About The Atlanta Fitness Team
Atlanta Fitness Crabapple 
Nutrition Director
Jill Gregory
I have an incredible passion for sharing what I have learned over the years about nutrition, fitness and overall health. It brings me joy to educate others on how the body works so that they can truly feel and see the benefits!
I began exercising and weight training while I was in high school. I went to college and with my focus in a different place like many others; I rarely exercised or made healthy food choices. Once I graduated from school and entered the "real world," I began skipping meals. Eventually, I began exercising again to shed the "freshman fifteen," and to deal with my new work- related stress. During this I still skipped meals and I naturally lost the weight. Being in my early twenties made this an easy task!
Fifteen years and two children later, my eating and exercise habits were still inconsistent. I began to feel blah! Almost everyday, I would drink nutritious shakes in lieu of a meal and by 3:00 o'clock p.m., I had NO energy and needed a nap. I was craving sweets to boost my energy in the afternoon. This had become a vicious circle for me!
When I reached my late thirties, I realized that if I did not start taking better care of myself, that my chances of becoming a type two diabetic, like my mother, were inevitable. My life style choices required a change and that would include consistency.
By thinking about my body image and concern for disease, I began to consider my responsibility as a mother, for the health of my two beautiful daughters. I did not believe I was setting a good example for them, nor was I teaching them about how to care for the God-given gift of their body. Health is a gift from God; and it is up to each of us to individually make the choices to nurture it or allow it to deteriorate. The consequences of our choices will determine the quality and tone of our life. Yes, my desire became to educate and prepare my girls to value their health, not take it for granted. I wanted to teach them how to eat nutritiously and help them develop a "Body Confidence Plan!" This is where my inspiration began and it defines my "why?" for each day. When I have an off-meal, off day or week, and life gets busy, then I get back on track for my family!
Hippocrates recognized the relationship of food and health when he stated, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food". I share this because I have one major obstacle with this need for healthy eating; I don't like to cook! OUCH! Eating correctly is certainly not about convenience. Planning and preparing healthy meals is definitely a labor of love when you do not like to cook! I have peace in realizing that the really worthwhile things in life take time and effort. I need to take time to remember "why" this is so important to me daily. Healthy living is a journey, not a destination, and that journey requires discipline; there are no shortcuts.
My commitment to you is to teach you how to permanently implement nutrition and fitness into your lifestyle so that you can truly see and feel the benefits!
crabapple@atlantafitness.com
Atlanta Fitness Newnan
Nutrition Director
Katrina Peterson
Katrina is from Hammond, Louisiana and graduated from the University of West Georgia with a B.B.A. in Marketing and Management. She won her first Fitness Modeling Show in 2007 which motivated her to help others understand how overall fitness and health is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix. She is a NCSF certified personal trainer, Group Power instructor and Venice Nutrition Coach. Katrina’s passion is to challenge herself along with her clients to achieve their goals, as well as educate them along the way, setting them up for success in the future.
newnan@atlantafitness.com
Nutrition Coach
Megan
Megan graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education. Her passion for health and fitness led her into the fitness industry as an ACSM certified personal trainer, Group Power instructor, Group Centergy instructor, and Venice Nutrition coach. Megan strives to keep her clients motivated and maintains the importance of consistency for success in any exercise and nutritional program.
newnan@atlantafitness.com
Atlanta Fitness Windermere
Nutrition Director
Paula Lippert
What I initially thought was another attempt to lose weight... actually became so much more!
Let's be honest... life can be very difficult at times. Dealing with tremendous stress and grief, I honestly had no idea that weight loss was just a small part of the picture. In addition to losing 22 lbs and 10% body fat, I found peace, energy, happiness and an amazing ability to handle the daily demands of my life! By sharing my story, my hope is to show how you can travel through adversity by first dealing with your own health!
