Jillian Michaels is somebody that I’ve admired since her years on the Biggest Loser. I loved her attitude but then later on could identify and love the fact that she’s a mom who does her best to juggle it all.
She’s had so many interviews about how to work out and fitness and she does have an amazing fitness app, but I loved talking to her about being a mom.
Being a mom through Covid is tough and it is super important to keep healthy through Covid. Read our exclusive interview and tell us what you think about getting through Covid!
MS) How can moms stay fit through a pandemic?
JM) Well, I’ll tell you this: It’s more important now than ever, period. The absolute last thing you want to do at this point is abandon your fitness regimen. With COVID, one thing we know is that if you are already unhealthy pre-virus, that greatly increases your risk of complications if you end up testing positively. So I would say use that idea as motivation to really make your health a priority.
It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you do have to move. This is why we created tons of free, 7-minute workouts on my app. All you need to do is download it from the app store it to access those. No subscription necessary. If you can get yourself to do a new one each day, you’ll start to see a noticeable change quickly. Of course, I would hope for a bit more once you are able. Whether you’re training with me, someone else, or on your own, ideally you would commit to four separate 20 to 30 minute sessions of exercise per week. And if you need to give your kids the iPad to make that happen for yourself, the world won’t end.
One strategy I employ regularly to find time for my self care is called the 12-hour rule. So if there are 168 hours in a week and you’re getting 8 hours a night for sleep (necessary to prioritize this as proper sleep is so critical for your wellness), then you’re left with 112 waking hours in your week.
Assuming you are in the most difficult scenario and are a working, single parent, you designate 50 hours per week to run the household (take dog to vet, scoop dry cleaning, run kids back and forth to appointments, etc.) and the other 50 hours you designate to your career, that leaves you with 12 remaining hours. Those are YOUR hours so schedule them accordingly. I usually take two hours per week to prioritize fitness (four 30-minute workouts at home right now) then use the remaining time to have a date night, a visit with a friend, a medical or hygienic appointment of some sort (dentist, hair cut, check up etc) and prioritize my hobbies. This usually helps me stay fit, sane and social over the course of the month. It’s not perfect, but it works. And I schedule those 12 hours weekly. Come hell or high water.
MS) How do you keep your kids sane through this fun?
JM) This one is tough and depends on the family. You have to decide what your comfort level is in regards to the outside world. I can say this, if you avoiding people other than immediate family consider letting the kids FaceTime with friends. As much as I hate the screen time, it’s so much more important for them to see their peers in my opinion. I let mine play games like Roblox with their friends (provided I am supervising), partake in karate classes via Zoom and more. Not ideal, but still something. We also get outside (skateboarding, bike riding, etc.) a lot and I think that really helps, too. Take advantage of the weather while it’s still nice out!
MS) Can people really stay fit via an app?
JM) Of course they can! My app not only has every video workout I’ve ever created (DVD, infomercial program, etc.) but also an absurd number of workouts that are customized for each individual user. We’re even adding audio workouts in the next month, as well. So for example, there are programs for walking/running programs, HIIT, yoga, kickboxing, bodyweight training, prenatal (broken up by trimester) and post natal, etc. You can even have me customize any workout for you on the spot. You simply input your fitness level, type of workout you want, how long you want to train, what equipment you have available and it’s instantaneous. You can train on any device from your TV, tablet, phone, etc. and there are hundreds of recipes available of all kinds because even your meal plan is custom. Whether you are vegan, gluten free, omnivore or whatever it may be, we have you covered with delicious dishes created by registered dietitians and top chefs to hit the mark every single time. Plus, you can ban ingredients you don’t like, change serving amounts, track your eating and more.
MS) How important is physical health and exercise in terms of staying sane through a pandemic?
JM) I touched on this earlier, but it’s absolutely critical. While there is so much we don’t know about COVID, there really is a decent amount we are sure of including obesity being one of the top contributing factors to the severity of a case. So now is the time to make lemonade out of lemons, seize the moment, and focus on your fitness!
Jillian’s Bio:
Jillian Michaels is the world’s leading fitness expert, renowned nutritionist and wellness entrepreneur. With an international community of followers exceeding 100 million, Jillian’s dominance in health and wellness extends to her award-winning Jillian Michaels Fitness App (awarded best of 2017 honors from both Apple and Google), successful fitness DVDs, top exercises streaming platform, 8 New York Times bestselling books, live speaking engagements, popular social media channels, a top podcast, and a list of key business partnerships and investments. In the past decade, her company, Empowered Media, has become a monumental wellness empire dedicated to total-life solutions comprising all aspects of living well, including nutrition, fitness, self-help and overall lifestyle. Jillian is a fierce advocate for refugees and works with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to bring awareness to the global refugee crises. Her most recent book, The 6 Keys: Unlock Your Genetic Potential for Ageless Strength, Health, and Beauty, is available now.
Maria Spanadoris an experienced online writer with a passion for general entertainment stories. As a Greek mom, Maria brings her unique perspective to her writing, infusing her work with warmth and humor. She has been writing online for over 20 years, starting her career at thecelebritycafe.com. Since then, Maria has honed her skills as a writer, developing a talent for crafting engaging and informative content that keeps her readers coming back for more. Whether she's covering the latest celebrity gossip or writing about her own experiences as a mom, Maria's writing is always relatable and engaging.
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Maria Spanadorishttps://famadillo.com/author/marias/
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Maria Spanadorishttps://famadillo.com/author/marias/
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Maria Spanadorishttps://famadillo.com/author/marias/
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Maria Spanadorishttps://famadillo.com/author/marias/
