Interview With Kristine Griffith
Inspiration Feature of the Month - September 2010
Interviewed by: Angela Moreno
A fateful day in 2008 changed Kristine Griffith's life forever. Surviving a near-fatal car accident, she suffered numerous severe injuries and surgery after surgery. Determined to take back control of her life, she has since lost more than 30 pounds and embraced the fitness lifestyle. Through a harrowing circumstance, she has risen above and become a true paradigm of inspiration.
"Don't feel sorry for yourself; think about what you still have and can do; keep your mind set on seeing the positive things in life and use that energy, even if it's anger, pain, or frustration, to drive you to be better."
WP: Hi Kristine! Thank you for taking the time to do this interview! You have been through a lot in your young life. Can you share your story with us?
KG: The challenges of my life were fairly normal, but my life was about to be turned upside down on September 5, 2008. I was driving to college when another driver made an illegal turn in front of me, and my car was struck twice. My life flashed before my eyes.
The first month following the accident, I was unable to move my neck. I was later diagnosed with many injuries. My neck has three disks that are torn in five levels. The discs have also slipped pressing against nerves, which causes extreme pain that radiates down my spine. When I move my neck, I have three vertebrate that move farther back then normal. The doctors are still trying to diagnose the pain associated with my back. I am unable to sit for any length of time without shooting pain; at times my legs going numb. I have had numerous injections to my spinal cord in my neck as well as my lower back, which has not helped the pain. Both of my knees have been damaged, and to date, I have had surgery on my right knee and injections to my left. Lastly, the accident induced a heart problem (tachycardia), which affects my breathing at various times.
With all my injuries, I am in severe pain daily. Because of the stress, pain and anxiety of all these events I developed insomnia, and at one point, was unable to sleep for eight days. I still have some problems sleeping from time to time.
But, through this life-changing event, I have discovered that I do not pity or feel sorry for myself. I do not let this stop me from achieving my goals or give me a reason to give up.
WP: You have dealt with so much. Even through all your pain, in January 2009 you decided to set a weight loss goal for yourself. What lead to that decision?
KG: It’s amazing what we tell ourselves by refusing to look in the mirror and never admitting that you got fat. I grew up always having a six-pack and never thought about going to the gym for workouts. I was like all the other young people today that take their body for granted.
I was always active in sports so I thought I would always be in shape. Oh, boy was I wrong. The thing that I forget most is that weight sneaks up on you slowly. If you don’t monitor yourself and admit you’re gaining weight then it will continue as you age.
For me, my wakeup call was not from my accident but when an old friend of mine came to town and took pictures. It finally hit me when I looked at myself. Wow, what happened to me? How had I let myself get that bad? It changed the way I thought about myself. From that moment on I knew it was time to make a change. On January 1, 2009 I set out to get my figure back and get healthy.
WP: What is your weight loss to date?
KG: When I started January 1, 2009 I was approximately 160-165 pounds and 30-35% body fat. As of today, I am 130 pounds and 19-20% body fat. I have to say, I feel amazing and have been brought back to life with more energy and drive to keep going to reach my goals. I have also vowed to keep fit and healthy which is now my current lifestyle.
WP: Not only have you been successful in your weight loss journey, but also you’re taking it one step further and have your sights set on stepping onstage in your first fitness competition next year! Are you excited?
KG: I get excited every single day from the moment I wake. I started working out by making the challenge to not only get back in shape, but to get up on stage for everything I have overcome.
Whether I place or not, I will still be a winner; standing tall and proud. I see the videos of others who compete and I get more excited thinking about it, knowing that one day I will be in one of those. It’s hard to picture from that first day of working out that dream ever coming true when you’re 160 pounds and 30/35% body fat. I knew that one way or another that I would find a way because failure wasn’t an option.
I am now pushing myself even harder after seeing how close I am to reaching my goal. I am doing it without a trainer and with tips I get when I ask others. I must admit, I have even had tears in my eyes seeing my dreams coming true.
WP: That is so inspiring! What made you want to pursue competing in fitness?
