TB:  Hey girl I am so proud of you , you’ve come so far since we met in Cleveland!  Looking back, how would you describe where you were in your life path when we met during the Tropicbeauty Model Search?

CR:  We met when I just turned 21 years old.  I was still finding myself at that point.  I was from a conservative family, knew little of the world outside of my suburb, and was comfortable with my small circle.  I grew up a tomboy, played sports, and worked a normal 9-5 while cocktailing on the weekends.  I never have thought that Tropic Beauty was going to create such an impact on my life when I was crowed Miss Cleveland.

TB:  I knew you were super outgoing and organized, so you became an event assistant for Tropicbeauty.  How did that change your perception from being one of the models to working with the models?

I was really shy at first but I got comfortable when I felt how welcoming the Tropic Beauty family was.  Being a model was new to me.  This whole glam and sparkle world was new.  I really felt lost but I put on a smile and followed along with some of the veterans.  I would watch the girls do their hair and make-up so I could learn.  I grew up closest to my brother so I never had someone to show me how curl my hair or wear the make-up the way they did.  The girls had a big impact on me becoming a woman and feeling confident in myself.  That confidence allowed me to really build my personality and let my hard working qualities come out.  Becoming family with these incredible women allowed me to understand their needs and be able to coordinate from a staff perspective because I had done it.  They were also so supportive!  I couldn’t have asked for a better group to work with and work for.

TB:  Did you notice their work out routines or nutrition at that time?

CR:  At 21 I didn’t care about my own nutrition.  I was young with a high metabolism.  I saw the models would eat very healthy and be selective with foods while I was the girl stuffing the bacon cheeseburger with fries down my throat.  This eventually caught up with me a few years down the road.  We would occasionally visit the gym to get some kind of activity in but once the events got rolling, finding time to sleep was more important than the gym.

TB:  I remember you started to lift and came to one of the events and said you needed to eat a whole chicken for lunch, I thought oh man you need to eat allot to keep your gains, was that true back then and how has it changed if so?

CR:  Once the weight started sticking, I was trying to change my eating habits.  My mentality was to train really hard and eat more protein, less fat.  The amount you eat and what you eat should be based on your goals.  At that time I was trying to grow muscle through resistant training so eating a standard bodybuilding diet meant frequent meals and lots of protein.  Now that I look back, I was just flat out over eating and I know that it was because I was very uneducated on nutrition.   Overeating was also a bad habit of mine.  I was also following the dietary guidelines that have been taught to us all our lives, which I now believe are very wrong.

TB:  How did you become interested in the Keto Lifestyle?

CR:  I was given a ketogenic meal plan through a diet coach.  I was dieting for my first bikini show (I did not compete) and he wanted to reset my insulin sensitivity.  I had no idea what the keto diet was at the time.

TB:  Was this hard at first?

CR:  I never asked questions, just did what I was instructed to do.  I ended up transitioning into ketosis very poorly, thought I was going to die and was debating to go to the hospital.   I thought to myself, maybe I should know what I am doing to my body and not just follow what someone says to do.

TB:  Did you fall right into in or did you have struggles?                                                                                                    

CR:  I struggled only because I wasn’t educating myself.  You shouldn’t make changes to your body without knowing why and what the consequences, positive or negative, may be.

TB:  Can you tell us exactly what Keto is that’s easy to understand?

CR:  Keto is a diet full of fresh produce and protein.  Carbohydrates are very low, allowing your body to make a metabolic switch from sugar burning (carbs) to fat burning.  Healthy fats will make up majority of the diet.  Fat is a more powerful and sustainable energy source.  Your healthy fats can come from whole eggs, avocados, nuts, pasture raised proteins, and dairy for example.  You aren’t eating sticks of butter and packages of bacon like a lot of people think.

TB:  Can people have normal lives with busy schedules and have success with Keto?

CR:  No matter how busy any individual is, they have to eat.  It’s about what you eat.  It is up to any individual to choose healthy foods and it’s not going to come from a box or a bag.  If you are willing to prep your meals once or twice a week, a busy person can absolutely manage their diet.  I actually think it’s easier to grab your meals and take them with you.

TB:  Tell us what youre doing now, I see you have a coaching program!

CR:  I have launched a coaching program, specifically aimed at teaching the ketogenic diet.  I paid a lot of money to have a coach.  I want to provide a service to others where they can take their health back into their control, become educated, and live a sustainable, healthy lifestyle without paying a heavy price for it.  We all deserve to be healthy and happy and not break the bank to do that.

TB:  What are your goals for 2019?

CR:  So much change is happening at once I am mentally overloaded at the moment!  My first priority is building my own brand and reach into the keto community.  I went into 2019 with my coaching business taking off and I got a life changing call on the 1^st.  Let’s just say my goals changed within 24 hours and I’m still figuring out how to manage all these great opportunities.   I have partnered with a brand called Keto Quest that will be launching very soon, a platform that will allow a group of selected members including myself to help change the lives of people worldwide.

TB:  Please share how people can get in touch with you if interested in signing up or just following your story on social media!

CR:  Coaching: www.ketowithcrystal.com

Instagram: @Ketowithcrystal

COMING SOON Keto Quest: https://ketoquest.com/?ref=creneau

Youtube: Crystal Reneau