Marie has lived in Maryland for the last 8 years, and currently works at Amazon as a Senior Product Manager. She was born and raised in a small coastal city in Malaysia and moved to the United States when she was 20 to attend college in Hoboken, NJ. She is a huge foodie and loves trying out new cuisines/restaurants around Baltimore. She enjoys staying active – when she’s not at Titan, you can find her stand up paddleboarding, biking, or rock climbing with friends.
What led you to try CrossFit?
After graduating from college, I landed my first engineering job in Queens, NY. I was living by myself, and was looking for something fun to do after work. One of my friends had been doing CrossFit for a while and was telling me about how much fun it was, so I decided to give it a try.
Why did you continue to CrossFit?
So many reasons, but I’ll stick with just two! Firstly, I enjoy the variations in the workouts. There are so many different types of movement involved when doing CrossFit that it’s very rare that you end up doing the same combination of movements day after day. Secondly, I never have to worry about what exercises I am going to do on a given day, because it’s already programmed for me. This is a huge time-saver in my opinion; I know I just need to show up and get the work in, no matter what the workout is. My favorite type of classes are the ones where there is a strength element programmed at the start of class, with a quick high-intensity workout at the end.
Describe how your attitude towards health and fitness has evolved since you began your journey
I have always enjoyed playing sports, but used to look at exercising as a chore, something that I dread, and somewhat of a health “necessity” more than anything. Over the past few years, my view on health and fitness has totally changed. I enjoy staying active, and genuinely look forward to attending my CrossFit classes because I have so much fun while I’m there. It helps me relax, breaks up my day, and allows me to get my movement in since I spend many hours in front of the computer screen all day.
Share a memorable CrossFit moment that makes you laugh or puts a smile on your face
It was definitely participating in the CrossFit Open this year and attending Friday Night Lights. As part of the 2023 Open, Titan set up a team competition (shoutout: Team Out of My Whey!), where the goal was to get as many points as possible during the Open season. Apart from getting points by placing top of your division, one easy way to earn points was to judge another Titan during an Open workout. My favorite moments throughout those three weeks came out of the way people (coaches included) were HUSTLING to collect those judging points, and it was hilarious! As for myself, I ended up walking around with a clipboard and scoresheets in hand all night long during FNL.
What are you proud of and why?
I was so proud to have been able to hit my all-time bench and deadlift PRs during the most recent max tests in March! I am noticing improvements in my overall fitness in the last year, and I’m really proud of the progress I’ve made. It’s extremely satisfying when you know your hard work and consistency is paying off, even if the process takes time.
What’s your advice for other CrossFitters or people looking to start?
100% just go for it – ease yourself into it and then stay consistent. Don’t be scared – there are always movement modifications that can be made to fit any fitness level. Trust your coaches. Have fun. Oh, and stretch frequently!
Why the coaches chose Marie as Titan of the month
Marie has made big strides during her journey here at Titan. She’s willing to put effort into her performance and trust in her coaches. Marie is just beginning to realize how strong and athletic she is. She brings a smile with her every time she walks in the door. She adds to the community with her perseverance and ‘try anything’ attitude. She is a wonderful example of how to incorporate healthy living and fitness into a busy lifestyle through consistency and hard work.
