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Before and after photo of blonde girl showing results from fasting mimicking diet

Prolon Diet, Prolon Reviews and Prolon Discount Code For 15% Off

I’ve never been a huge fan of diets and fads until I was planning my elopement back in 2021. I tried a few things, worked out extra hard at Shred415 Castle Rock, tried to eat clean(er), and cut out alcohol and sweets, but it wasn’t until a friend recommended the Prolon diet that I saw actual results. And fast results. In fact, I saw results in just 5 days, which is way more manageable than a few months.

Prolon Diet Updated October 2024 – I have done the Prolon diet five times and always love the results. I love to do the Prolon diet before or after a vacation. Usually before a beach vacation, it helps me to reset, or after a trip to Vegas, it allows my body a little reset. I do anywhere from the 1-day Prolon fast to the 5-day Prolon fast-mimicking diet.

What is the Prolon Diet?

It’s a fast mimicking diet, and in my own words, it’s still eating a little bit of food, taking extra supplements and more that tricks your body into thinking it’s fasting for all the benefits fasting has, but you’re still eating, at least a little. You can do this with minimal food that is researched and gone through extensive clinical trials, so it’s not only safe, but effective weight loss results.

In Prolon’s words, “This 5-day meal program provides scientifically researched micro- and macro-nutrients in precise quantities and combinations that nourish you, but are not recognized as food by your body and therefore mimics a fasting state!”

“The fasting mimicking diet was created as means of finding a sweet spot between too much and too little food. This approach to eating was pioneered by Dr. Valter Longo, a biogerontologist and cell biologist at the University of Southern California who has conducted extensive research into food restriction and how it may influence health and longevity. Based on the findings of his research, Longo founded the L-Nutra technology company and developed the ProLon Fasting Mimicking Diet to help consumers get with the fasting mimicking program,” via U.S. News.

Order the Prolon Diet Now and Use Prolon Coupon Code JAYME

What Are The Benefits Of The Prolon Diet?

The number one benefit I was with the Prolon diet was weight loss and reduced bloating before my wedding, which was a fast and easy way to drop some pounds before our elopement. Other Prolon diet benefits include:

Promotes Cellular Renewal
Supports Metabolic Health
Enhances Clarity and Performance
Fat Focused Weight Loss – the average person loses 5lbs with the 5-day fast mimicking diet, but from my experience it was mostly belly fat, as it still protect lean body mass

Order The Prolon Diet With My Prolon Discount Code

Order the Prolon diet today and use Prolon discount code JAYME for 15% off any current offers. Yes, using my Prolon discount code is the best price for trying out the Prolon diet. This Prolon discount code is good on top of any current discounts or incentives and anything on the Prolon website.

If the Prolon diet seems too much for you, try the 1 day reset plan they just started offering. Be sure to use my Prolon discount code JAYME for 15% off any of the prolon diets.

Read more FAQs about Prolon along with tips after the 5 day Prolon fast. Watch this video about how I use the Prolon diet.

My Quick Results With The Prolon Diet

Did you see my Prolon before and after photo above?

I did the Prolon diet and it felt so much easier than juice cleanses I’ve done in the past. As you can see from my Prolon before and after photos, I dropped some major stomach bloating in five days and you can see a little more definition in my abs.

I thought the Prolon diet was easier than juice cleanses for a few reasons. I enjoyed “cooking” my soups on the stovetop (though it’s not required). The time spent making my lunch and dinner added to the ritual of eating, plus soup felt more like food than drinking juices. Crackers and olives also come with the diet, but unfortunately I don’t like olives. Crackers while on a juice cleanse aren’t a thing, so there were many benefits. I also found I could go about my daily life with the Prolon fasting mimicking diet and didn’t need urgent bathroom breaks like I did with juice cleanses. I dropped about 7lbs doing the Prolon diet, and it was easy to transition back to real food, which was important since we were heading to Las Vegas where we were eloping.

I also found the Prolon diet incredibly easy to follow. The box came with clear instructions and each day had its own box, which had teas, supplements, crackers, each soup, and more so you didn’t have to guess what you needed for each day.

Can You Workout On The Prolon Diet?

I think anytime you make big changes to your diet, you should be careful when it comes to working out, at least for heavy cardio. Prolon advises not to work out extra hard and listen to your body, but I kept doing my HIIT classes daily, I just didn’t push as hard. I was pleasantly surprised by how much energy I had to workout while doing the Prolon diet, even though I didn’t run as hard as I normally do.

Here’s what their website says about exercising while on the Prolon diet: “While exercise can help use up available blood glucose and move a person into a ketogenic, fasting state, vigorous exercise can stress the body and we do not recommend intense exercise during ProLon. So, while fasting, keep your activity light and do things like walking, yoga, and stretching.”

Listen to your body as you ease back into exercise after fasting. If it feels too much, it probably is. Don’t push yourself too hard and keep the intensity at a manageable level. Remember, your body needs to recover after fasting, so it may take a few days for you to get back to the level you were at before the fast.

Prolon Diet Reviews

My friend Braidee (Houston’s best nurse injector!) is the one who turned me on to the Prolon diet, and she’s done it a few times. Here’s what she had to say about the Prolon diet:

“Prolon is such a great program! After the 5 days, I always feel and look my best. I like how each box is packaged individually and there is guidance for each day. In my opinion day 1 and 2 are the toughest but once you get to day 3, you start to get some energy back. My best tip for the Prolon diet is to ration your kale crackers.”

Have you tried the Prolon fast? I’d love to hear your honest feedback in the comments or shoot me an email.

