Jennifer Didonato

Today I have a special guest for an interview. It’s Jennifer Didonato, a fitness trainer from Detroid who, I feel, is on her way to becoming an internet celebrity in the fitness field.

In this interview Jennifer talks about her work and her tips and recommendations for a healthy, fit body. I hope that you’ll enjoy this interview.

Question: My guest today is Jennifer Didonato, Youtube Celebrity and creator of MadeFitTV, a website /Online Video Show about fitness, nutrition and health. Thank you for taking the time for this interview, Jennifer.

For those readers who don’t know you yet, what are your credentials and how long have you been a personal trainer?

JD (stands for Jennifer Didonato): I have been a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist, both certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), for over 4 years.

Question: How did you get started in the field of health and fitness?

JD: Right out of high school I got a job as a receptionist at my local Lifetime Fitness. While going to school for Communication and TV Journalism, I got involved in Figure competitions as a hobby since I loved to lift and workout so much. After taking second place at both of my shows, I really started to think that training was my true calling. After 3 years as a writer in the Detroit market and a reporter/anchor in a small town, I left TV and pursued becoming a trainer.

Question: What’s your training regime? And do you keep a special health diet?

JD: My training consists of one HIIT circuit session a week, about 3 to 5 hours of a combination of running or steady cardio on the stairclimber or Octane elliptical a week, and 4 days a week for heavy lifting. I always make sure that whatever I am doing I am having FUN while I do it!

I do NOT diet but I DO eat healthy, listen to my body and what it needs, and I always eat to complement my training. I eat 5 to 7 times a day, have protein every time I eat, watch my carbohydrate portions, eat healthy fats, juice vegetables daily, and completely stay away from ALL sugar during the weekdays. I always allow a one free day on the weekends to just eat whatever “bad” foods I’m in the mood for (chocolate, pizza, ice cream, you name it!)

Question: What’s the emphasis you put when you build a training regime for women versus men?

JD: Men and women are both pretty much the same – I just have guys train heavier and have girls do more circuits. I try not to complicate it because, no matter what, women do not NATURALLY have the hormones that men have to gain and odd-looking amount of muscle.

Question: What advise can you give to people who are struggling with keeping regular training frequency?

JD: You have to ENJOY what you are doing, at least somewhat. You don’t have to LOVE it, but you can’t expect to continue to maintain progress and success if you hate working out. Also, you don’t have to workout to be healthy. Just having an active lifestyle can be enough as long as you are challenging your body and eating to support feeling good inside and out.

Question: I first heard of you when I stumbled upon one of your videos from Made Fit TV. What made you start this online video show?

JD: I started Made Fit TV shortly after I started my in-home personal training company in Metro-Detroit, Michigan. I love helping people and love being in front of a camera and wanted to reach as many people as possible (which is hard being a one-on-one trainer.) So, starting the free weekly videos was a way to achieve that!

Question: Was it difficult for you to be in front of the camera or did this come naturally to you?

JD: I have always loved being in front of a camera and relaying information to people. It was actually hard at first to just BE ME and to break from the habit of being a “talking head” reading a teleprompter. Actually, if you check out my very first episode, you will see I am reading from a makeshift teleprompter we set up on the computer!

Question: What are the topics you cover in Made Fit TV?

JD: I like to cover topics that people of all backgrounds in health, fitness, nutrition, and limitations can relate to. I provide advice on motivation, meal planning, nutrition, recipes, workout methods, circuits, cardio techniques, and many more.

Question: On your site you say that one of your goals is to expose unreliable claims and stereotypes about fitness and fat loss. Can you give me an example of one of these claims that really made you mad?

JD: Gosh, where do I start? Well, I really, really hate the myth that “one size fits all” when referring to workout and nutrition. Everyone’s body, background, conditioning, digestion, metabolism, and health varies. Finding what works best for you and focusing on only YOU is the best way to allow your body to find balance and optimum health and fitness.

Question: What is the number one fitness or nutrition tip that you can give to someone who wants to lose weight and get fitter?

JD: Focus on the objective or maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle rather than the end result.

Question: Your videos have been watched by tens of thousands of people so far. Did you ever imagine that you will reach so many people?

JD: My goal is and always has been to reach as many people as possible. I had hoped I would have more followers and viewers by now, but I am so thankful for each and every email, comment, question, email that comes my way from all the corners of the world. I am so proud that each one of my fans and followers are organic and believe in my message!

Question: What are you planning for the future? What can we further expect from Made Fit TV?

JD: My plans are to continue to create useful content for Made Fit TV to reach and help as many people as I can through them. I want people to be empowered and know that they can be as happy and healthy as they allow themselves to be. I also will continue to grow my relationships with the companies that I support and use, personally.

Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you and your readers!

Question: You’re welcome! Thanks for taking the time for this interview.

You can watch more of Jennifer’s videos here: Jennifer Didonato’s YouTube Channel. Browse through the videos. You can learn a lot of helpful tips for health and fitness.

You can read more interviews from other female fitness experts such as Flavia Del Monte, Isabel De Los Rios, and Belinda Benn.