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

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

Oh, and I ought to add: She’s additionally some of the profitable ladies athletes to ever compete within the CrossFit video games. From 2010 to 2015, Foucher competed within the video games (whereas persevering with her schooling, I’d add). At her top, she completed second in 2012 and third in 2014—and by no means completed exterior the highest 5 in all 4 years of competing. Her profession ended with a devastating Achilles tendon harm in 2015, a 12 months she was thought-about a favourite to take the title. 

Now, Foucher brings that drive and keenness to her observe—the place she focuses on the right way to marry health, diet, and medication for full-body well being. 

Julie Foucher, M.D., M.S.: I feel it’s the day-to-day that is the toughest, proper? It is simple to indicate up when you’ve gotten plenty of followers and also you’re on a giant stage, nevertheless it’s tougher to indicate up day-to-day. 

I went by means of many various phases of studying and progress throughout my competitors years, and the vast majority of it was within the psychological aspect of competitors. 

While you begin, it is easy to do one thing while you’re good at it—you simply need to hold going as a result of, nicely, you are good at it. It is simple to suppose, In fact, I am going to hold going.

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

And till I answered that query, it grew to become very difficult for me. I struggled quite a bit—even simply feeling motivated to observe. I additionally developed plenty of nervousness and was even depressed for some time. What helped me probably the most was actually figuring out why I needed to do that.

Foucher: The opposite side of my progress was how I discovered and grew each single 12 months. I used to be constructing upon my very own confidence in competing. I used to be all the time somebody who did fairly nicely, however I do not suppose I ever actually knew that I used to be ok or what I used to be able to. I all the time ended up stunning myself. 

And I feel that is what held me again from most likely doing higher. I used to be on the rostrum twice however by no means gained the CrossFit video games. And I feel the most important cause for that’s as a result of I did not actually imagine I used to be able to it deep down—that’s till my final 12 months, after I tore my Achilles [so I couldn’t compete in the final competition that year]. 

Foucher: I can provide one instance. It was the 2011 CrossFit video games. The 12 months earlier than, my first 12 months as a rookie, I had positioned fifth. There was quite a bit for me to study, however I used to be doing nicely—and I used to be able to profitable that 12 months, or at the very least being on the rostrum. 

There was a selected occasion the place we needed to push a sled throughout the stadium, and there have been three rounds. The primary two rounds I used to be main the occasion and had no drawback pushing the sled. Then within the third spherical, I noticed that the girl who had gained the 12 months prior was proper behind me. And for some cause in the course of that spherical, I ended pushing the sled to shake my arms out. She handed me after which I completed. 

However initially, it is somewhat misleading to say I used to be doing each the whole time as a result of it was just one 12 months through which I used to be actually full pace forward on each. It was throughout my first 12 months of med faculty after I was competing. And through that point, I used to be very fortunate to have the ability to juggle some issues in med faculty so I might compete. Then from there, there have been instances after I would take off competing or I targeted on analysis and prolonged my med faculty. 

So, one factor to recollect is that while you have a look at of us who’re doing issues that appear to be inconceivable—nicely, are they really doing them? As a result of it sounds so intense—med faculty and CrossFit. And positive, it was actually exhausting, however there was solely that one 12 months that I used to be all in on each endeavors.

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

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

Foucher: Properly, I all the time have been somebody who simply has to prioritize sleep as a result of if I do not, I do not perform. I assume I did it after I was in faculty: I bear in mind going by means of prolonged durations of sleeping 5 – 6 hours an evening and pulling all-nighters. However since then, no, I can’t perform after an evening or two like that. 

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

Foucher: I’ll all the time do CrossFit. I feel it’s the greatest, best approach to keep match. 

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

A number of instances that appears like a fast exercise that I do in my storage health club. And I nonetheless love going to CrossFit associates after I can and being in that group and the category atmosphere. 

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

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

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

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

I feel one of many important classes that I discovered by means of competing in CrossFit and coaching CrossFit that I apply in the remainder of my life is how it’s so necessary to interrupt issues down into the following step.

I feel while you have a look at an general purpose, it may be very overwhelming. For instance, you would possibly say, “I need to compete within the CrossFit video games a 12 months from now,” and so your coach offers you this program. It might be damaged down by weeks, however then you definitely see all the issues you could do this week. You begin to get anxious. 

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