KG: I have always loved to challenge myself by setting high goals that are tough. After seeing all the other amazing fitness competitors on stage, I wanted to be a part of it. I also wanted to help inspire others and show people that living healthy is one of the great rewards in life. Now when I return home from a hard workout, I feel alive and full of energy.
WP: How are you preparing for this show?
KG: I research different workouts on not only strength, but agility. I ask trainers about my nutrition intake for my goals. For instance, I am trying to gain muscle but drop body fat, so managing my diet is my immediate focus. I am still continuing to learn what nutrition my body needs and how it uses it. I eat every 3 hours, which is a challenge at times, since I go to school full time. There are no refrigerators for us so I have to plan out my meals in advance.
WP: It’s commendable that you want to know as much as you can about your training and nutrition. Can you give me an example of your current workout?
KG: I am currently working out six to seven days a week. My sample workout is:
Day one: I workout my shoulders, chest, triceps, abs and cardio exercises at the end.
Day two: I workout my back, biceps, abs and cardio exercises at the end.
Day three: I workout my legs, abs, and cardio exercises at the end.
Then, I start over with day one. If I exercise seven days, the seventh day is just cardio and abs exercises. I am also getting some things for home use so I can do a second workout before going to bed. I also plan on getting a weighted vest to wear doing my workouts to push me even harder.
WP: You are a powerhouse! It’s amazing how far you’ve come. What do your doctors say about your training? Do you still have any issues stemming from the accident?
KG: Unfortunately, my injuries to my neck will be permanent and will probably get worse with age. Since my vertebrae moved farther back than normal, they will eventually wear down over time, becoming unstable to the point that I would need neck surgery. I have already had appointments with an orthopedic surgeon to see what the prognosis would be because I still am experiencing pain after almost two years. I also have to speak to my knee surgeon because I am still in pain after that surgery.
WP: Would you say your new fitness lifestyle has changed you?
KG: It has changed me completely! Out of all the things that people get hooked on, fitness is addictive to me. I was very self-conscious about myself from a previous relationship and my self-esteem was nonexistent since I gained weight. I now walk proud everywhere I go, whether it is a gym or just simple shopping. I feel confident about myself. I am now able to get into a bathing suit and shorts for the first time in five years.
Also, living through my experiences, I want to help and encourage others perhaps to eventually take the test to be a personal trainer. I am more alive and back to being outgoing and unstoppable because I know I can rise above any challenge.
WP: How is your outlook, both on life and fitness, changed after your accident?
However, life has a way of showing you it has a plan. You just need to have patience. I learned life is a blessing and not to take it for granted. You never know what is planned for you tomorrow. I now live a positive life and have been active through the recovery process from the accident. The amazing thing is that I found my true passion from it and will never look back. If someone had told me I would be training to get on stage and compete, I probably would have laughed and not have even thought it was possible.
WP: What do you feel has been your stepping stone to get where you are today
KG: I would have to say that that my stepping-stone is my attitude and my determination. I believe attitude is really important if you use words such as I can, I will, I am, and other words that are positive. Never tell yourself that you can’t do something; this will set you up for failure.
Being determined to lose the weight or to achieve whatever your goal is in life, never consider failure as an option. Even if you don’t succeed the first time, take what you learned from that experience and find a better solution and keep going until you find one that works for you. Determination is key. It is easy to give up on things and just tell yourself it’s not worth the hassle or the pain. I use my determination as my power. I see what I want in life and where I want to be. It won’t be handed to me; I have to make it happen. I do say life likes to challenge me to see how much I can take before I crumble. When this happens, I say bring it on, because life is not fair.
WP: You have such a positive attitude. It’s no wonder you’re achieving your goals. How is your diet different now that you’re preparing for a show? Is anyone helping you?
KG: My diet has changed completely. When I first started working out, the first thing I did was cut out soft drinks entirely and drink only water. With my diet change and work out, I dropped 14 pounds. From day one, I’ve been researching and have asked for opinions from trainers such as Micah Lacerte from Hitchfit.com as well as Jose Cruz. They are both a great help when I have questions regarding nutrition or diet. In addition, I have talked with the trainers at Gold’s Gym. I continue to research and to talk with other people in the fitness field.
