Member Of The Month – October 2022
Our October MOTM award goes to the lovely Fi Doig!
Fi is a lovely smiley lady who works hard and moves incredibly well. She consistently attends the gym, doing classes, and working on her accessory work around classes too. She is always up for being coached on movements and how to get them more efficient, and takes coaching really well. Recently she has shown everyone just what she is made of by going from strength to strength in everything CrossFit. Not only are her weight numbers going up (and she is strong!!), but she makes everything look easy and effortless too, and that comes from all her hard work and perseverance. Her CrossFit journey hasn’t been without hurdles, with injuries and niggles sometimes showing up, but she never quit, always working around them, and being consistent with rehab and training sensible to make her stronger than ever. Her gymnastic movements are also so beautiful to watch. Alongside her training she is also always supporting others and a pleasure to have in the classes. 
So well done Fi, we have all happily watched your progress and you are an example that hard work and patience does pay off. So lets find out a little more about Fi…
M – How long have you been doing CrossFit?
FD – I’m an oldie to the CrossFit game, I started in 2014 in my second year of uni. Eight years in total! 4 of which have been at MSQD, my second home! ❤️
M – What class time do you usually attend and why does that work for you?
FD – I train in the 6.15pm class (mornings are not my jam… I struggle to wake up for the 10.30am Saturday class 🤪) and occasionally come to the lunch time class (if work isn’t too chaotic)!
I love having the extra time after the class when it’s a bit quieter to have some me time & work on some extra bits, so 6.15pm has become my staple class. Some of my best friends go to this class too and I look forward to seeing them, having a laugh & getting some endorphins!
M – What is your why? Why do you put yourself through it each day? Do you have goals you want to achieve?
FD – The short answer is – I sleep a million times better (it decompresses me after work) & means I can drink more wine at the weekend and not feel guilty! Haha!
The long answer is:
I honestly love the community. Getting to see & catch up with everyone is the best part of my day and I’ve made some of my best friends through joining the box!
I love the fact that you can never complete CrossFit, there is always something you can work on, always something that you can get better at & we are so lucky at MSQD to have such great coaches to keep helping us progress and get better every day! 
Lastly (promise haha), I suffered a major back injury in my late teenage years which meant I had to quit dancing (my life’s ambition at the time) & was left struggling to walk distances & with some not so fun mental scars. CrossFit was the first activity I loved as much as dancing, it helped me get back to feeling like myself again and I will always be so grateful to it for that.
M – What advice would you give anyone wanting to start CrossFit but is either unsure or nervous? We get people all the time saying they need to get fit first or they could never do what we do? Any advice for those people?
FD – Very honestly, when I first started I couldn’t even pick the bar up! I did one session and hated it and didn’t go back for 3 months lol. My mum eventually persuaded me to try again, but this time leave my ego at the door! I’ve never looked back since! I was overweight, unfit, recovering from a severe back injury & 2 torn hamstrings when I started! But I began with the basics and built up from there.
Anyone and everyone can do CrossFit that’s the beauty of it and the inclusive nature of the community. The people who make it look easy have all been in the same position as someone who’s just starting (it seems scary now but it’s worth it, promise!).
My mum and dad (true inspirations) are nearing their 60s and can whoop me at WODs! There are kids classes, mums & babies classes, adapted divisions, masters athletes, the list goes on!
So in short, just give it a go and save judgment until you’ve done your first class, smashed your first PB, hit your first pull up, completed a partner WOD you never thought would end! It’s gets pretty addictive I can promise you. 😜
M – What is your biggest achievement so far in CrossFit and what are you most proud of?
FD – I’m probably most proud of how resilient CrossFit has made me. I’ve been unlucky with injuries (nothing to do with CrossFit, mainly a mixture of bad luck and an addictive personality 🙈), but I have been patient & built back stronger after each one and I am a much better athlete and person for it.
I’m proud that it’s helped me get over my body dysmorphia after years of dancing! I never thought I’d be able to take my t-shirt off in a class & feel comfortable (this is especially down to the incredible culture of body positivity at MSQD & if you’re too hot, take your damn top off! Everyone looks great 😍).
But I also feel really proud when I see my friends smash their goals, get their first Muscle ups, PB their lifts, get into their first handstands, those moments are gold and what makes CrossFit & MSQD so special.
Also just wanted to say a big thank you for choosing me to be MOTM! It feels like a real honour, I’ve loved getting to train here & be part of the community for the past few years and I can’t recommend MSQD enough if you’re thinking of joining us crazy CrossFitters 🤪🥰❤️
M – What a lovely blog! Thank you for all your honesty and well done again – very inspiring and we are proud of you.
