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EP 23: The Power of the Group Chat with Rachel Johnson, Founder of Ah.mi
1.8k Plays2 years ago
This week we welcome Rachel Johnson to the Mom Group Chat. Rachel is a mom and three, and founder of ah.mi health club, and a full time founding partner at her law firm, J&O Law.
We talk about creating the life you want while balancing all things family, career, and passions. Her passion has come to life in the form of ah.mi, which is a super positive, community focused health and wellness brand designed to make healthy living doable and sustainable. Imagine joining a group chat of motivated, accountable, like minded women who help you stay focused and excited about your goals. That’s ah.mi.
This conversation with Rachel will get you excited about your goals whether they be personal, career oriented, or wellness focused. Rachel is so down to earth, funny, and while she’s a wellness company founder, we discuss our love for Outback, Chick-fil-a, and bagels in this episode. She’s a real one for that.
Join the official Mom Group Chat Facebook group: Mom Group Chat | Facebook
Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:
Instagram: @momgroupchat
TikTok: @momgroupchat
Join and ah.mi October 30 day small group challenge!
Questions/comments/need to vent? Email us at momgroupchat@gmail.com
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Transcript
Introduction of Rachel Johnson and Ami Health Club
00:00:07
Speaker
There's no right way to do it. Oh, we're going to get into it. What's up moms? This week we welcome Rachel Johnson to the mom group chat. Rachel is a mother of three, including a new five month old baby and founder of Ami health club. And just very, very cool. And down to earth might I add, I kind of want to be here when I grow up. Oh, and her day job is running the law firm. She founded almost 10 years ago.
00:00:36
Speaker
Casual. We talk about creating the life you want while balancing all things family, career, and passions.
Balancing Career, Motherhood, and Wellness
00:00:44
Speaker
Her passion has come to life in the form of AMI, which is a super positive, community-focused health and wellness brand designed to make healthy living doable and sustainable. Imagine joining a group chat of motivated, accountable, like-minded women who help you stay focused and excited about your goals. That's AMI.
00:01:04
Speaker
This conversation with Rachel will get you excited about your goals, whether they be personal, career oriented or wellness focused. Rachel is so funny. And while she's a wellness company founder, we discuss our love for Outback, Chick-fil-A and bagels in this episode. So she's a real one for that. Please enjoy our conversation with Rachel Johnson.
00:01:25
Speaker
Good morning, guys. Today we have Rachel Johnson joining us in the mom group chat. I am so excited for today's conversation because I kind of want to be Rachel when I grow up. She's not that much older than us, but she's definitely like I feel one level ahead in her family life and her career life.
00:01:48
Speaker
And as young mothers, I feel like this conversation is just going to be so beneficial and enriching. Rachel Johnson is
00:01:59
Speaker
the founder and managing partner of a full-fledged law firm, J&O Law.
Family Life and Children's Names
00:02:04
Speaker
She also is the founder of Ami, a wellness brand and company that I'm a part of, which is how I've been introduced to Rachel. And she also has three young kids. And I think you had your last kid last year, right Rachel? Five months ago. Oh my gosh.
00:02:24
Speaker
So she does a lot. We're going to cover a lot today. I feel like when we were thinking about topics, I was like, we could literally run the gamut from entrepreneurship, motherhood, wellness. And I hope we do because I want to touch on all of those things. And I think they are all intertwined. So we're so excited to have you. Thank you for being here, Rachel. Welcome. Good to be here. Yes.
00:02:49
Speaker
Let's kick it off. Would you just give us a little bit of background on yourself and give us like the makeup of your family? Okay, so makeup of my family is I have a seven-year-old little girl. Her name is Tyler. I have a four-year-old little boy named Pen, like a pencil, P-E-N-O. And I have a little girl who's five months named Isla.
00:03:13
Speaker
Oh, my gosh. All superb names, I must say. Beautiful names. Great names. They're so cool. Thank you. Ayla was a name I always liked, but I make fun of it because my mother-in-law calls her everything but Ayla, and so we all joke that her name's Ayla, like the singer. Oh, yeah. That's so funny. She's actually gotten things monogrammed with Ayla.
00:03:41
Speaker
Oh, that's so funny. But it's so pretty. It's so pretty. And Tyler for a girl. I love that. I feel like I forget about that. Yeah. I love that.
00:03:55
Speaker
We are all, Rachel, pregnant right now with girls. I listened to one of your early episodes, and I was like, we all with girls? Yes. So we're like so excited. Whitney's getting induced on Monday. Yes. Whitney, wow. I'm thriving over here, as you can see. Yes, really working up to the last minute. Oh my gosh, that is so exciting. And all your seconds. OK.
00:04:22
Speaker
Yeah, girl names have been on the mind. Yes, yes. I always loved, you know, when you meet somebody or, you know, there was a girl in my elementary school whose name was Tyler and I always thought she was like so cool and she was like very like hippie, which was beautiful. And I was like, if I have a girl that always stuck to me that I was going to name her Tyler.
00:04:43
Speaker
I did the same thing, but I named all my Barbies that so I couldn't use it. My Barbie was always Tori, and then I ended up naming my dog Tori, and I was like, well, now I can't use it. I love Tori because of Tori's spelling always going up. Okay, awesome. Now let's hear a little bit about your professional background.
Career Journey and Entrepreneurship
00:05:09
Speaker
You also went to Florida. Yes. Go Gators. Yes. Maybe take us from the days there to where you are now. Yes. I went to University of Florida for undergrad and law school. I have always been a working girl up until even from high school when I could work. I was a hostess at Outback Steakhouse and I was just always working in
00:05:34
Speaker
college, I was a beer tub girl at Gator City in excess for 80s night, which Shannon, I don't know if it was around then, but like beer tub girl for 80s night, it was just a very big thing in Gainesville. And I was a beer tub girl for like three or four years, like the longest standing most reliable beer tub girl there is. Sounds fun. I feel like Gator City had just turned over.