WP: Can you give me an example of your current diet?
KG: With my current diet, I eat something every 3 hours. This was the hardest thing and still is a challenge since I lose track of time easily. In the morning, I make either oatmeal, egg whites with one whole egg or protein pancakes. 3 hours later, I’ll have a small salad, green beans, broccoli, cabbage, or asparagus (small portions). Three hours later, I have chicken, tuna, lean meat, or turkey meat. I rotate some things and have been learning to make new meals. I experiment, and some days I have 3 to 5 protein shakes a day.
WP: Now that you’re increasing your training, are you taking any supplements?
KG: I can say I found a new hobby in adding and finding new supplements to help me. I take pure whey protein, Total Omega, fish oil, cinnamon pills 2 times a day, L-Glutamine 1000 (taken 5 times a day), Living Green Liquid Gel multi whole food concentrates, Emergen-C, as well as a multi-vitamin to cover the other essential vitamins.
WP: You are thorough with your supplementation. What is the hardest thing you have had to deal with when it comes to your diet?
KG: I have self control, so to stop eating junk food was easy for me. The hardest thing is eating every 3 hours. I have also learned how to cook new things. For instance, protein pancakes. I am continuing to learn even more things about nutrition and what I should be eating.
WP: You’ll have to give me your protein pancake recipe! Are you involved in any other activities?
KG: When I am not at school or the gym and have completed my school projects, I enjoy hiking or working on my photography. I love nature and seeing natural beauty relaxes me. I enjoy camping, renting a kayak to go out on the lake and swimming. I enjoy most sports; however, I do have to get cleared by my doctor for any major activity.
WP: Tell me about your family!
KG: I know most people will say this about their own family, however, I feel so blessed to have the most amazing family! Jonathan, my older brother, lives in San Diego, CA with my nephew Liam, who is eight-years-old. Liam is very smart and was accepted into the gifted program. My parents, Susan and David are retired in FL and are my heroes; both for different reasons. I could not ask for better parents. They have helped me in so many ways and still are my greatest support. They are there for me for anything. I have to say, I grew up with a humorous family, playing practical jokes on each other and finding ways to outsmart each other. I was active and played sports since I was in kindergarten. I was a tomboy and didn’t mind getting dirty. My brother and I always loved to challenge each other to see who was stronger or tougher. We are all very close and have a special bond, even though we don’t live near each other.
WP: What does your family think of the new, fitter you?
KG: My family thinks I look great and encourages me to continue on my current path. This support adds to my determination to “stay the course”. Without them, it would have been difficult to succeed.
WP: I hear you were very involved in modeling before your accident. Are you interested in pursuing modeling again in the future?
KG: I always loved modeling as well as acting and have taken modeling classes. I was also involved in theater throughout my high school years. I stopped when I started gaining weight because I am my own worst critic. I thought that I wasn’t good enough and was not comfortable getting in front of a camera. Now, I want to pursue modeling and acting again and perhaps make a career out of it. I know that I lost my past contacts; however, I know that I will make it happen and I will get my break and succeed.
WP: There’s that infectious positive attitude again! With all you have going on, and being back in school, too, when do you find time to fit in your workouts?
KG: Well, I have to say fitness is my number one priority. Because I was injured, my health comes first. I do focus on school as well and found a compatible workout schedule, until I get a full time job that is. Depending on my class schedule (which changes every quarter), I either workout in the morning before class, after class, or sometimes; I split my routine. Sometimes, I go to the gym before class do my weights, go to school, then afterwards go back and finish my routine. I plan my homework assignments around my gym schedule and structure my projects based on priorities, so sometimes I have to cut out one of my gym days.
WP: Your commitment to exercise is amazing! I hear you walk EVERYWHERE!
KG: They totaled my Toyota Tacoma truck from my accident, so from February 18, 2010 until now I didn’t have a car. I had no way of getting anywhere but by foot. I didn’t mind it at first since I saw it as my cardio, until the summer heat went up to 100 to 120 degrees. Walking gets pretty miserable, and I must keep telling myself I can do it. Since I am still in school (which from where I live was 5 miles one way) I am walking five miles to school and five miles back home, and still going to the gym and doing my workouts. This really pushes me more. For seven months, I have been walking ten miles a day for four days a week just to go to school. It taught me a lot and I know I will never again take having a vehicle for granted.