As a teenager, I watched my Mom struggle with weight issues...serious weight issues. Losing, gaining...losing, gaining; the typical yo-yo dieter...looking for the quick fix; using diet pills, the latest fad diet and always searching for that "magic bullet." As a result, I totally understand the "diet" mindset. At first, my struggles with weight were smaller, 5-10 lbs and then these numbers became even larger with the weight gain after three pregnancies; and still further complicated with a complete hysterectomy in 2006. Throughout the years, I have probably tried every weight loss product on the market... diet pills, liquid diets, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, South Beach and Adkins... just to name a few.
The end result of all these years of "yo-yo dieting" was a totally unhealthy relationship with food and a feeling of complete frustration!
Fast forward a few years, and once again, I am searching for answers. I am approximately 25-30 lbs overweight, and in addition, I am dealing with a personal crisis that is taking a toll on my health. My Mom, my best friend, is losing her struggle with Alzheimer's disease. It is very difficult for me to describe the amount of stress, pain and anxiety I was dealing with daily. Very depressed, I was filled with anger, sorrow and sadness as a result of losing one of the most important people in my life. I was smiling on the outside and absolutely dying on the inside. I remember asking myself: How do I continue to live through this long goodbye-- the long, unforgiving, painful process of Alzheimer's, the disease taking away my Mom so slowly.
What is it that will keep me moving forward through my life, when all I feel like doing is falling to my knees and giving up?
I had no clear answers; to be honest...no "diet" had ever helped me achieve anything permanent! I had always loved exercise, or at least I loved the way exercise made me feel, so I joined The Forum Athletic Club in hopes of simply losing weight. There I was introduced to Mark MacDonald, creator of the Venice Nutrition System.
One of the first things I remember Mark saying directly to me was..."There are many things you cannot control in life; the one thing you can control is how you choose to take care of yourself." This key phrase was the foundation in finding my "answers:"
The first and most obvious was creating a nutritional structure to balance and permanently maintain my body. As a wife and mother of three, I had simply been too busy caring for others to even put myself on the "list" of my own life. Ultimately, balancing my blood sugar with my food choices and making myself a priority contributed to the increased energy and stamina necessary to be my best for those I loved: my children, husband, family and friends.
Despite learning the proper way to eat, I had the most trouble learning to deal with the tremendous stress in my life. I needed to develop the necessary skills to combat the stress and alleviate my constant anxiety in a more positive fashion. I was walking through life completely internalizing my feelings of loss, sorrow and pain; this avoidance, this unacknowledged emotion, was causing a tremendous toll on my body and my mind. But what did that mean? It was not a short process, but over a period of months, I began making the positive shifts that the Venice Nutrition process encourages. These solutions significantly impacted my stress levels: doing regular cardiovascular exercise, starting a stress journal and actually allowing" myself to cry, release the emotions and "feel" the pain of loss. These positive ways of dealing with stress and anxiety made a huge difference in my life and are methods I continue to use even now.
Learning the "process" of incorporating health into my life and overcoming grief, anxiety and depression was the "real" journey. My exact success with Venice Nutrition is that by achieving a healthier lifestyle, I found the strength and ability within myself to actually live my life with peace and happiness... despite this terrible loss. I became a much happier, a much more joyful mother, wife, daughter and friend. I have transitioned, from mourning her loss... to celebrating her life! My enduring strength comes from God and the many wonderful friends and loved ones that support me during this difficult time...plus a strong direct focus of health... which to this day, will always bring me back to where I am best!!!
My amazing experience as a client also helped me become clear on my passion in life...serving and helping others through the Venice Nutrition system.
I truly believe that everyone would benefit from the education of the Venice Nutrition system...and everyone should live the "process" and learn how to make permanent changes to their health and their quality of life. Venice Nutrition has customized programs designed to fit all people in every walk of life; those wanting to gain or lose weight... people with various medical challenges such as diabetes, high cholesterol, etc ... athletes wanting to gain a competitive edge... people wanting to take their fitness to the "next level"...or anyone simply wanting to have amazing energy and feel great!!! There is a real connection between health, peace and happiness!
What decisions will you make that will affect the overall quality of your life?
What will you do if... you do NOT start taking control of your life and your health today?
windermere@atlantafitness.com