You Can Now Have Jillian Michaels As Your Personal Trainer

The famous fitness expert talks her favourite (and most hated) exercises, staying motivated and her new app, My Fitness by Jillian Michaels.

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Jillian Michaels stretching
photo credit: Don Flood

Fitness guru, Jillian Michaels, launches a new app

Always dreamed of booking a workout sesh with a celebrity trainer? Now you can… kind of. Jillian Michaels has launched her My Fitness by Jillian Michaels app, which offers custom workout and meal plans, access to 550+ exercises with HD video, plus sleep and selfie trackers. “For the first time in my professional career, technology has evolved to such a degree that I can literally be someone’s personal trainer via their phone,” says Michaels. “I can ask them all the questions I would ask a client and create their fitness program and customized meal plan based on their answers. So no matter who you are, where you are starting, what you are looking for, I can customize your program so you get what you need, when you need it.”

Click ahead for her pre-workout drinks and the biggest myths she hears about fitness.

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Jillian Michaels My Fitness App home screen and "My Day" page
photo credit: My Fitness

What’s the biggest thing holding people back from working out?

There are many reasons and it really depends on the individual as to which ones are inhibiting their progress.

Some say lack of time, lack of finances, lack of support, injury, intimidation and more. That’s why I tried my best to eliminate every one of those excuses with my app. You can do it anywhere. No equipment needed. There’s an entire community of people doing it and we are building a community feature in so people can find support within the My Fitness App community.

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Active mom and daughter jumping on the beach
photo credit: shutterstock

What’s the best way to kickstart your motivation and stay motivated?

Identify your “why.” Outline all the reasons you want to get into shape. Think of all the ways your life will improve — in detail. Will you feel comfortable in a bathing suit for the first time? Will you be there to watch your grandchildren graduate college? Will you be able to wear a certain brand of designer clothing that you’ve always wanted? Are you excited to be a more active parent? Whatever your reason is, no matter how superficial or profound, all that matters is that it matters to you. Ultimately, anything worth having is work, but work with a purpose is passion.

In addition, tracking progress is so important to help people stay motivated. The great thing about pictures is that they don’t lie. You can literally see the difference and all your progress. That’s why My Fitness has a selfie tracker.

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Jillian Michaels standing with a group of people before working out
photo credit: instagram/jillianmichaels

What’s the biggest myth you still hear about working out?

There are so many. “Lifting weights will make you bulky.” “Working out on an empty stomach is the best way to burn fat.” “Cardio is the best way to lose weight.” “Hot workouts like hot yoga burn more calories.” Of course, just by the inclusion of each excuse, you know it’s false.

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Fit woman holding a dumbell
photo credit: shutterstock

What’s your favourite area to train? What’s the best exercise for it?

Honestly, I’m in a hurry. All the time. And for that reason I need to save the hour it takes to drive to and from the gym. So I just hit it and quit it in my living room. And honestly, there is nothing you can’t do with body weight and a pair of dumbbells.

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Jillian Michaels on stage doing a burpee
photo credit: instagram/jillianmichaels

What’s your favourite full-body exercise?

I like functional exercises that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Exercises like burpee rows or squat thrusters are great for that.

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Jillian Michaels, woman at gym jumping on box
photo credit: shutterstock

What’s the exercise that you hate the most but still do because it works?

I hate heavy leg days, but those workouts burn tons of calories so I do them.

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A healthy breakfast fruit smoothie recipe with raspberries and beets.
Photo: Shutterstock

What do you eat or drink before or after exercising?

Before I workout, I take a beet juice shot and an espresso. They’re both vasodilators and help to boost endurance and intensity. After the workout, I just drink water, but if I’ve really had an intense workout, I drink coconut water for the electrolytes.

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Jillian Michaels, woman outdoors doing a sidekick in a group
photo credit: shutterstock

What is your Best Health moment?

When I broke two boards with a sidekick at 14. That was the first moment I realized fitness was about more than just physical health. It’s transcendent. When you feel strong physically, you feel strong in all facets of your life.

It’s time to get stronger in every way! Here are 8 ways to strenghten your body and mind.

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