For those of you just tuning in, I opened up on Move More Worry Less about my mental health journey in May 2021 for Mental Health Awareness Month. If you haven't listened, I'm going to drop that episode below for ya.
At that time, my therapist had recommended I look into medication to treat my depression and anxiety. I haven't said much since but not because I'm hiding or didn't want to - life and business have just pulled me in a million directions so I haven't really had the right moment to lay it all out there.
Here's the realness though: when she told me medication might be my next step, my heart dropped. I broke down. It was a very difficult moment for me.
Am I really that f*cked up that I need to medicate?
Is everything I've done for my mental health up until now been pointless?
Do I really want to put meds into my body?
These and many more thoughts were spinning through my mind. I decided to post on our IG stories opening up about what was happening, in tears. The responses I received were so uplifting and inspiring - so many of you reached out to tell me your story and journey with medicating. It gave me so much hope.
And it made me think. I always preach that mental health is just as important as physical - and I'm a firm believer in talking about it and being open (hence this blog post). So why was I finding the idea of medication to be so difficult?
The funny thing is that when it comes to our physical health, we so easily talk about all of it; about our fitness, injuries and how we are rehabing, headaches and how we are taking Advil, health conditions like diabetes and how we need insulin, autoimmune conditions, hormone imbalances, etc, etc, etc... But when it comes to mental health, it feels weird to talk about medication let alone take it!
But like... why?
In May 2021 I started meds. With a lifetime of depression and anxiety under my belt, (and countless self-development books and podcasts, fitness, therapy, meditation, you name it) I felt I had exhausted my resources and even though I was active in my quest for happiness, I would find myself in another depressive episode, curled up on the couch, with almost no energy to do anything.
Why suffer if we don't have to?
Medication has gently upgraded my quality of life. I want to be 100% real with you and don't want to go as far as to say it's dramatically changed things because I still feel like me. Sure, I feel good but I still have low moments and bad days but much less frequently. I'm less explosive in sadness and anger. I feel more balanced overall.
My point is that it doesn't need to be taboo to talk about mental health and taking medication for it should be completely acceptable. The dream isn't to suffer daily, it's to be happy in your skin. And sometimes that means adding medication - and that's ok!
Disclaimer: I am not saying you should take meds. I'm not saying it should be your first resort. I'm also not saying it should be your last resort. I'm simply saying if it feels right for you, do it and don't be ashamed. Keep an open mind. And if it's not right for you, don't do it. Just take care of yourself and your happiness, whatever that looks like for you!
In the last 8 months of taking medication, I've gained clarity to improve other aspects of my life: I've been able to really, reaaaallly hone in on my bedtime/morning routines, I've started meditating, I hired a purpose/alignment coach, I've set real, tangible goals (which is something I've always struggled with because goals give me anxiety), I've started reading daily again (both fiction and non-fiction!), I've continued therapy AND have been able to drop down from once a week to once every other week, and I've sorted out my stomach issues which involved getting insurance and getting my appendix removed!
To be honest, I don't think I would have taken most of those steps (or at least not that quickly) if I didn't start medication. If you can relate to my story then you understand how hard it is to be productive and regularly care for yourself when your mind is flooded with dark, negative thoughts.
I'm here to tell you that you don't have to suffer and you most certainly don't have to suffer alone. This community is here for you. I hope that through sharing my journey that you can see and feel that.
As always, don't be a stranger. DM us, email us, tag us - connect with us.
Xo,
Paige
Thirteen Fit Apparel: What got you into PT?
Melissa Capurro: My uncle is a physical therapist in California and owns two of his own practices. He works with celebrities and famous athletes, and he worked individually with Jackie-Joyner Kersee, who was an Olympic track athlete. When I was a little girl, my dad showed me the back of a newspaper (which was always the sports section) and my uncle was on the back cover of it, working on Jackie. At that moment, I knew I wanted to work alongside athletes, getting them back into the game.
TFA: Why "The Stoic Physio"?
MC: This is a great question. When I was in PT school, I was introduced to stoicism, which is a philosophy and way of thinking that provides strength, wisdom, and guidance for all of life's challenges. It helped me get through schooling, and it served as a way of life for me from there on. I practice it daily, and it's incredibly helpful to keep close in my training life as well as my business! It truly led me to where I am today. Without it, I'm not sure I would be in business working for myself, trying to help more people bring out their best lives.
TFA: As a PT, what is your mission and purpose?
MC: My mission is to make all of my patients/clients as strong as they can possibly be, and to show them that they are capable of things that they never imagined they could be. I'm here to stand by my patients/clients as they walk through whatever obstacles that they are facing, and show them that there is a way through. Teaching people how to exercise and load their bodies appropriately is only part of my job - the other, and arguably more important part, is educating and building relationships with these people.
TFA: When did you decide to go out on your own and why? What did that process look like?
MC: I left my outpatient orthopedic clinic job in March of 2021. I was tired of being overworked, underpaid and undervalued, and THE MOST sick of insurance dictating what I did and how I ran a session. With cash based PT, I can practice the way I want to practice and not let anyone tell me what I need to be doing. It was a HUGE risk and leap of faith to leave a job with a definite salary and benefits to go out on my own, but I can help so many more people the way I truly want to this way.
TFA: What are common reasons you treat CrossFitters? What mistakes do you see them making and how can people prevent making those mistakes/getting injured?
MC: Honestly, I treat CrossFitters because I understand them. I am one of them. There are so many PTs out there that don't like CrossFit or think it's more "dangerous" than any other sport out there. Truth is, there are the same amount of injuries in CrossFit as there are in other sports, like running. Studies have shown that in CrossFit, there are between 2 and 3.5 injuries per 1000 hours of training, which is lower than most forms of training. So many PTs out there don't "approve" of CrossFit and advise against it. However, a lot of the treatments/interventions I use with my patients are all ones that can be done in a typical CrossFit gym. I use barbells, DBs, KBs, rigs - you name it, I use it.
However, the biggest downfall that I see in CrossFit is usually a volume issue. We LOVE our sport, so we want to do as much of it as we can. Makes sense, right? Our bodies can only handle so much though. People that overtrain and don't support their high intensity lifestyle outside of the gym are usually the ones that end up injured. What does this mean? People that overtrain in addition to not eating well, not sleeping well, not managing their stress well.
Overtraining isn't measured in one certain way - it can look different for everyone. If you're used to taking 3 classes per week that are an hour each, overtraining for you, at that point in time, can be taking 5 classes at 1 hour per week. With the appropriate rest and recovery, however, this likely wouldn't be an issue, but it would take your body some time to adapt and learn that your "new norm" is 5 classes instead of 3.
Volume is a good thing, especially if someone is looking to really improve their game and even be competitive. However, it has to be smart volume, and there needs to be appropriate rest and recovery - namely, stress management, a diet that supports our lifestyle, and ample sleep. To do this, I recommend that most of my clients at least speak with a nutrition coach to get an idea of how much they should be eating, especially new athletes. Taking part in a sport like CrossFit puts a huge demand on your body, and I find that most people are eating more than they are used to. In regards to sleep, 7-8 hours per night at minimum, and in regards to stress management, make sure there are other ways that you can relieve your stress other than the gym - journaling, gratitude walking, spending time with family and friends.
Some of the most common injuries are knee, shoulder and back injuries. When this happens, load management and recovery is going to become even more important than before...This is when it's important to find a provider that understands what you're going through, as well as the demands of CrossFit on the body. Proper volume and load management goes a long, long way.
To those interested in CrossFit but are nervous or hesitant because it's "dangerous" - it's no more dangerous than any other sport. Make sure you have coaches that are taking the time to teach you all the movements required to be successful in the sport. Take the time to really master different movements and positions before progressing to higher level movements. Know your limits, but you likely don't know what you're capable of doing!
TFA: What kind of disabilities do you work with?
MC: My specialty is, as we have been talking about, working with the injured CrossFitter or fitness athlete. However, I do work with a seated adaptive athlete who has cauda equina, two young children that are enrolled in our CrossFit Kids program, and older adults. Physical therapy, especially outside of the insurance world, is not just for people that are injured. It's also meant for people trying to maintain their function and build to be as strong as they can possibly be, when normally, insurance wouldn't cover this type of care.
I especially recommend PT to any athlete or individual that likes to live an active lifestyle! Using physical therapy as a way to maintain and learn about imbalances that you may not know about is truly eye-opening. For this type of person, a monthly visit is sufficient to get an assessment based on what you enjoy doing. From there, gaining knowledge about a couple targeted exercises to make sure you stay your healthiest is a small price to pay for long-term gains and active lifestyles :)
TFA: How do you customize your treatment to each client?
MC: This really depends on the client, as your question already mentions. When I start working with someone, I need to truly find out why they want to work with me - why are they in the gym? What's the true reasoning behind their desire to get better/stronger/out of pain? What is their "why?"
We talk about our baseline functional level - this can be how someone functions at home, in the gym, or anywhere; we do initial testing to see where we are at at baseline, and then based on goals, determine the best course of action to achieve those goals.
Like I mentioned before, I truly can't wait to share Melissa's energy and knowledge with you all in the next few weeks on the podcast. Stay tuned!
Xo,
Paige
Before we get into it, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting our brand and mission. Without you, our community, I'd just be a girl with a dream... but because of you, I'm able to live that dream and serve a bigger purpose: empowering people on the journey to their #ultimateself.
We started this company with two t-shirt designs and a lot of passion. Today, we have expanded our product line, collaborated with some incredible brands, organizations, and people, attended countless events, have built up an incredible custom clientele, and we've reached a larger audience with our podcast, Move More Worry Less.
There are a lot of things I could talk about today, so much has happened in the last 6 years, but I want to dedicate this blog to spotlighting some of our proudest collections and campaigns.
This project was inspired by our community and their individual stories. Our mission is to connect and empower you through our apparel and concepts - this was our opportunity to do just that while also giving the floor to community members whose stories are truly inspiring.
