#paanda

I never thought Netflix would do anything else to me than making me binge watch my favourite series and fall asleep during some cooking shows.

Well, it proved me wrong. It was the best thing that could ever happen to me. Mid 2016 i was in one of my occasional sporty moods. I signed up to a new gym that opened across the street, got there and used the machines – visiting a body pump class stuck between skinny girls and old lady’s. And when i felt the motivation go away, Netflix gifted me with this awesome movie.

„FITTEST ON EARTH“ was written in big white letters across my screen, Mat Fraser with a barbell above his head – smiling. I got curious in an instant. I watched it, awestruck.

Next thing i know was me, looking up CrossFit boxes in Berlin. I found one close, called up a friend and told her that she needs to come with me for a trial class. She had no idea what I was talking about

I was nervous. Scared of walking in a non-anonymous gym, just knowing I needed to try the stuff I just saw being done by the fittest people on earth.

And this is when things got out of hand. I became addicted to CrossFit in an instant. Black Sheep Athletics Coach Olaf made us do a workout I would be considering easy and fun today. I was dying. Not only during the WOD, the following three days I was sore. But it felt so good!

Since then, I came back for more every week. After a month I came back twice a week, until I spent almost every day at Black Sheep.

Even with working full-time I started going to the gym whenever I could. Being sore became normal and picking on my callouses became my new nervous habit.

Now, I’ve been doing CrossFit for almost 1.5 years. Usually I fall in and out of love with stuff within a few month but not this time.

Why I did not fall out of love with CrossFit

It is a cult. There are so many like-minded people, a community that is not only something happening in your local box. It brings people together all across the globe.

I fell in love with the welcoming feel Black Sheep gave me and that didn’t change since then. And compared to the various gyms I’ve signed up with in my life and the fact that I make friends very easily it was so different.

In every box I trained since I joined my “herd” I was welcomed, introduced to everyone and never felt like anyone was judging, comparing or competing me which is a huge difference to those anonymous gyms because you just don’t know what these other people are doing.

Also, I found my love for barbells and lifting. What I saw back in 2016 on Netflix was not just looking like fun, it was fun! In CrossFit there is always something you can learn. Always a weight you didn’t snatch or deadlifted yet. A technique. A god damn set of double unders you just can’t get done.

Lets get weird – get to know me, myself and my habits

Age: 25 Nicknames: Julia, Jule, Jules, Paandachicken, Paanda Favorite Sports: CrossFit Favourite Exercise: Deadlifts, Squats & Snatches Least Favourite Exercise: Running Deadlift: 125 kg Backsquat: 95 kg Frontsquat: 90 kg Jerk: 70kg Snatch: 50kg Favorite Food: Steak Least Favourite Food: Cheese Favourite movie quote: “You’re entering a world of pain” – The Big Lebowski Morning or Night Person: Night First thing in the morning after getting up: Feed the Cat Do you have a song that reminds you of a relationship/friendship, which is it: I miss you – Blink182 If you could talk in your sleep what would you say: I talk in my sleep. I say weird stuff, calling out a friend and telling her I would tell her tomorrow.. I never remember. What compliment give people you the most: That I am always so positive and get along with almost everyone

That’s it. That is me. Keep on reading and get to know me even better.