Featured Chobaniac: Katherine R. of Food Fitness Fantasy

Attention, folks! Today we’re introducing Katherine of Food Fitness Fantasy, our Featured Chobaniac this week. We were so beyond flattered by her shining review of Chobani SoHo and kind words about the company that we simply had to reach out and ask her to participate in our series.

Shoot an email to fans[at]chobani dot com if you’re interested in taking part in the “Featured Chobaniac” series. We’d love to share your story with friends far and wide!

Greetings, fellow Chobaniacs! I’m Katherine and Chobani has been a staple in my diet since I discovered it nearly two years ago. At that point in my life, I was trying to lose weight and look better. Now, my goals have shifted toward becoming stronger and healthier — and Chobani is an important part of the balance I’m working toward!

When I was younger I didn’t give much thought to what I put in my body. I ate whatever I was in the mood for — usually a lot of junk food — but since I got plenty of exercise through extracurricular sports as well as walking and biking around my small hometown, I never really saw the consequences of eating poorly. During college and after I graduated, I got much less exercise. My metabolism slowed, but I kept eating like I always had — and it was beginning to show.

When I moved to New York City, I realized that a lot of aspects of my lifestyle needed to change. Though I had an OK job and was not overweight for my height and build, I realized I was unhappy with my career prospects and the way I looked. I wanted to work as a writer or editor. I wanted to be fitter and stronger. A dream job and a good figure aren’t things that are just handed to you. You have to work for them!

Starting off with a few simple goals led to even more ideas and dreams. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t just doing what had to be done. I was mapping out what I wanted to achieve and how I was going to achieve it. I started freelancing and networking. I joined a gym. I became obsessed with making lists and checking off the tasks once I completed them.

However, there was a dark side to my new schedule. I felt like I needed to be doing something every second to maximize my time, so I hit the gym at every spare moment. I chose to write into the early hours of the morning instead of spending time with my family and friends or getting some much-needed rest. I went from eating junk to not eating enough at all, and I was not treating the important people in my life with the care and respect they deserved.

Fitness publications and blogs stress how unhealthy it is when you eat too much and don’t exercise. But if you overexercise and eat too little, it is just as unhealthy. Injuries and health problems I was having cleared up as soon as I started properly fueling before working out and refueling afterward. It seems obvious, but when you experience it firsthand, you learn that portions of protein — like the 13+ grams in each 6-ounce fabulous, flavorful cup of Chobani — are great for keeping you full and satisfied, while giving you the energy you need to achieve your goals!

I’m still trying to find a perfect balance that allows me to make time to eat, exercise, and complete personal and professional projects while working toward old goals and new ones. But for now, I’m working at a job I love and I’m training for my first marathon in January. I’m so incredibly grateful to be living in New York City, a location that affords a million opportunities, not to mention the chance to pay regular visits to Chobani SoHo for delicious, healthy treats. Chobani is a huge part of what keeps me going — what keeps you going?