Guest Blog by Jill Kratz. Commitment to Nutrition

 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