I did the Prolon diet before my wedding and loved the results

My Transition After Prolon’s 5 Day Fast Mimicking Diet

As I mentioned, I did Prolon to drop stomach bloat before my elopement. I did a 5 day fast mimicking diet Monday – Friday, and my plane left Tuesday the next week, with our elopement on Thursday.

Saturday and Sunday I ate pretty light and still kept a pretty clean diet – i.e. no Crumbl cookies or fast food. On Monday night I drank a glass of wine, well, because duh. Tuesday and Wednesday I had one or two glasses, and we went to dinner both nights. I had regular size meals and we ate sushi one night. I didn’t go crazy, but I also didn’t hold back, and I was fine. I was afraid all my hard work would be gone by the time Thursday came for the wedding, but my bloat stayed off for at least a week or two. I was 10/10 impressed with the Prolon results.

Tips For Making The Prolon Diet Work For You

It’s no secret I’m a bit of a wine lover, so going without wine for five days was tough. I found putting La Croix or sparkling water in a large wine glass helped.
Do it with someone else. If you live with someone and they are eating their normal diets, this can be tough. Ask your partner or roommate or friend at the gym to do it with you and hold each other accountable.
Check your schedule before you start the Prolon diet. I planned out my 5 day Prolon diet in advance, but if it’s your best friend’s birthday or something big is going on, it’s going to make it tough to stick to the Prolon diet. The good thing is the boxes have a pretty long time for expiration, so order it, and do it during a 5 day span you know you can make it.
Find something to fill your time during meals. Maybe you want to read or take a longer lunch break to thoroughly enjoy your Prolon soup or go for a walk listening to your favorite podcast. Sit down and make it feel like dinnertime.

Get Prolon’s fast-mimicking diet at a major deal by using your FSA or HSA. This allows you to buy ProLon products with pre-tax dollars, resulting in a net savings of 30-40%m which is a huge savings!

To use your HSA or FSA to buy ProLon, you’ll need to enter the debit card from it and take a quick health survey, but I am all about saving money and you can STILL use my Prolon discount code Jayme with these tax savings! My Prolon discount code is usually stackable on their other offers, so don’t be afraid to try it out.

This post may contain affiliate links, but everything I shared is accurate and true and my own personal opinions of trying Prolon.

Neither Jayme Lamm nor The Blonde Side are providing doctor’s orders or suggestions regarding the Prolon diet. If you have concerns about fasting or changing your diet, consult a physician. Jayme Lamm is not responsible for any adverse effects from doing the Prolon fasting diet.

July 9, 2024/by Jayme

Top 5 Amazon Finds This Month: March

The Blonde Side

My online shopping habits have only increased over the past few months. The good news for you (maybe) is that I’ve found some amazing Amazon finds this month and wanted to share them.

Lululemon-like Workout Tank – This is probably a top Amazon find over the past few months, I am obsessed with this tank/sports bra that fits and feels just like Lululemon’s align tank. It comes in 12 colors and sizes range from XS to XXL. It does have padding, which I didn’t like, but it was easy to remove. It’s a crop version of a tank or a sports bra, so you probably have to like showing a bit of your abs to love this like I do. Get this lulu-like tank for $22.99 compared to $58 at lululemon. Buy a few colors trust me.

Cell Phone or iPad Stand – I love this mostly so I don’t have to hold my phone during FaceTime calls, but still gives me a good angle! I am also excited to use this in the kitchen when I cook, instead of always looking down at screenshots for recipes. This way I’ll just open up my favorite Pinterest recipes and get to cooking (with wine in hand, duh).

Vintage Oversized Cat Eye Sunglasses – I almost always buy brand-new sunglasses, but wanted to try these Sungait vintage glasses and am in love with them. Not only are they under $17, use code jaymelamm30 to get an extra 30% off.

Atomic Habits Book – I am always looking for new books either along the lines of self help or entrepreneurship, so I got this one after it was recommended by quite a few friends. Haven’t read it yet, because I have to finish my current book, but then I will start and report back.

One 1 Brand Protein Bars – My friend Ashlee got me hooked on these, and after trying 2-3 grocery stores in Denver and not finding these protein bars, I just went to Amazon, which has them for the same price (i.e. no markup). The flavor is Fruity Cereal and it tastes just like Fruit Loops. The only bad thing is these are apparently a limited edition flavor, and I always tend to fall hard for flavors that disappear, so stock up while you can.

Check out last month’s top Amazon finds, including French Bulldog cuteness and vitamins you can get to help fight off COVID and other illnesses.

This post may contain affiliate links, but all opinions are true and my own opinions. Shopping my affiliate links is an awesome way to support me, so thank you kindly.

April 1, 2021/by Jayme

Tour an Eclectic and Urban Montrose Apartment

Blog, The Blonde Side

I know I’m kind of an Internet nerd, but one of my guilty pleasures has always been reading about home tours. For those who aren’t super familiar with home tours, it’s just a quick tour of someone’s (usually) unique space and their décor style. For instance, here’s a plant-filled sunny Manhattan loft, and how the couple decided to decorate and utilize the small space.

Eventually I’ll give you a tour (maybe) of my actual one-bedroom Montrose apartment, but I still have my Christmas tree up, so that’s going to have to wait. For now, I’ll take you on a small tour of my new Montrose apartment community, highlighting all the amenities!