00:05:59
Speaker
when I got there. Okay. Yeah. It was like the place it was packed. It was dollar beer. So everybody would hand me like $2 or you'd get a dollar. So I'd make like $300, $400 on just tips. And that would like, you know, be my spending money. That's literally so much money. Yeah. An undergrad in Gainesville. Oh my gosh, it was so much money.
00:06:21
Speaker
And then I worked for a lawyer and I ended up going to law school and I decided to go this big firm route, which was new to me. Both my parents were attorneys, but they more, my dad has his own firm and my mom was a state attorney and worked in nonprofits.
00:06:40
Speaker
But I heard like, oh, you could go work at one of these big fancy firms. You could make a lot of money, pay off your debt. And I was like, oh, I'll do that. And I became a hermit my first year of law school and literally just was a mad scientist and studied so much and got really good grades. And then my
00:07:00
Speaker
second and third year, I like partied, I got seized. I was so not a good student. If I have my eye on the prize, I can like get it done. But if there was like no goal, I am totally just off the rails. And I feel like that's how I continue to operate. Sees get degrees, am I right? Yes. Actually, my law firm that I got hired at called me and was like,
00:07:25
Speaker
I'm a little confused because we got your final transcript and I was like, I was like, yeah, you said I just needed to do good first year. There's a loophole. Yeah, personality hire.
00:07:40
Speaker
Yes. So I worked in big law. I worked at two very big law firms. One is one of the biggest firms in the world. And I realized that I didn't want to work at a big firm forever. And so about nine years ago, me and my friend, who was also in big law, started our own firm J&O. And we represent high growth venture backed companies
00:08:04
Speaker
like a lot of startups, you know, we hear these days about all these companies raising money and big valuations and you know, Series A, Series D, like that whole world is what I am in. And now we have 17 people in our law firm.
00:08:19
Speaker
Wow, so amazing. Can we pause on this one for a quick second because my husband's an entrepreneur and Candice has her own thing going and I'm always just so inspired by people who have the courage to break out, especially when you're at a super well-known law firm. I can imagine the
00:08:41
Speaker
the clout you get from that and just the comfort and safety you might feel being somewhere like that, even if you're having second thoughts, would be hard to break from. Can you walk us through if you struggled with that decision or what pushed you to start something with your friend? Yeah. I think we discussed it, me and my co-founder, Christina, for a year before actually doing it.
00:09:06
Speaker
talk to each other on our commutes after our work days and be like, we should do this. And then be like, wait, we should wait a little. Because you're always, you get golden handcuffs. And you're making this salary. And in a sense, it's easy to stay because change is difficult. And you can kind of coast. And they all know you. You have nothing to really, you don't have to prove yourself. But I just knew. And I would see people, one year turns into 10 years. And then you're there for 15 years.
00:09:36
Speaker
And I think there comes a point where you have to make that decision. And I think you have to be in a stable place in your life. I always tell people, do not
00:09:47
Speaker
make these life-changing decisions when you feel really unstable, whether that's you have a ton of loans, you're not in a house yet, and you want to be in a house. Try to be at least stable in your mind, because the truth is, at first year, even if you are a lawyer, you're not going to make a lot of money. You're definitely going to make less than what you were making before. And I think we just went in knowing
Challenges of Starting a Business
00:10:14
Speaker
that. And I was like, OK.
00:10:16
Speaker
Even if I make a quarter of what I was making at Big Law, it's fine because I just want this so bad. And I know that I don't want to stay in my other life. And I knew I had to just rip a band-aid. You kind of just got to start and do it, even though it's scary. And I think so many people just don't want to take that salary cut or that change.
00:10:42
Speaker
It's like you can't just start a business and out of the gate start making money no matter what you're doing. For me, I started my own business, which I got a push into it because I got let go during COVID. That was my initial life altering thing that happened that pushed me into that.
00:11:05
Speaker
But for me, and it's the same thing that happened with starting this podcast. I'm the kind of person that's like, if I don't stop thinking about it for five or six months and it just keeps coming up for me and I keep thinking about it and I keep wanting to talk about it, I know that I can't ignore that voice inside of me. And that's exactly how it was with my own business. I started looking for new jobs and looking for other things. And then I just kept thinking like, I could do this on my own. I know I could.
00:11:35
Speaker
And same with this podcast, we had talked, we should start a podcast. And then it just kept, I kept thinking about it for five or six months. And then I came to Shannon and Whitney and I was like, we're starting this podcast, whether you guys like it or not.
00:11:50
Speaker
So yeah, I'm a pusher for sure. I mean, I totally agree with you. Like you do have to be in a little bit of a stable like part of your life, but there's also sometimes the universe like hands you a moment where you could shift and sometimes you got to take that like moment. For me, it was being let go during COVID.
00:12:12
Speaker
Well it sounds like y'all are so similar because Canis you worked all through college too. Yeah I'm a worker bee as well. I've always admired that about you but I mean it just sounds like you both are so driven. I am so such a coaster I don't know. I'm like yeah this is great I don't know but I'm just inspired that y'all are able to
00:12:36
Speaker
I guess tackle those difficult moments that you're having to learn a lot. And I think that hinders me, but you sound like you just dive in. Yeah. I'm funny because I think part of my personality, you say you're a coaster. Like I think I have that in me too, where like in law school, I was never the one to like raise my hand or like, even when I worked at a big firm, I was never like gunning for the cases.
00:13:00
Speaker
It was just like, I did good work, so they kind of ended up coming to me. And I feel like I'm a coaster, but when I'm doing my work, I do very good work, if that makes sense. Yeah, for sure. And I love to veg and nap. Oh my God, we're the same. We're the same.
00:13:18
Speaker
Oh, do you have time to veg it now? Watch every Real Housewives.
Work-Life Balance and Ami's Origins
00:13:24
Speaker
Well, I was going to ask with this plan that you were devising, so this was almost like 10 years ago or about 10 years ago at this point.
00:13:33
Speaker
When you were thinking about your life and what you wanted it to look like, how did family play into it at that point? And having kids, did you always know you wanted a big family? Yeah, I come. I'm one of five. I'm one of five. So I always wanted a big family. We're good at three. We're good. But I knew I always wanted, I think I always wanted three kids.
