Specialty: Fitness & Exercise / Recipes

Joined:7.1.2018

Website: Fit Life

At age 45, I am in the best shape of my life.  Here’s my story of how I got here…

Like many folks I was heavy and fairly inactive as a child. I sought comfort in food as my consolation for something that was missing in my life. I had been successful at various times of my life in losing large amounts of weight, 20, 40, 60 pounds, only to have it come back on and then some. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 27, like my dad. I struggled for a few years with my weight, diabetic pills and the struggle of life.

I stopped getting on the scale at 356.  I am confident I went past that mark and was somewhere in the area of 370 when my diabetes really went out of control and I hit my lowest point.   I was put on insulin and realized one day that I would die young if I didn’t get this under control. My dad was a brittle diabetic and slowly started to lose his legs to amputations, kidney failure, transplants and multiple surgeries and I could see that would be me if I didn’t take hold of my health.

I started an Atkins based weight plan and went to the one activity that I knew I could do and wasn’t completely adverse to trying; swimming. I ate protein, veggies, low healthy carbs and swam 3x a week.I was able to get 75-100 pounds off myself and was taken off all medications! I was so excited, I was on top of the world.   I then went to see a personal trainer (Vicki C. from North Shore Martial Arts) who helped me get down to 195 through weight lifting, kickboxing and cardio.

My story starts to change about that time, I went for my MBA and in the next 16 months I packed on 10, 30 then up to 75 pounds. I had no time to work out with school and eating well was out the window.   My diabetes then came back with a vengeance and I was routinely in the 350-600 range for my sugars. I was placed on 3-5 shots of insulin a day and lost part of my vision.  I also started to have nephropathy in my toes (couldn’t feel my feet) so I knew I had to do something permanent.

Based on a friends experience I went to see a physician for weight management. He recommended gastric bypass due to my diabetes.  I completed the counseling, nutritional classes and other appointments and had the surgery 5/2013.  That day, I kissed my old life goodbye, including my insulin and diabetes.

Currently, I am down 227# from my high of 370, I had Lasik surgery to correct my vision and I now have a healthy lifestyle and relationship with food.

Some of my highlights include:

• completing a 5k four weeks post surgery;
• becoming a certified fitness instructor (Core De Force MMA inspired cardio and CIZE hip hop cardio);
• running my own fitness groups on facebook;
• I am starting to teach classes in the fall of 2018 and I also have started my certification to be a personal trainer.
• I’m also pursuing a nutritional coaching certificate and soon plan to offer a comprehensive program for both Bariatric as well as non-surgical patients.

Feel free to email me direct or check out my pages:

Facebook Groups:
Fit Life
Fit Life Foodie

Instagram
Fitlife_Midwest  aka Fit Life Fitness.

Be well!

Janet’s Upcoming Training:

Courses Below Held At:
North Shore Fitness
25404 W Main St
Ingleside, Illinois 60041

Checking Interest!
Core DeForce MMA Inspired Cardio Course

4 Week Course – Starting October 1st, 2018 – Prepaid
Sunday’s From 6:45am – 7:45am
Optional Add-ins: Tues/Thur From 5:45am – 6:45am
Pricing Available Soon!

Checking Interest!
CIZE Hip Hop Dance Inspired Cardio

4 Week Course – Starting October 1st, 2018 – Prepaid
Sunday’s From 8:00am – 9:00am
Wednesday From 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Pricing Available Soon!

Contact Janet Direct:

Email: Fit-LifeFitness@outlook.com