Slide 1 of 8
I live alone in my one-bedroom, one-bath 800-square-foot apartment, unless you count my extremely old and grumpy Chihuahua, Denali. I choose the Montrose neighborhood because it’s central to every part of Houston and I love the bright and eclectic vibe – not only of Montrose as a whole, but the complex itself. I also work from home, so needed a little nook area that I could make a home office (more about my tips for working from home here).
Slide 2 of 8
Montrose Encore is four floors and has a boutique-community vibe. Lots of med students and doctors, business professionals, newbies to Houston and work-from-home folks like myself. I only know a handful of neighbors, but they do a great job of hosting resident events, and I can’t wait for the summer, which leads me to the next part of the community….
Slide 3 of 8
The pool is by far one of my favorite parts of living here and is a must for any Houston apartment. Our infinity-edge heated pool boasting city views is probably my favorite part of this Montrose community. (I also love looking down at 59 and seeing all the traffic, while I’m hanging out at the pool!) Along with that, there’s an outdoor poolside grotto, pool table, TV, outdoor kitchen with grills and much more. I can’t wait to have a few friends over this summer – play your cards right and maybe you’ll be invited too!
Slide 4 of 8
The gym(s) at Encore Montrose are perfectly outfitted with everything you need for a good sweat-sesh. You have your typical cardio machines, free weights, cable machines, spin bikes and more, plus a boxing machine and my personal favorite (also least favorite) – Jacobs Ladder. If you don’t know about Jacobs Ladder, it’s basically a stair master on all fours, that 20 seconds in you are pretty much huffing and puffing and need an inhaler – even if you don’t have asthma. There is also a separate spin and yoga studio on the fourth floor so you’ve got two different areas to get your workout in.
Slide 5 of 8
Pretty much every apartment boasts views for days of Houston. I absolutely love my courtyard view with the bright flower wall and fire pit but you can also choose from stunning views of downtown Houston, the Med Center or overlooking the brightly-lit Graustark Street Bridge (pictured, and that is definitely one of my favorite views - if I did it all over again, I may have picked that view, but still love mine!).
Slide 6 of 8
Enjoy dog-friendly apartment living at its finest. I’ve mentioned before, finding a place my pup feels at home and is easy and safe to walk him at all hours is a necessity. Not only is there a large dog run and “Paw Spa,” but there are dogs everywhere so he feels right at home. I have the options to walk him around our Montrose/West U neighborhood, only about a mile from the Rice Loop, or let him run wild in the dog park, connected to our complex. Of course they also have free dog treats in the lobby, so we make a pit stop pretty frequently so he can say hi to all the gals (and Brent!) in the lasing office too!
Slide 7 of 8
The common areas for residents are decorated beautifully and always available for use. The conference room is probably the one I utilize the most as a break from working in my apartment, but I love the Resident Club House almost equally as much. Residents can utilize it at any time as well as rent it out for a private party to give you more space. Of course the gym, pool, “man cave” outside, multiple courtyards, dog park and other areas mentioned on previous slides give you additional space to hang or entertain outside of your apartment.
Slide 8 of 8
Montrose Apartments in Houston Offer Champagne Tours (Yes, I realize the picture shows us toasting with wine, not champagne, but you get the idea.) This is part of a sponsored blog series with Encore Montrose. Encore Montrose is currently offering some incredible leasing specials, including look and lease gift cards and a few weeks free rent, so don’t miss out. Personally I think touring apartments can be a daunting task, but not this Montrose apartment – ask for the champagne tour! If you are interested in touring or stopping by Encore Montrose (4508 Graustark Street), shoot me a note and be sure to tell them Jayme (or The Blonde Side) sent you! Cheers!

January 28, 2019/by Jayme

ESPN The Party: Super Bowl Party

The Blonde Side

The Blonde Side’s Jayme Lamm interviewing former Eagle Donovan McNabb. Photo: Roshan Moayed

Houston gets high marks from celebs on the red carpet at ESPN The Party

The 13th annual ESPN The Party hit Houston Friday night, which featured a lit-up performance by DJ Khaled as guests entered the tricked up warehouse, followed by the main set by eight-time Grammy Award-winning artist Fergie, who also made a splash on the red carpet.

With every square inch of the 65,000 square foot warehouse – inside and out – primed for the perfect photo opp, the VIP crowd had a ton to check out. The warehouse and its “construction chic” design were ESPN-branded with signs, posters, LED lights — even the restroom sign was designed with the ESPN font.

The building was split up with different areas for fans to sit, mingle and dance the night away with sponsors scattered throughout, like a heavily guarded Alfa Romeo sports car for fans to pose with and drool over. There were roped-off areas in the center of the room and another one upstairs to give VIPs a bird’s eye view of the Houston crowd.

From the live performances on stage, the star-studded list of celebrities mingling about and most easily accessible, free drinks that came in ESPN-branded Yeticups (that you could keep!), to the brand new ESPN The Magazine’s Super Bowl Preview Issue scattered about, fans were delighted every step of the way.

With tickets for sale on the secondary market for $375 and above, the crowd was dominated by men. The vibe was warehouse chic, and like typical Houston style, the dress code was as varied as one could possibly imagine.

