How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first experience/WOD?
Carolyn:  I heard about CrossFit a few years ago from a colleague who was trying it out and liked it. At the time I was a recent college grad struggling to get in shape and lose those undergrad pounds. I was doing some home fitness programs like Insanity but knew it wasn't a long-term solution. I needed the motivation of a coach and group setting and I also wanted to learn how to lift. So I looked up CrossFit gyms in the area (I was living in Connecticut at the time) and took a free class at a nearby box (shoutout to CrossFit 203!). All I remember from my first class was that it was very squat-intensive, and I couldn't walk/sit/stand for a few days. Made me realize how much more in shape I could be! 

Jonathan:  I first heard about CrossFit in high school, but didn't venture to give it a try until Carolyn (my fiancée) started doing it. In 2013, while I was living in Allentown, PA, she convinced me to go to a class with her and I've been going ever since. My first WOD was Nancy. It was not fun, but doing that benchmark now always reminds me how far I've progressed from Day 1.

When did you first come to CrossFit NOLA?
Carolyn:  My first time at CrossFit NOLA was January of 2014 when I was visiting my then-boyfriend, now-fiancé Jonathan, who had just moved back down to New Orleans. I was still living in Connecticut and would come down to visit him for a couple weeks at a time. We had started CrossFitting together about six months earlier and wanted to keep it up.

Jonathan:  I first came to CrossFit NOLA in January of 2014. 

How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally take (times and specialties)?
Carolyn:  I generally CrossFit five days a week, Monday through Friday, always 5:30AM at Midcity. (Shoutout to the 5:30AM crew!) 

Jonathan:  I go every morning to the 5:30 WOD class at Mid City and occasionally on Saturdays.

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit NOLA?
Carolyn:  My entire outlook on fitness has changed thanks to CrossFit. I used to work out only to try to lose weight and look better, and it's very easy to get discouraged that way. Now the thing that keeps me coming back is focusing on what my body can do, rather than what it looks like, and I love how it feels to get better, faster, and stronger. I can do things now that I have never been able to do in my life (like a pull-up!), and that is empowering. 
I also have to say that my fiancé, Jonathan, keeps me motivated (he's way better at getting up early than I am), as well as the awesome CrossFit NOLA people and coaches. 
 
Jonathan:  The camaraderie of the 5:30 class. Since most of us tend to show up pretty regularly, we have gotten to know each other quite well.

Favorite thing about New Orleans?
Carolyn:  The warm and welcoming people, the food, crawfish boils, Mardi Gras, and the "laissez les bon temps rouler" attitude.

Jonathan:  Food and culture. You can't beat it anywhere.

What  accomplishment are you the most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)? 
Carolyn:  At CrossFit I'm proud every time I Rx a workout, and I'm also proud of making a decent debut at the Deep South Shootout this past year. 
Outside the gym I'm proud to be a woman succeeding in a field (tech) that I never thought I would go into based on my college major (English). 

Jonathan:   I would say that I am most proud of my personal gains in health and well-being since starting CrossFit. True to the typical CrossFit story, I was overweight, out of shape, and eating poorly. I have found that CrossFit has helped me improve myself in all areas of life, not just in the gym.

After a hard workout, what is your favorite meal?
Carolyn: Since I generally work out in the morning, I like having a bowl of yogurt and granola/muesli with a bit of honey. Otherwise, the answer would be pizza, or a steak.

Jonathan:  In the morning, a hot breakfast is always welcomed. If the WOD was later in the day, I'm always a fan of a big steak burrito.

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit?
Carolyn:  Singing, reading, painting. 

Jonathan:  I enjoy watching sports, music, and experiencing all that New Orleans has to offer.

What do you do for a living?
Carolyn:  I work in the Cloud Marketing division at IBM. 

Jonathan:   am a Chemical Engineer currently working as an Operations Supervisor for a Hydrogen Plant in Norco.

What is one goal that you are currently working on?
Carolyn:  There are several, but I'll pick two: kipping handstand push-ups and consistent chest-to-bar pull-ups.

Jonathan:  Muscle Ups 

Are you doing the CrossFit Open?
Carolyn:  Yes! First time. We'll see how it goes.

Jonathan:  Yes. It's my first year doing it.

First couple to be featured from our uptown gym, John Paul Luckett and Katy Olivier (to be married Jan 2017)


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How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first experience/WOD?

