Jamie
Jamie is the founder & CEO of Jam with Jamie (a nationwide children’s entertainment company), a writer, wife, and mom to two adorable boys. Originally from Miami, this New Yorker is one ah.mi’s pilot members, who joined us again for our soft-launch. Jamie keeps us motivated with her hilarious commentary and her “shameless selfies,” and her realness about being healthy on-the-go. We chatted with her to hear her perspective on eating healthy, while still having fun, and learned about how she got into running.
Our motto is slow & steady, and our focus is on developing lifelong healthy habits, but several of our members, including you, have also lost weight. Did you feel a change instantly, or was it a slow progression over time?
I was really intense in the beginning—for at least two months I completely cut out sugar, dairy, and gluten, and I saw a big difference in the first month, maybe 5-7 lbs., mostly made up of bloat and water weight. Following that first super strict period, it was about a pound a week, but super slow mo for sure. As my good friend Mel says, “No magic pill! Slow and steady wins the race.”
We all know weekends can be a shitshow. What’s your take on how you stay healthy-ish on the weekends?
YOLO. Weekends are my time to not think, eat pizza by the slice, down a bagel with cream cheese, and not feel one bit of guilt. From Friday night through Sunday morning, you will find me knee deep in carbs, and then I get right back on the train. I also usually work out both Saturday and Sunday so that I am offsetting the serious grubbing with some cardio.
“Instead of thinking I’m never doing that again, I thought, ‘Wow, that was the best workout I’ve had in a long time.’ So I started to work in a run at least once a week.”
How do you mentally reset to get back at it Monday?
I have a before and after picture of myself (hidden) on top of my desk. I take a peek at it on Sunday afternoon, and that is literally all I need to reset.
What’s your view on being healthy on vacation?
I travel a ton! If I didn’t stay healthy on vacay, I would be a blob. I just don’t look at it as an excuse to let go. I bring healthy snacks on the plane, pack some protein powder, bars, and nuts in my bag so I can keep some semblance of a routine.
I’ll keep on track with 4 workouts a week, if even a short Melissa Wood Health workout. It makes me feel so much better to do 15 minutes of something rather than nothing! And just the act of doing the workout encourages me to stay semi-healthy.
I’ll still have my 24-36 hours of debauchery, of course.
Your daily meditation is so inspiring. Do you follow a specific routine each day?
I have been practicing transcendental meditation for 10 years now. The practice is 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon or early evening. It’s my cup of coffee, and I’m not the same functioning person without it!
You’re new to the running game, and now are up to 3 miles! How the eff did you make the switch, and what do you love about running?
OMG I can’t believe I actually love running. When I started ah.mi and saw people running, I thought, “these people are crazy.” I made up every excuse about why I couldn’t run and didn’t like it.
My dad was a big runner and my brother loves to run. When I was down in Miami, he invited me for a run, and honestly I went because that meant my husband would take care of the kids while I was gone, lol. 2 miles felt impossible; I was completely beet red when I got back, and my body felt like I had been in a fight. Instead of thinking I’m never doing that again, I thought, “Wow, that was the best workout I’ve had in a long time.” So I started to work in a run at least once a week.
Now I’m doing 2x a week, and sometimes I hit 3 miles and I’m barely out of breath. It’s insane how the consistency has paid off.
ah.mi is the most fun when you join with your friends. Who would you recommend join, and why has it worked for you?
People who want a change and who are chatty! I have found a ton of success in my groups because all my friends never shut up and I love it. We talk all day long and it’s NOT ANNOYING. I look forward to checking in and it holds me accountable.
