GGS Spotlight: Micki Krimmel

March 3, 2019

This post was originally published on this site

https://www.girlsgonestrong.com/

Name: Micki Krimmel
Age: 41
Location: Los Angeles, CA

What does it mean to you to be part of the GGS Community?
I’m such a fan of the work GGS is doing to empower women with fitness. My mission is quite similar with Superfit Hero and it’s so rewarding to be part of a community of athletes who believe the benefits of fitness and strength training should be accessible to more people.

What do you do?
I’m the founder of Superfit Hero, a fast-growing Los Angeles-based activewear brand. I believe fitness is for Every Body. With performance leggings designed for athletes size XS-5XL, Superfit Hero is the most inclusive premium activewear brand on the planet.

We are committed to supporting the growing Body Positive Fitness movement. We sponsor plus size athletes and feature a wide range of body types in our marketing, including bodies that are traditionally ignored by most mainstream fitness brands.

We recently launched the Body Positive Fitness Finder, the first of its kind directory that helps people ditch the diet culture mentality, and find body-positive trainers and fitness activities near them.

What inspired you to create Superfit Hero?
Like most women, I had a rocky relationship with my body and with fitness over the years. But once I started playing roller derby competitively, I began to think of myself as an athlete. My goals and purpose for training shifted and my entire mindset and relationship with my body shifted as well.

That was a transformative experience for me.

I realized that fitness didn’t have to include self-hatred and shame. Instead, fitness could be a source of confidence, personal progress, and joy.

I wanted to build something that could be a platform for sharing that message and help make this new more positive version of fitness more accessible for everyone.

How long have you been strength training, and how did you get started?
I started lifting weights when I joined CrossFit in 2012 as a way to cross-train for roller derby. I quickly fell in love with weight training for its own sake and continue to train regularly though I retired from competitive roller derby two years ago.

Most memorable PR:
I will never forget the first time I deadlifted 300 lbs. I remember that moment marking a huge shift for me. I realized for the first time in my life, I wasn’t working out to lose weight. I wasn’t marking my progress by counting the pounds on my body. Instead, I only cared about how much I could lift!

This was such a life-changing experience for me that I knew I had to share it with others. I decided to commit myself to changing the fitness industry to help empower other women. I really think this moment is what led me to create Superfit Hero!

Do you prefer to train alone or with others? Why?
With others definitely! When you get your blood moving, your mood improves and it’s the best time to have some fun with your friends.

There’s nothing like having some laughs and encouraging each other through a workout.

Top 3 things you must have at the gym or in your gym bag:

Superfit shorts – I never wore shorts until I designed them myself. They are the perfect length to make me feel confident. They offer the right amount of compression to keep everything contained, and the pockets are endlessly useful.
I’m a huge fan of KT tape (generic brands work just fine) for taping my hands for lifting. It’s flexible enough that it doesn’t rip or pull and it gives me just enough protection where I need it on my thumbs and ring fingers.
My notebook for tracking my progress.

Most memorable compliment you’ve received lately:
I just got back from a conference where someone I admire professionally told me, “I know you will succeed with Superfit Hero. I can tell by how you talk about it. Your passion for the business is contagious.” This was such an important thing for me to hear and I’m keeping it top of mind to help me get through the challenges of running a new business.

Most recent compliment you gave someone else:
I have a friend who is one of those super-connectors. He always seems to be at the center of everything. He knows everyone and is very good at introducing his friends to each other. He has created a huge social network of amazingly interesting and successful people.

I texted him yesterday to thank him for being that connector and to tell him I’m grateful for the impact his friendship has had on my life. I told him he’s amazing and unique and that he has had a huge impact on countless people by creating these opportunities for us.

Favorite meal:
Breakfast. Any time of day.

Favorite way to treat yourself:
Honestly, my favorite treat to myself is finding quiet downtime where I can relax. Time to read a book, play a video game, meditate, or just chill and be unproductive.

It’s so important to set aside time to do nothing. It’s become increasingly harder to do in our lives. Just like our bodies, our brains need rest in order to work at their best.

What else do you do?
Lately, I’ve been really into riding my dirt bike and fixing it up as well. I’m really enjoying wrenching on it in the garage and I’m interested in doing more of that. I also read a lot and enjoy games and puzzles that challenge my brain.

Your next training goal:
Deadlift 400 pounds!

Tell us about a time when you overcame fear or self-doubt.
Oh man, I go through this on a daily basis! Running a start-up is a constant exercise of overcoming. On almost a weekly basis, I come upon something that seems insurmountable. Usually, I push right through and come out on the other side with a new skill and increased confidence.

But sometimes, when things get really tough or just because I’m feeling a bit off, I can fall into deep self-doubt and a huge case of imposter syndrome.

I’ve learned to embrace those feelings, to let them exist and not waste energy trying to block them out.

Like all feelings, they are temporary and if I just give myself the afternoon off, I’m soon able to dig back into my confidence and find a solution.

What do you want to say to other women who might be nervous or hesitant about strength training?
Lifting weights is the most rewarding fitness activity because it’s inherently trackable. Our brains love nothing more than the feeling of making progress. As you get stronger, you will be able to lift more weight or do more reps. That progress is all it takes to feel really good about yourself! It’s a much more rewarding thing to track than weight loss and there’s no shame involved!