Congratulations to Maria Romo for being CrossFit Relentless’s October Member of the Month! Maria is a loyal member of the evening classes here at CFR, and recently competed in her first weightlifting meet.
1) What are your hobbies/interest/talents outside of CrossFit?
As most dietitians, I’m obsessed with food. I love cooking, learning and trying new recipes or just making myself some comfort Mexican food. Hibiscus chipotle enchiladas are my signature dish. Swimming is one of my favorite things in the world, watching stand-up comedy, reading Harry Potter or dancing.
2) Share with us one thing that most people do NOT know about you?
As part of my Registered Dietitian training in Mexico, I lived in an indigenous community for 2 months. Without electricity, showers or plumbing, that’s when I got addicted to bandanas since we bathed a total of 4 times during the whole trip and my hair was a mess.
3) How long have you been with us at CFR?
I’ve been at CFR 1.5 years.
4) Take us back to your first week here. How did you feel? Remember the workout?
Well… I got injured like my first or second week at CFR. I don’t remember the WOD but I had taken a couple of months off and I thought it was a great idea to use my regular deadlift numbers (ignoring Erik’s advice). I felt really awkward my first week at CFR, I had just moved from Austin and I was still trying to get used to a new town, job, and it was hard to join a new box but it didn’t take long for me to feel at home.
5) What moment/achievement are you most proud of at CFR?
Breaking the 100 lb snatch! I really thought it would never happen, it looked so far away before I joined the Oly program.
6) Design your perfect workout?
Trick question! Any workout that burns the calories in a whole pint of Häagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche ice cream.
7) What is your least favorite movement?
Front squats, bless their heart.
8) Summarize your lifestyle in 5 words or less.
Show up, trust the process.
9) Have you experienced any changes in your lifestyle now that you have been a CrossFit athlete?
Definitely! The most amazing change I have noticed is that I have been able for the first time in my life to love my body. I respect my body because now I know what it can do. It took years to think of myself as an athlete. Today I treat CrossFit and Oly as training sessions instead of just workout classes. I’m amazed at how easy it has been to follow the RP diet now that I’m taking myself seriously as an athlete. As a kinesiology professor once taught me, “why treat your body like a Volkswagen beetle if you have the machine of a Maserati”?
10) What advice do you have for anyone who is thinking about joining or who has recently joined?
I know that watching folks that have been in the sport for longer can be overwhelming. There are people lifting crazy weights or doing complex gymnastics like it’s a piece of cake. But remember that we all started somewhere and we all have movements or skills that need lots of work. Just show up every day, train hard, compete with yourself and you’ll get addicted to seeing results like the rest of us.