Marcedes Lewis. Photo: Roshan Moayed

Before the night’s festivities began, some of the biggest names to grace Houston during Super Bowl week hit the fairly subdued red carpet. With so many parties and events going on, you could tell the celebs in attendance were either ready to party or exhausted. We had a chance to talk with some of the big names walking down the red carpet, and asked them what they loved about Houston (hint: food) and the Big Game and here’s what they had to say:

“I think it’s great for the City of Houston, having the Super Bowl here and giving people a chance to experience Texas. I love Houston.” – Eric Dickerson, NFL Hall of Famer

“If DJ Khaled did the halftime Show, it’d be the biggest halftime show in history, because it would be DJ Khaled and Friends because I’d bring everybody out. Everybody. So whoever’s in charge of the Halftime Show, if you want the biggest performance ever in history, call me.” – DJ Khaled, award-winning recording artist and producer (as he Snapchatted his way down the festive red carpet)

“I haven’t been to Houston other than for work, this is actually a really dope city. I’m having a good time and looking forward to a good game on Sunday. The people are really cool, the food is great and there haven’t been any issues yet – you know what I mean, how it can get when you get a ton of celebrities in one place and a hometown crowd. Stuff can get messed up and it hasn’t been that way. Everything’s been smooth.” – Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars

“When you bring in great weather, it makes everything great. The hospitality has been great – the people, the volunteers. It’s been easy to navigate, which to me, makes a great Super Bowl. For all these people to be able to navigate and get from place to place, it’s been great. I haven’t seen as many cowboy hats and cowboy boots as I had expected, being here in Texas.” – Kurt Warner, NFL Hall of Famer

“One thing I have loved about Houston this week is A) the hospitality, B) the food, and C) the food. I had gumbo at the Goode Seafood Company; it looks like a little train. Everyone is extremely nice; they are very welcoming.” – Finesse Mitchell, Actor/Comedian

“There’s a lot of energy here right now in this city. ” – Charles Woodson, Former NFL, 9-time Pro Bowler

DJ Khaled. Photo: Roshan Moayed

“Just being a Houstonian, the fact that Houston is on the grand stage, the biggest stage of all, and we are absolutely killing it. Have you heard any complaints thus far? No. No one is complaining about the potholes – they are having fun; everything is going the way things are supposed to be done. I think because of that, Houston is going to find a way to get another Super Bowl.” – Chester Pitts, Original Texan

“The people have been great, but I’ve been working the whole time so I really haven’t been out. I run by Houston all the time. I’m incredibly familiar with the city of Houston. The people have always been great to me. It’s a gorgeous mosaic with people from all walks of life; it’s a great town. I follow James Harden and the Rockets because he’s a superstar.” – Stephen A. Smith, ESPN

“The fans ride so hard – I love Rockets twitter. Shout out to Rockets twitter, they go hard. We wanna play spades with The Wilforks. They’re a team; they’re a unit.” – Jemele Hill and Michael Smith, ESPN’s new show SC6, debuting February 6

“The restaurants and food. We’re down south so you get your gumbo, some southern food.” – Donovan McNabb, Former NFL

“I’m a Tom Brady fan, but I think the Falcons are going to take it.” – Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

“I think Houston’s done a phenomenal job with the Super Bowl. There’s a lot of fun events and the city is buzzing. I always say y’all – I’m from Oklahoma.” – Rex Ryan, NFL Coach

When asked about her favorite Houston Twitter follow: “JJ Watt can be a little bit vanilla but I still think he seems like a good dude.” – Sarah Spain, ESPN

“Houston is great, it’s kind of a big town, everything is so spread out. I have seen a lot of cowboy boots. I saw a couple bulls at the Patriots welcoming party. I’ve seen a lot of things I’ve never seen before.”- Eli Apple, New York Giants

This article originally ran on Culture Map Houston for Super Bowl 51 coverage.

February 5, 2017/by Jayme

Sports Stars & Battioke

The Blonde Side

Clutch City Battioke Antics (Photo courtesy: Storyteller Photography)

Sports stars sing for their supper at Battioke competition: It’s Clemens vs. Wicked witches

It’s no secret karaoke brings out the best in people, but Battioke — that’s a whole different level. Former NBA champion Shane Battier and his wife Heidi brought Shane Battier’s Clutch City Battioke back to Houston, where it all started.

And while it was no American Idol, the evening was entertaining — to say the least.

The event took place in South Florida for the past four years (Battier played for the Miami Heat from 2011-2014) before returning to the Bayou City.

“By combining philanthropic-minded people, good eats, and ‘creative’ karaoke, we are proud of what Battioke has become and are proud to return to its roots,” said Battier, who retired after the 2014 finals when the Heat lost to the San Antonio Spurs. “Clutch City Battioke promises to be one of the greatest nights in celebrity karaoke ever witnessed.”

Shane and Heidi showed up in metallic, sparkly evening wear (Shane in gold tuxedo pants and a bowtie) and both sported matching (large) NBA Championship Heat rings (he won world championships in Miami in 2012 and 2013). Battier, who played for the Rockets from 2006-2011, was warmly welcomed by the Houston throng.

The evening started with a unique duet as Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey as Glinda The Good Witch and Shane on stage as the Wicked Witch of the West performed their own creative lyrics to a song from the Broadway musical, Wicked, setting the tone for the celebrity-fueled event. That alone was well worth the cost of admission ($125 for general seating).

Others in attendance included Houston Rocket D-Mo (Donatas Motiejunas), who sang the

Heidi and Shane Battier at Clutch City Battioke (Photo courtesy: Storyteller Photography)

Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” Oklahoma City Thunder star Steve Novak with his offbeat (but fun) rendition of Montel Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It,” former Houston Texan David Anderson and his wife Analeis, Jose Cruz Jr. and wife Sarah, and Rusty Hardin.

At the end of the night, Houston fans saw something rare – Roger Clemens as the closer. Before putting on his shades and literally “getting down,” the Rocket took a minute to pay tribute to Milo Hamilton, who had passed away earlier in the day.

Joined by his good buddy Jim “Wild Wild” West, Clemens closed out the fun-filled evening with three songs, including some Motown, David Allen Coe, and Toby Keith, which literally brought the house down.

Morey and Clemens were declared the co-winners, but Clemens deferred to Morey. “Anyone who can dress up like a woman and look good deserves to win,” Clemens said.

