. So like my back sometimes goes a bit funny, you know, like that SI jump can feel. Not great. So you just look after myself.

In terms of like pre-workout snacks or meals, what's like your go-to? I'd be interested to know. I love any sort of bar, cereal bar. Oh, right. On the go. Yep. Go. Yeah.

I'm a, I probably wouldn't have a protein bar. before. Yeah, more like a carb kind of snack. I do love a rice cake. Rice cake with like something on top or just a rice cake? Yeah, honey, you know, butter, jam, banana, all those things. Yeah. I love putting things together as well, like bowls of whatever. And do you find that that will, because you've mentioned that you've got some like really long sessions that you do, which admittedly sometimes I'll just like having a little chat with your friends, but like do you find that that pre-workout snack will last you throughout your workout or do you ever take anything intro workout or?

Yeah, I think it'll last me a bit and then whether I'm hungry or not, you're supposed to have carbs after at least 60 minutes, I think. So I'm getting better at learning to drink carbs whilst training. Even if you're not hungry, I think you're supposed to still. get them in. Yeah. Banana or sweets or something like that. Mm-hmm.

So I guess if, I guess everything we do is so like high intensity, but you need to just replenish all that. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. What, um, how does, how does like a week of, like, food and eating look when it's competition week or day of competition, like, are you heavy on the carbs, doing the carb loading? Or is it not so important with CrossFit?

Yeah, so I was working with a nutritionist, like leading up to the games, and we'd practice carb loading and things. And I think it is, that is important, because you're not even doing it for that day, you're doing it, like, for the weekend as well. I'm a person, like, I hate feeling really full when I'm training or competing. So we'd carb load, like, on the Wednesday, have, like, Thursday to, like, let your gut settle a bit and then be ready for, Friday, Saturday, Saturday, Sunday. And then I guess over the competition, you don't want to, like, yeah, be really full and just pick out. So I'd, like, try to eat more in the evenings to be fueled for the following day. And, yeah, just high on the carb foods.

And then, yeah, there's, like, low fibre in the day, low fats. Chub it in at night. Nice. Love that. Obviously, we mentioned already, like, you have the most unreal physique. but I feel like in the past you've kind of been gaining muscle as you've kind of been going how has that been like kind of like body confidence wise or how have you kind of experience how have you felt with like the body changes and that sort of thing yeah I think that's always been there something

I always think about and I guess as girls we do just think about what we look like and things when I was younger I was like a lot leaner I guess from just running and things and then I guess the muscle gain has just been progressive like yeah progressive I haven't like tried to gain muscle it's just been it's just come with the sport yeah and then to be honest I've not tried to do anything like

I've never like tried to cut I've never tried to bug I've never tried to lose weight I've never tried to gain muscle it's just been like oh I'm just going to eat and see what happens Yeah. But the times I, there's been times where I'm like, I'm in the gym and I don't lift as heavy as I feel like I should. And then I'm like, am I too heavy for what I can do? Am I too this, my two that? And yeah, it does make me question, am I doing the right thing. But then when I go like win an endurance event, I'm like, oh, maybe I'm not that heavy because I can still do that and lift a good amount. and then I just need to look back at where I've just placed. I'm like, okay, you're sitting in number one and you've came third in these past two competitions. Just keep doing what you're doing.

Oh, absolutely. Or if not anything, just try to be a bit better, but it's easier said than done, isn't it? Yeah, absolutely. No, I think you've got an unreal physique. And I think it's also so, so cool to see that, you know, all of that has actually just come from focusing on, like, the goal, focusing on, like, what you can do, rather than like aesthetics, which is really impressive. Doing it every wrong has crossed my mind. Like, do I want to be this mussely and things?

But it's like, you know, it's your job, I guess. Because it is annoying, like, not fitting in little strappy tops and things like that and just feeling just big sometimes. But then it's like, oh, I can lift like 100 kilo bench. I can deadlift that. I'm like, just... Period. embrace it.