JP:     I was roommates with Chad Becnel in undergrad. We worked out at the school gym together and every now and then we would do a crossfit workout, which I then called "Spazfit". We did Murph and Fight Gone Bad about once a month, and he would kick my ass every time. I almost passed out doing Murph once. I was still okay just doing my normal isolation workout at the gym, until Chad and I did Diane. He halved my time and I have contributed all my free time to becoming better than him since. 

Katy:   The first time I heard about Crossfit was when I visited John Paul in New Orleans in college. He lived with Chad Becnel and we made fun of Chad for going to "Spazz fit." Then, Chad took John Paul to a free intro class and, of course, John Paul became obsessed.  Leslie and I would get so aggravated when we would come in to visit and the boys would leave us alone for hours to go workout. Then, Leslie tried it out and she fell in love...and I was still pro-testing. Finally, I was forced to start when John Paul gave me a year-long membership as a college graduation present...I mean, seriously, how forward can you get? My first WOD experience was in Baton Rouge with John Paul and his brother Brandon. I did my first thruster and then joined the cult. 

When did you first come to CrossFit NOLA?

JP:  I started at Crossfit NOLA in January of 2013 and tested out with Julie April at Midcity. 

Katy:  I started at NOLA in August of 2014, only 3 months after I did my first WOD in Baton Rouge at Redstick. My two year anniversary will be this year!

How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally take (times and specialties)?

JP:    I come about 5 days a week, any time that fits my schedule. I started with Team Formula Training about a year and a half ago, so I usually do their programming somewhere on the side. 

Katy:  I usually do Crossfit ~5 days/wk. I enjoy the noon class because it's very laid back and never crowded. I also love Saturday mornings because everyone is there and it's nice to visit! 

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit NOLA?

JP:  I am competition driven. When I have something to train for, my performance in everything else improves. My grades actually went up in undergrad after I started with Crossfit NOLA. So the competitiveness definitely attracted me. But what has probably kept me with crossfit, is the support from the community. I have found that the crossfit community pushes individuals to be the best that he or she can be. When the people next to me are pushing themselves in a workout or a specific lift, it encourages me to push just a little bit more along with them.

Katy:  I love the coaches! Everyone is very supportive and motivating which fosters a really great environment. They also provide individual constructive criticism that really has helped me improve my technique and my overall athletic ability. Also, the workouts really push me to surpass my own expectations and I love that feeling!

Favorite thing about New Orleans?

JP:   There is always somewhere that I have never been before.

Katy:  Food!

What  accomplishment are you the most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)? 

JP:   I recently beat Brad Raines in a 2K row. I'm still smiling.

Katy:  I guess I'm most proud of my academic accomplishments. As a medical student, it's very easy to get bogged down by stress and to get burnt out. However, I feel that I have done a good job balancing school and my quality of life outside of school. John Paul and I go to Mass every weekend (even before tests!) and we take time to relax and explore the city and try out new restaurants. I think that this balance has actually helped me to do well in school, along with my daily stress relief of a workout :)

​After a hard workout, what is your favorite meal?

JP:  Burger, fries, milkshake. Company Burger always fills the need!

Katy:  "The Company Burger", add a fried egg with sweet potato fries with a Wedding Cake donut from District for dessert. Let's be real though, I would eat anything and love it after a workout.

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit?

​JP:  I like to brew beer, and then drink it. Sometimes I share it with friends.

Katy:   Before Crossfit, I used to dance 6 days/week - mostly ballet and pointe (tooooootaaaalll opposite of Crossfit, right?!) Every now and then, I'll cater to my inner priss and take a Pure Barre class. I also really enjoy running! Some other random hobbies include sewing and event planning. I planned a back packing trip to Europe that was absolutely awesome (if I do say so myself), so naturally I'm enjoying planning my wedding! 
What do you do for a living?

JP:  I am a full time student at LSUHSC New Orleans. When I am not exercising, eating, or drinking, I am pretending to study.

Katy:  Study...all day every day.
What is one goal that you are currently working on?

JP:  Placing higher in the open than I did last year.

Katy:   I'm currently working to get through this semester of school so that I can hurry up and get in the hospital on rotations! I'm also working on my muscle ups :)
Are you doing the CrossFit Open?

JP:  Does the Hulk smash?

Katy:  Yep! Last year was my first open and I had a lot of fun!