WP: That is just incredible. Where do you get your motivation?
KG: All my life, I think I have been motivated and going after what I wanted for as long as I can remember. This was until I gained weight and got into a bad routine and stopped caring. I can truthfully say it only takes one major event in life to either wake you up or make you give up. My accident woke me up and I realized how lucky I was to be alive, to be able to still walk and move from my injuries. Many people don’t walk away from an accident like mine or they end up in a wheelchair. It showed me not to take life for granted and to get off my butt and do something. It helped me to live my life each day because you never know what will happen tomorrow. My motivation is life and living and experiencing everything I can, and being able to wake up in the morning and make each day count.
WP: What advice would you give to someone faced with your same situation?
KG: I would say stay strong and don’t give up. Remember, you’re in control of yourself and if you believe in yourself, you can do or overcome anything. Yes, I have cried numerous times, but you have to pick yourself up. Don’t feel sorry for yourself; think about what you still have and can do; keep your mind set on seeing the positive things in life and use that energy, even if it’s anger, pain, or frustration, to drive you to be better. Fight when you think you can’t go anymore. Life is not going to stop because something happened to you. You can’t fix what is broken by feeling sorry for yourself.
WP: What do you consider to be important in life? Has your idea of importance change since your accident?
KG: What I consider to be the most important thing in my life is my family. I don’t know what I would do without them. I miss them every day and can’t wait to see them when I get the opportunity. Fitness and health are my second most important things to me. I never was materialistic and the one thing I realized after my accident is that I can’t live without my health. I can lose everything I own, but as long as I have my health, family and friends everything else is just materials that can always be replaced. Living my life to the fullest and being happy is what it’s all about. I believe everything happens for a reason and it’s up to us to see what each situation we are faced with is trying to teach us and what we can teach others as well from our experience.
WP: Even though your accident was so tragic, you’ve used it as a catalyst to improve your life. What have you learned about yourself through all this?
KG: I’ve learned how strong I really am. I have had to deal with my accident myself. My immediate family lives in different states but is very supportive. I’ve had help from a few good friends that have given me rides to my surgeries, but I had to take care of myself afterwards. I’ve also learned that if I can deal with all these problems, I know I can do anything, and I will succeed.
Even when the unexpected happens, the amazing thing is that we have a choice. We can let it stop us, feel sorry for ourselves and sit idly by, or we can stand up and fight and not give up; using the pain or feelings to drive us to be that better person.
The accident was unfortunate because of my many injuries, but I use the pain as a reminder to not give up and to live my life to the fullest. I am grateful for everything I can still do, and also the fact that I do not appear injured.
WP: What are your plans for post-graduation next year?
KG: I plan on being able to step on stage for the first time and I plan on continuing my education. I would also like to become a certified trainer. I have seen what fitness has done for me and would love to assist others and watch them grow and reach their goals and to see them transform inside as well as outside. It’s the most amazing feeling to look in the mirror and at pictures and feel like you’re a different person.
WP: Where would you like to see yourself in 10 years?
KG: Alive and healthy, of course. I would also like to have a successful career as a fitness model and competitor. Also, sharing my life with that special someone and traveling to experience different cultures. Finally, to say I am living life and happier than I could have ever imagined pain free.
WP: Any shout outs?
KG: To my Family: I love you with all my heart. And, to everyone that has helped me and supported me. A special thanks to Kevin Garand, a great friend, who has been there for me when I needed someone to talk to.
WP: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
KG: If I could teach anyone anything about life it would be to take those chances that you were afraid to make and to make your dreams come true. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not good enough¬, because you can accomplish anything if you really want it badly enough.
WP: Thanks for taking the time for this interview, Kristine! It has been a pleasure! I wish you the best of luck in pursuing your first competition and in all your future endeavors!
KG: I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity. I feel grateful to be able to share my story with everyone and hope that it may help in some way.
