Name: Jill
Age: 42
Family Status: Married with 3 kids
Occupation: Motivational speaker, Diabetes advocate
Hometown: Nampa, Idaho
Pounds or Inches Lost: I lost 100 pounds!
Starting Weight: 237 pounds
Current Weight: 137 pounds
Jill’s Weight Loss Story!
When did you become unhappy with your weight?
I gained 50 pounds during my first pregnancy. With 2 more pregnancies and many miscarriages my weight gradually began increasing. As with most women, I became a wife and then a mother and got so busy with life that I forgot the importance of taking care of myself. I was young, and my body didn’t feel the extra 100 pounds I had gradually put on over the years. I had bad eating habits, no time for exercise and no real desire to be healthy.
What made you decide to lose weight?
My breaking point was when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes with my third and last pregnancy at age 37. I was having headaches after the pregnancy and just not feeling well, I thought it was from having a sick newborn. Finally, at six months, I went to see the doctor to be checked for the headaches, and I found out I had put on 15 extra pounds. It was so depressing. I also found out I have Type 2 diabetes that was even more depressing. I was determined right then that I was going to get the weight off, and I did!
My husband and kids mean the world to me. Being able to live a long life was an important factor and motivation to lose the weight. In January, I even broke my ankle on both sides after slipping on black ice, I had to have surgery and 6 screws put in my fibula. I was still so determined I was still able to lose the weight. My mind was made up that no matter what, it was coming off.
What were the most important changes you made to lose weight?
I logged my food, ate six small meals a day and had no refined sugar. Finding out I had Type 2 diabetes helped me have a paradigm shift in the way I think, and I did a lifestyle change versus a diet. Four days a week, cardio mixed with weight training was my exercise routine. In January, I had a personal trainer sponsor Rebecca Carington training sessions to get ready for the Mrs. Idaho pageant. It was wonderful to learn from a trainer, she really cared about me and saw the potential I could reach and I did.
I did the Mrs. Idaho pageant after losing a total of 100 pounds, and I made the top six out of 16 amazing woman. I am now a motivational speaker to motivate others to lose weight and get healthy. I am a diabetes advocate. It brings me great joy to share my story with others.
What was most challenging about losing weight?
When I had a broken ankle but I still lost the rest of my weight during that.
How long did it take you to start to see results?
It was 30 days before I really started to see results.
How long did it take for you to reach your current weight?
3 years.
How long have you maintained your weight loss and how do you do it?
6 months. It is a lifestyle change so I continue to eat 6 small meals a day and I workout!
How has your life changed now that you’ve lost weight?
I love the way I feel! I did the Mrs. Idaho pageant and placed in the top 5 out of 19 beautiful woman. My platform was type 2 diabetes. Since the pageant, I have been able to have a ton of doors open to share my journey. I love sharing my journey to help others!
How did ShapeFit help you reach your weight loss goals?
Just being a visitor, it gave me some really great tips to follow! ShapeFit.com is a great site for tips and information on how to lose weight.
Jill’s Weight Loss Tips!
Weight loss tip #1:
Eat 6 small meals a day vs. 3 big ones.
Weight loss tip #2:
Workout! Cardio and weight training.
Weight loss tip #3:
Journal your food intake!
Weight loss tip #4:
Gather support as you are losing the weight from friends and family.
Weight loss tip #5:
BE CONSISTENT!
Jill’s Weight Loss Eating Plan!
Breakfast:
Oatmeal, one egg.
Lunch:
1/2 turkey sandwich with lot’s of veggies, with a small amount of mustard.
Dinner:
4 to 6 ounces of salmon with some type of veggies.
Snacks or Mini Meals:
Vegetables throughout the day, small hand full of almonds, protein shakes, fruit.
Jill’s Weight Loss Workouts!
Weight Training:
I weight train 3 days a week.
Cardiovascular:
I do cardio 4 days a week.
3 Comments
This is so inspiring. I met Jill Knapp in Chicago at a health fair and she is such an inspiration. I just read about 30 of the success stories here on ShapeFit.com and I’m so excited to recommit myself to losing my last 30 pounds. Thanks ShapeFit for your great website and for providing all of these helpful tips.
Some of these stories are so great! I have 4 kids and just have a hard time staying on track. I can do good for a few days, but then I go back to old habits. How did you eat right long enough to lose 100 pounds? You look so healthy!
Hi Amy – It comes out to being consistent and staying on track with your weight loss plan. Don’t get discouraged with small mistakes or cheats and try your best to rebound and get back on track the next day. One cheat day is not going to break your progress, so just try your best to avoid turning a 1-day mistake into a 2-week nightmare. Don’t beat yourself up too hard about it since everyone makes mistakes and nobody is perfect. It’s all about managing the misses and getting back on track to reach your goals. Find a diet plan that you can actually stick to for the long haul. If you like eating some carbs, then a low-carb or keto diet is not going to be right for you. Know what your body responds to what you can realistically manage and stick with that game plan. Best of luck 🙂