Each story we shared (13 total) not only showed challenges but also the triumphs that followed. They were unfiltered and vulnerable, and we could not be more grateful for those who participated and opened up. Not only did they inspire us but are also proof that we are not alone, hardship comes in many shapes, colors, and sizes.
We designed the campaign to showcase all different kinds of journeys and struggles in hopes that maybe there would be one story that you identified with or connected to.
Own your journey. Embrace your hardships. Reflect on your past. These are tools and learning experiences that will empower you on the journey to your #ultimateself.
This collection was inspired by who we are and where we come from; NYC based and always hustling towards our #ultimateself.
"Cultural heritage is the legacy of tangible and intangible assets of a group or society that is inherited from past generations."
We are proud of where we come from - not just the city but also the journey that led us here, to starting this brand, this community, this lifestyle.
The New York City culture gave us the grit, determination, and hardship that has allowed us to grow and become resilient; it gave us the courage to take risks and work our asses off for what we love and believe in.
At Thirteen Fit, we embrace all parts of the journey. This collection embraces our past, where we come from, who we are, and what we stand for.
THE ADVENTURE COLLECTION: 2019
Everything up until The Adventure Collection was focused on the serious side of the journey to our #ultimateself: the hustle. hard work. hardship. dedication. strength. power. stability.
While all of those things are important, we realized that there was more to this journey than just that; this collection was inspired by the other side of the journey: risks. balance. fun. freedom. excitement. adventure.
Good things come from working hard but let's not forget all the good things that come from adventure!! New experiences promote growth, opportunity, and understanding. Not to mention, taking risks puts the pressure on to do more, to be more - rather than sitting stagnant in our comfort zone.
Straight up: this wasn't planned. 2020 hit us ALL hard and that includes small businesses. We went from doing multiple events per month to zero, our custom business stood still, and online shopping slowed down. The world was flipped upside-down and none of us knew what was going to happen or how to cope. Sitting by myself in quarantine, I was racking my brain. How can I keep this business afloat?
I spent most of our down time donating designs in order to help other small businesses bring in income during this difficult time, I worked with United in Movement to raise money for COVID related efforts - but at the end of the day, the business was suffering financially. I knew I had to do something.
I took existing t-shirts that we had in stock for some time, bleached them, custom cut them, and launched them. And it worked. We sold out almost immediately. Then we made more. Sold out. Then we made more. Sold out.
To us, although they weren't planned like our other collections, they have come to mean so much more than cute shirts that we bleached. These shirts saved us at a time when things felt so unsure. These shirts gave us hope and strength to keep pushing the brand. These shirts reminded us of our resilience and our determination to keep growing even when growth seemed impossible.
We wanted to create a project that would go beyond the surface and to find a way to amplify voices from members of our community - so we collaborate with my friend Kim Sealy of Fit Appeal by Kim Sealy.
Celebrate Diversity came together over 13 words that have represented the year 2020: community, empowerment, vulnerability, passion, leadership, growth, movement, individuality, fearlessness, diversity, authenticity, resilience, hope. 13 members of our community participated and shared their perspective and journey in relation to their word.
This campaign left a feeling of love and togetherness; we couldn't be more proud to have partnered with Fit Appeal by Kim Sealy, our 13 friends who participated, and Project Onyx who we were able to donate to because of this campaign.
The Light Collection was inspired by all the dark that came at us over the past 2 years or so. It was full of negativity and darkness but it also gave us the opportunity to find positivity and light.
In a time where many of us felt hopeless, we realized that we are not alone, that it's ok to talk about mental health, that even if you couldn't go out you could still connect over technology, that even though gyms closed there were ways to move outside of the gym.
It can be very easy to get wrapped up in the difficulties in life - but this collection is a reminder that even when the world feels grim there are spots of light and those are the things we need to focus on and remember.
It's been one hell of a journey and can't wait to see where we go from here! Thank you for your love and support - without YOU, none of this would be possible.
Xo,
Paige
TFA: As fit pro AND having a company that embraces sexuality, how do you see those two industries overlapping?
MMC: In everything that I do from fitness to Burgundy Fox my mission remains the same: to empower people, women. I know you can relate to this, Paige, but how amazing do you feel after a great workout? Whether it is 5 minutes or 60 minutes - I want my clients to leave feeling confident, strong and like a boss!! So in the same way that fitness provides this strong sense of self, this can also come from embracing your sexuality: being confident in your body, your desire, your pleasure. Alone or with a partner - the feelings, the mental and the actual chemistry are the same from fitness and sex.
You know the happy hormones? Serotonin dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins that promote positive, mood-boosting feelings and things like pleasure and happiness, we get these from both sex and fitness. And on that note, sex improving your fitness fun fact: a sweaty sex session can burn some serious calories and improve overall physical fitness. If you’ve been meaning to hit the gym, now is a great time to start a regular workout regimen. Studies show that frequent exercise leads to enhanced sexual performance.
So yes, I do find very much that these “industries” overlap. Strength, power, mindset, confidence, happiness!!
Follow along with Meghan, Burgundy Fox, and their mission:
@burgundyfoxco
@meghanm_cox
Xo,
Paige
There isn't one size fits all when it comes to wellness. If you feel unwell, unaligned, or just not the best version of yourself mentally and or physically, this may be a sign that you’re not treating or fueling your body with what it needs. Maybe you’re consuming foods that aren’t right for your body constitution, you’ve been too restrictive, or you’ve been eating at the wrong times on an irregular schedule (hint: our digestion loves routine!).
Take inventory on your energy levels, mood, and sleep every day.
Notice how different foods make you feel a few hours after you are done eating. Is there something you should eliminate for a while? Consider exploring your body type or constitution as explained in TCM or Ayurveda.
Eat a nourishing, balanced meal for dinner, including foods that will not contribute to cravings late at night.
Notice how you feel when you wake up. Do you feel fully rested? Are you excited to jump out of bed in the morning? Consider getting off your screens 2+ hours before getting ready for bed, to minimize heightened brain activity caused by blue light that disrupts your ability to fall asleep or sleep deeply. Make sure electronic devices are 6+ feet away from you while sleeping, to minimize potential radiation that disrupts your sleep. Is there something you could do to enhance your bedtime routine, allowing for a more refreshing start for the next day?
Sometimes, we can already be living a “healthy” lifestyle with “healthy” habits but they don’t align with exactly what our body needs.
Listen closely and adjust accordingly.
2. Follow the things that light you up
Easier said than done, we know. Sometimes we have to do things we don’t 100% love to get us where we want to be.
On the flip side, we often have more freedom than we think to pursue things that make us feel good, excited, energized, and inspired, despite how our brains have been wired to think (many of us tend to stay in fear, without even realizing this— writing it off as rationality. When in reality, you can still think critically and make good decisions for yourself while also pursuing what your heart wants, which you may currently just refer to as your passion projects or hobbies).
This is another place where you can take personal inventory:
As you move through your day...
Because we are always going to have to include things we don’t absolutely LOVE into our schedules, is there a way you could shift your day to simply do a little bit more of what you love?
Perhaps there is something that you’ve always wanted to do but just “couldn’t find the time” to do it. Well, enough of the excuses! Not every new endeavor needs to be time consuming. Make it a priority, schedule it in (even if it’s only a few minutes a day), and allow yourself the freedom to explore!
Create your dream schedule. How do you want your life to look? Start making decisions that align with that lifestyle starting now.
3. Set personal and work boundaries
This can be really difficult to do especially when you’re a business owner but it is really important to set boundaries for yourself and those around you.
Boundaries (work and personal) are necessary, and can be difficult to set. But this doesn’t need to be complicated. Just do it. You’ll thank us later.
Outline the little things you know will improve your life as soon as you have the opportunity to implement them. These may be things you’ve wanted to set boundaries with, but haven’t gotten up the nerve to do so. Well YOLO! The time is now. This could be as simple as not checking emails after 6:00pm or on weekends. Or not reading/sending texts after 9:00pm.
Setting boundaries can also mean not allowing those around you to persuade you into things that don’t align with your goals or ideal lifestyle. Maybe that means when you meet up with friends for “a drink,” you really mean one drink and stick to it. Maybe that means if you have a family event to attend but still want to prioritize your sleep, you set a time for yourself to leave at that time without allowing mom to guilt you into staying longer.
A helpful trick for deciding on whether to attend or stay at social events: pay attention to what your body wants, before your head has the opportunity to rationalize why you should attend an event or stay somewhere longer than you want to. Ignore the guilt! If your body wants to jump up and run out the door when you receive the invite from your friend, that’s a great sign! But if your body wants to stay at home and relax, that’s a great sign too. Either way, follow your instincts.
4. Show up and act in alignment with your dream reality
Do you have dreams? Goals? A vision for your future? You should and if you do, the only way to achieve them is to actively work on them.
The decisions you make now, day-to-day, are going to directly impact what happens to your future. There is no “I’ll get to it later.” The time is now. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the present but it does mean that over time, your habits will build up and design your future. It’s up to you to intentionally create those habits.
If you want to build a successful business, are you going out and creating opportunities or waiting for them to come to you?
If you want to have children and grandchildren that you can play with, are you staying mobile and active?
If you want to be financially comfortable, are you learning how to manage your money, saving, or looking for new ways to increase your income?
If you want to be a morning person, are you creating the habit of waking up early (even though getting out of bed can be so hard!!)?
If you want to feel confident, strong, and in shape, are you working out and eating right consistently?
Your habits are your choice. Create habits that align with your DREAMS.
5. Give yourself grace, understanding, and permission to prioritize yourself
Not every day is going to be your best day. Some days, our energy is low, we are uninspired, we are tired, we are grumpy - turns out, we are human and these things happen.
But because we are human, we also need to give ourselves a little grace. It’s ok not to feel perfect every day. Our hormones change, the weather changes, our schedules change - and they all affect how we feel. Low energy may be a sign that you need a while to recharge. We need rest just like other living things!