Exactly. But it's, I guess it's not like a natural thing for a girl to be like that. But also, why not? Oh, why not? And I think actually a lot of people would like aspire to that. I mean, I know I do. I'd be so happy to walk around like that all the time. It is nice being strong and be able to lift things.

Yeah. No, I think it's, I think it's so impressive. Do you find that like, you know, being someone that does train for performance, has that helped you kind of maybe settle with any insecurities you do have in your body

because actually you'll be always able to reflect back on the fact that like my body can do this so kind of I know a lot of girls will talk about how when they switch to performance training it allows them to kind of rewire how they how they feel about

themselves you know yeah exactly that and then also like eating for performance as well rather than trying to eat less and... Yeah. Yeah. Because I know there's probably like a lot of people out there

that just think less is better and things like that. Or in training, like more is better. It's like... Like following a program and sticking to it is probably better. Yeah, and I guess people will find out the hard way. And I guess when you go down the route of like eating less and doing more, it's like, are you just going to get burnt out quicker rather than just stick into a program and eating more?

Yeah, it's great. It's fun. Yeah, I know there's quite a lot of studies I've mentioned on my socials before as well about how the sheer volume of women that are under-fueling for their workouts and how that has such a big impact on, like, injury and, you know, can cause to, like, can cause a lot of injuries in people. So, you know, eating and making sure you're staying on top of nutrition is really helpful for injury prevention.

I wondered, after a big competition or after a big training block, what's like your go-to celebration? Like, what do you like to do? The CrossFit people are quite like, they like to party in it. Oh, do they? No. So whenever there's like a big competition, there's normally an after party. And yeah, we would go out.

okay so what's happening at the after party just like I think because everyone's just like had a big block of working hard and then probably everyone hasn't drank like six months so it's like now we're not loose and then yeah sometimes people maybe

want a quiet one so just sit in the reception or something and play games that's what we did last time we had um we were up literally to like half two just playing some silly games. You know, when you just sit, you're like, what am I doing?

Yeah, but it's a nice, like, quality time, isn't it? Yeah, and then the people, again, you don't, like, talk to you that much because you're competing against them and you don't have time. So, yeah, that's good. But yeah, probably finish. Finish, and then a lot of the times

you get drugs tested, so that's a... If you're someone like me who just can't pee straight away, and she's there for, like, another three hours, just waiting. You're like, please, just give me a second. Yeah. And then probably go out for some food,

whatever a squad that's doing, just go in there. And then, yeah, maybe go out, maybe not. Yeah. Do you have that kind of, like, balanced attitude towards drinking as well that, like, I'm guessing you don't drink within your training blocks,

but you do outside of? I've never been a huge lover of alcohol anyway. I have drank, like, in school and, like, a bit of, like, whilst I was doing CrossFit, but I've always, like, avoided it. I'm like, I'll drive. I'll drive. Yeah. Don't worry, guys, I'll take, that's literally what I do.

I'm like, I'll take one for the team. I'll drive. Yeah. And then... It's my way out. Like, in school, I used to, like, always have something on the next day. And so I'd, like, want to feel okay while everyone else is, like, hung over. But I would, on, like, the bigger occasions I'd drink and...

be like, okay, that was great. Now I'm done for like a year. Yeah, honestly. It took me half a year to work up to it and it's going to take me a half a year to recover. I think now I would, I probably drink like, it sounds stupid, probably like four times a year. Oh yeah.

I get it. It's also like, it does have quite a big impact on like, I can imagine like your training sessions and stuff like that. So it makes sense. Also, you're not that fuss about it. When I was away in Mexico, I, before I went I was like yeah we'll drink around the pool and

like why not but honestly all I wanted to do was be in the buffet and I would rather eat than drink yes me too eat and then drink I just don't feel anything from it so I'm like drinking for the sake of it I like drank drank to try to get drunk in Mexico that sounds like party girl

let the hair down I just couldn't I was like tequila shot tequila shot tequila shot and I was just like nothing. Yep. I'm just so, so good with alcohol now.

Yeah. Is your, so you've got a boyfriend now? Is he a crossfitter? He does crossfit, but he's not quite as good as me. You know. It's working on it.

