Jane Mukami: Leaving Behind Abuse and Trauma to Become One of the Most Sought After Women’s Weight Loss Coach
By Mukurima Muriuki
Beauty for ashes is a phrase that many of us have heard over the years. Some women can relate to it, while others may wonder at its meaning. It is mentioned in the book of Isaiah where God shows His mercy in healing the brokenhearted. Many of us also are aware of the image of a phoenix rising from the ashes — depicting how a broken person can struggle through their pain to emerge with even more strength. Jane Mukami has traded the ashes of her past for beauty. And she is a phoenix who overcame an abusive marriage and has emerged from her pain to soar to new heights as a successful weight loss coach serving women globally helping them lose weight while eating carbs and without having to exercise
When Mukami first arrived in America, she lived in college housing and made friends with many Kenyan students. Eventually, she married and introduced her new husband to her Kenyan friends who welcomed him with open arms. Some of these so-called friends were a bit too welcoming and began causing drama in her marriage. She mentioned that she has never felt more betrayed than at that moment. Her marriage could not survive, and, in 2008, her divorce was final. Because of this traumatic experience, she decided to end her then friendships and start anew.
Life is our best teacher, and Mukami believes that her divorce taught her not to trust people or get too close to anyone. She explained, “Most of the people whom I cut off were drinkers and partiers — yes back then I used to turn up! (Lol)” Looking back on her decision to build other friendships, she can see how these new friends added value to her life. “I still know a lot of people (Kenyans), but I only have a handful as true friends,” she said.
Currently, she chooses not to keep up with gossip and current affairs in both Kenya and America. She sighed, “I won’t even lie…I suck at this!! One of my weaknesses or maybe strengths, depending on how you look at it, is tunnel vision. I enjoy staying focused on what I'm doing or what I'm trying to achieve. I shut down anything and everything else that’s not helping me move forward in order to protect my mind. For this reason, I don’t watch the news or read newspapers. There is too much negativity that can keep you fearful of living life. For these reasons, I’m blissfully ignorant. My mother is my “kameme”, and she keeps me updated on what I need to know.”
For the past 22 years, she has called Atlanta, Georgia her home and prefers the warm southern weather to the cold weather of the North. She stated, “My Kenyan blood runs HOT! I am still not acclimated to cold weather.” And although she has traveled to many US states and back to Kenya in 2014, she feels that her roots are here in Georgia. The one aspect of American life that has been an adjustment for her is relating to Africans who were born in America. She has encountered racism, but because she was reared in Kenya, it doesn’t affect her in the same way. “I think being born and raised in Kenya before coming to the US does somewhat insulate us from that knee-jerk reaction when we encounter certain racial situations. We know a different culture,” she stated.
When reflecting on the most impactful decision she has ever made, she emphatically says that it was when she started her fitness and weight loss journey. She explained
“14 years ago, after my divorce, I began slipping into depression. It was from this dark place that I decided to do something about my unhappy and sad life. That ‘something’ was fitness. I had gained a lot of weight during marriage and even more after the divorce due to stress eating.”
Her weight-loss journey began when she decided to “reclaim and reboot” her life. Prior to this time, she had never exercised or cared about weight loss. Nevertheless, at 28 years old, she made the decision to take care of herself and to leave behind the negative moments in her past. Her fitness journey became a passion that enabled her to give up her old career and create a business doing what she loved. She exclaimed:
“My business has changed me and my life!”
Conflict management is an area Mukami believes she has improved upon over the years. She understands that conflicts take many different forms; therefore, she feels that one needs to be equipped with problem-solving strategies for each situation. “I used to be an avoider, but over the last 10 years I've become very comfortable with having tough conversations. My end goal is always to compromise and find common ground,” she said.
Most people wish they could go back in time to correct past mistakes, and Mukami couldn’t agree more. 10 years ago, she co-signed on an ex-boyfriend’s lease. She further explains, “My boyfriend at the time was African-American, and when he asked for help with a 3-year commercial lease. I naively agreed. This was the biggest mistake ever! After we broke up 2 yrs later, he broke the lease agreement, and I was sued for $80,000 and had to file for bankruptcy!”
If you were to ask her new friend group to describe Mukami, she feels they would use the word, "disciplined." She is not a quitter, and when she makes up her mind to do a job, she will see it through to the end:
“My dreams excite me and motivate me to work towards them. My greatest fear is losing the vision and excitement to work on them daily. It would be a boring life and a slow death of sorts for me.”
Mukami is not an overly emotional person; however, when asked about her last cry, she explained that when she does cry, it is usually due to a very sad situation. In 2017, when she was told of her brother’s suicide, she couldn't control her flood of tears.
Looking toward the future, Mukami’s wish is to have children. This shocks many of her friends when they hear that she wants to start a family in her 40’s even though she was married and divorced in her 20’s. ”I was pregnant in 2019 but lost the pregnancy. That was a sad time, and I did share about it on social media back then. Because I'm in the health & fitness space, people think that I will ‘ruin’ my body. (lol) This is a non-issue. The same habits that have kept me fit would still be applicable post baby, so I never worry about this,” she explained.
Her favorite song is You Are My Destiny, by Lionel Richie. “It’s such a happy song, and it makes me smile,” she said.
Mukami is an encouragement to all women, no matter what their age. She has been able to take her tragedies and turn them into triumphs. She is a true phoenix and an example of how the ashes of one's life can become a beautiful masterpiece.
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This year, African Warrior Magazine will celebrate the Top 30 Kenyans in America Diaspora. These are folks who in one way or another embody triumph, hope,
and breakthrough: They attained unparalleled success at work or business, overcame barriers , broke the rules, or shattered glass ceilings. They could also be heroes with proven positive impact on the lives of others
This list of the Top 30 Kenyans in America Diaspora will be shared via the Africa Warrior Magazine online platform on December 30th
lf you are that Kenyan in America, or you know anyone who deserves to be in the list, write to us: Info@awmagazine.org
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