We know, this is much easier said than done. But give yourself permission to prioritize yourself and your health (both physical and mental). If you’re tired, take a nap if it’ll help you be more productive when you wake up. If you’re sore from too many workouts, give yourself an active recovery or rest day so you can attack your next workout ready and refreshed. If you’re just having a tough mental day, give yourself time and space to bounce back.
We encourage you to feel your feelings and be present in your body. Work through your emotions, journal them, reflect upon them, and always listen to your body.
Don’t be afraid to get to know yourself a bit better. You are more powerful than you may realize.
Xo,
Cole Spike, @spike_society
and Paige
It was a Friday the 13th.
The most popular question I get about Thirteen Fit Apparel is: Why "Thirteen?"
If you don't already know my story, I want to give you background on where I come from because it is why I started the company, why our mission is what it is, and why we are THIRTEEN.
For my entire life I've battled with anxiety and depression. As a kid, I had no idea that either of those feelings had names, I thought the way I felt was normal and everyone probably felt the same way. I didn't realize that not everyone struggles - and I didn't even know I was struggling.
I was never an athlete. Sure, I was active but not sporty (even so, Sporty Spice was my favorite Spice Girl). As kids, we rode bikes, walked around the neighborhood, and spent a lot of time outside but sports were not my forte. I tried to play basketball in 5th grade but was benched for the entire season except for one game. They put me in and I had so much anxiety that when I got the ball, I threw it straight up in the air which was not only like, the most spastic thing I could have done but it also gave the ball to the other team. I cried. In 5th-7th grades, I played softball and hated it. I didn't like to bat, I didn't like running bases, I didn't like being in the outfield. The pressure gave me intense anxiety. I spent most games in left field. My point is that being athletic always seemed out of the cards for me. The art room was my safe space.
It was in my teenage years where depression started to kick in on top of my ever-present anxiety. I didn't really know why, I was just sad. A lot. I would come home from school and often just sleep until dinner. I cried a lot. I felt hopeless. There was no real "reason,"; I had an excellent childhood and have an amazing family. It was something deeper.
Battling depression doesn't necessarily mean every waking moment is miserable. There are different levels of it. I'm happy to say that I still enjoyed life in a lot of ways. Some days, weeks, months, were better than others.
Somewhere in the middle of high school I started to feel lost in a way I never felt before and didn't know how to cope. I was also silently crying for help. I started drinking, smoking, and cutting. I remembered hearing about people cutting and at first, I didn't understand it but I was in a low place and felt desperate. I figured it was worth a try. And then it became a habit. I didn't tell anyone and I would cut my thigh so no one would be able to see it. It gave me a release that I didn't expect. I mean, I really had no idea what to expect but it felt like all the emotional pain inside my body was escaping and somehow, I'd feel a little bit better. Eventually, my parents found out and I started anti-depressants and therapy. But being the young, naïve teenager I was, I didn't take advantage of therapy and I continued cutting myself through college.
Fast forward to the end of college: I went for a run. Groundbreaking, right? For me it was. Like I said and like you saw above (re: the basketball photo) I was NOT athletic. It was awful. My cousin and I went to a park with a 2 mile trail - she wanted to run the whole thing and I was down to give it a try. I remember the trail had mile markers and it marked every 1/8th of a mile. I couldn't run 1/8th without stopping to walk. Somehow I managed to walk/run the entire 2 miles but felt completely defeated. We were on vacation and I made a goal; by the end of the week, I would run the 2 miles without stopping. And I did. Very, very slowly.
When I got back home, I didn't want to lose my momentum so I began running 1-2 miles every night. I loved seeing my time get better - it was addicting. I remember one night in particular; I was in a horrible mood after a long day at my fashion internship. I came home and I ran my heart out. Sure, it was only a mile or two but I pushed myself hard and it hurt (so good). When I was done, I noticed how my mood had lifted. I wasn't upset anymore, in fact, I felt amazing. I will never forget that epiphany; it was a new and improved, healthy way to release emotional pain. I officially stopped cutting.
Running snowballed into a complete fitness, health, and wellness OBSESSION. I started running 3, 4, 5, 6 miles a day, joined a globo gym, eventually joined CrossFit and started teaching indoor cycling. I tried every diet out there, read up on all things health and wellness, and watched every documentary I could get my hands on.
Fitness was a game changer. It transformed me into an athlete. It helped me cope with my depression and anxiety. It gave me confidence I've never had. Before fitness, I was lost but because of fitness, I found my purpose.
In my journey to be physically stronger (and look good naked) I found that "mind/body connection" everyone talks about. The stronger my body became, the stronger my mind could be. The stronger my mind was, the harder I could push myself physically. I'll say that again: The stronger my mind was, the harder I could push myself physically.
As much as I love the physical aspect of fitness, I f*ing love the mental game.
So let's circle this back to "Thirteen." I was born on Friday the 13th, bad luck, right?
Wrong.
Thirteen is bad luck... if you believe it. Thirteen is good luck... if you believe it. I choose the latter.
Tell yourself you are strong enough. Tell yourself you are good enough. Whether you tell yourself that can do it or can't do it, you're right. That's what Thirteen Fit Apparel is about - mental toughness, physical strength, and the mental/physical mind/body connection - all playing a part on they journey to your #ultimateself.
Xo,
Paige
Our custom business helps bring businesses to life by building community through unique, eye-catching, and well-branded design. T-shirts are our specialty but we do all sorts of things from logos to layout design.
Instead of writing a whole bunch, I'd like to SHOW you a whole bunch. So, I'm going to take this opportunity to shine a spotlight on our custom clients.
PALLAS FITNESS
We went for a total 90's vibe here - can you say Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?
CROSSFIT TFB
Our take of the "great wave" mural - linework and gradients all day!
HAYDEN FIT
This is a classic CrossFit AF shirt design for the annual Murph workout!
Interested in some custom merch? Shoot me an email! paige@thirteenfitapparel.com.
Xo,
Paige
On our podcast this past Tuesday, Move More Worry Less, I shared my mental health journey so today on the blog, I want to talk about mental health in our community and brand.
(If you missed it, here it is!!)
Just the other day, I posted a very personal video on our IG stories about how I am talking to my therapist about seeing a psychiatrist and thinking about medication; in the video I had JUST gotten the message from my therapist, I was in a bit of shock/overwhelm, and I was crying. I bring this up not to talk about myself but to open up a conversation.
After I posted this story (which I recorded and posted a full 24 hours later because I was so nervous), the conversations that started were incredible. As a brand we talk a lot about community and this was proof of how strong our Thirteen Fit community is.
First, I'd like to thank everyone for their support. It is so meaningful to me to be surrounded by such sympathetic, loving, and authentic people.
Second, I want to share WHY I share my story and how it translates to our brand and the bigger picture.
I'm sure there are people who think #vulnerableposts are for attention. They're not totally wrong - but the kind of attention I seek is not validation nor sympathy. I am trying to draw attention to the pain that so many people are experiencing behind closed doors and highlight reels on IG every single day because mental health is just as important as physical.
I had so many loving messages come through of people who have or are experiencing similar things as I am. For both parties, it's a hopeful feeling speaking to others and knowing you are not alone.
In most cases, we are in different places in our journeys, so most of the messages I received were from those who have already experienced the pain that I do and have done something more about it, like taking medication.
For me, the idea of medicating has been a hard pill to swallow (pun 100% intended because I LIVE for puns) but hearing how it's helped shift the mindsets of so many community members (a.k.a friends) gives me hope that there is a way out.
The more we talk, the more we can heal. Right?
After posting the video, I asked what YOU struggle with. Some of the responses were:
If you saw the people these responses came from, you would NEVER know they were experiencing these feelings - because you can't see mental health.
I'm so grateful for your participation in the conversation; the more we talk, the more we can see that everyone has sh*t to cope with. And it's really good reminder to be kind because you really don't know what people are dealing with inside.
Our community is built on authenticity. We talk about the "journey to our #ultimateself" and I want you to know, from me to you, this "journey" isn't some fluffy concept built out of unicorns and rainbows. Everything we do as a brand comes from a real and vulnerable place.
It's not like I had this incredible journey that I just want to tell you about and I made it to some fantasy end destination - I am living it WITH you. I am learning alongside you, we are sharing our experiences, and you are teaching me.
My hope is that through our designs, our blog, our podcast, and all of the things we do that we can continue along this journey with you - learn together, grow together, FEEEEEEL together.
Yes, I love fitness. We love fitness. Physical health is the bomb and like many of you, without it, I wouldn't have found my way here. Physical strength builds mental strength and vice versa. For a long time, I thought in order to continue building my mental strength, I had to continue working hard in the gym but I'm coming to realize that sometimes, you have to start with mental strength.
Remember. You aren't alone. Ever.
Xo,
Paige
I hate to be cliché (because who hasn't started a post with this line) but... it's been a trying year. I've had a lot of time to think and reflect on my goals as a business owner. Back in December, I was on a call with my marketing manager; we were discussing how things were going, how I was feeling, and where we wanted to take the brand.
I told her I'd been feeling like I wanted more connection so we started to put more focus on our *beautiful* community. You may have seen our #communityfeatures where we highlight our clients, customers, and fit-pro community members by showcasing their connections to the brand and sharing fit-pros workouts with you. (it has been SO FUN getting to know everyone better).
This is only the start.
Since our phone call in December, I've had this nagging feeling in my gut that we can do more - I just didn't know what to do. I want to see Thirteen Fit Apparel grow to be bigger than apparel... apparel PLUS community. PLUS culture. PLUS a place to learn and grow and share and experience together.
A few weeks ago, I was on a bike ride letting my thoughts go. I was listening to a podcast (I love listening to podcasts when I ride) and the idea hit me. The next thing would be a podcast with the intention of expanding our platform - to be able to fulfill our mission and purpose in a new way.