We do train together sometimes. And you give him a run for his money, hey? Yeah, yeah. He's a lot stronger, which is good. Yeah, that's helpful. That is helpful.

But he was, doing crossfit before we met at the gym anyway so he's he's like an original there but yeah we live together now oh love it and lovely time in mexico it was just nice to just spend like the whole day together yeah i can imagine i imagine like how much of your day are you in the gym or like prepping for the gym or going or you know like quite a lot i feel like i feel like i use my evenings more to like wind down i used just like try to do content stuff or try to do research for something. But now I'm just like, okay, a bit more chill time. But again, there's not much time in the evenings anyway.

You get back, sauna, eat. And it's like nearly nine o'clock. I know. And it's dark now as well. So you're like, oh, okay. The day's gone. The day is gone. But yeah, we were in Mexico and it was just nice to,

we spent like 24 hours straight together for like two weeks. And I was like, I'm not even sick of you. Oh, I love it. So just to finish up, I've got a little segment we call Cool Down Quickfire where I ask you some quickfire questions. If you'd like to elaborate and expand, you are most welcome to do so. If not, then we'll move on to the next one. So first one up is morning or evening workout.

Morning. Yeah, I just think get in and then it's better when you have people to train with as well because you're like get in, get it done, then have nice coffee, eat a bit more, and then you're done for the day. Yeah, gorgeous. I think with me, it's both. I need to do both. Yeah.

Favorite rest day activity. Ooh. Does a massage count? Girl, of course it does. Massage, coffee, brunch. Ooh. That sounds like my ideal day. Solo, I know what the answer to this one is going to be already.

Solo or group session. Group. Yep, hands down. Guilty pleasure workout song. If I'm doing something slow and doesn't need to be for intensity, I don't mind a bit of country. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Okay. Okay. But if I'm going, like, interval style, something like technoree drum and bass. Yeah, like get you going. But I'm not like bussy with music as long as it's not like heavy metal. I'm okay. I've really got to work on my CrossFit Gym's music.

And he knows this, the owner of my gym. But he puts on like 80s music. And I'm like, How is this helping me lock in? Yeah. It's just like really chill and mellow. I'm like, this is for us, not for you. What's one thing you will always carry in your gym bag?

Does a protein bar count? Yes, it does. If it's in your gym bag, it certainly does. Curran go to snack or hyperfixation meal. There's a protein bar can't? No, I'm joking. Yes, it does. Then I just leave cereal.

And this makes me happy. You know, it doesn't take much to impress her. I love that. It's easy, you know. What cereal were we going for? Do you know, like, I know it's not, it's quite bad for you, but the crunchy nut clusters, you know, the... Oh, yeah.

Yeah. Or even, like, the mini shreddies with the dusting on. Breads, honey, just love a yoghurt bowl. On the topic of cereals. When I was in Australia, there was this like Italian girl who was she made she got her coffee poured it into a bowl and then poured the cereal in there which I thought was rogue I don't know yeah wondered what your opinion was on that I was like what's going on here

when do you feel your strongest probably when I've hit a PB oh yeah rarely ever oh don't what mantra do you live by I need to do a bit more research on this kind of stuff. I know. I always think this because I actually ask this question all the time and I don't have one. Yeah. I'm a bit more like, okay, believe in yourself. Have more confidence. Don't care what other people think. Yeah. I've been having a bit more in my head. Yeah. You do you. Yep. Love that. A few that little one. There's a few there, you know. And the final one is where can people find you if they want to give you a follow? I guess my main platform is Instagram. So my name is A. me underscore cringle. Perfect.

Wonderful. Well, thank you so much. That's the end of the episode. And yeah, we've loved having you on. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. All right. Thanks so much for watching, guys.

I hope you enjoyed that episode. And remember, if you did enjoy the episode, do give us a five-star review. It helps us out hugely, and we love you so much for it. I think that's everything. Love Amy. She's amazing.

Thank you so much for listening. And I'll see you in the next one. Bye.