That Kind of Woman: Amy Lumet

Leigh Penman
When legendary film director Sidney Lumet released the movie ‘That Kind of Woman’ back in 1958 (starring Sophia Loren and Tab Hunter) he may just have been subconsciously tapping into the DNA of his gregarious daughter Amy – who would be born six years later.
Having recently had the pleasure of meeting Amy prior to her first ever bodybuilding show, I can vouch for the fact that she is something of a human firework, always fired up and the kind of woman who never settles for anything less than perfection.
I witnessed the dedication she put into getting ready for her competition debut…and let me tell you, that woman gave it EVERYTHING!!! Blood, sweat, tears and sticking to every letter of the diet she was given. That kind of determination tells me that given a few figure shows under her belt a transition to bodybuilding is on the cards…and with her strength of will who knows where that will lead?
For now though… all that lies in waiting – an unwrapped gift for future opening. In the meantime let us find out a little more about the kind of woman Amy Lumet really is…
Amy, it is no secret that you come from a very famous family, would you like to tell us a little bit about them and what life was like growing up??
“I am so blessed to have my immediate and extended family. ? It’s not the fame issue — fame is fleeting — it’s the level of accomplishment by every single member of my family — immediate family, in-laws, steps, nieces, nephews, on and on — I am so proud to be a part of this group!? In fact, the hero of the family is my boyfriend’s father, who is a Holocaust Survivor, and has a foundation to educate schoolchildren about the Holocaust: The Joseph Zola Foundation.? He is a rock, as is my own father, Sidney Lumet, and — of course — my late Grandmother, Lena Horne.? (If I can bring any of her charisma to the stage, I will shine!)? I am so proud of the legacy of the senior generation and the ones behind them… The family keeps growing and so do their accomplishments… New generations keep shining and achieving!


? “In terms of my immediate family, growing up ? I just knew Dad as Dad and my Grandmother as G’ma, and that going to see them at work was a place of bright lights, noise, and crowds….it wasn’t like going to visit them at the office.? My Dad made a lot of films in Europe during the 60s and 70s (I’m giving away my age here) and we lived in London, Rome, Sweden… I wish I had been old enough to appreciate it when I was a child… funny expression, but true… and then over the years, I realized the incredible work and the contributions they each made to their field and to the world…it’s hard to say it without sounding trite, but here goes — I am a fan — pure and simple.”
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? ? Have you always been athletic?
“Absolutely– I was one of those hyper kids — I did every sport — but concentrated on gymnastics and horseback riding… competing in both when I was A LOT younger!”
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? What got you interested in competing?
“Bodybuilding is a sport I have always been around, but never had the guts to actually compete — I have so much admiration for the athletes that get up there and do it…I always promised myself I would really put the pedal to the metal and compete one day.”? ?
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? How has the journey been for you so far?
“It has been intense, exciting, and an unbelievable amount of hours and work. The food preparation alone takes hours — the workout hours, and the eventual goal… it’s been a terrific and addictive experience.” ?
What was the hardest part of getting in shape? ?
“Definitely losing the fat around my butt and thighs– that came off last and I had some moments of discouragement…also, the emotional eating patterns I had developed over the years showed up in times of stress — I would get rattled about something and then think..’what can I get away with eating’… ? so delaying gratification, learning the difference between psychological and physical hunger, breaking old patterns — looks easy on paper, but it was a very challenging practice to translate into real life.” ?
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? How do you break up your workout week? (Which body parts/days?)
“I change it every few weeks– I have one of those bodies that gets used to a fitness routine really quick.? And I have to do a lot of cardio. At? 45, it’s really hard to keep the weight down, so a lot of hours go into it — I usually get up around five, do an hour of hill sprints, then come back and cook our food and enjoy some smart time on the mac… then go back to the gym. Currently it’s Mondays off; Tuesday legs: split between quads and abs in am and hams and calves in p.m — then an hour of evening cardio.? The 2 hours of cardio never varies.? Wednesday is chest, abs? and tris; Thurs is back and Bis and calves; Friday is Legs supersets in the am and delts and abs in the p.m.; Saturday is arms and calves, Sunday is Glutes and abs
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? What does your diet look like?
? “At first glance it looked like not enough food!? Then I started to realize how easy and delicious it was — Colette Nelson designed it — and I began to understand it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle.? I always thought I ate clean and loved to cook and prepare my own food, but Colette’s plan taught me so much about the delicate balance between different foods and nutrients — Bravo Colette!”
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? What is your biggest temptation food wise?
“Crunch, crunch and more crunch! ? I have fantasies about chocolate covered pretzels and every time we watch a movie I have an automatic craving for popcorn.? Have to make do with celery at the moment …”
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How do you feel about going into your very first show, nervous/excited?
? “Excited-and nervous– mostly that I will have a complete brain freeze– there is so much to remember and it’s reminiscent of the childhood nightmare of showing up at exams completely unprepared.”
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? As a newcomer to competition what made you decide to compete in the figure section rather than make your entrance in the bikini section?
That was the first question I asked the expert– my coach Colette Nelson. She recommended figure, as opposed to bikini, as I carry a lot of muscle on my frame.” ?
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? Any aspirations of eventually moving into bodybuilding?
“I would love to…I think it is the most beautiful sport. A friend of mine referred to it as creating ‘living art’ with the body, and I agree.? Let’s see how I do in Figure… if it’s my division, then I will do the best I can.”
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Away from the sport you were once a columnist for Seventeen Magazine…is writing something you would like to pursue again?
“Thank you for asking that! I am currently working on a project, can’t say too much about it but wish me luck! Funnily enough I have always hated writing, but loved the end result of the effort-not unlike Leg day.? I always thought the dream gig would be as an editor, and have spent the last 2 1/2 years compiling images and tracking down rights for a book.”
What about modeling or TV work? Are those areas of interest for you?
“No…Simply because I can’t sit still long enough!”?
Okay…completely different subject, what are your favorite TV shows and are you a reality TV fan?
“I’m not a fan of reality TV. ? I don’t think it’s doing our culture much good.? If you want drama, watch the news. Favorite shows?? I’m going to reveal how boring I am.: MSNBC lineup: Ed, Hardball, Countdown, Rachel Meadow, and Lawrence O’Donnell’s The Last Word. ? Also, Morning Joe is great when I get up early for hills.”
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? What do you do to relax?
“Either read or delve into my Mac.? I’m a secret — not -so-secret to the people that know me — computer geek.? I also love digital art, and have created digital portraits for years as well as cartoons…I love to see what my little Mac can do!”
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Tell us something about you that may surprise us?
“I go to bed at 7.30pm every night.”
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? How do you see your future unfolding ideally?
“Good health and happiness for myself and loved ones and to continue to compete in this wonderful sport in which I would love to excel.? I’m a hundred per center!”
So there you have it…an inside look at the life and times of the irrepressible Ms Amy Lumet. Now there are many ways I could choose to end this article but since I started by referring to her legendary father I think I will end by quoting Lou Lumenick of the New York Post who once said: “Sidney Lumet is the heart and soul of New York City film making…I greatly respect that he’s almost always made movies for audiences, not for the critics.”

And Amy? She lives her life for herself, not for the critics. She always demands the best from herself and…funnily enough she usually gets what she demands. That’s the way unstoppable self belief works!
Leigh Penman
Amy is now receiving sponsorship from one of our advertisers Power Addiction protein and is looking towards moving into the bodybuilding class next year.