Hello! My name is Jamie Lahrman and I am honored to be given the opportunity to write to you all about my health and fitness journey. I am 34 years old, married to my high school sweetheart and we have 3 little girls. Aubrey is 8, Cadence (Cady) is 5 and Emma is 2. I am a certified group fitness instructor and coach with Beachbody. My days are incredibly FULL!! I work from home on my laptop and phone running my online fitness and weight loss groups, teach 7-8 group fitness classes a week and shuffle my kids all over town for their various activities! In addition to all of that I MAKE the time for my OWN personal workouts. You are thinking… She is NUTS! I didn’t start out that way but I was INSPIRED to continue to improve myself.
Let me start at the beginning….
In April of 2013 I was about 8 months post baby. 8 months post C-section #3! I knew we had this wedding coming up and it would we our first weekend away without kids in forever! I wanted to look GOOD! I wanted to pull on that cute sexy dress and feel confident. However, when I looked in the mirror all I saw was ugly. I saw my loose skin, extra fat hanging out on my hips and belly. I felt like I was looking at a completely different person than how I felt inside.
I always enjoyed going to exercise classes but wasn’t real regular about going. Actually, most of the time I would go workout and stop and get fast food on the way home. Real smart, huh? After a month of exercising 3 times a week and “trying” to be better about eating I had not lost anything. I felt defeated. I hated myself even more. I had failed.
We went to the wedding that weekend in May 2013 and right when we got home I sought out help from this new instructor at the gym I was going to. She looked AMAZING and she had 3 kids too so I thought, surely she could give me some pointers. After chatting with her she, invited me to her online FB fitness challenge group. Yes, it cost a little money but I HAD to do something! I found a way to make it work. I thought, if I gave up my fast food or my Starbucks a few times a week I could save the money back and use it for this. I needed to give those things up anyways!
The challenge group consisted of using a Beachbody workout program, eating good food, tracking calories, drinking this amazing nutrient rich Shakeology and reporting to the group every day. My first month I lost TEN pounds!!!!! I was shocked!! I was the winner for that month! I could not believe it! I went on to continue to lose over 20lbs by that winter.
So what changed? Why did I suddenly lose weight?? I started eating clean and fueling my body with the things it needs. I cut out processed foods and fast food! I had to send my weigh in every week to this crazy in-shape fitness instructor. I exercised 6 out 7 days a week! My life was busy! But I made the time to fit in a workout for myself. And I am not talking about leisurely walking on the treadmill. I worked out! I have now completed Focus T25, P90X3, PIYO, 21 Day Fix and I am one week from finishing Insanity Max:30.
This program changed my life!!! I discovered that I love fitness! I love the challenge of making my body strong. My kids love to watch me! I am preparing them for a future of health!
I am not trying to be perfect by any means! But I am trying every day to be better! I love pizza and cupcakes just as much as the next person. Now I enjoy those things as a treat not an every day thing. My workouts are my stress relievers! Laughing, sweating, pushing myself makes me happy and therefore a better mom and better wife. 🙂
Now, I get to pay it forward every day and help inspire others who once felt just like I did to change their life!! I get to help people start on a journey towards a healthier lifestyle every day!! I LOVE IT! I never in a million years ever would have imagined that I would be a fitness instructor! I get to meet some of the most amazing people everyday! They are working hard and sweating and laughing!!
So how can I help inspire YOU to make some changes?? The biggest excuse I hear is, “I don’t have time to exercise.” That is an excuse! It tells me that that person is not truly ready to change. We all lead crazy busy lives. No one is more busier than the other. So how can I get my personal workouts in and others don’t? It’s simple. I want to! I want to see results! So I make the time. Sometimes, I have to give up 30 minutes of the peace and quiet of nap time. Sometimes I get my butt up before anyone else in the house. Fitness is not negotiable to me. And that is the mentality we have to have if we want to change.
Here are some tips and suggestions to help you get started on your journey…..
- Use My Fitness Pal app on your phone to track all of your food. Look up things before you eat them. You might be shocked to see what hides in your food.
- Exercise 30-60 minutes a day. Six days a week. Find a group class somewhere. Buy a Beachbody workout program (preferably from me!) and USE it! Join a gym.
- DRINK WATER. Stop drinking Coke, sweet tea and coffee with a can of creamer!
- EAT CLEAN. It’s simple, really. You don’t need a bunch of recipes. Think fruits, vegetable, lean meats and whole grains. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients DON’T eat it!
- EAT HEALTHY. Know what is in your foods. I personally use Shakeology to help fuel my body. It is full of over 70 super foods. It contains no artificial sweeteners or weird chemicals. It even comes in Vegan! If you use another product make sure you understand how it is made, processed and what is in it.
- Surround yourself with other people on a similar journey! Join an accountability group! Workout with friends who share similar goals. I met my best friend through my accountability group. She was my coach and helped me lose over 20lbs. Now, we inspire each other! We formed a bond through our passion for fitness!
This is my coach and me. The one that inspired me to start my journey! One of my best friends now and my mentor in fitness and in life! Those ladies in the background were part of the group that helped me start my journey. We all still get together to work out! 🙂
My final words of advice and inspiration:
Ladies….do this for YOU! Get healthy for you first. In order for us to be good parents we need to take some time for ourselves too! Otherwise we become overtired, stressed, grumpy and who gets the brunt of all of that? Our families! Our husbands! Our kids! Be the example for your family. Do not resort to food as a way to overcome depression or stress. You take control of your life and decide right now that you will become healthier. You will eat cleaner and you will exercise. You CAN do this. You just have to WANT it bad enough! Change does not happen overnight! But if you take things ONE day, ONE meal, ONE workout at a time it will all add up to BIG results!! You can be beautiful on the inside AND outside! Believe it and you can achieve it!
I would love to connect with you! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me! If you are interested in joining in on one of my online FB accountability groups you can contact me through FB or email:
Email: Jalahrman23@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jalahrman23
You can follow me on FB and IG at: JL Journey Fitness. I post lots of motivations, recipes and fitness tips on these pages.
Indianapolis Area:
You are welcome to join me for a group fitness class any time! Here is my current schedule:
Baxter YMCA (Greenwood) If you need a guest pass please message me and I will get that for you!
Tuesday 10:45am PIYO
Tuesday 8:00pm Turbokick
Thursday: 9:30am Turbokick
Thursday: 5:30pm Bootcamp (rotating schedule)
Saturday: 9:45am Turbokick
Indy South Sports Academy $6/class. No membership required!
Monday: 6:45pm Cardio Core
Monday: 7:30pm PIYO
Thursday: 7:30pm PIYO
