JAMIE ARICK; Life Before and After Competing, BHAG, 24/7 Bodybuilding

Today’s guest is Jamie Arick, IFBB Bikini Pro, mom, wife, businesswoman, and someone whose life has taken her through some pretty unexpected chapters.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and 15 years of experience in sales and sales leadership, but she sees her most important roles as the ones she holds at home—as a mom to her 14-year-old son, Connor, and her 6-year-old stepdaughter, Oaklynn, and as a wife.

She grew up playing volleyball and has always had an athletic side, but her bodybuilding journey didn’t begin until 2023 when she stepped onstage for the first time at the Dexter Jackson Classic.

Since then, she’s experienced wins, setbacks, an offseason, a wedding, changes in coaching, motherhood, and the challenge of balancing a career and family with the demands of bodybuilding.

And this year, after winning her Masters class and overall at the Nevada State, she headed to Masters Nationals in Pittsburgh after being one placing away from her pro card at universe and took it home in Pittsburgh .

But there’s a lot more to Jamie’s story than bodybuilding.

She’s been open about navigating divorce as a young woman, being a single mom, aspects of her childhood, as well as more recently being diagnosed with depression.

Quick recap

This was a podcast interview between Celeste and Jamie Eric, an IFBB Bikini Pro who recently won her pro card at Master's Nationals in Pittsburgh after placing one spot away from her pro card at Universe. Jamie shared her journey from a single mother in her 20s to becoming a competitive bodybuilder, discussing how her athletic background in volleyball helped transition her mindset to competing. She explained how bodybuilding transformed her relationship with food and nutrition, moving from casual drinking and eating to a structured approach that improved her overall health. Jamie also discussed the impact on her family, particularly her husband who provides extensive support during competitions, and how her parents' initial skepticism about her chosen sport eventually turned into support after she achieved her goals. They discussed Jamie's journey from her childhood growing up in a Baptist preacher household to becoming a professional bodybuilder. Jamie shared how her parents' divorce and addiction issues didn't derail her successful career in sales and bodybuilding, explaining that both parents were intelligent and influential in positive ways despite the challenging circumstances. They discussed her brief marriage at 21 and subsequent divorce by 24, which she attributed to immaturity rather than her family background affecting her marriage outlook. Jamie described her role as a stepmom to her husband's 18-month-old daughter and later his 8-9 year old son, finding the transition seamless due to her previous experience with the younger child. The conversation covered Jamie's recent diagnosis of depression and how medication has significantly improved her mental health, leading her to publicly share her experience to help others recognize similar symptoms. They discussed her viral Instagram story about leaving a job due to her employer's wife being uncomfortable with her fitness content, where Jamie refused to make her account private, ultimately leading to her resignation. Jamie detailed her bodybuilding career progression, including her decision to leave her previous coach and join Fit Body Fusion, working with coach Drew for her pro preparation. She described her recent pro card win at Masters Nats after coming second at Universe, explaining how she used a "what if" mindset to convince herself to compete again despite her disappointment. The interview concluded with Jamie's current training focusing on glute development and her goals for pro competition, including potentially competing at the Tampa Pro show, while maintaining her active sponsorships with Global Formulas, Toxic Angels Bikinis, and Rogers Rice.

Stage Preparation and Performance Routine

Celeste interviewed Jamie Eric about her stage preparation routine. Jamie shared that her husband texts her encouraging messages before her shows, reminding her to think of performing as if it's just for him, which helps with her stage nerves. Jamie explained that her husband handles all aspects of her DIY protein routine and show logistics, reflecting his entrepreneurial mindset of striving to be the best at whatever endeavor they pursue.

Evolution of Success Definition

Jamie explained that her definition of success has evolved to focus on being able to share knowledge and learnings with others, particularly after achieving her pro card. She described how a specific Instagram post of figure competitor Lauren Calderoni inspired her decision to start competing in 2022, leading her to call her then-boyfriend (now husband) about pursuing the goal. The conversation ended with Celeste sharing her own experience playing volleyball as a setter.

