From life to her family to her inspirational story on the show. We caught up with Jules Wainstein at the National Geographic Channel world premiere of “Years of Living Dangerously.”
Q: What’s new with you? Anything exciting happening?
A: Well, thank god it is September. School has started, we are on a schedule.
Q: How is your family doing?
A: They are great, thank god.
Q: Watching you on the recent season of The Real Housewives of New York, you talked about your eating disorder and surviving it and it was so inspirational and incredible to hear you talk about it. Many people suffer from eating disorders so can you talk about your process and maybe give your insight for people suffering or recovering from it?
A: It is very big and broad so I will speak in general. Everybody’s journey is different and I am happy with what I shared because maybe somebody can listen to it and connect with it. But what helped me was that secrets keep you sick and when you talk about it and let it go you are not keeping it alive. Because then your friends are aware of what is going on. And every single day, this is what happens in it, and as time goes on—it’s been 13 years for me, it’s almost off your shoulders. This is so broad, I would have to talk to you for 40 hours to really tell you my story. And recovery isn’t linear. It’s not an impulse, there are ups and downs but you have to pick yourself up and you have your support system and you go. And there is a life. 13 years ago, they said I couldn’t have kids and live a meaningful, productive life, and that was the goal. And I have two beautiful, healthy children and no problems getting pregnant and that’s what life means. And I wanted everybody in the world to know that; that was the biggest reason I wanted to get on the show. Everybody’s goal in life, everybody, no matter how rich or poor, is happiness. Happiness. That’s it. Nobody’s perfect and perfection is what got us here. Perfection is what got us here and nothing is perfect and you have to let go of that. There’s so much hope and it’s like a light switch. You can get so deep into that downward spiral but it’s just like a light switch that changes your whole life. And everybody can have a meaningful, amazing, productive life where you can graduate college and get married and have relationships with other people.
Q: That was a beautiful statement. So how has life changed after filming RHONY?
A: It has been a surreal experience. I am so grateful for everything. It has been tough and it’s new to be so much in the public eye and being criticized which was so much what happened 15-20 years ago but I kind of like it. I like attention. It was just so different. It seems so ironic though. I mean, I read on Twitter and on social media like ‘oh my god she is sick,’ but I know who I am. I know who I am and that’s all that matters. That’s when you know. There are so many stages, like I have so much work to go and it is really cool.
Q: Which of the women on the show do you still keep in touch with and consider friends with?
A: Well, Dorinda. And Luanne I haven’t spoken to in a couple of weeks but I am excited to see her now. Ramona I just to two days ago. Sonia I love, I just had lunch with her. We all keep in touch and I’m sure we will all be friends.
Q: And I know you aren’t returning to the show next season so how did you come to that decision?
A: With everything that is going on with my personal life, I have two young kids, and I have to protect their privacy. My kids are three and six and I don’t want them to be exposed to all of that and I don’t want to read any of that.
