Karen Kryz

Hello and thank you for taking the time to view my port! Currently I am taking a hiatus from competing and doing shoots to focus on finishing school and getting my career back on track.

I have been very fortunate to work with some amazing and extremely talented MMers and have had many wonderful opportunities experiences come my way, and I look forward to working with many more when I come back!

Thanx!
K.


****** My Story ******

Growing up I was not athletic - in fact I struggled with my weight. Being overweight never really bothered me except when I was picked on by other kids at school for my appearance. Despite being teased, it was not until my doctor told me I had high cholesterol (at the age of 13) that made me realize I had to do something about my weight and health.

The first major step I took was I changed my eating habits. By the time I was 15, I successfully lost close to 40lbs and lowered my cholesterol to a normal level. However, maintaining my weight became a challenge, and by the time I completed university I had put the pounds back on plus I once again had high cholesterol.

So the next thing I did was join a gym. I enjoyed working out on cardio machines, but I didn’t want to go near weights because I was scared to get bigger than I already was. When I realized I was not getting the results I wanted on my own, I decided to hire a trainer to learn about weight training and to help me get my health back on track.

Everything was going great until I was 26, when I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). PCOS is a hormonal disorder that causes the ovaries to produce higher levels of androgens. Some of the major symptoms include infrequent menstrual periods, high cholesterol, and weight gain/obesity (all of which I was experiencing). Although PCOS is not curable, it is treatable with medications and can be controlled through diet and exercise.

Initially, I had a difficult time accepting that I had PCOS. I went through the “why me” phase and I felt sorry for myself. Discovering that something is wrong with your body and knowing that you have to live with it for the rest of life is not a fun experience to go through. However, if anything good came out of this ordeal, the diagnosis finally provided me with answers as to why I was having all these problems with my weight and cholesterol.

Today, I have accepted and come to terms with having PCOS. It has shaped the person I have become, and gives me the determination to take this negative element in my life and transform it into something positive. Competing [in fitness competitions] has become that positive. I have been “gifted” with something that makes me special and unique - rather than see the glass as half-empty, I will view it as half-full.