This week I had the luxury of interviewing rising fitness model, Jamie Eason (www.jamieeason.com). Jamie contacted me a few years ago after reading an article of mine on Bodybuilding.com.
We have kept in touch ever since, and because she believed in me and the information I write about, she allowed me to use her image on the cover of my recent book, Human Inferno, which is available right here in the Bodybuilding.com online store.
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Interview
[ CM ] Thanks for being here with us today, Jamie. Why don't you start off telling the readers a little about yourself and how you got started with training?
[ JE ] I am 30 yrs old, have a yellow lab named Molly, and have been blessed with a terrific family. My mom is the glue who holds us together, so I owe a lot of who I am to her.
My interest in training was first peaked in college. I took weight training for a Kinesiology credit and enjoyed challenging my body to reach new levels. It was empowering to realize the strength I had in such a tiny little body. That following year in college I met my old boyfriend, Ron, who was a nose guard for the Texas A & M football team.
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I Enjoyed Challenging My Body.
Photo courtesy of Walt Ostarly.
He helped me overcome my fear of the gym and for that last year in college we went to the gym about 4 days a week. After college my interest in training ceased. I was focused on finding and starting a career. Years later, in 2001, I tried out to become a Houston Texans NFL Cheerleader, on a whim, and made the team. That got me back in the gym doing light weights, until once again, the season ended and so did my training.
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I Tried Out For The Houston Texans Cheerleaders
And Made The Team.
Photos courtesy of Walt Ostarly.
Just under two years ago, while standing in the dressing room of a department store trying on swimsuits, I had an epiphany. I realized at that very moment that if I did not commit to changing my eating habits and get back in the gym that the body I saw before me was only going to get worse.
My legs were getting heavier and I knew I had to nip that in the butt immediately; I had to take control of my health and body now! I hit the gym with the same fervor I did back in college, lifting as much weight as possible and spending up to an hour on cardio each day.
After a month, I was not impressed with my results. It wasn't until I hired a nutritionist and got a grasp on my eating that I began to see results. Just a few months later, having not skipped one training session or deviated from my meal plan, my body was dramatically beginning to transform.
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My Body Was Dramatically Beginning To Transform.
Photo courtesy of Don Jones, Grey Wolf Photography.
From that point on, I've been hooked. My only regret is not having started training earlier. I am in better shape now than I was in my late teens and early twenties.
[ CM ] So nutrition sounds like it was the missing piece to the puzzle. I agree and tell people that all of the time; you can train until you're blue in the head, but without nutrition, your uphill battle will be a little too steep to be successful. Were you involved in sports when you were younger?
[ JE ] Yes, I played soccer and softball all through adolescence. I've danced since the age of two. I was a cheerleader in grade school and on drill team in high school and in college I was on a co-ed dance team and played intramural sports.
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I Was On A Co-Ed Dance Team
And Played Intramural Sports.
Photo courtesy of Johnny Crosslin.
[ CM ] You obviously work very hard in the gym. What type of training do you typically do?
[ JE ] I typically train two days of HIT and 3 days just regular training. My typical workout split might be...
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I Typically Train Two Days Of HIT And Three Regular.
Photos courtesy of Walt Ostarly.
[ CM ] Many women shy away from weights, being fearful that they will get "too big." You obviously don't follow that same thought process, from your workout outlined above.
[ JE ] Too many women do in fact shy away from the weights, but they are really a crucial component of an overall training program. That's for sure! I tell women all the time that sticking to a meal plan will definitely yield results, but without weight training, they will just be a smaller version of what they are now. Weight training will actually help change the shape of your body.
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Weight Training Will Help
Change The Shape Of Your Body.
Photo courtesy of Walt Ostarly.
In fact, I also train pretty heavy. Those who have seen me in the gym or train with me know when I'm working out, I'm not just going through the motions–walking lunges with an 80 lb barbell on my back are a favorite of mine. It's also important to emphasize that I have worked up to that weight; I'm always very careful to use good form, keeping my core tight.
I have worked up to heavier weights; if you're a beginner just starting out, learn proper movements before working with very heavy weights. Sounds obvious, but I have seen folks hurt themselves by trying to emulate what they see others doing.
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Beginners: Learn The Movements
Before Working With Heavy Weights.
Photos courtesy of Walt Ostarly.
[ CM ] Do you work with a trainer or have you let your experience dictate your training regimen?
