Woodbridge Woman Loses 98 Pounds

Woodbridge, NJ - Like so many other people, the pounds just crept up on Jamie Felder over the years. But this 26-year-old Woodbridge woman stuck with her health goals, and now, incredibly, she's not only lost 98 pounds, but is also a cardio kickboxing instructor at the Menlo Park Mall — when she's not teaching 7th grade math at Maplewood Middle School, that is. Here's a quick Q&A Felder, who lives in Avenel, did with Patch:

Do you know what led to your weight gain?

"I've been overweight since middle school. I'm not sure how it started. I was an active child, but I wasn’t making healthy choices when it came to my diet."

What finally worked when it came to losing weight and keeping it off?

Felder signed up for Weight Watchers at 22, and says tracking what she eats every day is the most important.

"I attribute my weight loss to tracking my food, preparing/cooking most of my meals, working out at the gym/running and making better food choices. As I started to lose weight, I had to eat less points (calories) so I started to figure out what foods would keep me satisfied longer and feel better. Eventually I started eating more whole foods (grains, fruits, vegetables, lean meats). While I still enjoy the occasional treat, I try to eat more fiber-filled and protein-packed foods to get me through the day and work-outs. (Check her out on Instagram @creativelosing to see the healthy food she eats and dishes she makes.)

Is eating out hard? Can you recommend any good restaurants in the Woodbridge area that serve tasty, healthy food?

When I do go out, I'm not afraid to ask for what I want!

I always modify my meals by getting sauces/dressings on the side so I can control how much I have, getting it without cheese, asking how things are prepared and getting double vegetables as a side instead of carbs, etc. My favorites nearby are diners! I like the Reo, Edison Family Restaurant and the Menlo Park Diner. I like diners because of the plethora of options. They always have fresh vegetables and options for egg whites. I like to share with my husband if we do want a treat, but don't want to go overboard — sometimes I'll get an egg white omelette, which is only 2 SmartPoints if you get just vegetables, and then we'll split a short stack of pancakes, so I'm only eating one pancake.

Another great choice when I don't feel like cooking is Chinese food. I usually purchase from China Town restaurant in Woodbridge. They have a whole steamed section where they steam meat and vegetables and you can get brown rice on the side.

When I am just hanging out for drinks, I like to go to places that have lots of drink options so I can choose what I want for the points that I want. Fox & Hound of Edison has a lot of beers on tap, which makes it easier for me to choose a light beer without being stuck with only one or two options. Other restaurants like Cheesecake Factory have lighter menus for food and drinks.

And you now teach kickboxing?

I teach cardio kickboxing (Group Fight) and a step class (Group Blast) at Work Out World in the Menlo Park Mall. At least once a week I go for a run around the neighborhood, too! Woodbridge has a lot of residential areas to run around and parks to visit.

Congratulations, Jamie!