But the real winner was the The Battier Take Charge Foundation, which makes college education available to students who might not otherwise be able to afford it. The evening raised close to $68,000, which will provide four full college scholarships.

The foundation, established by the couple, is dedicated to providing resources for the development and education of underserved youth and teens. The couple’s mission is to encourage and inspire a new generation of potential leaders through educational opportunities and the cultivation of effective leadership skills.

This article originally ran in the society and sports section of Culture Map Houston. Click here to see the original piece and more photos from the fundraiser.

September 28, 2015/by Jayme

Bonnie Bernstein: Sideline Veteran Status

The Blonde Side

Bonnie Bernstein is the real deal in sports

Bonnie Bernstein is the real deal.

Bonnie Bernstein is proof you don’t just see veterans onthe field; you see them on the sidelines as well. She’s also proof she’s had to work just as hard, albeit a different kind of hard, to gain that same veteran status as say Joe Montana.

Bernstein comes to the table with class, grace, experience, and raw attitude not to mention mature emotion. And accolades. Boy does she come to the table with accolades, most notably being recognized by the American Sportscasters Association as one of the most accomplished female journalists in her field. She’s spent 17+ years covering some of the nation’s most prestigious sporting events on-air for ESPN and CBS, but recently she moved to a slightly different field. Now she’s using her business smarts outside of sports to help build a network as the “face” and Vice President, Content and Brand Development, of Campus Insiders.

“I’ve always had this entrepreneur spirit but no place to do anything with it. And when Campus Insiders initially came to me and approached me about being the face of the network, I was able to parlay that into the position I have now and they were really open to it and supportive,” Bernstein says of her new role.

When asked to describe herself in a few words, Bernstein opts for words like seasoned, diverse, resilient, passionate, and prepared. All things she very much is. But rare, genuine and honest are words I’d add.

One of the best things about Bernstein is her brutal honesty — even when it comes to her own past fashion fauxs, and she’s got jokes. For instance, when I asked the journalist/entrepreneur how important looks were in her field, she simply responded, “Well I’ve been around for 23 years so obviously they are not that important.”

She’s also modest, did I mention that?

“When I got my first network job (ESPN hired me when I was 24), I was so obsessed with building my credibility that if you went back and looked at some of the outfits I wore you would understand that it was certainly not my mission to be a fasionista,” she explains.

“It was important for me to have fans focus on the words I was disseminating than providing commentary on my outfits. I really tried to down play anything aesthetic. That said, I’m smart enough to realize there’s a lot of attractive women on TV and in the media and some of them might not be as qualified for those jobs as somebody who might not be quite as attractive but the reality is we create our own opportunity and if you’re ambitious enough to leverage your looks to get a job, then far be it for me to judge.

“My personal philosophy is the way I gradually built my brand–I down played the looks until I felt I had the credibility and that was a gradual metamorphous. My emphasis was helping people understand that my purpose for being there was to be the very best sports journalist I could be,” she concludes still laughing at her ghosts of wardrobes past.

There’s a quote I fell in love with not long ago by Madeleine Albright that says, “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” Too often successful women, or just women in general, are in competition with one another. Bernstein is not one of those women. She’s around to help. Check her Twitter feed every so often — she’s always sharing tips and responding to inquiring minds. Her biggest tip for up and coming journalists, especially in this new world of social media is to always double source. This is what the world needs more of — not just on social media, but in life. We need more Bonnie Bernsteins.

You can’t be in the industry as long as Bernstein has and not have seen some of the nasty criticism and personal attacks prevalent in today’s world, which come quickly in the form of fast-typing social media haters. And of course, she’s got some serious thoughts on that.

“Jemele Hill and Richard Deitsch were tweeting yesterday and Jemele had put some stuff out there about stuff she’s seen on her timeline and it’s just vile. I applaud Curt Schilling for taking legal action against the trolls who went after his daughter, because what social media does is it gives nameless faceless cowards a voice. I feel really fortunate I don’t get a ton of that. I feel like my content is relatively benign–I have passionate opinions but I also make it very clear I enjoy healthy discussion. If you want to engage with me that way that’s cool. If you want to diss me it kind of depends on the mood I’m in but I will never resort to name-calling.

“On a rare occasion I’ll click on their profile and see what their information says. One time somebody was really disrespectful and he had the name of his employer–he worked for a school, I believe he was a lacrosse coach–he was so disrespectful that my response to him was “I’m sure and I put the name of the school handle would be thrilled to see one of their employees tweeting like this.” I don’t feel the need to do that in abundance but every once in awhile I’m ok just checking somebody and saying look, slow your roll, show me your face–don’t show me an egg avatar–give me your name, tell me where you work and then let me know if your have the audacity to tweet the way you do,” she says bluntly.

Throughout her career, Bernstein has covered some of the nation’s most esteemed events, such as the Super Bowl, NBA Finals (including the Bulls’ second historic three-peat), and NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships, but her favorite is the 2002 NCAA Championship. “I was working with Jim Nantz and Billy Packer. We had the good fortune of covering every single one of Maryland’s games and the run of the championship and that’s my alma mater,” she recalls fondly.

Speaking of March Madness her obvious favorite (early-on) is Kentucky. “There’s a really special feel to the tournament because everybody has a chance,” she says of her impending 90-hour workweeks.

As for March Madness, be sure to check out one of Bernstein’s projects with her team. “One of the cool things we’re doing for Campus Insiders for our second year is a segment called 68-60, and basically we create an interactive bracket. Once the brackets are released you can roll over any of the teams and we do a 60-second video preview, married with an editorial component so for people who may be casual basketball fans or a diehard basketball fan, it would give you all the information you need to put your brackets together. It’s one of the series we do and are really proud–our team literally pulls an all-nighter as soon as the brackets come out,” she says.

