This Is HEALTH Care

Ellie McKenzie • April 19, 2025

THIS is HEALTH  care

Last week, I wrote about what it’s like to start weightlifting as a beginner here at CrossFit Odyssey. This week, I want to discuss how this pertains to you in the context of healthcare.

In the United States, we do not have a healthcare system; we have a sickcare system. When you go to the doctor, you are either going for a check-up to make sure you don’t have any illness or are not on the path to illness, or you are addressing some sort of sickness you already have. Now, that is not entirely accurate, as we often consult a doctor to have a baby, but those visits are still primarily for check-ins to ensure everything is going smoothly.

Your doctor sees you once or twice a year (and that’s if you're diligent about going to the doctor) for about 10 minutes. If you forget to ask a question while you are there, you often don’t have a chance to ask again until next year.

On the other hand, if you come to a gym like CrossFit Odyssey, we see you 2-6 times a week. We notice when you're not feeling great because we see it in your performance and mood. We notice when you gain and lose weight. We often know when you've been partying too much or not getting out among people enough. 

You will quite often hear us having conversations such as:

  • Are you getting outside often enough to help your mood?
  • How does your nutrition look this week?
  • You drank how much wine???? Let's dial that back.
  • How long has it been since you saw a doctor? Would you like me to refer you to one of our doctors? I have a specialist who can help you with that.
  • Have you had your colonoscopy yet? Your mammogram? What were your results?
  • Okay, you've changed your medication - do we need to look for any changes in your performance or behavior? Dizziness? Depression? Weight loss or gain?
  • How are you holding up dealing with your parents' dementia? Let's see if we can find you some help with that - I have another gym member who deals with that..
  • Wow, I've noticed you are doing really great lately - what are you doing that's working for you right now? How can we help you maintain that?
  • You're pregnant! YAYYYYYY!! Let's figure out how to change your workout regimen to help you have the best pregnancy experience.

THIS is HEALTH care. It is the daily and weekly conversations that keep you sane and hold you accountable for being the person you truly want to be and living the life you truly desire.


THIS is CrossFit Odyssey.


We have begun working on-site with our Physical Therapist, Amanda Anderson, and we are collaborating with several chiropractic doctors in the area. We even have a few medical doctors that we are happy to refer you to, to help you reach the best place you can be physically, mentally, and emotionally. We are even part of TrueMed, which allows you to pay for CrossFit with your FSA or HSA funds when referred by a doctor.



It is YOUR responsibility to take charge of your health, but we can help.