I'm not an expert in anything but I love to learn and I'm dedicated to being better. Everything we've done, from our mission to designs to campaigns, has been essentially built around the things I've learned along my journey that I want to share with others... not because I'm an expert or know it all but because I love to share and I KNOW there are people who can relate. I think that sharing encourages others to share, too - which opens up conversation, a dialogue so we can all learn from each other. And so we don't have to go through things alone.
On the journey to our #ultimateself, learning is crucial; so I want to personally invite you to listen and learn as we speak to professionals in fitness, wellness, and mental health.
Enter: MOVE MORE WORRY LESS, the podcast.
Our first episode is live - stay tuned for some amazing topics and guests!!!
LISTEN HERE
Xo,
Paige
It's not a perfect life but I also wouldn't choose anything different. Making my own schedule is amazing - but it takes dedication. Being my own boss rules - but it takes self-motivation. Being a *boss bitch* is awesome - but it takes consistency, the willingness to continue learning, and being ok with making mistakes.
The Light Collection Back Slit Crop
I started the company on a whim. One day it was just a random idea, the next day I was filling out an application for the LLC. It's been a non-stop learning process. Each step of the way, I have to learn something new or learn from a mistake. But I'm ok with that because I love learning and self-betterment is part of my daily practice. I love challenges, I thrive in chaos, and creating--whether it's a design, a new strategy, or a new project--is what I live for.
Some days, I wake up excited and ready thinking, "TODAY IS GOING TO BE MY BITCH." Other days, waking up is nearly impossible and I feel like a big fat loser.
Being a small business is hard. Every sale counts. Every custom client counts. Every review counts. Every website visit counts. Every follow counts. Every dollar in and out counts... and that shit ain't easy. It's stressful, often overwhelming, and some days, just really discouraging.
As a female entrepreneur, I'd say I've been lucky with my experience. I've worked with so many kinds of people and have generally been treated with respect. *that said, I've definitely worked in an environment where the "boys club" ran the show and treated us ladies much differently so I know what that feels like and I'm very proud to say that there's no boys club in my company!
BUT (and this could be an insecurity or imposter syndrome or whatever) sometimes I do feel looked down on by men in my industry. I don't want to define myself in one specific way, I am a lot of things, but one of those things is spazzy. I certainly have quirks, I know that about myself, I own it. I think sometimes my quirks and my kindness are mistaken for weakness or stupidity.
I make a lot of business decisions based on purpose, feeling, and intuition. I've never had a woman question my decision making but I've had men outwardly question me and disagree with the way I do things because of my decision making strategies. Although it's likely not intentional, it makes me feel cornered and dumb when that happens. And hey, maybe they're right. But also - maybe they're not. I really don't know. It's pretty frustrating to run a business and have a man tell you that you care too much about X or Y or Z.
When I'm doubting myself or feeling like I've failed, it makes me feel like those who have questioned me are right. But here's the thing: I am who I am. I care A LOT about A LOT of things. I'd probably say I'm emotional to a fault but I'm also not sorry for that. I'm not sorry that I spend a little extra money on every shirt I make in order to inject my purpose into each one. I'm not sorry that profit isn't always my priority, that sometimes making people feel good or empowered is. I'm not sorry that my goals are so big that I can see beyond the profit or loss of each project knowing that my bigger purpose isn't solely about dollars and cents - that it's about the message. And you know what? I have no doubt that I will succeed because I care way too much to fail.
Being a female entrepreneur is empowering. Meeting other female entrepreneurs is even more empowering. And being a part of a network of many female entrepreneurs who are making history is an absolute f*cking honor.
So, yea. Being a female entrepreneur has its ups and downs but I'm here, I'm doing it, and I wouldn't change it for the world.
Xo,
Paige
I met Dr. Lana yearsss ago when I was experiencing some pretty serious fatigue and anxiety from teaching indoor cycling and running the business. She has helped me with my energy and hormones, she's stuck needles and cups all over my body (I'll never forget the 3" needle she stuck in my butt cheek), she's listened to my problems which usually lead to me crying in her office, the list goes on. I've learned so much from her and I wanted to bring her knowledge to YOU so without further ado, here's a little Q&A sesh we had.
Dr. Lana (and her cat Tchoups) in our CRACKED Leggings
Thirteen Fit Apparel: From a holistic/naturopathic perspective, what does self-love and self-care mean to you?
Dr. Lana Wellness: Self-love and self-care mean LISTENING to your body's cues. Our bodies are smarter than we ever give them credit for; when you are tired, sleep. When you are thirsty, drink water. When you are cranky, nap. When you need to use the restroom, don't hold it.
Seems easy, but when you ignore any off the above, you set yourself up for imbalance down the road. Not enough hours of sleep, you become more easily stressed, you choose higher glycemic foods to keep your brain energized, you lash out at others and you don't show up as good as you could to your work/job/relationships, and of course you also lag at the gym.
TFA: If you had to choose one self-care practice for your clients/patients or anyone who doesn't know where to start - what would it be?
DLW: MOVE. We were built to move. We are composed of all sorts of magical slow + fast twitch fibers just waiting to be used, recruited and fine-tuned. Movement stimulates the immune system (our body's internal immune system) by promoting the flow of lymph, which is comprised of muscle metabolites, lactic acid and lymphocytes (a special type of WBC). This fluid is flushed out out of the muscles/organs and into circulation to be eliminated from the body. The only way the lymph system works, is by your skeletal muscles creating a pumping system.
Movement facilitates the organs of detoxification (liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs, skin), known as emunctories. Without moving, our detox pathways get backed up and sluggish, in the form of constipation, acne and inflammatory skin conditions, foul smelling underarm sweat, URIs and even jaundice.
Movement creates neurotransmitters - feel good brain chemicals that keep your calm, happy synapses firing and works to quell your anxieties and stress response.
TFA: As a healthcare provider, what do YOU do to practice self-love?
DLW: I get up within the same 90m window every morning, even on weekends. I workout at least 4 days a week. When I get cranky, I remove myself from social situations, then drink a large glass of water and put myself down for a nap, time/schedule permitting.
Isn't it funny how it all seems so easy? - but it's also so easy to neglect the easy things.
Xo,
Paige
I've shared with you my fitness journey but self-love/self-care is a slightly different story. I can say with confidence that I've spent more of my life hating myself than loving myself but that's why I work DAILY to make myself better, to practice self-love, and to practice self-care.
When I first got into fitness, I didn't give a flying f*ck about health or wellness - all I cared about was being "skinny." It wasn't until I stopped seeing results (a.k.a losing weight) that I had to force myself into a diet change and once I started to learn about nutrition, it snowballed quickly (this was probably 7-8 years ago).
I became obsessed with nutrition and for the first time in my life, I felt WELL. Like, I never knew I felt unwell... until I felt like, freaking awesome. I was reading all the books I could get my hands on all centered around nutrition.
After living my whole life unfit and unhealthy, I was finally putting the pieces together. For the first time in my life, I felt truly confident. Not because I was skinnier but because I was in control of my body. It was up to me what went into in, it was up to me what I did with it, it was up to me how I treated it and NOW I was finally learning all the right things. But like everything else, it's up and down - and my confidence, self-love, and self-care have continued to bounce up and down for the past 8 years.
Deep into teaching indoor cycling (teaching anywhere from 1-3 classes per day, 6-7 days a week), my healthy habits were pushed to the side - I was putting my job and clients before my own health. I was exhausted, burnt out, either eating too much or not enough, not allowing my body any recovery, and I was constantly guilt tripping myself if I missed workouts or took recovery days.
It took me way too long to realize I wasn't truly caring for myself. Yes, I was moving. Yes, I was eating veggies. But I wasn't mindfully, holistically taking care of myself.
I've mentioned before that I struggled with anxiety and depression and have for as long as I can remember. Because I stopped mindfully caring for myself, those things began to worsen. I was working myself into a hole, I was beyond exhausted, I wasn't well, and I just felt stuck. A life that once made me so happy was sucking me dry. Don't get me wrong, I loved teaching and will always love it - but I had taken it to the extreme like most things in my life and I was running on empty.
That's when I decided to leave. I left NYC, I left the indoor cycling studio, I left my too-expensive apartment, and I left my healthy-turned-unhealthy habits. July 2019 I sold or got rid of almost everything I owned, packed a suitcase, and flew to Alaska for the most eye-opening and JOYFUL experience of my life.
We use the word "balance" a lot - but I really had no idea what it meant. Ya don't know 'til ya know. Living in Alaska for 2 months with my sister, I finally felt it: balance. I would wake up, bike to the local coffee shop, work on Thirteen Fit during the day, then I'd come home, probably take a nap, meet my sister at the gym for a workout, we'd then relax, enjoy the night - sometimes we'd go for a bike ride or go out to the lake or meal prep. Sometimes we'd just sit on the couch. I slept when I wanted to sleep. On weekends, we'd go on adventures - hiking, paddle boarding, biking, camping, go to the hot springs - we did it all. I worked when I worked, I played when I played. I ate a strict and healthy diet a majority of the time but let loose when I wanted to. I was listening to my body. I was allowing fun and adventure to overpower guilt trips and anxiety. For the first time in my life, I was experiencing balance - and to me, that's a HUGE piece of self-love. (note: this is where The ADVENTURE Collection was conceived!)
Move More Worry Less Design - Inspired by Adventure and Alaska!
I'm now living in Florida. Once I moved here, I held onto what I learned in Alaska when it comes to balance but as every high has a low, COVID hit when I was brand new to the Florida community. It's given me a lot of time alone and in a lot of ways, that's been really hard on me. It's lonely and I feel like a crazy person often but it's also given me more time to explore self-love and care.
Although my mental state can be anywhere from on top of the world to stuck in a black hole, I actively work on improving myself more so now than I ever have because now, I understand it's not just about fitness, it's not just about diet, it's not just about balance - it's a way bigger picture. When I talk about the journey to my #ultimateself, I'm not playing around. To me, this isn't just going through each day hoping to be better than the last. It's about mindfully and actively doing things that make me better.