00:13:58
Speaker
And I just knew I wanted to have a flexible life. Even this morning, I went to go volunteer at the cafeteria. And I wanted to be able to do the things. And I think when you're working for somebody else that doesn't have a flexible environment, it would be like, yes, go volunteer at 11 AM. Just mark it on your calendar. That's not how big law works.
00:14:25
Speaker
It's very different than that. And I think now, this day and age, there's a lot of places you can work that are flexible, where they're like, of course, as long as you get your stuff done, just mark it on your calendar, the whole team will know you're doing that. But I definitely wanted that flexibility. I worked for lawyers in
00:14:44
Speaker
law school who had their own firms, and I would see them, like, buzz in and buzz out, and they were, like, always on the go, and, you know, I worked for this divorce lawyer, and she was like, okay, Rachel, me and my boyfriend are going away for the long weekend. Just handle everything here. Call me if anything comes up. I'm like, oh, my gosh. I'm like, you have such a good life. And I feel like I would look at a lot of my bosses at Big Law, and I, like, wouldn't necessarily want their life. I mean, that's a sign. Yeah.
00:15:15
Speaker
I'm so curious to hear how you starting on me.
00:15:19
Speaker
like coincides with your work life because I know for me as an entrepreneur, especially in the early stages of starting my business, like there's not a lot of time, all of my free time, and this was like before I had kids too. So it's even less now, but a lot of my, I didn't have a lot of free time and all of my free time was spent like doing things for my business and reaching out to new clients and like all of that stuff. So I was one of the drivers for you starting on me.
00:15:49
Speaker
like, because of your work life? Or I'm just curious to hear how those two coincide. Yeah. I mean, I think Ami was started, like, so organically and naturally where I was a busy new mom, corporate lawyer, and I wanted to get healthy. And I was like, why isn't there anything that I can, like, join or be excited about? There was really, you know, Weight Watchers and Noom. And I was like, I'm just not super excited to join those two.
00:16:18
Speaker
And like probably everybody else, I would like start something or sign up for some online challenge and like after a week it would be done. And I'd be like, no, I'm really going to do like these five workouts every week on this platform and I'm going to stick with it. And like, I would never stick with it. Or I'd be like, I tried this new diet or I'm going to do intermittent fasting and I'm going to stick with it and I could never stick with it.
00:16:41
Speaker
And I was like, how do people do it?
Community and Motivation at Ami
00:16:47
Speaker
Like, is it just does your full time job have to 24 seven be like a health and wellness job? And that's how these people do it. Because I just felt like nothing felt real.
00:16:57
Speaker
So I started a group chat just like you guys. And we committed to three months checking in every single day and committing together to move our body three days a week and eat healthy, simple recipes. And we'd share what we were making. And that was what I needed. And that is what
00:17:19
Speaker
helped me stick with it. And now on me just incorporates that, like we actually still have these small groups that we launch every few months where we now, like we're always changing it, but now it's going to be like 10 to 15 women together in a small group. And you really commit together and you get to know the women. And it's fun because it is real women that are juggling everything too. So you're like, oh shit, if she can do that, like,
00:17:46
Speaker
I have no excuse. It's so different to see.
00:17:53
Speaker
I'm sorry. Go ahead, Candice now. I was just going to say it's so different to see other real women do things rather than looking at like a fitness influencer do it, you know, because it feels like I'm like that person's whole job is to post that work out online. Whereas like to hear other moms or other women who have real lives and real jobs and real shit going on to see them do it is a whole different level of like motivation for sure. Yeah.
00:18:21
Speaker
when I joined last year, I think it was like before the holidays, I was like, I need to get, this will be a good time because you know, December can be so nutso. I think I texted Whitney and Candace this and maybe I read it from Ami, but I basically read that you don't like, as you're gaining weight over time, which not everything's about weight, but you don't gain it like half a pound at a time. You gain like most people gain,
00:18:50
Speaker
a like five or six pounds in January or in December over the holidays from Thanksgiving to Christmas and then they only lose one or two for the rest of the year so it's like this five pound increase every year and then all of a sudden you're like 30 pounds heavier than you were you know five years ago and I was like okay that makes sense so anyway I was like very motivated in December but I was also
00:19:16
Speaker
Wanting to use it as something to look at and inspire me instead of social media because social media in general I feel like I get on there I scroll and then I just feel a little bit empty I feel less than I feel like I need to buy stuff but like on me is is It's on slack and Rachel I want you to like just give us the overview of it too so that the listeners can like get
00:19:42
Speaker
understand what the community is, but it's community oriented. There's like chatting, there's real pics. So it was something that I could just pick up my phone when I was like feeling that need for inspiration and get it in a much more healthy way than just looking at influencers online.
00:19:59
Speaker
Yeah, and that's like, I just needed, and I think we all need, and if you don't, you're an alien, like that constant motivation of like, and reminder, like, oh, you know what, I should freaking go for a walk, or I should go for a jog. Because if not, we ignore it, and we like push those voices down.
00:20:19
Speaker
But I really think that's why accountability is so huge. And what I find is a random health coach or somebody else, I probably won't listen to them, or I'll be like, you're annoying, shut up. But when it's other people, I get much more motivated. And when you get this personal connection to starting to know them, where you feel like they're your friends and they actually care,
00:20:44
Speaker
Whereas a lot of people don't care. And it'd be like, Ami, people actually care when you post on there that you... Some girl posted that she ran four miles in 56 minutes and everybody's commenting and posting and so happy for her. And it's like they actually care. And they're like, damn, that's so hard that you actually did that. That's fire in a joke. Yes. Yes.
00:21:10
Speaker
And it's just, it's really that motivation and that constant reminder. And there's like a reason why Weight Watchers has lifetime members because you kind of always need that. And I think the problem that I had is I would go through these spurts of being like so healthy for like, honestly, I feel like the most I lasted was like three weeks of like, but I'd be like so healthy, like fruits and vegetables and like just grilled chicken. And then it'd be like, okay, like let me go on my trip.
