Katrina

I’m a 34 year old work in progress!

I could say kindergarten teacher, but really, I’ve learned the hard way the dangers of defining one’s self by their job/career.

I could say runner, and that is probably closest to the truth. It’s something that had led my life in so many wonderful directions.

I could say very VERY amateur photographer, and that is something that is fast becoming as influential to me as running.

I could say I’m a 34 year old diabetic. But I’ll be damned if I let a disease define me.

But the reality is, all these things make up who I am. My quest for optimal health and longevity is what drives me to get up each morning.

My story

I was always thin while growing up. I was all bony arms and legs and loved playing outside when I wasn’t nose deep in a good book. When I started filling out in jr. high school, I battled for a few months with anorexia. When it got to the point that my performance in basketball practice and breathing trouble surfaced, I managed to work my way through to eating again. I started learning to cook for my family and realized I really loved it! But healthy was expensive and time consuming so our nutrition suffered. Iwas always active, so my weight stayed at 127 all through high school. I was active in weight lifting at the time and running track. Little did I know then that I would one day be a runner for life.

Fast forward to college and I actually lost the Freshman 15. Cafeteria food wasn’t the best, and Iwas busy from 6-11 each day, so I just didn’t consume as many calories as I had at home. Again, nutrition wasn’t the best. But, for some reason, I was in the best shape. My lowest body fat reading was during my senior year at 15%.

After college, I started working outside of Memphis. I lived in a tiny apartment in the not-so-good area of town and a first year teacher in a rural county did not make enough money for a gym membership. After our wedding,  my weight shot up to over 212 by the time we moved 5 years after college graduation. I still loved to cook, but I was severely inactive.

When we moved to Alabama, I started running within a few weeks. There was park close by and I would get up 3 mornings a week. Between Dec 04 and Dec 06, I lost about 60lbs. After I had lost my first 30, my weight stabilized for a while. I was at the peak of health when I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. I was to watch my sugar and carb intake and monitor my running. I was already eating much better and was in the prime of my running. I was only 30 years old and I was scared. I was diagnosed full on diabetic in Feb 07. Between Nov 11, date of diagnosis to Jan11, I lost the last 30 lbs. I was too scared to eat ANYTHING that wasn’t whole grain, protein, or complex carb. I had to learn to fuel for running. I passed out on the road 2-3 times that winter. It was like learning to eat all over again.

Once I had the leg/hip injury my activity went down a little and so did my mental outlook. I battled depression for a couple of years, and still go to counseling. Running has become a form of control for me. I think I”ve always battle for a need to control and that’s something I’m exploring in counseling.  During this time, I’ve put about 15lbs back on my frame. It’s slowly coming off, but like I said. I’m a work in progress.

Right now, I’m teaching Kindergarten. We live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, home of the University of Alabama and long-time Tide fans. And Frankie, our furbaby, wants to move to Colorado.