It’s time for a brand new Wildheart of the Month (WOM)! Every month we interview one of our Wildhearts. We ask them about their Crossfit journey, their day job, their favorite movements and about some other goofy stuff. This month our WOM is Meghan Deere (29), a Customer Succes Manager all the way from Atlanta, Georgia.
From Atlanta to Barendrecht
‘After I graduated from University I wanted to move abroad, so I found this family in Barendrecht where I became an au-pair. I lived with this family for a year and I met my boyfriend there at a bar. This is six years ago, and we’ve been together since. I officially moved to the Netherlands 2 years ago and I really like living in Rotterdam.
One of the reasons that I joined the Wildhearts is because I wanted to find my own thing instead of following my boyfriend around. Crossfit is known for the community, so I figured that would be a good choice for me. I looked at one other box, but chose to join the Wildhearts. This box is very welcoming, with the intake and the on-ramp and how everyone knows your name. The way they run the business here is very impressive and makes you feel welcome.’
Healthy choices
‘I played tennis most of my life, and in high school I trained 5-6 times a week. When I started to go to the University I went into a ‘drinking-a-lot’ phase. I was not being super healthy, I would work out once in a while, but it always went with ups and downs. I wasn’t really dedicated to taking care of myself. Especially when I lived in Nashville for a year. I was not working out a lot and the food and drinking scene over there is ridiculous so that was not a very healthy year for me. And that was right before I moved here. So I think I was like ‘i need to make some changes’. I was already making one really big change with moving here, but I also wanted start taking better care of myself.’
Addicted to SugarWOD
‘Anytime when I would go to a gym by myself I would make a work-out before I went, but when I’m there I would be like ‘yeah im not doing that, nevermind’. So I would just go on the elliptical or something. At Crossfit the workout means so much more than what they write on the board. I look at the workout in SugarWOD everyday in the morning when I wake up, which is so weird when you think about it. Because of the community, you feel more a part of something. When you see a workout that sucks you know everyone is going to feel the same way. You sign up, you check the workout in the morning, you freak out about it all day but you do show up and survive every time!
‘The workout means so much more than what they write on the whiteboard’
The next step
‘I’m here since a year and a half. I’ve gotten a lot stronger and lost a lot of weight. That is always nice but it had never been my goal. The fact that I feel so much healthier and I don’t feel out of breath when I walk up te stairs is what makes the difference. I love the out of the box events like paddle boarding. Normally I would always shy away from that sort of things, but now I love to participate. When I am on vacation I suddenly want to go on a hike instead of just lying by the pool. So Crossfit has had a big impact on my daily life. I want to continue to make healthy choices. The next step is making healthier food choices and maybe scale back on the beers and wines. It’s time for the next step in getting healthier!’
Burpees are never fun
‘So the times that I do freak out when I check SugarWOD is when there is running on the program. I have always been opposed to running, but I am less afraid of it now. I am also not very good at everything on the rig. I have to work on my arm strength. And burpees are never fun’.
‘I really do like the airbike. And anything with squats, overhead or back squats for example. And weightlifting movements are fun. They seem so complicated and dramatic but then when you can actually do it you feel like ‘oh that’s cool!’. Team workouts are really fun as well, the ones where you have to grind. I don’t like short sprints.’
Favorite Wildheart memory
‘My favorite Wildheart memory has to be my first Crossfit Open. Everyone convinced me to do it. I didn’t really know what it was and what I was getting myself into. But those weekends were really impressive as it brings people together since everyone is suffering together in a fun way. My parents were in town so they could come and cheer me on. That is when I really got what Crossfit is about.’
Workout Meghan
This year all Wildhearts of the Month will be honoured with their own WOD. Their favorite movements, modalities and duration are combined in a special workout that is given their name. During the Corona crisis we will create a special Stay at Home WOD for our Wildheart of the Month. This is the workout of Meghan:
00:00 - 04:00
21 Deadlifts
21 Push presses
04:00 - 08:00
15 Deadlifts
15 Front Squats
08:00 - 12:00
9 Deadlifts
9 Thrusters
The workout 'Meghan' wil be the Stay at home WOD at April 13. Don't miss it!