Jillian Michaels Reveals Workout Secrets
Few of you are strangers to Jillian Michaels' kick-butt workout DVDs. But how does the reality TV trainer turned fitness star stay in shape herself? A new in-depth article in the May 2010 issue of Women's Health magazine peels back the tough layers you see on TV to reveal a softer side of Jillian—and plenty of great get-in-shape tricks you won't want to miss. Here's a rundown of what I learned about Jillian's own fitness and diet routine that shed light into how she maintains her fit and toned physique.
What do you think about Jillian's diet or workout routine?
- Jillian exercises 3-4 times per week for 30-40 minutes at a time. That's right in line with general recommendations for fitness. I would have guessed that Jillian exercises more than she lets on, but perhaps she keeps her workouts very short and focused since she's such a busy woman. After all, you don't need to spend a lot of time in the gym to get (and maintain) your results as long as you're working hard, changing things up and making the most of your time.
- She enlists the help of at least one personal trainer to keep her motivated and push her to work hard. I wrote once before about how Jillian uses a personal trainer herself. It may seem somewhat funny that a fitness professional like Jillian would need to hire a trainer, but even I would hire the right trainer to help me get better results if I had the resources.
- A mix of martial arts, jogging, and sprints keep her body guessing and give her better results. This seems to offer plenty of variety to challenge and surprise her muscles, although I wish we could get more details about her strength-training regimen.
- She's diligent about her diet, eating mostly organic, local foods. However, she doesn't avoid sweet treats completely: Newman's Own Organics peanut butter cups are one of her favorite indulgences. I think it's great that she doesn't totally avoid sweet or "sinful" foods. After all, even the best of us need to indulge if we're going to stick with a healthy way of eating for the long haul.
What do you think about Jillian's diet or workout routine?
