Jamison Hill
A graduate of Sonoma State University, Jamison is a former bodybuilder and fitness instructor. He also worked as a Christmas tree salesman and manager of a children’s clothing store before devoting himself to writing. He has written for, among others, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Men’s Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Vox, and VICE.
Jamison has appeared in Forgotten Plague, a documentary about ME/CFS, and a seven-episode Netflix original series released in 2018. He was also featured on WBUR’s Modern Love podcast and Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, as well as in articles published by Pacific Standard and HuffPost.
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WHEN FORCE MEETS FATE
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Jamison's Story
On November 28th, 2010, I got sick during a three-hour workout. Up to that point, I had been working out for more than five hours each day—doing squats, curls, presses, and every other type of exercise one could imagine. By age 22, I had spent more than 12,000 hours in the gym. And I loved every second of it.
My obsession with exercise was about more than a quest to look good and compete as a bodybuilder. I became certified as a personal trainer and started working out with clients and teaching group fitness classes.
As much as I enjoyed the rush of deadlifting 400-pounds and bench pressing twice my body weight, I got equal enjoyment from crawling through the fitness trenches with my clients. By that fateful day in November of 2010, I had a burgeoning career and a life I loved.
Then I got sick.
At the pinnacle of being a personal trainer, bodybuilder, and college student, my life was upended by a mysterious illness. I was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) and Lyme disease.
By age 28, I was bedridden and couldn't even lift a fork. For months I teetered on the brink of death, unable to speak, eat solid food, or elevate my body.
After months of anti-virals, hydrocortisone, and IV saline, I slowly started to regain my health. Eventually I began to walk again. I could eat meals and speak full sentences.
And now, while I haven't had a full recovery, I have improved enough to tell my story through my blog and other writings, which I hope you’ll enjoy on this site.