May Member of the Month: Maria Dotta

Tell us something about your life outside of CrossFit (career, family, hobbies, etc). I work as a Physical Therapist in the outpatient department at St. Mary Medical Center, treating a mixture of orthopedic and neurological conditions. I also have a great family, my parents who are always supportive of me, a brother who lives out in California, Sister and Brother-In-Law, and two nephews who I love dearly.

My favorite book or movie: I don’t have one favorite, but I love a variety of action, and chick flick comedies. Some of my favorite movies include Die Hard, Shawshank Redemption, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Pretty Woman and Dirty Dancing

My favorite local restaurant: Again don’t really have one favorite, love sushi at Oishi, and the Green Parrot for their Philly Cheesesteak egg rolls

Tell us something that we don’t know or would be surprised to learn about you: I’m working up the courage to go sky diving in about 2 weeks for my friends birthday, really pretty scared but always had it in my mind as something to say I did….you only live once right?

How I was introduced to CrossFit:  I was hearing a lot of different things and was very curious to try it out because I love variety in my work outs. So when I saw a Living Social Deal I begged all my friends to come with me, luckily Nicole Turkel decided to join me and we haven’t left

My fitness routine before CrossFit:  Little bit of everything…. I belong to LA Fitness, would do running, spin classes, kick box circuit, zumba, yoga/hot yoga. I also have done various running races, triathlons and Duathlons so I would road bike, run, and swim when training for those.

My thoughts after my first CrossFit workout:  I am so out of shape! and I am going to feel this tomorrow. Which I think it was pretty hard at work the next day, I always forget how much bending, squatting, lifting I do on a regular basis until my muscles are sore from working out.

My proudest CrossFit accomplishment is:  I was surprised to end up as one of the top ten females within Crossfit Newtown during the Open Games, as I am not very good at double unders, and still can’t do pull-ups without the bands.

My favorite WOD is:  Anything that involves mostly legs, because I’m really good at those…wall balls, box jumps, dead lifts, etc.

My Favorite Lift is:  Back Squat

My next goal is:  Perform pull ups without the bands

How has CrossFit affected your life outside of the gym? Recently I’ve had a lot of people asking me if I lost weight, which my weight really hasn’t changed a whole lot, I’m just more muscular and toned, and I attribute that to working hard at Crossfit Newtown, and encouragement from all the coaches there.

What I love most about CrossFit Newtown:  The people are great (members and coaches), everyone is very supportive and willing to help you achieve your goals.

What advice I would give to a someone just joining CrossFit Newtown:  Don’t be discouraged or compare yourself to someone else, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Work hard to get the results you want.

Do you have any diet/nutritional advice? No, I’d like someone to give me advice, lol. But in all I like to try to live by everything in moderation.