As one of the most famous personal trainers in the world, when Jillian Michaels talks about fitness and weight loss, people listen. Jillian recently left the hit TV show The Biggest Loser after 11 seasons of helping dozens of contestants drop thousands of pounds. Although her fame came from being a tough trainer on the show who doesn’t mince words, Jillian is also famous for getting results.
Now that she has left the show, many of her fans are wondering what’s next for this fitness guru. Fitness Magazine recently interviewed Jillian to discuss her upcoming projects, why she left The Biggest Loser and her personal exercise philosophy.
As can be expected with Jillian, she spoke frankly about following her gut and how she had to leave The Biggest Loser because the job no longer made her happy. Jillian didn’t believe she was living up to her full potential and wants to focus on her personal legacy.
Jillian discussed the pressure she feels to be in perfect shape as a trainer that’s constantly in the public eye, and how that pressure fuels her to stay on track with her workouts.
Some highlights from the interview:
What’s your typical workout routine?
I usually go to the gym three to four times a week. I work out hard when I go. I just kill it, whether it’s doing kettlebells, mixed martial arts, Spinning classes, or power yoga. I get bored easily, so I need something that’s going to keep me focused. I mix it up. Everything I do is a combo of body resistance and cardiovascular endurance.
What do you like best about your body?
My abs. God made it very easy for me to get my abs lean.
What do you like least?
My ass! I hate it! There’s cellulite on it, and no matter what I do, I can’t get rid of it. The reality is that it’s connective tissue. I can starve and my boobs will go and my face will get gaunt, but I will still have cellulite. It’s not so much about aesthetics for me these days. Instead, I think a lot more about the mark I’m going to make on the world than about the back of my ass.
What’s the best way for someone to motivate herself to get fit?
Ask, What do I want? For a twentysomething, it might be to wear a bikini. For a 70-year-old, it might be to live to 100. Next, form an emotional connection to your goal. Then when you choose between a bagel and egg whites for breakfast, you make the choice with your goal in mind. That’s what I do. I’m extraordinarily mindful about making decisions.
Do you think that living your best life means being fit?
I would say that you don’t need to be ripped. But do you need to be physically healthy? Of course you do. That’s the platform you build your life on. It’s about being healthy and energized and feeling strong so you can enhance the other areas of your life.
Check out more of Jillian’s interview at Fitness Magazine.