To check out the 68:60 project and more of what Bernstein is working on, follow her on Twitter and Facebook, and visit her official website, BonnieBernstein.com

To see this original article, which ran on CBS Man Cave Daily in the sports section, click here.

March 28, 2015/by Jayme

Houston’s Furriest Mascots

The Blonde Side

Photo via Sofia van der Dys at Sculpt Pilates and Fitness

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS AN OFFSEASON FOR MASCOTS. And we quickly learned there is no such thing as a normal day in the life of Houston’s favorite and furriest mascots. It’s been eight years since we last sat down with Clutch, Orbit , Toro and Diesel, so we decided to meet them at the gym for a quick sweat sesh…

HOW FAST CAN YOU RUN A MILE?

Clutch: 7:30.

Toro: Fast enough.

Diesel: How fast can you make a spicy maple tea bread, provolone, brie, basil pesto sandwich?

Orbit: I don’t like running.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU BENCH?

Clutch: Only 185.

Toro: How much does a defensive tackle weigh?

Diesel: Orbit after he eats a lunar ton.

Orbit: A lunar ton – it’s funny because it’s space.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE TEAM?

Clutch: 20 years.

Toro: 14 years.

Diesel: 7 years and 10 months.

Orbit: I was around from 1990–1999, but took a 13-year sabbatical back in space. I’m back for good, and entering my third year back.

WHAT DO YOU EAT WHEN YOU’RE CARB-LOADING?

Clutch: Delicious steak. Sorry, Toro!

Toro: BBQ chicken and stadium food. Definitely not beef!

Diesel: Spicy maple tea bread, with brie cheese, a slice of provolone topped with two pounds of basil pesto…and steak.

Orbit: I’d crush some hotdogs. And moon pies.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO STAY IN SHAPE?

Clutch: Run and box.

Toro: Swing and rappel from the top rope of NRG Stadium.

Diesel: Stay away from steamrollers.

Orbit: Round IS a shape.

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE WORKOUT BUDDY ON YOUR TEAM?

Clutch: D-Mo – that guy is a beast. And I mean a real beast like me!

Toro: JJ Watt – since JJ and I have somewhat the same physique, we work out together.

Diesel: Brad Davis, because he is the only one left on the team that hasn’t asked me what I say.

Orbit: Altuve – we just give each other piggyback rides to train.

FAVORITE PLACE TO RUN IN HOUSTON?

Clutch: Memorial Park.

Toro: With our fans at the Running of the Bulls event.

Diesel: 29.751332 latitude, -95.352623 longitude.

Orbit: The stairs at Minute Maid Park.

This article originally ran in the print issue of Local Houston Magazine’s March 2015 issue – their first ever sports issue. For the online version, click here.

March 5, 2015/by Jayme

Fall in Love with Houston Sports

The Blonde Side

Houston sports + love Graphic by Running Game Clothing

It’s Time to Fall in LOVE with Houston Sports

All of us should strive to learn, embrace and love everything about our city – it’s our city! Learn to love the arts, the food, the businesses, the taco trucks, and you guessed it – the teams.

Houston is one of about 15 cities to boast four pro sports teams. It’s an honor actually. Whether you love football, basketball, baseball or soccer, we’ve got it all. If you grew up here, you probably love the teams because of your roots. You likely grew up watching the greats and have memories to support your unwavering love, but our city is filled with so many transplants, sometimes it’s hard to be a homer.

In honor of the month of love, here are some reasons to fall in love with Houston sports:

JJ Watt. This needn’t explanation.
Our stadiums have convertible status. Both Minute Maid Park (1 of only 6 MLB) and NRG Stadium (1 of only 4 NFL) have retractable roofs, making weather excuses a non-issue.
The 34’s: Campbell, Ryan and Olajuwon.
The Rockets 1994 – 1995 back-to-back championships.
Orbit, the Astros mascot, was named 2014 Best Mascot by com. He is from outer space, and if that’s not reason enough, he doesn’t wear pants. And if you need another reason, how about he trolls, antagonizes and imitates the opposing players in a hilarious fashion. Orbit is great.
The Dynamo set a MLS record with a 36-game unbeaten streak at home that lasted parts of three seasons and two calendar years (June 2011-May 2013).
The Astros are a team on the rise having finished the 2014 season 70-92 – a 19-win improvement over their 2013 record. The 19-win improvement was second-best in the Majors and second-best turnaround in franchise history.
Nolan Ryan’s back. Many know the impact #34 had on the Astros for nine seasons, so fans are eager to see if he can bring it back.
The Dynamo have been successful in their first nine years, reaching the playoffs 7 of 9 years and advancing to the MLS Cup Final four times and the Conference Championship six times.
Texans Tailgating – consistently top 5 in the NFL.
Astros outfielder George Springer, who appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated (June 30 issue), joining Joe Morgan, Sonny Jackson, J.R. Richard, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens and Brad Lidge as Astros SI cover boys since the ‘60’s.
The Rockets have two superstars in Dwight Howard and James Harden. Harden is constantly improving, has a killer beard (Fear the Beard!) and the healthy Howard has been sticking it to Laker fans for two years.

This article originally ran in the February 2015 print issue of Local Houston Magazine (formerly 002), which is a free magazine all around Houston for the past two decades. Click here to see it online.

February 2, 2015/by Jayme

Ryan Reed’s Drive to Stop Diabetes

The Blonde Side

NASCAR driver and diabetes advocate Ryan Reed

To meet an athlete with purpose outside of their sport is rare. Trust me, I’ve interviewed hundreds of athletes young and old, talented and barely so, good and bad.