00:21:40
Speaker
And like, no, I don't need to do that again. Like that was horrible. Right. You're like, I want to live my life. I need to be enjoying my life. That's what always comes into mind when I'm like going hardcore. I get really mad all of a sudden and I'm like, life is short. I need to be enjoying it. Like.
00:21:57
Speaker
And then I just completely swing back in the other direction. Yeah. So that's why on me, our big thing is we have this SOC community that has a recipe shares channel, a product recs channel, a read and listen where you share podcasts. And then we do these small groups every few months, which really gives you that big accountability. And then throughout the year, we also do different challenges.
00:22:22
Speaker
a fall review coming up for our entire community that's going to be one week, no added sugar challenge, kind of guided by a registered dietician that's on our team. So it's little things throughout the year that motivate you because
00:22:38
Speaker
That's what we need. That literally has what has kept me healthy, because I was never a healthy person.
Food Choices and Health Focus
00:22:44
Speaker
And I feel like, no, I want Outback Steakhouse. I want Chick-fil-A. I'm not going to be like, oh, I just am really in the mood for a salad right now. That's just never going to be me.
00:22:56
Speaker
Cool. So this will work for me. Yeah, so if that is you, it'll work for you. And it's funny because we actually do have some fitness freaks on there too. And I was like, I'm usually surprised. I'm seeing these women running eight miles, nine miles, all this, which is motivating for me because I always need people that are more motivated than me, part of a chat.
00:23:19
Speaker
Because I feel like that's what we all do. If we all just get in a group with our friends that are kind of motivated, we'll probably be like, F this, and just forget about it. So you really need that extra motivation. You motivate each other to cheat is the problem. Yes. See, I'm the opposite. I feel like food is my downfall, which is the most important part. I'm great at fitness. After I have this baby, I'll commit at some point. And then I'm back in it. I'm like, Orange Theory, love you. I'm there every day.
00:23:48
Speaker
But then I come home and I eat like crap. Well, Whitney, that's like everybody. I feel like most women I talk to are like, I enjoy working out. I like working out. It's food that is my shit show and it's just where I can't
00:24:04
Speaker
I can't help it. On the weekends, it's a free for all. On the weekdays, if I'm really hungry, I'll grab a sandwich because that's what I want. I'm excited to drink again. I'm like... Yeah. Yes, it's getting to wine every night sometimes, and you get into that pattern. But as we know, and I always tell people, when I really got my food under control, that's when I saw the biggest changes because...
00:24:32
Speaker
food, it's like 80%. I even tell busy people, you don't even worry about the workout. Once you change your eating, that is you will feel a world of a difference because we're all busy, but we all have to eat. You have to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can somehow try and get motivated by a community like Ami or a small group or
00:24:56
Speaker
a group chat with friends to get a handle of your food. That is what's going to be the difference and where you can really see true change. I know you're all nodding. You're like, yeah. It's hard though. We talked about what does that look like for you, Rachel, as somebody who, I mean, is feeding a family of five difficult?
00:25:21
Speaker
You have a full-time job. You have a side business. That's like a full-fledged business. I mean, someone feels so busy. How do you prioritize it? Have you had to carve time out to meal prep? What does it look like?
00:25:38
Speaker
No, so I'm not a meal prep person. Prepping on a Sunday seems like an absolute nightmare to me. I've never been like, somebody packs all my stuff and that's it. When I started on me, what really helped was realizing that it doesn't have to be this full on recipe every time. I think I'm a recipe girl and I'm like, nope, I need a recipe. I need to buy all the ingredients. I need to make it a thing.
00:26:06
Speaker
Whereas looking at these other texts from my friends, I was like, they're eating like eggs and avocado and black beans and they're eating like just chicken with veggies that they like put in their air fryer. And it wasn't these like complex recipes. And I know we all like know that deep down that like simple is better. And if you just do simple things, it really can get better. And so that's what I did when I started on me. I just really,
00:26:34
Speaker
made it simple. I was like, what can I make in 20 minutes or less? We've started growing now our recipe library for our members. We have every recipe that you have access to online that's six main ingredients or less. It's all recipes that have come up from our community. They look so good. I was stalking the Instagram and I was like, uh-huh.
00:26:58
Speaker
Yeah, and it's good. It's really delicious stuff. I always make enough for leftovers for lunch. Because I think as a busy mom and lawyer, I was defaulting to Uber Eats and ordering delivery just way too much.
00:27:16
Speaker
First of all, if you're ordering for you and your partner or your husband, it's $70 or $60. It's so expensive. It's never going to be just $20. Add-on delivery.
Rachel's Cooking and Meal Prep Journey
00:27:30
Speaker
I think that was 100% my breakthrough three years ago.
00:27:36
Speaker
that I can cook and you can change your ways. I was always like, I'm just not a cook. That's not in me. I don't cook dinner. And I didn't necessarily feel good about that. I wanted to cook. I wanted to make dinner for my husband and my family. And I wanted to be that person. I just chalked up like, I'm too busy. I can never be that person. And the truth is, you can change. And you just take baby steps and be like, OK, on Sunday nights and on Wednesday nights, I'm going to cook.
00:28:05
Speaker
And my husband really likes to cook and he like grills and does all that stuff too. But he was always doing it. And I feel like that also doesn't feel good for the other person if like, because we don't want to always do it, right? Like it really should be both people helping. And I don't know, it started feeling really good. So I think I would never cook five days out of the week. But I was like, you know,
00:28:30
Speaker
making dinner two or three days out of the week. And for me, that felt really good. And I enjoyed doing it. And yes, I would have a glass of wine and I would turn on like the Sonos and I would listen to like my Eric Church country music while
00:28:44
Speaker
cooking dinner and it kind of felt nice after a day. Obviously now I'm in the baby zone and I think that sounded really nice and that's not my life anymore. And I have two people on Ami told me that they had
00:29:03
Speaker
found people that would meal prep for them. And I was like, what do you mean? I need more details. What's the cost? Who would you find? And they're like, yeah, I would find people that maybe they were house cleaners or something. And they also would make rice, make beans, and make chicken. And they would package it and come over and cook. And I was like, really? And I was like, how much would it cost? And they were like $100. I'm like, what?