Volleyball to Bodybuilding Transition Insights

Jamie discussed their seven-year volleyball career, including middle school, high school, and recreational play, before transitioning to bodybuilding. Both Celeste and Jamie reflected on how volleyball skills and mindset transferred to their current sports, including accountability, working with coaches, and handling feedback. They also discussed how volleyball experiences, like dealing with line judges, parallel the challenges in bodybuilding competitions.

Bodybuilding Competition Life Changes

Jamie discussed how her life changed after starting to compete in bodybuilding. She explained that before competing, she had an unstructured lifestyle with casual drinking and eating habits, often spending time socializing without a clear focus on health or fitness. After competing, Jamie developed a more structured approach to nutrition and fitness, finding that competition actually improved her relationship with food rather than harming it. She noted that competing taught her to view food strategically for specific goals and helped her adopt healthier habits even during off-season periods.

Bodybuilding Career Family Impact

Jamie discussed the impact of her bodybuilding career on her family, noting that while her immediate family adjusted easily, extended family members took longer to understand and accept her lifestyle. She specifically mentioned how her mother initially struggled with the concept due to their conservative background but has now become a strong supporter, even following live streams and texting during events. Jamie explained to her children that bodybuilding is about discipline and life focus rather than just competition, and her family is now generally supportive of her career.

Bodybuilding Career and Family Challenges

Jamie discussed how people's attitudes toward her bodybuilding career shifted after she achieved her pro card, noting that proving oneself to others is common when pursuing ambitious goals. She shared details about her challenging upbringing in a Southern Baptist family, including her parents' divorce and her father's struggles with addiction, while emphasizing that despite the difficulties, she always felt loved and supported by family members. The conversation was interrupted when Celeste's baby started crying, and they agreed to continue the discussion in a follow-up meeting.

Jamie's Childhood and Background

Celeste and Jamie resumed their conversation about Jamie's childhood, picking up where they left off discussing Jamie's upbringing in a family affected by divorce and addiction. Jamie reflected on how despite challenging circumstances, including growing up with a father who was a Southern Baptist pastor, he ended up having a successful career in sales and leadership, which his husband noted was unexpected given his background. The conversation ended mid-sentence as Celeste was asking about how these childhood experiences influenced Jamie's life, particularly regarding his early marriage at 21 and subsequent divorce at 24.

Stepfamily Integration Experience

Jamie shared that her childhood and parents' divorce did not significantly influence her outlook on marriage or relationships, and she never felt hesitant about getting married. She discussed her experience becoming a stepmom to her husband's daughter, noting how seamless the blending of families has been since she met her stepdaughter when she was 18 months old. Jamie described how her experience with her stepdaughter helped make it easier to care for her son Oakland when they met, and mentioned that her laid-back son has always gotten along well with his stepsister.

Journey with Depression Diagnosis

Jamie discussed her journey with depression, explaining that she initially experienced what she thought were ADHD symptoms like brain fog, difficulty focusing, and fatigue. After consulting a doctor, Jamie learned she had a family history of depression and was diagnosed with the condition rather than ADHD. She emphasized the importance of seeking help and being willing to ask for support, particularly for single mothers who may lack resources or privileges to access assistance.

Mental Health Journey Discussion

Jamie shared her experience with mental health challenges, including being diagnosed with a mood disorder and subsequently starting low-dose Zoloft, which she described as life-changing in helping her manage intense emotions. She discussed how sharing her story on social media has helped others recognize similar symptoms in themselves and consider seeking medical advice. When asked about bodybuilding's impact on mental health, Jamie acknowledged some challenges with social media comparisons but noted her ability to maintain perspective and protect her mental state by controlling what she shares online.

Professional Bodybuilder Career Discussion

Jamie shared her experience of leaving a job due to a request to make her Instagram private, which she refused as it would compromise her authenticity and bodybuilding career. She discussed her journey to becoming a professional bodybuilder, including her decision to work with Drew at Fit Body Fusion and her recent pro card win at Masters Nats. Jamie outlined her current training approach focusing on glute development and her goals to grow her sponsorship relationships while targeting pro debut shows next summer, including potentially competing at Tampa Pro.

CONNECT WITH JAMIE:

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jamieeeearick/

YOUTUBE: @JamieeeeArick

CONNECT WITH CELESTE:

Website:http://www.celestial.fit

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/

• All Links:http://www.celestial.fit/links.html