1) Who is Robert Hibbard? (where are you from, what do you do, a bit about yourself (hobbies, etc)
Everyone calls me RJ, I was born in Maryland and left at 19 to join the U.S. Army. I currently live in Texas with my fiancée, Mia. I got out of the Army back in 2017. I am a coach at Crossfit Cataclysm and am currently in school to be a Physical Therapist Assistant.
2) How many years have you been training? (Including how you got started, etc)
I have been training in Crossfit for almost 7 years but have played sports my whole life. I got introduced to Crossfit from one of my wrestling coaches in high school but didn’t start doing it until years later. Shortly after starting Crossfit I found out about the sport called Grid. I fell in love with the idea of it immediately. It wasn’t until recently that I was able to participate. I have been doing Grid for 2 years now on the best team out there (Gainesville Wild).
I am currently training to go to Nationals for Olympic weightlifting. This year is the first year that I am training with a weightlifting coach.
3) Whats been the most challenging/hardest part of your journey so far? and how have you overcome them (set backs, rejections, injuries, basically anything difficult that you have had to overcome)
The biggest challenge I have been dealing with is shoulder injuries my entire competitive career. I’ve learned to work with and around them. I know when I can push workouts in training and when to pull back. I have also gotten better about routine maintenance of the shoulders. I have a great chiropractor that I see on a regular basis to make sure I am in top shape, as much as possible (Dr. Austin Reynolds at Green Jay Sports Medicine).
4) What does your typical workout/diet routine look like? (With any particular protocols you rate).
Right now, it is all weightlifting. As I get closer to Grid season, it will be a big mix of high skill gymnastics, fast cycling of a barbell, and high intensity conditioning. I am fortunate because Mia runs a small meal prep business, so I get my meals from her. They are pretty clean, and she cooks at home, but we do enjoy meals out every now and then. She is also a nutrition coach and taught me about the most important meal of the day, breakfast. I’ve been eating the same breakfast now for 3 years, Greek yogurt with honey and granola.
5) What new knowledge have you learned over this past year regarding training, lifestyle and nutrition? (And How has it changed your focus for the future)
I have learned to be more patient with seeing results and trusting your coach. Not every training session is going to feel great or give me the most confidence in myself (I already knew this, but it was really reinforced this year). Between school, coaching at the gym, and my home life, I’ve learned that I need to be disciplined and I need to follow a routine. My focus has always been the same, and will probably continue to be the same, and that is to learn and grow as an athlete and person.
6) Whats your favourite cheat/Treat meal?
Ice cream and Chick-fil-a
7) Whats one supplement that you could not live without?
All of my 1stPhorm products, but probably the Phormula-1 protein powder.
8) If you had to start your Journey from scratch with both your health & physique what would you do differently and why?
I would spend more time on the basics and learning skills/technique. Rushing these things got me into a lot of trouble early on and is the cause for most of my injuries.
9) Who do you look upto in the fitness industry and why?
Myself. I do not look to others for inspiration or look at someone and say I want to be like them. I want to be me, and I find inspiration from myself. I want to be better than I was yesterday. There are definitely fantastic athletes out there, I know a lot of them and learn from all of them, but I don’t want to be them.
10) If you had to give one bit of advice to people starting out what would that be?
TAKE YOUR TIME and learn the basics and fundamentals. Building a strong foundation will take you much further than the person that skips steps to climb faster. Be consistent with your training and find a coach. I see a lot of new athletes that want to do what the pros are doing and start jumping from one program to another.
11) What new goals do you have on the horizon?
Competing at the USAW National championships in 2022 and placing in the top 20.
12) Where can people find you? (website, social media accounts)
Instagram: r_hibbard