00:29:31
Speaker
And I was like, I don't even spend that. I always spend more than that at the grocery store. So I started asking friends, I was like, does anybody know somebody that would meal prep or cook? Because they feel like if you go to an actual company that does this, it's going to be really expensive. And I wanted to loophole that. And so I found this girl that's in college here, and she just loves cooking.
00:29:55
Speaker
And she doesn't have a degree in it, but neither do I. I don't care. And she really likes organic stuff. And she just makes rice. This week, she dropped off rice, veggies, and steak. And it was $110. And she does the grocery shopping. That includes the price of the food. Yes.
00:30:18
Speaker
Oh, that's incredible. And then for me, it's like not cleaning too, because I don't mind cooking sometimes, especially with the wine and the vibes. But then you eat and then I'm like, oh, fuck, I have to go back to the kitchen now and clean all that shit up. Well, whoever didn't cook has to clean, I feel like. That doesn't work in my house. My husband will not clean up after his clean job.
00:30:47
Speaker
My husband's least favorite chore is dishes. That is his least favorite thing. And also to watch him do it, he's like a weird germaphobe anyway. To watch him do dishes is torture for me. He spends so long on one dish. I stare at him doing the dishes like,
00:31:08
Speaker
I like it takes him the same amount of time it would take him to do two dishes is I could do the whole load and to get it in the dish. Like that's the reason we have a dishwasher. You don't need to like elbow grease that dish for 20 minutes. I'm lonely because if any of and I were married, it would be a battle.
00:31:25
Speaker
To like the end of time like we would have to just burn the kitchen down and switch. It's so funny though for you to talk about the meal prep thing I think there's just like you you find a formula or a hack that like works for you my husband really likes to grill too and I don't do anything with that but.
00:31:46
Speaker
We've got this formula where like I will buy a meat and then a veggie that most of the time we'll just go in the air fryer, we'll toss it in some olive oil and seasoning and it will go in the air. We're literally doing this tonight. I bought skirt steak for him to grill. The Brussels sprouts go in the air fryer. And then sometimes I'll like make a pot of yellow rice or something to go with it. And it's like very minimal dishes. And I don't have to worry, like pretty much my job is to just put the Brussels sprouts in the air fryer. And so.
00:32:14
Speaker
For, I think it goes back to what you were saying, just like with the meal prep thing, it's like, you just got to find a hack that like works for your life and like stick to that. It doesn't have to be complicated. You don't have to follow some crazy recipe from like, you know, bon appetit.com or like whatever. You can just find a sim, like a simple hack that works for you and your like family.
00:32:39
Speaker
Sounds delicious. And I feel like it can change. I think you have to also take inventory of what season of life you're in. Totally. And maybe that skirt's sake season isn't going to be next season when you have a little baby or maybe it is, but I think it's okay to change. I feel like you can change your ways.
00:33:01
Speaker
and you just got to do what's easiest and I feel like tell people like no gatekeeping like thank god these two people told me what they were doing and it's now literally saved in this season of my life because I'm back to work and I'm just busy and I just don't really want to worry about dinner when I get home. Can I ask? I was gonna ask um
00:33:25
Speaker
I think I am getting a little confused on the timelines, but I think the first, like the impetus for you starting that first group chat, you were postpartum with your second. Okay. So how was there a difference between your postpartum periods, like pre-AMI and then post
Postpartum Experiences and Health Habits
00:33:44
Speaker
-AMI? Cause I would imagine now you're just a little bit more centered. Like you said, you have your eating, like what can you,
00:33:51
Speaker
do a comparison between the two? Yes. That's such a good question because the first pregnancy I didn't have on me and I always, I'm 5'9". I can get really big. I usually am over 200 pounds when I give birth and I have really big baby. The first baby was almost 10 pounds. It's going to be amazing.
00:34:12
Speaker
freaking live it up when I'm pregnant. I have all the good stuff. I have big goals every day. I want all the carbs and I do not deprive myself when I'm pregnant. I am like, this is the best time. This is the one thing that you can eat whatever. And I think the one difference with this compared to my first with this one
00:34:38
Speaker
is I was walking all the time in this pregnancy and I still had all these healthy habits that I learned after my second pregnancy. So my first pregnancy, I don't even know how I lost the weight. I probably did some crash diet and
00:34:53
Speaker
I would find a friend to juice cleanse with and do that. Me and my friend Ally would juice cleanse for a week. I have no clue how I lost that weight. For the second baby, I remember I had 50 pounds to lose and I was like, that's when I started the group chat and I was like, I need somebody to do this with me. They weren't even postpartum, some of these girls, some of them were single and living their best life.
00:35:19
Speaker
But they all wanted to get healthy, like they all wanted to change. None of us were living these glamorous, healthy lives. So we all ended up losing like 20 to 25 pounds in those first three months after doing that.
00:35:33
Speaker
And then now all these healthy habits really are already part of my life, and I'm just going back to it more so. And I know, again, the eating is where the change happens. And for me, that's really, really dialing down and focusing on fruits, veggies, and proteins.
00:35:56
Speaker
as much as possible and knowing that a Friday pizza night or going out to dinner on Saturday night isn't going to totally derail anything because Saturday I'm going to work out. I am going to just do all the things and I feel like I've just learned that I can't... I think a big thing on me when people join is like, damn, you guys are doing this stuff on the weekends too.
00:36:21
Speaker
because I think a lot of us are programmed like Monday through Friday and then sabotage on the weekends. And then like Monday is always like, oh shit guys, I got to get back in it. But like what if you could still like eat all your good stuff on the weekends, but what if you actually did a hard workout and did a really long walk on Sunday? Like that's what I do. I try and like do a hard workout on Saturday. Sunday, I usually do like a long walk for
00:36:46
Speaker
you know, three miles, leave all the kids with Glenn, and I'm like, what? So I think that's like a big revelation too, which I wasn't living that way before. I would never like work out on the weekends and prioritize, you know, eating well, like a good breakfast.
