Our Athlete of the month nominations for Jan and Feb 2015 are for Portia and Johan respectively. Both Portia and Johan have been training consistently since they joined CFJ East in July 2014 and they’ve seen that consistency translate into weight loss, fitness gains, less moodiness, strength and even lower blood pressure, many of the positive results aside from good looks!
Congratulations for the nominations, you both deserve it!
January: Portia Chilwane
I’ve been training at CrossFit Jozi East since: My jump up was in July 2014.
I discovered CrossFit through: I heard about CrossFit around 2013 from a friend of mine Gillian, we booked for an intro session in Edenvale and quickly cancelled it when I saw the workouts and decided that I have to be fit before I start CrossFit. Ultimately another friend started her intro program at CrossFit 1448 and she shared with me her positive experience and I was encouraged to start because her fitness level was that of an average person and I thought if she can do it I can also do it so I decided to get over my fears and start achieving my fitness goals.
The most significant change in my health since starting CrossFit has been: Besides losing weight, I am much stronger than I was and my health and mood has improved. I was also a borderline hypertension patient and have managed to lower my blood pressure.
My biggest challenge at CrossFit is: Too many lol! Running, pull-ups, OHS…
The community is amazing and the friends I have. I like the diverse workouts and the excitement of improving every time keeps me coming back.
If I could use one word to describe myself it would be: I am a loving person.
My favourite activity outside of CrossFit is: I like spending time with my kids, watching the same movie a few times with them has become the best thing ever.
My favourite place to eat in Jozi is: I love Classic India and Beluga Waterfall.
My proudest accomplishment at CrossFit Jozi East is: I love skipping so I was always interested in learning how to do double-unders. Not so long ago i eventually could do a few and I was (still am) proud.
My goals for the remainder of the year are: To work on improving my skills and to perform all the moves correctly. Continue to eat right.
Weight lost since joining: 10kg
February: Johan Beukman
I’ve been training at CrossFit Jozi East since: July 2014 when I started with my jump-up classes so +- 9 months now.
I discovered CrossFit through: My good old friend Marius and bubbles (Tersha Winter) she makes these brownie cupcakes. Omw soooo good.
The most significant change in my health since starting CrossFit has been: Physically stronger and fitter
My biggest challenge at CrossFit is: To pitch up on time for class…. (got a bad habit to pitch up late, still owe the East side 375 burpees i think). To get under the bar faster, apparently I’m a little slow getting under the bar and muscle ups.
There so many but would say the Jozi family that always support you when you try a ridiculous weight or on the last rep of an AMRAP workout, the coaches (Andre,Carl,Imtiaz) for their professional advice, and just to become a better athlete, keeps me coming back.
My favourite activity outside of CrossFit is: There are too many!!! Scuba diving, rap jumping, touch rugby, cycling, braai, camping, filming, sleep….
My favorite place to eat in Jozi is: At this moment, Fahrenheit Benoni, they have this pepper dew steak, noggals lekker hey!
My proudest accomplishment at CrossFit Jozi East is: Well I think everyday at the box is an accomplishment for me, working on skills and movement. But proudest so far is when we (Marius, Andre, Jenna, Anna, Bubbles and I) competed at United We Stand Games in Durban and I got my PB on the power jerk. That was one awesome moment.
My goals for the remainder of the year are: To get that darn muscle-up! And to lose my baby fat… :-p
Weight lost since joining: Eish, take me on a date first before you ask that question… I started at 117kg and now about 110kg.
