Taja’s Story

It was the summer of 1999, purple lupine’s lined the freeway and the fresh air hit my cheeks as we drove through the Rockies on our way to Edmonton, AB Canada.I was 9 years old when it hit me – I was SO thirsty, but no matter how much I drank I couldn’t quench my thirst and I was peeing like crazy.

As soon as we got home my parents took me to the doctor and I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I was immediately admitted to thehospital with DKA and my life, as I knew it had completely changed. I went from rarely seeing a doctor my whole life to having a nurse come by and supervise me. I was too scared to give myself my needles at first, so my parents did it at the beginning of my diagnosis.

Growing up with an autoimmune disease had its challenges and I often felt insecure because I didn’t want people to look at me any differently.Kids at school thought that they could “catch” my diabetes. I’d go to birthday parties and the other kids or their parents would say, “You can’t eat that!” …Strangers grabbed their children and turned away in shock when I injected insulin in public.I felt humiliated and alone because no one truly understood the silent battle that I was fighting.

As I got older I struggled with my weight, which lead me to have a very unhealthy relationship with food. I was told that I was fat and that I would never be fit because I had diabetes and I struggled silently with eating disorders all throughout my young adulthood.

When I was 24 I moved to LA where I didn’t know a soul – I thought I wanted to be an actress. After depriving myself of food in an attempt to lose weight for modeling jobs,I gained 20+ pounds and I was the most insecure I had ever felt. I struggled with diabulimia, which not only wreaked havoc on my blood sugars, but my mental and physical health as well.

It wasn’t until I dove deep into the fitness world that I was able to completely transform my body and my life. Through strength training, flexible dieting and following a macro-nutrition based plan I was able to lose weight, stabilize my blood sugars and overcome my eating disorder.I learned what respecting my body truly meant.

My purpose is to help other women take control of their diabetes and their fitness goals and to empower them so that they can reach their full potential. Through personalized macro nutrition and fitness plans I am able to help other women wildly transform their bodies and their lives and guide them as they blossom into the strong, confident and badass women that they are.

I want women to wake up with joy instead of resentment and to feel loved, accepted and supported on their journey because no matter what type 1 diabetes throws you, you have what it takes. You have everything that you need inside of you and the power is in your hands to create lasting, positive change.

Taja Cato