00:37:05
Speaker
So it's all a change and it's been four years now. So I feel like it's been a very long time of doing this. And every year I learn new things. Like I think just this year I've really focused on walking. I don't know if you guys know Harley Pasternak. He's like a celebrity trainer. I listen to a podcast. And of course, like, you know, that one podcast, it just opens your eyes. And he said every single new client he gets
00:37:33
Speaker
he requires them to do 10,000 steps a day. And I didn't even have my Apple Watch at that point. I was already doing on me for three years, but I wasn't into this walking all day thing. Because I was like, I'm on Zooms and calls from nine to seven. How would I walk all day? But once you start and figuring in when you can fit in these little walks, sometimes I don't work out. I just walk all day, whether it's on calls or little sprint, little spurts here and there.
00:38:04
Speaker
I have a question because you're in Florida and I'm in Florida. I'm in Tampa. How the fuck do you walk when it's so hot outside? I know. The other thing is I would be like, how are these people waking up so early? I've never been like a 5 AM wake up and work out, but you have to. You have to get it in early in the morning. Walking early in the morning is where you're not getting the heat.
00:38:32
Speaker
Weren't you so tired? She's five months. I mean, when did you decide I'm going to focus on me instead of just sleeping in? At three months.
00:38:45
Speaker
after she's three months. I always give myself, even with Penn, my boy, three months. I don't even think about this shit. I'm watching every Indian matchmaker, Jewish matchmaker, every matchmaker. I'm just home. I'm still eating all the bagels for three months. Even people text me, like, Rachel, it's been six weeks. I feel like I should join on me. I'm like six weeks.
00:39:08
Speaker
Like, you got to just like, yeah, like walking I think is good for mental with postpartum. Like after three weeks, you should just like be walking, like not even thinking to get healthy more to like just veg out for a second and like get out of your mind and listen to a podcast. I think with our second kids, I mean, I would assume like there's already a kid that's up anyway, like we're just going to be more tired.
00:39:36
Speaker
think, like with the first baby, you only have that infant, there's nothing else going on. I was so dialed in to him for that postpartum period. And this second time, like obviously you want to give the new baby attention and like be there with them. But there's also like a family that already exists and like a schedule that's already happening. So I feel like doing something like getting up and like
00:40:04
Speaker
Just getting out there might be a little bit easier this time around or just even forced because there's already a Toddler like up and Adam. Yeah, it's gonna be different Yeah, the first like I had such bad postpartum. I was like always crying I remember like the week before I was going back to work and
00:40:23
Speaker
I was sitting on the Rocky. I can vividly remember sitting on the rocking chair outside my house, just crying so sad that I didn't want to leave my baby, even though I could just work from home on email. It's just this waves of emotion that if somebody told me, just go for a walk, I'd be like, F you. Who the hell cares?
00:40:43
Speaker
With your second, it's different. I think with my third, because I did jump into really focusing on myself and walking and exercising, it helps so much with postpartum.
00:40:57
Speaker
And I know all the doctors and people can say that. And they're like, you really need to focus on yourself and take care of yourself. It's like the last thing you want to hear. But after three, you're kind of like, maybe they're right. It's so refreshing to hear that the second time around.
00:41:15
Speaker
It seems easier for everyone that we've talked to because I went through that as well. I think it's just that first baby is so life changing. It's crazy. It's like a huge shift. Yeah, to get an hour away, a guilt. I'm not with my baby. I'm on a walk for an hour on a podcast. Whereas now I'm like,
00:41:36
Speaker
I'll go for like two and a half hour. Yeah, you're like, see ya. Yeah. Yeah. And it's OK. Like most of most people's partners, if you have a partner, like want you to take care of yourself. Yeah. And they're like, yes, please go on a walk. Like, please go.
00:41:51
Speaker
It would benefit the family, please. Yes, yes, yes. For sure. Yeah, no. My husband has said that. He wants me to take care of myself and it's so hard with the first one. I struggle the morning thing. My husband is in construction. He leaves for work at 4.45 a.m. So it's fine. We're building me a shisha that will be my office in the back.
00:42:16
Speaker
And the reason I can't have a walking pad in here is A, I just don't have any room. But in my she shed, I'm going to have a walking pad. Yeah, a lot of girls and I'm going to have walking treadmills too. I just find if I, and I don't know if you feel the same way, but if I had a walking treadmill on my computer, I would not leave my computer. I feel like these little spurts of walk forced me to like leave my email. Also being a lawyer, like email is like a vortex where I could spend
00:42:46
Speaker
Just all day responding to emails That is so true and you can kind of zone out when you're listening to a podcast That's like my favorite time of the day or I call my mom and have like a long 45 minute talk and I just love it. I miss it so much. I can't wait I Know yeah, you're in the final stretch but Monday Whitney your
00:43:08
Speaker
I'm so excited. I cannot wait. So let's talk about, um, it's lay health club, right?
Joining and Engaging in the Ami Community
00:43:15
Speaker
That's the official name, the health club. If someone joins on me, I mean, we've, we've sprinkled a lot of the details in there, but tell us a little bit about what membership looks like.
00:43:24
Speaker
So the best time to join is during one of our small groups. And it is fun if you want to join with a friend or somebody else. A lot of people, why Ami came to be is because people were like, I don't have that one friend or I have friends, but neither, none of them want to get healthy as bad as I do right now. And I need people that will really be in it with me, right? Because we have
00:43:49
Speaker
those friends that are like, I'll do it with you. But then they're like, kind of fall off. And when you're really motivated and want it so bad, it's so important to have those other people that want it too. So the best time to join, especially if you have goals, is with a small group. And we have a questionnaire and you put whether you're like postpartum, whether you want strength and consistency, whether you want weight loss.