I do the following things *daily* - not to perfection and I don't do every single one every single day but I've made it a practice to spend quality time with myself: I read (mostly self-help type books). I listen to podcasts (everything from wellness and fitness to business and success). I ride my bike to add extra movement, fresh air, and peace into my day. I journal (gratitude, how I want to feel each day, and any little notes I feel are worth writing down). Not only do I workout, but I plan and map out my workouts according to my goals. I track my strain/recovery/sleep and metrics with the @whoop to make sure I'm doing what my body needs (I'm obsessed with this thing). I've started to practice meditation and mindfulness (even if it's just 5 minutes of morning meditation or moments where I take a few mindful breaths like in the shower or when I'm making coffee). I started therapy (much overdue). I meal prep and eat well. I hydrate like mother f*cker.
And most importantly *in my opinion*: I focus on sleep. I try to go to bed at the same time every night (not always successful), I try to wake up at the same time every morning (also not always successful), I wear blue light blocking glasses before bed because it helps me sleep better, I got blackout curtains to ensure a dark, peaceful sleep - and I pretty much do anything that sets me up for a restful night.
Triad Crop and Ladies Grey Contour Crop Joggers
So here's how I want to wrap this up: I'm not saying I know it all - I'm not even saying I really know anything. But I do believe that self-care and self-love are so damn important; how can we expect to be successful, happy, healthy, and abundant if we don't care for ourselves? My #ultimateself is wealthy (note: wealth is not only dollar signs), my #ultimateself is strong, powerful, and stable inside and out, my #ultimateself is compassionate, caring, and purposeful. If I want to achieve the best - I have to actively pour dedicated time into myself.
I'm nowhere near my vision of my #ultimateself BUT I think because I am self-aware and I'm active in my journey that I will find success and I will beat the things that plague me (depression and anxiety). It took me a long time to start seeing myself and my journey more holistically - it's more than just being skinny or lifting the heaviest weights - it's about loving yourself enough to practice self-care, to be relentless in your journey to be your absolute best, your #ULTIMATESELF.
If you can relate to me in any way - tell me. If you have any recommendations - reach out. If you have questions - holla at ya girl. By helping ourselves, we can help each other - by helping each other, we can help ourselves.
Xo,
Paige
It's been a challenging year - mentally, physically, financially - for all of us. The awesome thing about this year has been watching people and businesses adapt, find opportunities, create new things, and shine positivity.
Sylvia in our LIGHT Side Slit Tank
And that my friends is exactly what The LIGHT Collection is inspired by.
Finding light in the dark. Finding positive in the negative.
I sat on this concept for a long time... the idea started to whisper to me back in March. But I wasn't ready to act on it. Then in September, it started SCREAMING at me and now here we are!
I knew I wanted the colors to be inspired by light so we introduced yellow which I'm sure you know is well out of our comfort zone. I wanted to use gradients to illustrate light. And to challenge myself further, I wanted to make sure there was NO black in the entire collection. Nailed it.
Yellow and white gradients. Green and yellow gradients. Yellow shirts. Grey shirts. All inspired by light and shadows.
To take it a step further, this collection is a fall/winter collection - the time of year when the sun sets early and somehow, we have to find the motivation to keep moving even though our minds and bodies want to hibernate. Imagine the sun setting and light peaking through the fall leaves - THAT'S the vibe.
Jason in our LIGHT Tee, Cement
So, I thought bringing back our "Move More Worry Less" theme from The ADVENTURE Collection was a perfect fit!
This collection is calming. When I look at these photos, they feel peaceful. It's a change of pace for us - we are usually about the hustle, the grind, the sweat, the excitement, the adventure. This collection is about finding peace, finding positivity, finding happiness in a time that's, well.... shitty.
Thank you to Rebecca Brookstein Photography for capturing this collection so perfectly, and to Jason and Sylvia for rockin' this shoot.
Happy Holidays. Happy New Year. Goodbye 2020.
Sending you *light*
Xo,
Paige
I'm sure you can relate - it's like, I can't believe it's been 5 years but also it totally feels like it's been 5 years. So much has happened that I won't be able to squeeze it all into one blog post but I'll do my best.
HOW IT BEGAN.
I started Thirteen Fit Apparel on a whim. A good friend of mine, Gina, pushed me to start the company... even though I had no plan, no real vision, no idea what I was doing. At the time, I was working in the luxury fashion industry and also breaking into the fitness industry so to say my life was already chaos would be an understatement. I was commuting from NYC to Greenwich, CT while also running all over the city to teach indoor cycling - on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown, and in Queens (I would commute two hours one way to teach a 45 minute class). I was CrossFitting daily in between my many gigs. I had $420 to start my business checking account and once that was opened, I just went for it.
The name Thirteen Fit Apparel just came to me - I didn't think on it very long. The brand concept came together really organically as I began thinking about what I wanted to brand to look and feel like. The concept continued to come together after we had already launched. I only started with two shirt styles which gave me a lot of room to explore and grow our concept.
This adventure began in the summer of 2015; I had no idea how much work would go into actually launching. I really wanted to launch the website on a Friday the 13th and I remember looking at the calendar thinking, "the next one isn't until November!" - little did I know, it would take me through mid-October to actually be ready. So the timing felt serendipitous; with the shirts in and the website ready, I was ready to launch on my ideal date.
Friday, November 13th, 2015. Two friends of mine came over with champagne and we sat in my teeny tiny, 5th floor walk-up studio apartment on the Upper East Side and waited for midnight to roll around. I had no idea what to expect when we went live. Midnight hit and our first orders started to come in - not a lot at once, but a few... and by the next morning, more came in. And by the next day, even more came in and just like that, I was sold out of my first run of shirts. Of course, I knew every person who had ordered but it was such an incredible feeling to see and know how supported I was in my new journey.
IG post from the actual launch!
*FUN FACT: in college, we had to choose a specialization under the Fashion Design major: eveningwear, lingerie, children's wear, sportswear/activewear. I specifically remember saying the exact words "I would never design activewear" because I was a dress designer... BIG FAT LOL. #neversaynever
WHAT WE'VE DONE.
Since then, so much has happened. Our concept and mission has grown. We've launched more shirts, each design feeling more evolved and on-brand than the last. We've developed leggings and joggers. These things sound kind of like, "duh" for an apparel company but to me, seeing us go from 2 shirts to a full line of shirts, sweatshirts, pants, hats, and socks... it's pretty damn cool.
We've traveled for events in 3 corners of the US (and in between) for events like Wodapalooza, The Asbury Park Summer Games, and the Alaska Yoga Festival.
My cousin Danielle and I at our first NY event on Long Beach
Flex on the Beach
We've collaborated with other inspiring companies/entrepreneurs/individuals like our NYC pop-up shops with Yummiewear and Rebecca Brookstein Photography to promote body positivity, like our collab with Alaskan artist Brianna Reagan to design something out of our comfort zone and to bring our journey to you, like our most recent campaign "Celebrate Diversity" with my amazing friend Kim Sealy in Barbados, and like our collab with our friends at Form Fitness Brooklyn to create a wider range of sizes.
The ladies of Yummiewear, Martina and Michaela, with me at our pop-up!
Photo by Rebecca Brookstein
We've had the pleasure of contributing to important causes like The Movemeant Foundation, United in Movement, The Rainforest Alliance, and Project Onyx.
Our friends at Project Onyx wearing their Celebrate Diversity shirts
We've worked on custom designs with clients all over the country from New York, Florida, Alaska, Virginia, Ohio, *and beyondddd*.
Custom design for Parable Training, Virginia
We've met so many amazing clients and customers who have truly become friends.
WHERE WE ARE GOING.
As you can imagine, my vision for the brand has bounced around over the past 5 years. When we launched, I had no long-term vision; it was honestly a fun project that I was just playing around with. About 6 months in, I realized how much I loved working on the business and that's when I made it my goal to make Thirteen Fit Apparel my number 1 - which I was able to accomplish one year ago when I quit my job, moved out of NYC, and just went for it.
Here's what I know: I love this company and what it's becoming - and let me tell you, we are just getting started. I love when I hear that someone wore their shirt because they were having a hard day and needed strength, or that they wore their shirt to the gym and when they wanted to give up, they looked down and saw "power" on their hem label and kept going. I love creating custom designs and apparel for my clients and hearing how happy their members are. I love connecting with people over fashion and fitness. I love collaborating and coming up with creative ways to support other people and businesses. I love finding ways to contribute to society.
For me, success isn't defined by sales and income (but don't get me wrong, a girl still has bills to pay and groceries to buy); success for me is knowing that somehow I've made a difference, that I've fulfilled my passion and my purpose, and that what I'm doing is bigger than me.
Here's what you can expect to see from us: more creativity and more purpose with everything we launch, more partnerships and collabs, more contributions to our community, and hopefully, with time, less impact on our environment.
THANK YOU.
Half of my fam in Thirteen - so lucky to be so supported!
Thank you for supporting us for 5 years!! Whether you've been with us from the beginning or we just met, your support means so much. We promise to continue bringing you purpose driven apparel to outfit you on the journey to your #ultimateself.
Xo,
Paige
P.S. 20% off site wide today only!! No code necessary :)
]]>Enter: Project Onyx. As I'm sure you've seen over the past week, we have been flooding your feed and our stories with diversity and mention of Project Onyx. We've shared their mission but I wanted to dig a little deeper and give you guys the voices behind PO.
SHOP THE CELEBRATE DIVERSITY TEE HERE
Thirteen Fit Apparel + Fit Appeal: Introduce yourself! Who is behind Project Onyx and who IS Project Onyx?
Project Onyx, Elijah: I'm Elijah Muhammad, 32 business owner, husband & father of 4. 2x CrossFit Games Athlete & former Strength & Conditioning Coach at Tennessee Tech University. Project Onyx is a Community! A way to bring youth together and teach about health & wellness.
