Kamila McDonald not only talks the talk but walks the walk. She knows what it is to struggle with obesity, an eating disorder and depression.
The picture of the lean, mean fitness machine that you see is a far cry from the girl who was 60 pounds overweight.
Kamila, 31, is an honours graduate from Stanford University and recently obtained a Master’s in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley.
She is also a Jamaican TV personality, mum, wife and a certified personal trainer and sports nutrionist who formed her own fitness company after being crowned Miss Jamaica World Beach Beauty in 2009.
Her journey to where she is now has been tough and rough and she recently started travelling to the United States, encouraging females to get healthy.
“I started Kamp Kamila in Jamaica as a campaign to change and recreate a lifestyle. A lot of people go on a diet or lose weight for a specific event – a one-time thing such as a beach party, only to fall off the wagon as the steps they put in place are not sustainable.
“After going through my own journey of almost hitting 200lbs (she was 125 lbs at first) during college, hitting rock bottom, battling an eating disorder. I was clinically depressed– I stumbled across a passion for health and fitness and my campaign is to share that passion, with as many people around the world.”
Kamila says she find it beneficial that her Kamp Kamila provides upliftment, positive reinforcement, and strategies to accomplish personal goals whether inside or outside the gym.
Having her own personal struggles with obesity allows her to relate to others in the same situation.
“It doesn’t make sense I tell women oh you can lose 15 or 20 lbs not having been where they have been. I have been there. I know that lifestyle change is difficult but I have done it. The fact that I did it and took myself from rock bottom to where I am now in probably the best shape of my life . . . anyone can do it.”
Kamila said her mission is to spread the message to as many people as possible by putting on workshops.
“I lost the weight by changing my eating habits. I worked out regularly and the kind of workouts are important. A lot of high intensive training, weight training is important and I realise a lot of female shy away in the fear of bulking up but we don’t have that type of hormones.”
She countered that weight training speeds up metabolism.
She was on a fitness tour recently in Washington DC, Miami, Atlanta and New York, where each was a one-hour intense workout (with Caribbean music) and then a one-hour sit-down, discussing nutrition and goal-setting.
Kamila is an advocate of eating right. A good rule of thumb for her is “it must be made in a plant and not on a plant.
“We are living in a time where many are dying younger than previous generations. We have
15-year-olds with diabetes. We consume a lot of toxins, sometimes without realising it. So I am just encouraging people to change their lifestyles; cutting out processed foods is a big plus.”
In Jamaica she says the camps were welcomed.
“The way I share my journey was real. People can see the authenticity of it. I am not doing it for a fad so people connect to me because I shared so openly about my journey.”
She uses social media to share her pictures of before and after so as to show women she is real.
“There is a camp at Emancipation Park once a week, and we have teamed up with Wata Company (a water company) so they give us water for the classes. Since we exercise outside we also use the water bottles as weights. The idea is that you don’t have to have an expensive gym membership. All you have to do is train efficiently and creatively and that will get the job done.”
She advocates not using time and money as an excuse.
The wife of well-known singer Jah Cure says she has encouraged her family to join her on the healthy lifestyle train.
“It is very very difficult in my family. My husband’s genes has him staying slim and Jamaican men love them food salt and drinks full of sugar. But it is a fight but it is a fight I am willing to take on. We both need to be around to see our daughter grow up. It is about not getting hypertension, heart disease in 15 years. It is about making the sacrifices.
“I know what it feels like to be a prisoner in your own body. I know what it is like to be depressed and have body issues. Not having the energy to get up and do the things that you love.
“As a mum we make so many sacrifices so we need a little time for ourselves. Just 25 to 30 minutes a day of exercising, from running to swimming is a big step.”
Barbados could have its own Kamp Kamila if all goes well.
She was recently in Barbados for the first time for the Dominica We Care 5K run and plans to be back next week.
“I have made some connections and we are looking at October 18 to do a Kamp Kamila workshop like what we did in the United States. I will be in Trinidad On October 17 doing Kamp Kamila so I can just hop across to Barbados after.”
She is an official Adidas ambassador of Jamaica and will use pieces for Adidas through SS15 season and beyond.
In her capacity as an Adidas ambassador, Kamila will be attending events for the company as well as sharing her knowledge, passion and commitment to fitness and healthy living in various capacities and platforms, inspiring women in Jamaica and beyond.
She will bring the Adidas performance and style credentials to life for both media and consumers.
“I didn’t know that I would end up here when I first started. Life is full of obstacles and unless we embrace those obstacles we are just fighting against ourselves. So just know that every journey there will be days when you want to give up and days that you will give up. Just know though that your journey doesn’t have to stop. Do not quit.”
