Jami's Extreme Weight Loss Portraits . Ashland, MA

Maybe you recognize Jami from ABC’s Extreme Weight Loss or you follow her on her Facebook Page. I know her from Westfield High School. It was a joy to spend some time with Jami on a warm summer evening.
These photos will bring a smile to your face and reading Jami’s words will give you insight into her journey and inspirational story.

Jami blogs over at We Matter: www.jamiwitherell.com and splits her time between Crossfitting daily, Les Miserables rehearsals with the Exit 7 Players, and is gearing up to return to the classroom to teach elementary school this Fall.

I asked Jami to write a little guest blog commentary. Her words are more powerful than mine ever could be:

Let me begin by saying, I hate having photographs taken. Mostly because I’m a feeler. And I can, months later, years even, remember the feeling associated with a photo.

Case in point, I had the same Profile picture on Facebook for years…7 years. It was of my friend, Lisa, and I at graduation from undergrad. Both Communication majors. Both Tour Guides. Both dreamers. She would pass from brain cancer 9 months later. And I felt that moment of our lives so deeply.

She had been a guiding light, a beacon, and now was gone. And I felt in my feelings like I couldn’t take down the photo or change the photo, because it would be like letting her go. Taking her out of my memories.

Here is Jami picking her next outfit and a “living out of your car” moment. I am also familiar with this phenomenon.

Aside from that sadness, there is the underlying, I hate myself feelings. Looking at photographs of myself is a reminder why. If you saw my episode – the things I thought about the mirror are the same with photographs.
Because I’m not enough, of anything.
Pretty enough.
Or nice enough hair.
Or tall enough.
Or nice enough skin.
Or skinny enough.
Or nice enough proportion.
(And please, don’t get me started on the emotional qualities I’m not enough of)

I’m just not enough.

And who wants that captured for all mankind life in a photograph. Who, exactly?

Steph and I went to Westfield High and then UMASS Amherst (Go Minutemen!) together. She is incredible. Something I’ve always admired about her – is her passion. She’s amazeballs.

So when she offered her services, I thought, go with it. And I will be forever grateful we did.

On a beautiful summer day, I took my never enough self over for a photo shoot. I still have a hard time looking at some of these.

Even though I know I’m wearing a size small dress, and a size 6 pant, and then a size M from the juniors department – my feelers – my feelings are – I look like a house.

Is this the part that I admit I suffer from body dysmorphia?

Okay.

Well, that’s real life.

I do.

But there is so much grace in Steph’s photo. So much real me.

Me that is a perfectionist.

Me that shopped at Anthropologie for the first time for that top.

Me that loves the outdoors.

And color.

Me that is unsure.

And sure.

And happy.

And ridiculous.

Captured here.

That’s skill, folks, plain and simple, skill. One million thanks, Steph, to your photography. And these beautiful gifts. You, are a rockstar, my friend, a ROCK.  STAR. ~ Jami

The shoes are compliments of Crossfit Firestorm in Chicopee, MA

Jami got them delivered to her at the finale of the show. Warrior indeed!