Patrick: My name is Patrick Ford. I am a husband, father, CrossFit enthusiast and a Doctor of Physical Therapy based out of Des Moines, Iowa. Although founded by Elijah and I, Project Onyx is much more than the two of us. It's an ongoing project to create a diverse, healthy, and fitness forward community that empowers its members to live long, fulfilling lives absent of racial inequality. Anyone who is actively anti-racist, recognizes and wishes to narrow the racial health gap, and enjoys some fitness along the way, is living the Project Onyx mission.
We wanted to create a project that would go beyond the surface. Furthermore, we wanted to find a way to amplify voices from members of our community. Celebrate Diversity came together over 13 words that have represented the year we've all endured thus far. Now, we are able to share a perspective on each of these words from 13 members of our community!
SHOP THE CELEBRATE DIVERSITY TEE
Back story:
A few months ago, in the midst of the chaos that is 2020, I was given the opportunity to step outside of my bubble, self-reflect, and reflect on the brand I've been building for nearly 5 years.
One of the side effects of living in my bubble was that my brand, who tirelessly preaches community amongst other important values, was not accurately showcasing our diverse community. Being a small business, I was capitalizing on using images of people close to me (like... myself. Or my sister. Or friends - and it turned out that like, 90% of those people are white with blond hair). It was never intentional but nonetheless, Thirteen Fit Apparel was MAJORLY lacking representation and diversity.
That's when I decided to reach out to a friend of a friend - Kim Sealy. I "knew" Kim via social media through my friend Shelly and we got to meet briefly at Wodapalooza this past February (which was really lucky considering she lives in Barbados!).
The one-and-only Kim Sealy of Fit Appeal by Kim Sealy!
With no specific vision of what I wanted to do, I asked Kim to jump on a Zoom call to brainstorm; I wanted to do SOMETHING, I just didn't know what yet. I specifically reached out to Kim for three reasons:
1. I had listened to one of her IG Live sessions about white privilege. She spoke openly with my previously mentioned friend Shelly about the topic. What I loved about her talk with Shelly was how willing, open-minded, educational, well-spoken, and positive she was even as a black woman speaking to a white woman about white privilege. I really admired that. It was an open and honest conversation.
2. I've been following her for a while on social media and overall, my view of Kim was nothing but positive. It's clear how relentless and passionate she is about her sport and coaching (CrossFit), how hardworking she is, and her energy is just infectious.
3. Kim was outside of my "bubble" that I'd be trapped in and I was in major need of some fresh eyes, ears, and opinions.
So we got on a call. That call lasted somewhere near 2 hours. We shared our views on the Black Lives Matter movement, we talked about ourselves and our brands - spending two hours on Zoom with Kim felt like it went by in a flash.
For weeks, we continued jumping on calls when inspiration would strike us - and after months of planning and throwing ideas around, we landed on what we now call Celebrate Diversity.
Our idea was not only to represent a more diverse community but to also amplify their voices. So instead of only posting images for visual representation, we have a window into each of our participants personalities.
SHOP THE CELEBRATE DIVERSITY TEE
How the project worked:
We invited 12 members of our communities (Kim herself was number 13 - you didn't think we'd only have 12, did you?!) to participate; once they agreed, we assigned each individual a word (individuality, passion, hope, etc...) and from there, it was a free form experiment. We asked each participant to capture a photo of themselves in our Celebrate Diversity shirt that they felt represented them. In addition, we asked them to write a blurb about their assigned word and what it meant to them. There were no rules, no restrictions, no format - we wanted it to be authentic and to truly be an open mic where they could interpret the prompt however they wanted to.
The project came together even better than I had imagined. It's raw, and it's honest. There are so many pieces of this project that have me over the moon: seeing each participant's photo and blurb makes me feel so connected to them and I hope that you all feel the same. It's also brought me closer to Kim which I am so grateful for - she's a fantastic human and friend. Lastly, we've been able to connect with a non-profit who we are SO excited to work with. A portion of all t-shirt sales from Celebrate Diversity will be donated to Project Onyx.
"At Project Onyx, our goal is to eliminate the barriers that people of color face by providing affordable and accessible health and fitness services, mentorship for our youth and future professionals, and empowering our communities to become more culturally proficient, healthy, and active."
T-shirt orders (with customizable cuts!) are now available on the website; a portion of the proceeds with be donated to Project Onyx. Pre-order runs 10/13-10/27 for a mid/end November delivery.
SHOP THE CELEBRATE DIVERSITY TEE
So, without further ado, I am so proud to introduce you to Celebrate Diversity!
CELEBRATE DIVERSITY WITH US - CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
Xo,
Paige
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MOSAIC Cap Sleeve Crop worn by Julia
A common question: "what's with the rhino?" I've always been super inspired by nature so when I was looking for a symbol to represent strength, power, and stability, the rhino stood out to me. What I love about rhinos is that by nature, they are docile but when they are agitated, they are a powerful force. You don't f* with a rhino; they aren't aggressive, only when it's necessary. I dig that.
The MOSAIC design is a part our Thirteen Journeys collection (which we launched a few years back) - all about self-reflection and owning your journey to your #ultimateself. Our rhino, symbolic of strength, power, and stability, is made up of cracked pieces coming together as a whole (get it, mosaic?). We believe in celebrating our cracks in the journey because they only make us stronger; we may have cracks but we are not broken.
So there ya have it - a little concept for your Sunday.
Xo,
Paige
CROSSFIT NINE 7 - New York
When I'm back in New York, this is my gym of choice. I felt so welcomed from the first day I walked in and have been so grateful to work with them on custom and events!
Here's a custom shirt we did together - this design ended up on their wall, too!
"We worked with Thirteen Fit Apparel in search of a new logo for apparel. Communication and editing were done quickly and professionally. I simply told Paige some ideas of what I was looking for and she came back with exactly what I envisioned. You can see that Paige is passionate about what she does, it shows through her work. The new apparel came out great; we liked the design so much it is now blown up and painted on the wall of our facility. It was a pleasure working with Paige/Thirteen Fit Apparel."
-Joe, CrossFit Nine7
NORTHERN FITNESS GAMES - Alaska
I've had the pleasure of getting to know the fitness community in Fairbanks, Alaska (and a little bit in Anchorage, too!). If you ever find yourself visiting and need a gym (or gyms) to drop into, SunDog Community Fitness and CrossFit Northern Exposure are the gyms to see!
Together, the two gyms host a annual fitness competition, The Northern Fitness Games, and I had the pleasure of creating their logo!!
The most popular question I get about Thirteen Fit Apparel is: Why "Thirteen?"
If you don't already know my story, I want to give you background on where I come from because it is why I started the company, why our mission is what it is, and why we are THIRTEEN.
Photo by Rebecca Brookstein Photography
For my entire life I've battled with anxiety and depression. As a kid, I had no idea that either of those feelings had names, I thought the way I felt was normal and everyone probably felt the same way. I didn't realize that not everyone struggles - and I didn't even know I was struggling.
I was never an athlete. Sure, I was active but not sporty (even so, Sporty Spice was my favorite Spice Girl). As kids, we rode bikes, walked around the neighborhood, and spent a lot of time outside but sports were not my forte. I tried to play basketball in 5th grade but was benched for the entire season except for one game. They put me in and I had so much anxiety that when I got the ball, I threw it straight up in the air which was not only like, the most spastic thing I could have done but it also gave the ball to the other team. I cried. In 5th-7th grades, I played softball and hated it. I didn't like to bat, I didn't like running bases, I didn't like being in the outfield. The pressure gave me intense anxiety. I spent most games in left field. My point is that being athletic always seemed out of the cards for me. The art room was my safe space.
That's me throwing a basketball. Told you I wasn't athletic. Also, please take note of my incredible fashion choices.
It was in my teenage years where depression started to kick in on top of my ever-present anxiety. I didn't really know why, I was just sad. A lot. I would come home from school and often just sleep until dinner. I cried a lot. I felt hopeless. There was no real "reason,"; I had an excellent childhood and have an amazing family. It was something deeper.
Battling depression doesn't necessarily mean every waking moment is miserable. There are different levels of it. I'm happy to say that I still enjoyed life in a lot of ways. Some days, weeks, months, were better than others.
Somewhere in the middle of high school I started to feel lost in a way I never felt before and didn't know how to cope. I was also silently crying for help. I started drinking, smoking, and cutting. I remembered hearing about people cutting and at first, I didn't understand it but I was in a low place and felt desperate. I figured it was worth a try. And then it became a habit. I didn't tell anyone and I would cut my thigh so no one would be able to see it. It gave me a release that I didn't expect. I mean, I really had no idea what to expect but it felt like all the emotional pain inside my body was escaping and somehow, I'd feel a little bit better. Eventually, my parents found out and I started anti-depressants and therapy. But being the young, naive teenager I was, I didn't take advantage of therapy and I continued cutting myself through college.
Emo kid. You can bet I was wearing a white studded belt, too.
Fast forward to the end of college: I went for a run. Groundbreaking, right? For me it was. Like I said and like you saw above (re: the basketball photo) I was NOT athletic. It was awful. My cousin and I went to a park with a 2 mile trail - she wanted to run the whole thing and I was down to give it a try. I remember the trail had mile markers and it marked every 1/8th of a mile. I couldn't run 1/8th without stopping to walk. Somehow I managed to walk/run the entire 2 miles but felt completely defeated. We were on vacation and I made a goal; by the end of the week, I would run the 2 miles without stopping. And I did. Very, very slowly.
When I got back home, I didn't want to lose my momentum so I began running 1-2 miles every night. I loved seeing my time get better - it was addicting. I remember one night in particular; I was in a horrible mood after a long day at my fashion internship. I came home and I ran my heart out. Sure, it was only a mile or two but I pushed myself hard and it hurt (so good). When I was done, I noticed how my mood had lifted. I wasn't upset anymore, in fact, I felt amazing. I will never forget that epiphany; it was a new and improved, healthy way to release emotional pain. I officially stopped cutting.