00:44:15
Speaker
I'm gonna try and put the groups together like more intentionally. Obviously, this has really evolved from when we started on me and it was just like mishmash. And there is some kind of fun of like, seeing somebody that like just has straight consistency goals doing all the things because you're like, damn, that's why she
00:44:36
Speaker
And so you join during one of our small groups and then the idea is you do all these challenges and a lot of people end up doing the small groups over and over again because they're like a couple times a year I kind of need this accountability and need this push.
00:44:50
Speaker
And that's great because then they're like the leaders and leading these newbies in the small group. And it's just somebody, I just talked to a new member and she's like, it feels like on me is like a big hug when you walk inside of that Slack community. And I was like, that's what it should feel like. Our price point is really reasonable. If you do the annual, it's like $11 a month. Wow.
00:45:19
Speaker
is really attainable. It can be all types of women doing it together. It's not just this exclusive $1,000 thing that you have to buy. I felt like everything had some ulterior motive. Do this and then sell it to your friends and get other people to join. That's nothing that homie is. No. Can I ask what- There's all the perks. There's perks that
00:45:44
Speaker
come with being a member. And also, I know Slack can be scary for some people because they associate it with work. But as a member, I just want to say, I appreciate it because there's no pressure to always be engaged. It's not gamified like that or anything. But there is a record of what's been discussed. So when you jump in, you can scroll through and see what everybody's been up to. I love the Read&Listen channel because I've
00:46:14
Speaker
I'm always looking for like books and podcasts. So you just like jump in there and see what people have been talking about. And then there's perks. So like, there's always, you know, we're gonna try this type of workout. And if you want accountability on it, there's a discount code. So there's a lot of just like
00:46:29
Speaker
fun treats that are like sprinkled in outside of all of the awesome community and accountability that come with it. Yeah, I think one thing people have said is like Slack is like, there's so busy and so much going on. I'm like, that's because we have a very engaged community. I'm like,
00:46:46
Speaker
There is something always going on because every day somebody and multiple people are usually sharing or posting or want to say something. But that's what makes it great. And I think, Shannon, you're right that you can just jump in. Sometimes it's like, guys, I've been away for three months. I'm back.
00:47:06
Speaker
And it's like, oh my God, I missed you. Welcome back. And it doesn't have to feel, you don't have to feel like you have to do it every day. I think that's where if you do join a small group, you are committing with this smaller group to check in.
00:47:21
Speaker
more regularly. Of course, every day, like FVAT, we all have way too shitstorm days to commit to every day, but at least a couple times a week to check in with your group. Can I ask what some of the examples of what some of the challenges are? Is it more food-related or workout-related?
00:47:39
Speaker
So we do a spring steps, which focus on walking, which is really great.
Ami's Community Challenges and Support
00:47:43
Speaker
We do a super clean January, which is our most popular, obviously, which focuses on clean eating and no booze or light booze. So some people are like, I can do this with you guys during the week, but on weekends, I need my...
00:47:57
Speaker
wine. But I think committing together on the no booze also makes it fun because you're doing it with others. We do a summer of strength that's focused on strength training because I think also a lot of us get into habits of just doing one thing and then forgetting about actually doing weights or something that can tone you up. And then we have a run for Ang every November that is a public challenge.
00:48:26
Speaker
that's a mile a day walking or running. Nice. Yeah. Sounds fun. Yeah. Runs the gamut. I know. Well.
00:48:34
Speaker
I loved this conversation. Before we jump, I do have a few like rapid fire style questions we wanted to ask you, but Candice or Winnie, do you have anything else? Like I loved this. This was so inspiring. And also like the Ami community, I feel like for our listeners is such a good fit because it is about, well, community number one. And we have girls who just like really love being involved with other people.
00:49:00
Speaker
Um, we're all busy and it helps you kind of like cut out the noise and like pick a goal and stay accountable. I think the accountability piece is huge and it's just fun. It's like a safe space with a lot of women who are around our age. I don't know if it's open to men, but it's all, it's all women. And I just love that. It's like a really like nice. I actually had a guy apply.
00:49:24
Speaker
And I was like, there's no, like you can join. So I wrote to him like, yeah, of course he didn't end up joining. But yes, it's open to like, literally anybody, the age doesn't matter, obviously over 18 and all of that. But yeah. Just a good vibe. Like you said, the hug. It's really fun. Yeah.
00:49:48
Speaker
Yeah. Do we want to switch over to some rapid fire? Yeah, let's do it. Okay. We'll just try and do a few of these. Um, Rachel, what is your favorite healthy breakfast right now? My healthy favorite breakfast. It's called the.
00:50:04
Speaker
on me athlete smoothie. It's by our member Lindy who discovered it and it's actually a smoothie that will keep you full. And I have never found this and it has coffee in it and it makes it really delicious. You put a little ground coffee in it. I just do Dunkin' Donuts ground coffee because that's what I have. But it's, you know, coffee, almond milk, some chocolate protein powder, banana, and some oats and it's amazing.
00:50:34
Speaker
It sounds great. So good. The recipe is on our Instagram. That sounds incredible. But I've been having it like three or four days a week. And it just feels healthy. And it fills you up. These smoothies just don't fill me up. And I'm ravenous. Even an hour later. Yum. Yeah, I agree. That's exactly how I feel. I feel like I maybe know the answer based on our interview. But what is your biggest pregnancy craving?
00:51:04
Speaker
What is it? I mean, I love a bloomin' onion. I can like house a bloomin' onion so bad, and I always get extra sauce. That sauce is so good. She's an outback girl forever. I am an outback girl. Well, anybody that knows me knows I'm an outback girl. That's so funny. So yes, a bloomin' onion, I would say.
00:51:21
Speaker
I feel like we all, well, I know Candice and I love Outback. Growing up in Tampa, it's like blooming brands, headquarters. Yeah. Yes. I remember working out back as a lawyer that would like really just make my whole circle come around. Yeah. So funny.