[ JE ] In the beginning, I fumbled through it on my own. Once I made a commitment and set a goal to achieve, like competing in my first show, the Texas Shredder, I enlisted the help of a trainer. I needed someone to hold me accountable and help push me through those days when I could think of a million things I would rather be doing than working out.
Manipulating calories and maintaining productive workouts all the way up to the end of a show can be taxing. Although I'm much better at pushing myself at this point, I still need a buddy to help push me through the final weeks leading up to a show or a photo shoot. It's too easy to say, "I will make it up tomorrow." That tomorrow can too easily turn into days and then suddenly your whole program is shot.
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I Needed Someone To Hold Me Accountable.
Photos courtesy of Walt Ostarly.
[ CM ] How about your diet? I'm not asking to go into major details, but give us a sampling of a typical day.
[ JE ]
- 6:00 AM - 6 egg whites, 1/2 C. oatmeal, chopped bell peppers in my egg whites
- 9:00 AM - turkey meatloaf & 2 rice cakes, with a piece of fruit
- 12:00 PM - 5 oz. chicken & 1/2 C. brown rice with green beans or other green veggie
- 3:00 PM - turkey meatloaf & 2 rice cakes, with 1 - 2 cups steamed veggies
- 6:00 PM - 5 oz. chicken & 4-5 oz. sweet potato, plus a steamed vegetable
- 9:00 PM - 6 egg whites & 1/2 C. fat free cottage cheese with some fresh or frozen berries (for my sweet tooth)
[ CM ] What are your top 5 fat loss tips? You obviously know what you're doing in this arena.
[ JE ]
Get enough sleep - being tired almost guarantees over-eating and/or skipping workouts.
Determine your calorie needs and adjust your workouts and meals accordingly. That's one thing I loved about the fat loss manual, Human Inferno – you give an exact, yet simple formula to determine calorie needs for both men and women.
Find something to motivate you (friend, event, health, etc... ) and post reminders where you will see them daily.
Log your progress. It's very easy to eat just one little piece of candy and forget about it and then wonder why you're not making progress.
Get the junk out of the house, or at the very least, out of site.
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Get The Junk Out Of The House.
Photo courtesy of Don Jones, Grey Wolf Photography.
[ CM ] And how about your top 5 nutrition tips?
[ JE ]
Drink lots of water. Sometimes it's thirst you are experiencing, not hunger.
Eat 5 or 6 smalls meals a day, instead of just 2 or 3 large meals every 3 hours.
Never eat foods that have a laundry list of ingredients. The more natural, the better.
Avoid sugar & white flour.
Avoid consuming too many liquid calories.
The list of foods in this fat loss program was particularly helpful for me because it's easy to fall into a pattern when eating; these allowed me to increase my variety.
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The More Natural Your Diet, The Better.
Photos courtesy of Johnny Crosslin.
[ CM ] You were kind enough to let us use your image on the cover of this fat loss manual. Since you've had a chance to review that, how do you think it compares to some of the fat loss training you do?
[ JE ] As I eluded to, it is an excellent manual, full of great facts and information and I am proud to be on the cover. I follow many of the same guidelines set in the book. Meal portions and frequency are key to any fat loss success. The manual offers great explanations as to how and why, as well as offers many great suggestions for burning excess calories. And the workouts are particularly useful and have really helped me.
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The Workouts Have Really Helped Me.
Photos courtesy of Walt Ostarly.
[ CM ] Thank you and we're happy to have you on there as well, considering we're "sharing" your image with magazines such as Muscle and Fitness Hers, Oxygen, and many more. You surely have a lot of admirers out there - both women and men. How about you? Who do you look up to and admire in this industry from a physique, nutrition, and training standpoint.
[ JE ] First of all, it's very humbling to receive so much love and support from both men and women. I feel great about my commitment to this lifestyle and it's even better when what I've done can help to inspire and motivate others.
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I Feel Great About My Commitment.
Photo courtesy of Johnny Crosslin.
There was once a beginning for me, just like anyone else. All it takes is for that switch to flip to begin your journey. Take it one day at a time and do not beat yourself up if you have the occasional "Slip-up." Fitness need not consume your life, just enhance it. I admire those who are able to find that balance. Those people who realize that self-love improves not only your life but the lives of others around you.
[ CM ] Lastly, where can readers learn more about you?
[ CM ] Thanks for your time, Jamie. It's always a pleasure talking with you - brains and beauty is a sure winner in my book! Keep up the hard work!
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Thanks, Jamie!
Photo courtesy of Walt Ostarly.
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