Commitment to Nutrition by Jill Kratz
Commitment. It is the first thing that comes to mind when asked about my
journey in nutrition and fitness over these last few years. Many people have
asked me what I eat and how I train but before I discuss meal plans and
training programs, there has to be the understanding that I have committed
myself to living a healthier lifestyle. I want my body to be fueled with the
right kinds of food. Foods that will not only help me feel good and perform
well at the gym, but food that will keep me at optimal health so that I may
enjoy my life.
I have had Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes for 30 years. As you can imagine,
growing up with diabetes as a child was not always easy. My blood sugars
were unstable. My hemoglobin A1C hit an all time high at 13 and I still was
not taking my health seriously. I felt tired, sick, and overweight. My skin
had horrible acne that I could not get rid of. My health was out of control.
As I became an adult, a wife, and a mother, life got crazy. Balancing a
family left my health last on the list. We had three children in six years and
I became a busy stay at home mom leaving little time to take care of myself.
The fact that I was able to have three healthy children was a blessing.
As the years went by I tried different diets. Eating little food and walking on
a treadmill for hours showed no results and I was not feeling much better.
That is when my husband asked me to try eating a clean diet based on
protein, vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats. Many know this as the Paleo diet.
It seemed impossible. Nothing processed? No dairy? No grains?
Reluctantly I tried it. I felt amazing. My blood sugar stabilized immediately
and the amount of insulin I was on decreased daily. And my AIC level?
Dropped to 6 in just a few months!
Soon after I changed the way I ate I decided to take up a different type of
exercise. I started CrossFit training. I had never used a barbell or even a
dumbbell until the day I walked into the gym. I felt nervous, awkward, and
out of place. My first workout was humbling. I had never trained at that
kind of intensity before. It was exactly what I had been looking for. Each
day I came back and pushed myself harder. There was a feeling of
accomplishment every time I left.
With a drastic change in diet and consistent training, I lost 8% body fat in
less than six months. My body composition changed and I loved the way I
felt. It motivated me to train harder and in a couple more months I entered
my first Crossfit competition. I continued to compete and even became
certified as a Crossfit Level 1 Trainer. I attended seminars with Crossfit
athletes to increase my knowledge and learn how I can help others at the
gym.
For the past year I have been strength training in both Olympic Lifts and
Power lifting. My diet has become even more important. Fueling it with the
proper food to sustain my training schedule left me wanting more
information. I attended a nutritional seminar with a Crossfit Games athlete
about a year ago to learn more about the food I should be eating. I learned
that nutrition is the key in developing not only my strength but good diabetes
control and body composition.
It’s been four years since I started this journey and my passion for fitness
and nutrition has changed my life. At 38 years old I have not only competed
in many Crossfit competitions in the area, but soon I will be competing in a
power lifting meet that I have been training for this year. I am confident,
motivated, and driven.
It hasn’t always been easy. Commitment has been the key. Training hard
even on days I was tired. Choosing to eat clean and prepping my meals
during a busy weekend full of hockey games, gymnastic meets, and daily
household chores. I travel with food everywhere I go. I find a way to train
even on the days I don’t feel like I can fit one more thing into my schedule.
I am the healthiest version of me that I have ever been because of my
commitment.
I want the opportunity to help others find the healthiest version of
themselves. I want to help others commit to a healthy lifestyle. I know my
level of training and nutrition goals are not for everyone. I understand that
everyone has different goals that they are looking to achieve. But what I
believe is that we are all striving for better health. And no matter what your
goal is, you will have a hard time achieving it without commitment.
Commit to Well is a business I am developing that provides healthy food
prep and nutritional support. Check out my facebook page and message me
if there is any way I can help you reach your goals. I hope to hear from you!
*I have included a daily schedule for those of you who are interested. I do
not eat the same food everyday but I do eat at around the same times daily.
A typical daily schedule:
Wake 4:30a.m. Coffee
Snack 7a.m. Plain Greek yogurt
Strawberries
Blueberries
Breakfast at 9a.m. 3 hard boiled eggs
Almonds
Apple
Lunch 12p.m. Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Snack 3p.m. Chopped pork loin
Quinoa
Avocado
*Training 530p.m.-7p.m.
Dinner 730p.m. Grilled chicken
Diced sweet Potato
Bacon
Cabbage
Avocado