00:51:39
Speaker
Oh my God, I bet the lawsuits they deal with are probably crazy. Oh my God, but it's funny you guys like Outback because my husband's like, Outback, like I always go there for my birthday dinner. Love you, group. I love the brown bread. You grew up in suburbia. Of course you ate there. Yeah, it's like a comfort thing for me. And I actually think it's pretty good, honestly. It is good. Yeah. It's good. It's good. I feel like the things are good. Outback got to sponsor this podcast. Come on. I know. Literally.
00:52:09
Speaker
You should reach out to them. I know, we should. Okay, now that we've discussed Outback, what's your favorite wellness account to follow?
00:52:19
Speaker
I really like, I know her. Her name is Ashley Schmelka. She's a mom. You guys can follow her.
Rachel's Influence and Ami's Personal Connection
00:52:27
Speaker
I'll send you guys in DMs her link. But she's really funny. She works out a lot. I think she just posted she's been drinking celery juice for like three years straight. But she, I don't know, like on me, she doesn't take herself too seriously.
00:52:43
Speaker
but she's really freaking healthy and she looks like she takes care of herself. And I just, I love that when people are just, you know, she eats the bad stuff. She goes on vacation and she does it, but you can tell she really takes care of herself. Okay. Ashley Schmalka. Yeah. Love to get the link. Yeah. This one's motherhood related, but what's your favorite part about being a mom?
00:53:07
Speaker
I love the drives to school. I think that is one of my favorite things. I think it's so cute. I feel like such a mom when I'm doing it too. And I think that little drive is so cute. They're always so talkative. My daughter's into Taylor Swift now, so she's a DJ and we play Taylor Swift and we sing. Our girl. Yes.
00:53:37
Speaker
Is it like as a mom of kids who are a little bit older, like how wild is it watching them grow up and like have preferences and like tell you about things that you didn't know they liked and all of that? It's so wild. And I, I think it's funny just to see how much what you do inspires them. Like I went to the Taylor Swift concert, which once in my girlfriends,
00:54:03
Speaker
And she was like, Mila says, we're going to the Taylor Swift concert, mom. We have to get tickets. And they're like, little yous. What you do is so important. Even on the health and wellness front, she says, mom's favorite food is salad. And I'm like, that's so funny because she sneezes me. Also eat all the crap and get a bag of candy when we go to the candy store together.
00:54:28
Speaker
But she sees me mostly eating a salad. And so that's what she thinks. I joke with her that she's going to be the president of Ami. And she says she's going to run a candy store. And she calls herself Candy Girl. And I'm like, oh, Lord. I'm like the opposite effect. It's so funny the jobs you want when you're little. They're like, I'm going to own a candy store. No, she literally, her nickname is Candy Girl. She's like, I want to go buy Candy Girl from now on. I'm like, OK, Candy Girl.
00:55:04
Speaker
It's more like her party alter ego. Yeah, it's more like my party alter ego for sure. My mom actually purposely spelled my name with an A instead of an I because she didn't want people to shorten my name to Candy because she thought it sounds like a stripper.
00:55:24
Speaker
It probably does. And you know what? When the shoe fits, it happened anyways. Like literally since I was in kindergarten, they, everyone has called me Candy anyway, so. Oh my God, so funny.
00:55:44
Speaker
Okay, let's see, just a couple more here. What's your favorite thing about Ami? My favorite thing about Ami is definitely that, let me think, there's so many favorite things. I feel like that it is truly an extension of me. And people say that when they get their emails, when they see our even stories on Instagram, they're like, really feels like you're talking and it's you.
00:56:09
Speaker
And I think that feels so good because as you build a brand, I think you tend to lose that, right? Because it's a brand and it turns into something else. And I think that just really makes me feel good that it really is an extension of me and that people say that it is so welcoming and, you know, feels like a big hug because that is what I want.
00:56:35
Speaker
Yeah. That's amazing. That's how we feel about the pod. We're like, we always say it's our favorite thing we've ever done. It doesn't feel like a job. It feels just warm and I don't know. I'm excited for us to get seven years into this, like on me. I know. I'm just four years, but my long form. Yeah, four years, yes. And I think the same with you guys, because I know one of the questions, Shannon, you had is like, how do you fit in the time?
00:57:01
Speaker
First of all, I can give myself grace that Ami can run and keep going without me being super involved. I can just be a member and post in there. But I just love it so much that you'll make the time. Instead of scrolling on Instagram for an hour or two hours, maybe I'm doing something for Ami. So true.
00:57:25
Speaker
All right, I think we should close there. Where can people find you, Rachel, find Ami, if they are interested in learning more or want to join? Yeah, so go to amihealth.com, H-M-I, and you can join there. You can apply.
00:57:42
Speaker
have these small groups, like I said, every few months. There is in January, we'll do our super clean January and a small group in February. So that'll be a 60-day thing, which will be a great way to jumpstart and have a ton of new members and really feel like you're starting the new year fresh without a crash and burn, like we all tend to do, unfortunately. So that, AmiHealth, and then you can follow us on Instagram at amihmi.health.
00:58:14
Speaker
Awesome. And we'll be posting. You'll see all these links from us, but this was such a fun conversation. Thank you so much for being here with us, Rachel, and squeezing us in to all of your stuff. It was so fun. Yes. Thank you so much. Thank you.
00:58:30
Speaker
Quick plug here, if you're interested in joining Ami, now is a great time to do so because they are launching a small group challenge starting October 2nd. If you join a small group, you'll get matched with 10 to 15 members who have similar goals as you. So for example, you might be matched with other moms or people who feel work overwhelmed and want to focus on moving their bodies regularly.
00:58:54
Speaker
You'll have regular check-ins and access to all the AMI resources that come with membership. If you're looking to supercharge your accountability in a super positive way, this is a great way to do it and also a great time to do it as we ramp up for the holidays. All the information you need is provided in a link in our show notes. Thanks.
00:59:15
Speaker
Thank you so much for being a part of our mom group chat new episodes drop every Tuesday and don't forget The group chat is blowing up on our Instagram page. So make sure you're following along over there Alright gotta go my toddler just put something in her mouth