Running snowballed into a complete fitness, health, and wellness OBSESSION. I started running 3, 4, 5, 6 miles a day, joined a globo gym, eventually joined CrossFit and started teaching indoor cycling. I tried every diet out there, read up on all things health and wellness, and watched every documentary I could get my hands on.
Fitness was a game changer. It transformed me into an athlete. It helped me cope with my depression and anxiety. It gave me confidence I've never had. Before fitness, I was lost but because of fitness, I found my purpose.
So let's circle this back to "Thirteen." In my journey to be physically stronger (and look good naked) I found that "mind/body connection" everyone talks about. The stronger my body became, the stronger my mind could be. The stronger my mind was, the harder I could push myself physically. I'll say that again: The stronger my mind was, the harder I could push myself physically.
As much as I love the physical aspect of fitness, I f*ing love the mental game.
Thirteen is bad luck... if you believe it. Thirteen is good luck... if you believe it. I choose the latter.
Tell yourself you are strong enough. Tell yourself you are good enough. Whether you tell yourself that can do it or can't do it, you're right. That's what Thirteen Fit Apparel is about - mental toughness, physical strength, and the mental/physical mind/body connection.
Xo,
Paige
As the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum over the past few weeks, I've been making an active effort to be better: learning, listening, and engaging in difficult conversations. The other night I reached out to a Black friend of mine, Christina (and if you follow us on social media, you probably saw I posted this story - it was a wake up call!), who I was fortunate to meet weeks before I moved out of NYC about a year ago. I wanted to speak to her, see how she was doing, and have an open conversation. That conversation had my mind reeling; what can I do, how can I do it, and how can I make lasting changes?
This post isn't about me or my experience - I wanted to use this post to amplify Christina's voice. This article she wrote is strong and I feel blessed to have a friend who was so open and honest with me, a friend who could help me empathize with the Black community (although I know I'll never truly understand), a friend who was willing to help me be a better human.
Without further ado...
"Being a black educated woman in America I have frequently felt trepidation in voicing my concerns around many issues regarding inclusivity, diversity and empowerment difficult to express. As a result, I have been viewed as unqualified, aggressive and abrasive in my speech. I have received disturbing looks from my white counterparts that would lead me to quick changes in my tone and facial expressions to ensure I created an environment that was comfortable for everyone else but me.
Unbeknownst to my colleagues, behind my forced smile and even-tone were suppressed hardships endured time and time again. Dare I say my suffering is not unique to me only— black people have experienced, and had to swallow, this treatment for generations. It is the pang of discrimination and biases that transpire in and outside of the workplace. Why do I, a black woman, need to always adjust for others comfort, yet rarely feel comfortable or accepted myself? Why do I have to always abide by, and be judged by rules of political correctness, yet have to understand and consistently swallow offensive language?
That actually changed this week for me. For the first time, I was able to have a deep conversation and speak my truth with my white contemporaries and it was liberating. I was given the opportunity to merely be heard and reveal my thoughts concerning what the black community endures, not only in the world but in corporate America too. I am no longer afraid to talk about the uncomfortable conversations and bring awareness to the injustices that occur to blacks in America. As a nation, we need to come together to combat the systematic racism that is at the heart of our society. We must stand united and not divided. It is only in togetherness that we will be able shine a light on the disparities and move forward together building a better America. We must fight to realize the promise of America for ALL AMERICANS.
My passion is to use my creative gifts to bring diversity, inclusivity, and body positivity to my work. It is important to me because I am tired of being a bystander and not narrating my own story. Part of being the change is implementing more diversity corporately. I challenge corporations to be an agent of transformation by creating more opportunities for minorities in management and executive positions that truly reflect what the faces of society looks like. Companies need to have more diverse boards and gain input from more than one or two perspectives (primarily white men and white women).
It is unfortunate and disheartening to realize that the inequalities happening are officially exposing the racial disparities as it lives and breathes today. I am distraught by the injustices inflicted upon George Floyd and the countless other black men and women dying at the hands of corrupt cops and an ineffective system.
Which frankly begs, no, demands the questions: (1) once this settles down, where will you stand? (2) What are you going to do to positively impact and make contributions to the promise of America for every person? (3) What relationships will you intentionally cultivate with people that don’t look like you and help create opportunities for more inclusive and diverse America?"
By Christina Bell
Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you to Christina for voicing your thoughts and experience. Nothin' but love for you!
Xo,
Paige
In my opinion, the fitness industry has been the bright spot in this darkness - it is shining right now; although times are tough for those in the industry (gyms, trainers, coaches) they are still showing up for the community making sure that everyone at home has the opportunity to move - whether that's via Zoom classes, IG Live classes, online coaching, or even just posting free workouts.
Over the last 4.5 years of running Thirteen Fit Apparel and living my own personal fitness journey, I've come to realize more and more what I want out of it all. I feel my purpose, regardless of what avenue I take, is to help people in one way or another and right now, I feel the fitness industry needs some lovin' since they've given so much to our community.
That's why I started Project: Community. The concept is simple: donate apparel designs for gyms to put up for pre-order, sell some merch, give the profits to the gym. And honestly, no catch. I love fitness and I love this community. Seeing local gyms and CrossFit boxes suffer is heartbreaking; fitness has done so much for me that I wanted to have a way to give back.
During the month of April, I had the pleasure of working with gyms across the country (San Fran, CA - Tampa, FL - Chantilly, VA) and because of the pre-order sales, we were able to raise hundreds of dollars to help these gyms during tough times. Not to mention, I'm really happy with the designs we came up with!
Check 'em out:
Inspired by those Florida vibes, ya feel?
This floral design symbolizes growth, community, and resilience.
We pulled this message from their mission statement -
it works perfectly for the current situation!
For more information on our custom designs, check out our custom design page for Thirteen Underground Creative (@thirteenundergroundcreative) or email me (paige@thirteenfitapparel.com).
Stay healthy and keep moving!
Xo,
Paige
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We spend a lot of time on our social media, etc... talking about our branded Thirteen Fit collections but we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE doing custom work. If this is the first of our custom you've seen or you just want to see more, go check out our custom page: Thirteen Underground Creative (@thirteenundergroundcreative).
Wanna collab? Email me! paige@thirteenfitapparel.com
Xo,
Paige
I don't know what it is, but there's something about being on a team that makes you want to match your teammates, #TeamSpirit. In other sports, teams wear uniforms but what is so fun about "uniforms" in the fitness/CrossFit world is that every team gets to express their team's personality with chosen outfits. Teams of 2, 3, 4 stand out in the crowd when they coordinate; not only does it *look good* but it also has a sense of togetherness... and I just like that.
We've had countless teams purchase matching outfits from our booth and I thought, "hey - why not support this community and that togetherness?"
Photo by: Rebecca Brookstein Photography
I say it all the time and I'll say it again: I created Thirteen Fit Apparel to outfit you on your journey with a mission of not only making cool sh*t but making apparel with meaning, apparel that empowers you when you wear it, apparel that pushes you mentally and physically. It's intentional.
It's time to take that mission up a notch and empower your TEAM.
How? Click HERE - fill out this quick little form... just tell us who you are and where you're competing - and we'll get you that sweet, sweet discount!
I want to connect with YOU and your team! Don't be shy - let's talk, get you outfits, and I invite you to take team photos in your new gear so we can feature you on social media and our website! ...that togetherness, right?
Xo,
Paige
Most of our posts show off our collection for Thirteen Fit Apparel so it's possible you've never heard of Thirteen Underground Creative! TUC is our custom design and creative services - and it's like, suuuper fun. We work with all kinds of clients on all kinds of creative thangs.
I've picked 3 projects to share with you to get a feel for what we do!
I met Dan A.K.A. "Dirty" at the Central Florida Throwdown a few months back. I have a soft spot for Dan - he's just a genuine guy trying to bring positivity to the fitness world and I just love that! In developing the logo for his new gym, I wanted to do something minimal, clean, and sporty - while keeping a classy kind-a-vibe. I think we nailed it. I can't wait to see this on a t-shirt!
2. CROSSFIT PALLAS/PALLAS FITNESS
Working with Tim and Janessa at Crossfit Pallas/Pallas Fitness is a DREAM. We come up with new designs regularly for different occasions and it's always fun and always playful! They want to launch some new apparel that felt super "crossfitty" so here's what we came up with for some new hoodies... these are going to be FIRE.
3. OCEAN COUNTY CLASSIC/CROSSFIT ANDARE
Angela and I met 2 years ago and I am SO honored to be collaborating with and designing the staff shirts for the upcoming Ocean County Classic competition held at CrossFit Andare in New Jersey this January!! The idea was to create something bold that brought in elements of the gym's logo, the event, and Thirteen Fit!
Want to know more about our custom design services? You can click HERE, or follow us at @thirteenundergroundcreative on Instagram, OR you can email me at paige@thirteenfitapparel.com. Let's have some fun!
Xo,
Paige
I've shared our story before but if you're new to our community, first of all welcome and second, here's the scoop.
I'll give you the super duper short version: growing up, I was NOT athletic or fit. I was an artsy kid. Sometimes I think my creative and emotional mind is what caused me to struggle so deeply with depression, anxiety, and the relationship I had with my body for most of my life. I didn't cope in a healthy way and seemingly had no way out - until I found fitness in 2011. Seeing my body change and feeling that I was becoming physically strong, I realized that I was becoming stronger mentally and more resilient. I quit leaning on my unhealthy coping mechanisms and went full-force into fitness, nutrition, and wellness.
Fast forward to 2015: I started Thirteen Fit on a whim with no real plan. I was working in luxury fashion and had recently broke my way into the fitness industry teaching indoor cycling. I was tired of seeing cheesy shirts at the gym and wanted to bring something fresh into the fitness world. I was doing some freelance graphic design work on the side so I had some experience in that department. One day, after speaking with a really good friend of mine, I decided to just GO.
