Meet Jamie Collier

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Collier.

Hi Jamie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Below is a version of my story I shared on social media in April of 2022: Most have stayed the same except for continued growth and aspirations. <3

I left my hometown in 2012 at the age of 24. I made the decision abruptly in hopes of escaping a toxic relationship and doing some healing. I moved to a city where I only knew 1 person. This was the scariest thing I’d ever done at this point in my life. I struggled at first, being a stranger in a new city. When I started working at a local sports bar, I began to make friends. If I wasn’t working, I typically drank on the beach or in another bar. I embraced my new town and my new people and partied my ass off. It was fun until it wasn’t. Eventually, I gained 50 lbs., struggled with severe self-esteem issues, and wasn’t happy. It wasn’t me. I casually dated but was so traumatized by the previous relationship that I swore off commitment, at least for a while. Fast forward to 2016. I met someone that I was ready to let my guard down. We had a connection I hadn’t felt in quite some time. We began dating, long distance at first, and 6 months later, I was off to a new city to pursue the relationship and explore other life options for myself. Life was great. I’d found someone I shared interests with, had fun with, and felt safe with. I was living in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina; life felt like it was falling into place. Shortly after my move, I decided to go back to school.

My boyfriend was supportive and encouraging, which made the decision easier. We had our ups and downs, as couples do, but we continued to try to support each other while keeping up with our busy lives. I threw myself into my studies, still binge drinking most weekends. Sadly, the relationship began to crumble. We didn’t work anymore, we had different goals, and that’s ok. We tried, and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. As our relationship ended and I graduated from college for the second time, I moved back to my hometown after being gone for about 8 years. I was excited to go home but terrified of what awaited. I’d disconnected from my past to heal from the toxic relationship. I kept in touch with several people but knew it would be different. I avoided the old stomping grounds for the first 6 months I was home. It could be fear of falling back into old patterns or what people might think of me. However, in a town where everyone knows everyone, you can only hide for so long. I reconnected with a few old friends, leading me to some amazing new friendships I cherish now. I met like-minded women who have been supportive, encouraging, and inspiring. During this time of recreating a home back home, I struggled with anxiety and depression, spending a lot of time feeling regret for choices I’d made and wondering why at almost 35, I wasn’t as far along with “life things” as all of these amazing people around me. I realized it was because I was holding on to things I no longer needed in my life, which were toxic to my mental health, but mostly, I hadn’t learned how to love myself.

I’d been in and out of gyms, trying different forms of fitness since I was 23. I always knew I enjoyed weightlifting but needed to be more consistent and dedicated enough to realize that I had a passion and fire for it deep down. I returned to the gym one day in October of 2021 (pictured middle). I had started gaining weight again; my anxiety was at an all-time high, and my mental health was deteriorating. I just knew I needed to get my body moving. I challenged myself to be consistent (4+ days a week) for a month and see how I felt. Saying I felt it at the end of that month would be an understatement. I began to look forward to the next workout and dread rest days. Being in the gym was the only time things in my head weren’t so loud. It was my therapy. I was on to something, and it was feeling good. After a few months, I decided to reevaluate my fitness goals and step things up a notch. I knew that to grow (mentally and physically), I needed to step out of my comfort zone. I, although reluctantly at first, joined a local powerlifting gym. I had no idea how much my surroundings would ultimately motivate and push me. I literally cannot wait to walk through those doors every single day.

Within a month of working out there, I began to see real changes in my body, which was an even bigger motivation! For the first time in a long time, I was starting to feel good about my life and where I was. My confidence and self-esteem had increased, my anxiety had decreased, and I was beginning to feel like myself again after not knowing myself for the last 20 years. As I threw myself more into the lifestyle, focusing on nutrition, very little alcohol consumption, and consistent routines in the gym, there was one last thing I needed to face. Cigarettes. I smoked a pack a day for almost 20 years. If there was ever a better time to quit, it was now. With the encouragement and support from the wonderful people in my life and the determination, I put them down and am now smoke-free.

When I began all of this, it was my fitness journey. I’ve since realized that it’s become so much more than that. This is my walk. This is my journey of growth in all aspects of my life. I accept that my timeline shouldn’t look like everyone else’s. I had to experience the darkness to find this light. I’ve never been prouder of the dedication I’ve put into something I love and loving myself. I’ve owed myself this love for so many years; finally, feeling it and being in it is amazing. I am grateful for the strength God gave me to get through everything before this, the people that stood by me in some of my darkest times and encouraged this journey, and the people I’ve met along the way that inspire me daily, which is so incredibly unbelievable. I’ve never felt more at peace, happy, and full of life and love than I do today.

I’m in the beginning stages of starting my own coaching business. The response I’ve gotten in sharing my personal story so openly on social media has made me realize what an impact that kind of thing can have on others. I want to help other women and men struggling with self, addiction, mental health, etc., find an outlet and learn that they can be happy. I can offer suggested gym routines and nutrition guidelines to help others reach their goals and provide an understanding of the struggles in life.

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The road on this journey has been smoother than I expected, with a few speed bumps. I’ve lost some people that were once significant in my life. I miss them and will forever be grateful for the wisdom they imparted to me and the love they showed me. But I’ve accepted that growth requires change, and people aren’t necessarily meant to be in our lives forever. Another struggle is the discipline it takes to live my chosen lifestyle. I can’t eat what I want when I want, which is difficult as a foodie. I have a wonderful support system that motivates and encourages me to continue my path, even when I’m struggling. Of course, the biggest struggle has been learning to be ok with being uncomfortable. Great things never come from comfort zones.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been working on growing my social media presence and personal brand and starting my own coaching business. I feel my story is relatable no so many who may be scared to talk openly about their struggles with substance abuse and mental health. I openly talk about how bodybuilding has helped my anxiety and depression. I’m proud of the dedication and discipline I’ve gained. I’m proud of the physical and mental transformation I’ve made. But I’m most proud of the growth and self-love that I’ve gained. I’m different from many other fitness influencers in that I try to be relevant and relatable. I inspire and show the importance of mental health, not just the physical aspect of exercise, nutrition, and fitness.

Please talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy.
So many things! I have more gratitude now than before. The little things that make me happy are quality time with my boyfriend, coffee, a 60-degree sunny day, my cat purring in my lap, and a good pump in the gym. Finding happiness in myself has allowed for more awareness of the things I appreciate around me. I’m lucky to have such an amazing partner who understands how far I’ve come and expresses appreciation and gratitude for my self-work.

Pricing:

• Gym programming starts at $60, personalized programming starts at $90

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamielynnecol/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-collier-12a7a8124

Image Credits
Chris Perfect Studios LLC