We are proud to feature our long-time partner and all-around amazing human, Morgan Vozobule, for the month of June. We decided to check back in on her after a big move to Mexico with her wife, Lesha, and a dive into competing in CrossFit.
Morgan - We love you and you have been an Earth Fed Muscle partner for a while, but for those who don't know who you are, can you introduce yourself and who you are and what you do?
I am a full time nutrition coach living in Mexico City! I have experience coaching both CrossFit AND Weightlifting but I've mostly been a competing as a weightlifter for the last 8ish years. Since moving to Mexico City with my wife, I've been convinced to train for a HUGE crossfit competition down here. I am praying for a ton of heavy weightlifting events, but so far its been a lot of burpees and toes to bar.
Tell us what influenced your decision to move to Mexico.
A few reasons! I had the opportunity to compete nationally as a Mexican citizen and the idea of representing my mothers country, my grandmothers country, the country of my roots - it was something I felt eternally proud to do. But competing for Mexico also made me feel the most distant from being Mexican than I had ever felt. It took a lot of courage, and a lot of support from my wife, but we decided to move to Mexico so I could learn what it might really mean to live a Mexican life. The language, the tradition, the pride - it feels like being reunited with something that I haven't met yet.
What are some of your favorite memories that you and your wife have created in Mexico since moving there last year?
The thing about Mexico is you never know what youre going to get - you have to be flexible and adventurous every time you walk out the door. I think the time that we signed up for a cooking class but ended up hiking through the mountains on horses sticks out, or the time we sailed in the ancient canals of Xochimilco and heard my aunt belt out Mexican corridos to the water, or showing my wife my grandmothers property outside of the city, the house that my mother spent her summers in, knowing that we were connecting cultures, families and generations in that one moment.
How did you find your gym in Mexico and how has the community been there?
CrossFit Condesa is awesome!!! Its probably one of the most popular gyms in the city because its so centrally located, but its also got a great community of competitors. When we were first visiting - their SemiFinals team was training for their 2023 season and everyone was so hard-working, but also super approachable and humble. We fell in love with the people before we could fall in love with the gym, and thats what kept us coming back.
We heard you're doing some CrossFit...tell us about your upcoming competition! Do you still plan to continue competing in weightlifting?
The question of the century!! So this month, we're doing qualifiers to HOPEFULLY make it to the biggest CrossFit stage in Latam. Last year, Lesha and I attended this competition as spectators and we were blown away at the level of production, the number of athletes, the event design. It was bigger and better than Wodapalooza and this year, I hope to compete on their stage! I love learning new skills and really pushing myself beyond what I think I can do - so CrossFit seemed like a really logical choice when I lost a majority of my weightlifting community and resources having moved down here.
What changes for your nutrition as you convert to doing more CrossFit?
A lot more carbs, unsurprisingly. I am still getting used to it - because it doesn't feel instinctual to eat more - in fact, I'm kind of losing my appetite from the extra intensity, but the crash is a lot harder to manage during a CrossFit piece than in a weightlifting session. So, its a little bit of al earning curve, but its become a non negotiable to start focusing on some quantity and timing details.
Forty Winkz (formerly ZMA Advanced)
$29.99
What supplements were your must-haves for bringing to Mexico and what do you make sure to re-up on each time you can?
I really do prefer to eat my protein - so my go to's are the extras that give my training or recovery an edge. I love our Stammpede pre workout, our Forty Winkz ZMA, and if I could sneak 4 tubs of the Lion's Mane Coffee Creamer (Morning Charge) back in my suitcase!
Morning Charge Supernutrient Creamer with Lion’s Mane
$29.99
What supplements and snacks do you always have with you on competition day? What do you recommend to your nutrition clients in order to plan for a competition?
My weightlifting stack is down to a science - protein oatmeal with pre workout after weigh ins, PBJ sandwich between my snatch & clean and jerks, and then a rice krispies treat in between my heavier CJ attempts. For CrossFit, lately I've been using the non-stim pre workout so that I can still drink my coffee, and I'm trying to eat a piece of fruit (either grapes or a banana) in the 20 minutes right before my session starts.