With $420 and no f*ing clue what I was doing, I dove in head first. The day after I decided to go for it, I created the name and logo. With a few months, I had all the pieces ready and all I had to do was hit "publish" on the website. And I knew something had to be right because all of my ideas were just coming together - the name, the concept, our mission, our purpose, the designs. It was organic and it gave me energy!
This company is my baby. I absolutely love what I do - I love the people I meet, the events I get to attend, and being able to live out my dream. I never thought I'd be a business owner, I didn't have the desire. But when I realized this vision, it changed everything. I'm a creative soul and I needed an outlet - but I also needed a way to fulfill my purpose: empowering others.
Some days I'm scared and unsure. Honestly, that's how I feel a lot of the time especially after quitting my other job to do this full-time. But other days I feel excited, inspired, hopeful, and full of joy.
I'm really proud of these last 4 years - and this past year was a biggie. I left my "safety blanket" job, after 11 years in NYC I moved out to build business and refresh, we started our brand athlete program, we've been to more events, made amazing relationships, have collaborated with other incredible people - the list goes on.
I cannot wait to see what happens this year. The biggest thing on the agenda right now is Wodapalooza; this will be the BIGGEST event we've ever done. I'm scared out of my mind but I'm ready. It's time to really crank things up so you can expect big things from us!!
Thank you for being a part of this journey - and thank you for letting be a part of YOURS.
2020. Are you ready?
Xo,
Paige
Over the past few months, I've made some pretty substantial changes in my life... quitting my job as an indoor cycling instructor, leaving my apartment, moving out of NYC, spending 2 months in Alaska, taking a road trip from New York to Nashville, TN, to Tampa, FL... I haven't stopped moving and although it's been scary, it's been so much fun and business has been GROWING.
I really want to embrace what this collection stands for and that's why I've been slowly releasing new styles; I'm stretching out the adventure!
We speak so much about this journey to our #ultimateself and because I've always been so focused on the "hustle," I never really realized that there's more to becoming your best than working hard.
The Adventure Collection is about the other side of the journey: risks. balance. fun. freedom. excitement. adventure.
We started with our MOVE MORE WORRY LESS Crops and Tees which I'm like, majorly obsessed with.
Then, a few weeks ago we launched our MOVE MORE WORRY LESS Dad Hats.
Unisex MMWL Dad Hat, forest green
*also comes in navy!*
I started teasing about *possibly* doing Thirteen Pup Apparel... and it's happening. We are currently in production for dog bandannas (they come in a small size and a large!). Yes, I'm calling it "pup apparel" BUT I don't want to exclude any other animals that might fit into our bandannas so you can call it "cat apparel" or "bunny apparel," if you'd like - it's unispecies. THE POINT IS: your animal can match you! How cute?!
ALSO....
I want to launch our SPIRIT OF NEW YORK Tanks and Tees - and thinking about doing a hoody, too.
Unisex/Men's SPIRIT OF NEW YORK Tee
Ladies' SPIRIT OF NEW YORK Tank, Blue
Ladies' SPIRIT OF NEW YORK Tank, Grey
But here's the deal: I can launch whatever I want but that doesn't matter. What matters is what YOU want.
'Til next time,
Paige
As soon as I stepped my foot off the plane and onto The Last Frontier, it was like a weight was lifted. The day after I landed, we went on our first adventure: a 6 hour trip down to Valdez, AK to camp, hike, and kayak through icebergs. It was hard to believe that everything I was seeing was real - like, holy gorgeous. The colors were bright and crisp. The air felt clean and refreshing. There's nothing like being surrounded by nature. Like, really surrounded.
On the first day, we did a wildlife cruise and on that first day, I was already inspired to create something new. Seeing new things and having mental freedom, the creativity started to flow.
The ship we were on was called The Valdez Spirit and the colors that surrounded us gave me the color palette for this new collection: neutrals, shades of green, and blue - with a pop of orange.
I mean, isn't this just so gorgeous?
From here, I started to build out the concept. I knew the vibe I wanted - outdoorsy-ish - but as you know, I like to jam pack our collections with meaning.
Back in May, I co-hosted a pop-up shop with Yummiewear and we had our friends from the Movemeant Foundation join us. The foundation was asking our guests what advice they would give their younger, perhaps less secure, selves. We wrote it out on note cards and posted them on the wall.
For me, I wrote down: Move more, worry less.
Now, back to Alaska - so while I was adventuring and building business up north, this sentiment came back to me. Move more, worry less. I couldn't help but think it connected perfectly to the new collection concept.
Me in our MOVE MORE WORRY LESS Crop in blue (comes in dust and green, too!)
We speak so much about this journey to our #ultimateself and because I've always been so focused on the "hustle," I never really realized that there's more to becoming your best than working hard.
The Adventure Collection is about the other side of the journey: risks. balance. fun. freedom. excitement. adventure.
MOVE MORE WORRY LESS Unisex Tee
We'll be launching this collection piece by piece starting with our Move More, Worry Less Crops and Tees TODAY. In production, we have a design inspired by the ship, Valdez Spirit, and we're calling it Spirit of New York (because once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker). And I've teased about it - so don't worry, it's happening - Thirteen Pup Apparel is on it's way, too!
My sister, Meghan, showing off our Spirit of New York tee
So much to look forward to. I'm wildly proud of this collection... I really hope you love it as much as I do.
'Til next time,
Paige
Instead of sharing small snippets about him here and there, I thought it would be nice to give you insight on where he comes from and what he's all about. So without further ado, here's Jeff's story - in his own words:
You may not know me, but I guarantee you know someone that has or is going through my story. My name is Jeffrey Hull, you can call me Jeff (that's what all the cool people call me). I currently reside in Fairbanks Alaska and belong to a beautiful woman and two beautiful daughters. My family is one of the many reasons why I do what I do. However, I am actually a southern boy from east Texas where saying “yes ma’am” and “yes sir” are signs of respect, not that I think you are old. Now before I bore you with my southern charm, let me share with you my story.
AHHH Zabenya!!! Wait... that’s the Lion King. Wrong story, my
apologies.
My story begins in my childhood at around age 10. I was in middle school and played football and baseball. I love sports and have always had a dream of becoming a professional athlete. I thought it would be so cool to be able to play the sport you love as a career. However, I never thought I could do it because of my weight and mindset at the time.
During this time in my life is when I began to see the struggle my family and I were going through. As a child, to see your parents struggle with weight and try every diet or pill that promotes weight loss is heart breaking. I have always struggled with my image and use to get picked on about my weight. I was even told, and I quote, “your fat ass won’t ever have abs like these” (gotta love middle school locker rooms). When that was said to me, all I could think about was getting abs. I searched for different diets and exercise programs that advertised abs and every time I did one I failed.
I went through my entire childhood and even through high school over weight and confused as to what to do about my weight. I was ashamed of myself and my body. I was even mad at my family because, then, I thought they were the reason I was fat and didn’t know how to lose weight.
In high school when I became passionate about one sport, tennis (I’m going down a rabbit hole, but will get back to my confused weight loss shortly). I loved the one on one competitions and would spend hours after practice working on different shots and my serves. It was at this point in my life that I wanted to try to become a professional tennis player. When I started to look at colleges to go to I noticed the one I wanted to go to (East Texas Baptist University) had a new tennis team. I reached out to the coach and met with him a few times to see if I would be able to make the team. Sure enough he messaged me one day to tell me I made the team. I was ecstatic! I was going to be a college athlete, one step closer to making it to pro status! However, things didn’t go as planned. I wasn’t as good as I thought I was. I got picked on and teased about wanting to go pro. A couple people I knew even made up a saying “go pro” and every time I was around they would shout it out so I could hear it. I was upset, quit the team and gave up my dream of becoming a professional athlete.
With the extra time I had (not having to go to practice and workouts) I decided to figure out how to lose weight and be healthy. I hit the books hard and experimented on myself A LOT.
Time and time again, I would try something and not see results. I would get disappointed and depressed that everyone around me was losing weight but not me.
This is when I decided to study nutrition and how it communicates with our bodies. While studying nutrition, I spoke with my nutrition professors and together we were able to figure out a plan that worked for me. I earned my degrees in psychology and kinesiology, and I am currently certified in nutritional psychology and epigenetics (which is the study of how the environment around us impacts our genes). When I was in college figuring out what I wanted to do, I knew I wanted to help people find their true potential.
After experiencing a break through with my own health, I knew I had the knowledge to help others that struggle with their weight and health the same way I did. This led me to want to know more about what makes people tick. Come to find out, the food we eat has a lot to do with that. Once I realized that, I knew I needed to learn more about nutrition and better understand how it impacts our mood and decisions.
After getting my degree and staying up today on the latest research, I realize what was actually my gut causing me not to lose weight. After taking a few months to restore and heal my gut, I started to feel better both inside and out. This is the reason I started Cortex Health and Fitness. I want to help people that were or are just like me reach optimal health and feel the way they should feel.
Side note. The reason I named my business Cortex (is mostly because I’m a nerd) is because everyone has to make a decision to change their life. However, people wouldn’t be able to make decisions if it wasn’t for their prefrontal cortex (found in the frontal part of the brain...if you couldn’t tell by the name prefrontal).
The truth of the matter is, I am still determined to optimize my health even more to find my ultimate self. I am now a CrossFit athlete training for competitions around the globe to hopefully one day fulfill my dream of becoming a professional athlete. I hope to inspire people around the world (including my daughters) that they can do what ever they set their minds to and be their ultimate self!
- Jeff
I feel like so many people can relate to this story - I know I surely do. Today, Jeff is helping people left and right, decoding their genes and giving them a game plan to help them reach their #UltimateSelf. Bad ass AF. Also, smart AF.
'Til next time,
Paige