Written by Kirstyn Brown, Editor-in-Chief | Photography by Paul Buceta
For the last decade, tens of thousands of women have considered our latest cover girl their role model in fitness. And it’s no wonder: her impeccably sculpted physique in combination with her girl-next-door charm has made her the perfect symbol of a healthy lifestyle. And now, after pausing for a moment to enjoy marriage and motherhood, Jamie has returned to the spotlight, more inspirational than ever. In many ways, she’s the same Jamie—bubbly, humble and kind to the core—but with a new family, new priorities and a new outlook on life.
Like all new moms, she’s had to take on the challenges that come with this drastically different lifestyle, such as finding time to take care of herself and eat properly between feedings, diapers and sleepless nights. And while she’s made it look easy, already down the 35 pounds she gained during pregnancy, rebuilding her pre-baby body is going to be a gradual and arduous process. She’s had to adjust her training to accommodate her new body and hormones, and get creative in the kitchen to ensure she’s getting enough nutrients to supply breast milk to baby August. But the fitness icon is content to take things slow.
“I’m determined to be realistic and honest about getting my body back and that’s relieved some of the pressure to be an overnight transformation,” she says. “I haven’t wanted to be super strict or insane about getting back into shape, getting up at 4 am to do a strenuous workout. I wanted to enjoy family life.”
So how does the world’s fittest model maintain a healthy lifestyle while rocking motherhood? Keep reading to find out.
Motherly Advice – Nutrition tips for new moms, from Jamie Middleton Eason
1. Cook in large batches.
“I make meals in bulk that have well-balanced macros, like oatmeal protein bake and turkey meatloaf muffins. Grab-and-go options make it much easier for me when I don’t have much time to eat.”
2. Have a high-protein back-up plan.
“If I only have a few minutes to whip something up, I grab a bowl of ½ cup of Lactaid cottage cheese, sprinkled generously with cinnamon and monk fruit sugar. To that I add 11 spicy cayenne almonds. It tastes like dessert and has only 156 calories, 8 grams of healthy fats, 10 grams of carbs and 15 grams of protein.”
3. Love your healthy fats.
“My favorite sources are coconut oil and avocado. I use coconut oil in some of my favorite healthy baked goods, rubbed onto veggies (especially kale before it’s baked) and when I bake spiced nuts in the oven. As for avocado, I’ll eat it on its own or in place of dressing and condiments for burgers, tacos and salads.”
From Jamie’s Recipe Box: Sweet Potato Protein Cookies
Fresh baked and fit-body friendly, Jamie’s latest cookie recipe is a sweet treat you can feel good about.
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Makes approx. 36 cookies
¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
3 oz plain Greek yogurt
¾ cup Ideal® No-Calorie Sweetener*
¾ cup brown sugar xylitol
4 egg whites
1 cup sweet potato
2 cups oat flour
2 scoops Lean Body for Her Natural Vanilla protein powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 ½ tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground allspice
- Preheat oven to 375˚F and spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray.
- Poke holes in a large sweet potato and cook it in the microwave for 6-8 minutes. Remove the skin and let cool.
- Combine the first 5 ingredients in a medium-size mixing bowl until smooth. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
- Mash the cooled sweet potato and add it into the wet ingredients until most of the lumps are gone. Stir wet ingredients into the dry until well combined.
- Using a tablespoon, spoon the cookies onto a baking sheet about two-inches apart. Bake 10-12 minutes.
Nutrients per serving (one cookie): Calories: 36, Fat: 1 g, Carbs: 6 g, Protein: 3 g
*Make sure you’re using a sweetener that is 1:1 sugar substitute, not a concentrated sweetener such as Stevia or Splenda.
Jamie’s At-Home Workout
Most of the time, August’s schedule doesn’t allow mom time for the gym, so at-home workouts have been key to her success. Here’s how Jamie gets in a sweat session, wherever she is.
50 Jumping Jacks
50 Crunches
45 Jumping Jacks
45 Squats
40 Jumping Jacks
40 Crunches
35 Jumping Jacks
35 Alternating Lunges
30 Jumping Jacks
30 Squats
25 Jumping Jacks
25 Push-ups
20 Jumping Jacks
20 Alternating Jump Lunges
15 Jumping Jacks
15 Jump Squats
10 Jumping Jacks
10 Bicycle Crunches
5 Jumping Jacks
5 Burpees
Quick Q&A
Name your favorite:
Bodyweight exercise: Lunge Kicks
Protein powder: Jamie Eason’s Lean Body for Her
Sports team: Texas A&M (my Alma Mater!)
Song for cardio: Dark Horse, by Katy Perry
Brand of sneakers: Adidas
Breakfast food: Oatmeal bake
Guilty pleasure: Bargain shopping
Travel destination: Italy, especially Lake Como and Amalfi Coast
