Motivated by her own journey of overcoming obesity, Pamela Roundtree has dedicated herself to helping others throughout communities of Jersey City be more aware of healthier eating habits, fitness, and wellness. Through New Body, New Mind, New Living, Pamela Roundtree’s mission is to cure obesity through fitness, nutrition, and meditation. For Pamela that was not an option. “I began working out 3 times a week, I changed my eating habits, and although it required constant discipline and motivation, it inspired me to help others make a healthy change in their lives”. 

How important is it for you as a Black woman and a business owner in Jersey City to educate your community about establishing a healthy lifestyle through self-care and self love? 

It is very important, when I first began committing myself to this, it was simply a goal for myself to go to the gym and focus on losing the weight. I realized the lack of education being provided for our community. I believe that people have to be the change they want to see; if no one else is doing it, you do it. I decided to have a free community event for the city back in 2014, which was a “Health & Fitness” day, at Lincoln Park , here in Jersey City. There were activities such as yoga, meditation, and exercise routines. There was also a chef present, teaching residents how to not only eat healthier, but also eat healthy on a budget. I realized when I lost the weight, there was a lack of education on portion control, knowing the ingredients within our foods that our healthy and unhealthy for us. There are so many myths about diets and foods, people do it the wrong way. Instead of starving ourselves, we need to know that we actually need certain carbs, fats, and proteins; it’s about learning how to incorporate it in a more healthier manner. So it is extremely important for me to spread that message of healthy eating, and lifestyle changes. 

Does being a JC native motivate you to continue help those throughout your community to not just improve themselves physically but also improve their mindset and attitude in their day-to-day lives, and continue to spread such an energy of mental and physical transmutation of self- love? 

Being a person who was once a kid growing up in this city, I was given so much. My grandfather was a Pastor; I took his message of love through service and implement it now as an adult. So for me, I am not only in service for those who may be overweight or obese, but my community as well. There are so many images and corporations that feed us things that may be telling us what we are doing wrong with ourselves, for me my industry is inspiring people to say “Hey I love myself”. It shouldn’t be an industry for that specifically, it should be something in which we teach each other, and we transmute that by being that way. We have to teach our youth that “hey you matter”. Even if you are a size 4 or 16- yes you matter. There is a size 4 or 16 healthy and unhealthy and we want you to be healthy all around, mind-body-soul.  

I really love that you send this message of transformative self-love, as a woman of color we are growing in the entrepreneurial sector. What inspired you to start your own your own business and how has that been for you? 

Once again my grandfather inspired me. No one looks at Pastors as entrepreneurs but in a sense they are entrepreneurs. He was born in South Carolina and migrated to NJ,  his denomination was Episcopalian; he noticed there were no Episcopalian churches so he went to study Theology and opened a New Reform Episcopalian Church with a 20-year mortgage which he paid off in 15 years. He never was dishonest and he was as good as they came. So watching him put his entrepreneurial spirit into action inspired me.  

I began working out simply for me,  but as I was working out, I begin to see other people who may be over-weight come into the gym and other not so overweight people made them feel un-welcomed. So I began motivating others who may be on their own weight-loss journey. I felt like something had to change, so that inspire me to begin New Mind, New Body, New Living,  to be the help specially for those who may be overweight or obese, because I have been in that situation before.  

What specific area of fitness do you focus on with your clients? 

I do a full body work out: that is cardio mixed with weight training, and also nutrition. Nutrition is extremely important to me; it’s not a diet, it is a lifestyle change, it is a way of eating where you do not starve. The first things clients think is “Oh No! I am on a diet”. No! You’re not on a diet otherwise you wouldn’t be here talking to me. I create a full body workout that is tailored to the clients’ needs. We do these workouts together, but when I am not available these are workouts that can be done solo, especially if they are committed to the eating regimen we created together. 

How do you motivate your clients to continue with implementing a healthier lifestyle each day? 

I have a saying A new life begins with a new mind. So when a client initially comes to me, I attempt to adapt a mindset of a healthier lifestyle. I believe when you have it set in your mind that you want to live a healthy life it is easier to commit to implementing it in your life. I am honest with my clients- think about the body you want, think about the fact the doctor may have told you there may be some serious health issues, think about the complications that could result in not accepting a healthier mindset and lifestyle. More times than not, those are the things that motivate my client to give me one last push, or one more rep, that one thing that keeps us pushing toward this goal. 

At what point in your journey did you say “New Body, New Mind, New Living” is something I am going to do? 

2012 is when it first sort of happened, but in 2014 is when I really got serious with my business and I knew this was what I wanted and needed to do. 

Do you remember what the feeling was like when you received your first client?  

My first client was a friend of mine, I put a post on Facebook, and she inboxed me. At the time I was offering 8 sessions for $150 and she began that December and she has been a client. I remember being so elated to be able to have this person and motivate them to keep achieving their goals. That’s the thing about the New Body New Mind regimen, after my clients stop seeing me they continue on with their regimen, because what I hope to instill within them is lifestyle change. There are no gimmicks, we are doing realistic changes and goals. All of my clients have lost the weight and kept it off and when I see them, I am so extremely proud of them for sticking with it. 

What is your proudest moment within your business especially as a woman who is out here owning her business in such a male dominated industry? 

I hope I don’t get teary eyes, but it definitely when I am just traveling within my community and someone says to me “PAM! You inspire me so much!”, that means so much to me, because I just want you to be the best you possible. I didn’t go into it for that, and I don’t think about those things when I am doing it. And although it is just fitness, I help people uncover purposes and discover their path; we do yoga and mindful meditation and because of this we talk and find what inspires them. 

What is your future goals for New Mind New Body New Living? 

I definitely want to open my own gym, I want to be mindful to the needs of my clients that is a safe space for my clients to come and hit their goals. I also would also love to write a book, but I am open to whatever God has planned for me. 

Can we look forward to the next Health and Fitness Day?  

Health and Wellness Day 2018 will definitely happen this year, I have to do something great for my city. This year I will have it Hamilton Park downtown JC. I look forward to bringing that positive energy to my city.