Staff Writer
Jamia Wilson is a former Division 1 basketball player, police officer, jiujitsu practitioner, and a 2021 Bikini Overall Champion bodybuilding competitor. As a C-section mom who overcame postpartum depression, Jamia understands the challenges of new motherhood. She helps other moms reclaim self-care in a supportive environment, empowering them to appreciate their postpartum bodies and regain confidence through her brand Lioness Fit Mom.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the woman, mom, and wife I am becoming. I am proud of my brand, Lioness Fit Mom. I wanted to create a platform that offered a safe place for moms, and I did that. Not only do I provide personal training to women wishing to start their fitness journey, but I also have a clothing line that caters to women of all shapes and sizes. My vision for Lioness Fit Mom is coming to fruition, and I am proud of myself.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced? What did you learn from it?
I was recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer on Feb. 17 of this year. I am learning that courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”
I have learned that there will be days when you are happy and smiling. There will be days you are filled with anger and exhaustion. There will be days when all you want to do is cry. There will also be days when you have thoughts of giving up. DONT.
Yesterday we FOUGHT. Today we FIGHT. Tomorrow we will FIGHT HARDER.
I want my fellow Breast Sisters to know that WE GOT THIS. I GOT THIS. Let’s fight together. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.
How do you stay motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
Here is the thing. You will never always be motivated. Motivation is the starting point. It is full of excitement and ideas. But what happens when things get hard, and the excitement fades, but your end goal is the same?
Learn discipline. Practice discipline by creating habits and daily routines, and stick to them! The feeling of motivation is temporary. Motivation produces emotion. Discipline produces results. Motivation fades over time. Discipline grows. Motivation sets the goal, but discipline brings it to fruition.
What is your WHY?
Parents always say, “I would die for my kids; I would do anything for them.” I wholeheartedly agree. But, my approach to that statement is, “But would you LIVE for them?”
I have a 6-year-old daughter, Zena, and a 3-year-old son, Knox. Every day I chose to get up and LIVE for them. I decided to live a healthy and active lifestyle because they deserve not only to have a mom that will go to the extent of dying for them but also have a mom that will make better choices to live as long as she can.
My WHY will always be my kids.
What motivates you to put one foot before the other on your most challenging days?
I remind myself that I have survived 100% of my worst days.
Have you drawn inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you.
Besides the women in my family that are so fearless and strong, a girl named Kiara Freeman (@kiaratheleader). I have been following Kiara for quite some time now. She exemplifies such Lioness qualities. She’s fierce and has shown so much strength through adversities; it’s really admirable. I also love her transparency, a quality we both share. She is a fantastic motivator and woman who may never know how much she inspires me to accept that taking care of “MOM,”…too, is okay.
Would you change anything about how you have handled challenges or successes thus far?
Yes, I would give myself more grace. Being challenged in life is inevitable; being defeated is optional. Every adversity, every failure, and every heartache carries a lesson of an equal or greater benefit.
- Make yourself a priority.
- Find the positive in a negative situation.
- Cultivate a positive environment.
How do you manage stress and maintain your mental health?
We (the majority of people) spend about 8-10 hours a day working for other people (in some way).
At the very least, I owe myself an hour daily to pour back into my cup emptied from caring for others. I create a self-care boundary and stick to it. It took me years to learn this. My family knows when I am at the gym (if it’s not an emergency), my phone will be on “DO NOT DISTURB.” Why? Because the other 23 hours of the day, I am emotionally and physically available. Asking for a moment to yourself is not selfish; it’s necessary.
What is your favorite way to practice self-care?
I love to weight train, but recently, I have thoroughly enjoyed going to the sauna at night to decompress after putting my kids to sleep. I discovered that my body is more relaxed when stretching inside a sauna, and I found great comfort.
How do you prioritize your time and energy to achieve your personal and professional goals? What tips can you offer others?
I gracefully tell myself that taking care of myself is essential to taking care of my kids. I cannot give my best if I don’t feel my best. Taking care of Mama is not selfish; it’s necessary.
My tip to other women would be, “When you say “yes” to others, make sure you are not saying “no” to yourself. Stick to your boundaries.
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