NASCAR driver Ryan Reed (driving the #16 Ford Mustang for Drive To Stop Diabetes) knows more about driving than just what has to do with fast cars – he knows how to turn his passion and what some would consider misfortune into a desire to advocate for others. To make a statement at high speeds. “It’s great to work with a company like Lilly Diabetes because they too encourage people with diabetes, no matter the type they have, to live life without limits,” Reed says.

Which is exactly what he’s doing–living (and racing) life without limits.

The barely 21-year-old says, “A good driver must always keep his head clear and his focus straight ahead.” No matter what obstacles come his or her way – like being diagnosed with Type I Diabetes three years ago.

The diagnosis was sudden, which is just one of the reasons Reed pushes awareness to others. “I had a lot of symptoms–I was really thirsty all the time, weight loss, very typical symptoms which I didn’t know then. I went to the doctor, and after seven or eight weeks they diagnosed me on the spot with Type I Diabetes. That was a tough diagnosis for sure,” he recalls.

“They said I’d never race again–I think the main reason [for telling him he’d never race again] is how are you going to monitor your blood sugar first of all? It’s not like you can pull your glove off in the middle of the race and prick your finger to check your blood sugar. What happens if you have high or low blood sugar –those are the biggest things/dangers in racing,” he says.

As for telling Reed, someone who has been racing since the wee age of four that he had to give up his dream – no way. “I didn’t want to listen to someone tell me I couldn’t – I don’t know if that is stubbornness or what. My family is behind me no matter what. If I wanted to go back to school or continue to pursue racing – obviously I wanted to continue racing. I just put my head down and tried to understand it [the disease] more. There are a lot of athletes competing with diabetes. That’s how I kind of stumbled upon my doctor, and inspired me to continue to pursue racing even after the diagnosis,” he says.

“I was really fortunate to find this amazing doctor who is very active with a lot of athletes with Type I Diabetes. She was very influential in getting me back on the track,” Reed says. “She” is Anne Peters, M.D., Director of the USC Westside Center for Diabetes, and Director of the Comprehensive Diabetes Center at Roybal Community Medical Center. He notes their constant communication through pretty much anything. “She’s definitely all hands on deck,” he says recalling multiple times she’s walked him through an illness on the road.

“If my blood sugar is too high then there’s a guy to come over in the pit stop to give me an insulin injection – those are things I had adjust to, but I find it pretty cool that my doctor was so willing to help me out,” Reed says. Not to mention how willing his crew was to learn more and help along the way.

“They [his crew] didn’t have to but they all took a genuine interest and wanted to know more – whether it’s my friends or my crew or anyone around me, they want to understand the symptoms and the illness. When I’m on the track they have to understand how it works, we have to practice it,” he says.

“Managing my diabetes can be challenging at times, and it’s something I have to work at every day. I’m working closely with my doctor and actively managing my disease to hopefully avoid complications,” he says.

Diabetes or not, Reed has been an inspiration all around NASCAR and beyond. “If you continue doing what you love–that’s something I like to get across to fans – whether it’s basketball, football, whatever it is – you can continue to chase your dreams. I obviously tell them about my diagnosis and how I was able to overcome that. If they look up to me – that’s an amazing thing,” he says modestly.

Reed isn’t the only athlete who has battled diabetes in the public eye – guys like Olympic skier Kris Freeman, swimmer Jay Hall, IndyCar driver Charlie Kimball, and quarterback Jay Cutler understand firsthand what Reed has overcome and what must continue to push through.

But don’t think for a minute Ryan Reed is all NASCAR and diabetes talk. After all, he is just 21 and takes as many chances to live life and just have fun like the rest of us. When it comes to pranks, he just laughs. “I have two roommates, both NASCAR drivers, and I don’t think the pranks ever stop. There are so many I don’t think I even know any off the top of my head – you can walk out of your room and get bombarded by silly string or see stickers all over your car,” he says.

He’s also got plenty of time for football. “I am a pretty big Cowboys fan,” he says. “My dad was a Cowboys fan so I was kind of born into it, good or bad, it is what it is. Everyone asks me, ‘You’re from California – how are you a Cowboys fan?” And I live in N.C. now. My dad was a Cowboys fan, I guess I wanted to be like dad.”

Reed knows from fandom; he sees a passionate breed of NASCAR fan every single week. “They get so passionate. If you’re not their driver or you wreck their driver, or if their driver doesn’t like you, they get so passionate and so involved. They are just so loyal – I remember watching the Daytona 500 and it rained all day. The race was postponed for like six or seven hours and about an hour into the race the stands were full again. I don’t know where they went and hung out all day and came right back, but I think that dedication and loyalty to the sport is amazing and definitely inspires me and makes me appreciate what I do for a living,” Reed says.

As for the love-hate relationship you see and hear between fellow drivers, Reed calls it an “interesting dynamic.”

“I think any driver will tell you we’re not out here to make friends on the track, but at the same time it’s such a tight knit community, we’re all in the same place at the same time–sometimes same hotel–we have a lot of respect for each other because we know what each other is going through. If they needed help, I’d be there to help them out, no matter what. My best friends are race car drivers; I’ve raced them many times. I think we have a family bond, not just the drivers, but the crew guys and everyone in the sport – we’re around each other so much we’ve developed a lot of respect for each other. I think it’s pretty cool how everyone gets along. We’ll hug each other during the week and then wreck each other on the weekends,” he says with a laugh.

