Flashback Friday Fit Girl Magic: Jeanette Jenkins, The Hollywood Trainer
Jeanette Jenkins, known in the fitness world as The Hollywood Trainer, has helped build the strong, fit bodies of all your faves. Some of her past and present clients include P!nk, Alicia Keys, Bebe Rexha, and Gold Medal Gymnast Laurie Hernandez.
However, Jeanette is more than just a trainer to today’s biggest stars. She is a business woman and entrepreneur. She is her own brand. She believes in mental and financial health, as well as physical health. She is also one of our biggest inspirations. Jeanette is not your cookie cutter, five-foot-nine, size two, fitness model. She is petite, athletic and curvy. She is a ball of energy with a bubbly, silly personality
We recently connected with Jeanette during the National Black MBA Association Conference (round of applause for health and wellness being apart of conference experiences now). When you only have five minutes with someone who inspires you to keep pushing, what do you ask? We tried to cover it all in a quick five minutes, from life advice to her favorite workouts, check out our convo below.
You have been apart of the fitness industry for 30 years. During times where your motivation dropped, how did you push through? How do you define the difference between motivation and discipline?
When you start at the beginning of your journey, whether it is financial fitness or physical fitness, define your goal. The motivation comes in knowing that if you are disciplined in the choices you make, then you can achieve your goals. Once you start achieving goals, your mindset should shift to the question, “Am I using my light to help other people?”
Over time, my goals changed. Once I started achieving my goals, I wanted to make sure I inspired, motivated and educated others so that they can feel great and live a quality life. I am dedicated to being purpose-driven and service-driven.
CaCera worked out with Jeanette at the National Black MBA Association Convention in Houston, TX. What she loved most? That Jeanette’s yoga session felt like it was truly achievable for anyone - regardless of their fitness level.
You are surrounded by fierce, fabulous female energy and power all day. What have you drawn from the amazing women that you train?
What I’ve drawn from them is that they are human. Successful people are good at drowning out the noise and staying focused on their goals. Whether the goal is to complete an album they want to share with the world, create a story or movie, they are good at staying focused and not getting distracted. That is the number one thing anyone can take away. If you have a goal that you are working toward, when people try to push you left, right or in any number of directions, you have to stay on your path.
Accept that you are going to fall! I’ve fallen flat on my face, my clients have fallen flat on their face, and that is okay. You embrace your mistakes, you get back up and keeping walking on your path.
What is it that you want to share with women of color about living their best life?
Black women are so fabulous!! It is really hard to just name one thing. I want them to always embrace their unique essence and not shy away from being the whole of who they are. For so many years, we were told we couldn’t have our textured hair, or we can’t be voluptuous or have different body types. We can have all those things. Embrace everything of what you are.
We are very strong! But you don’t always have to be the strongest. Sometimes you can break down and cry or just take a break and relax. It is in our DNA to be the strongest, but you don’t have to always be the strongest.
Rapid fire question: What’s your favorite workout?
There are so many different kinds! I don’t have a favorite workout. Right now, I do like cardio boxing.
I like any mixture of HIIT training. It allows me to put in some of my favorite yoga moves, and I can add in some boxing, dance or strength moves. I love a cross-training workout where I can throw in anything I want.