If you’ve ever watched NASCAR and seen how close the racing community is during a tough time (take the recent Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward Jr. tragedy for instance), you know the truth behind Reed’s sentiment.

No different than any athlete I’ve ended an interview with, Reed sums up our chat by mentioning how much he wants to win and that’s his ultimate goal – like a good driver – always looking ahead.

We drive to get somewhere. Reed drives to stop diabetes. Among other things of course, like top finishes and prize money.

This article originally ran in the sport’s section of CBS Man Cave Daily, click here for the original one with more NASCAR photos.

November 10, 2014/by Jayme

Marco Andretti: Staying on Track

The Blonde Side

Photo courtesy of Guttman PR

With the 2014 IndyCar season closed out, there’s nothing more for drivers like Marco Andretti to do but look ahead.

Not finishing the season quite as he had hoped, Andretti still has a lot on his side – like his family of tried and true legendary racecar drivers, his crew, his friends and fans – and now even more experience under his seat belt. Oh, and don’t forget the NFL season and playing video games with his brother.

Back in his heyday, Andretti became the youngest winner in 2006 (he was 19 at the time), showing he didn’t need to live in the shadows of his famous racing family and could stand on his own. Now in his ninth season, he comes to the track with a higher level of maturity along with a profound respect and understanding of the sport.

“You don’t know as a rookie, you just do it,”Andretti says of a few things he’s learned during his nine seasons on the track. “You don’t think about it, you just do it. But sometimes ignorance is bliss. I look at a lot of the rookies and they’re just fast –– raw talent. Now with experience, it’s balancing the experience and talent, trying not to overstep the limits of the car, being more consistent, bringing home where the car can finish instead of trying to force the issue somewhere, and maybe have a DNF. It’s just experience, knowing when to keep your foot in certain situations when it’s going to benefit you and when to take those chances.”

Wrapping up the season, Andretti had nothing but a win in mind, noting that a few weekends before the team had a mishap during a routine pit stop. “It’s been pretty brutal – [that race] we came in 3rdin the pit stop in the last stop and came out 14th – it’s just been absolutely brutal and we need to get that monkey off our back. To end the season like that, all of a sudden to have a win on the podium, it can salvage a whole season for us,” Andretti said heading into the last two weeks of the season.

“You work so hard for hundredths of a second and we give up 24 seconds or something like that, but my guys are some of the best in the business–one guy didn’t even sleep that night he was so upset – they all want to win as bad as I did – just bad luck,” he says of how tight-knit his crew is, not to mention how competitive and intense they all are.

As for his notorious racing family and trying to follow suit, Andretti simple says, “You just have to take the positives from it, just to have [your family] in your corner is awesome.”

“It’s a double-edged sword as they say – it maybe opens sponsorship doors – those are big shoes to fill, but I put that on myself with anything I compete in really. You want to succeed – I’m probably my toughest critic. I know if I’m making myself happy, I know everybody is going to be impressed,” he says.

It’s not just his family that helps push and motivate him, but a large part his fans as well. “Fans are in your corner regardless, there are all different types – they like to talk bad when things don’t go right, but that’s what makes it sports – we’re paid to be entertainers because of them. Obviously none of us would have a job without them, so we appreciate their support. I’m lucky to be blessed with an awesome fan base,” Andretti says.

Though officially over, IndyCar drivers don’t necessarily have an off-season, true to many sports. “I was joking with my friends last night because they were talking about going on vacation, but the off season doesn’t look like an off season. I guess it’s a good thing; you don’t want to get too stagnant. I’m definitely moving around – I have some stuff in the UK, hopefully we have some racing in another series, I try to at least stay busy–I don’t want to just stay home. Running on the treadmill to prepare yourself just gets boring,” he jokes.

Known for being one of the most versatile drivers, Andretti has competed in the American Le Mans Series, the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, and has been named to the FIA Formula E Drivers” Club. But he’s not content leaving his accolades there, which is why you always see him hustling around.

It’s not just inside a racecar that Andretti gets super competitive. “My brother just got me the newest Forza game – I have a problem I’m so competitive. I have to stop myself. I’d have no social life and would play all night,” he laughs.

If you’re one of the 77,000+ following Marco Andretti on Twitter, you may have noticed a tweet to Deion Sanders, but that doesn’t mean he’s a Cowboys fan. “He’s a friend of mine – I was bummed because he’s selling his house [in Dallas], it’s so cool.” You can also check him out on Instagram as he posts hilarious photos of his bulldog Moodie. (Bonus trivia! Moodie’s father is King Maximum who belongs to Ice-T and his wife Coco.)

Perhaps not harboring as much disdain for the Dallas Cowboys as some (like myself), Andretti finds himself rooting for the Colts, having a few friends on the team. And without question, he misses watching Peyton in a Colts uniform. “That guy is one of the best to ever play the game – as a Colts fan, we definitely miss him. I’m good friends with Reggie Wayne and I miss watching them play together,” he says looking forward to the newly kicked-off NFL season, once again led by Andrew Luck.

Driving a car at 220+mph speeds for a living must make it difficult to drive a normal car like the rest of us. “The only time I can get caught up in it is actually leaving a race – if I’m leaving a race and heading to the airport in my rental car, I don’t even notice I’m going fast because it’s slow motion – you have to catch yourself. I used to drive fast, I’ve just matured,” Andretti says.

And according to him, it’s pretty hit or miss if cops let him off the hook. “You get the ones that are fans or sometimes the one who wants to make an example out of you.”

Be on the lookout for Marco to continue his family legacy both on and off the track.

This article originally ran in the sport’s section of CBS Man Cave Daily – click here to see the original.

October 21, 2014/by Jayme