Jillian Michaels’ Once-In-a-Lifetime Workout Inspires Military Families To Thrive

It’s not every day you get to work out on an aircraft carrier, much less experience it with a reality star shouting at you.

But last weekend, hundreds of current and former military families got to exercise right on the deck of the USS Midway. The ship, which is permanently docked in Downtown San Diego,  also hosted fitness guru Jillian Michaels, who stood in front of the group shouting “More burpees!” as the participants gamely did their best.

Kids, moms, dads, and grandparents grinned as she egged them on, gulping down water and drenched in sweat.

Sure, the 250 Blue Star military families have all gone through basic military drills . But the perky 5’3″ star of E!s upcoming “Just Jillian” reality show seemed intent on delivering a workout that would bring them back to their boot camp days.

The energy was electric. For many of these families, opportunities to work out are limited by schedules and travel demands, and they’ve relied on Michaels’ workout DVDs to stay in shape and keep motivated. Meeting her in person? It was out-of-this-world, and from kids in strollers to parents in workout gear, you could sense the enthusiasm of the crowd.

She bounded through the kids and adults, effortlessly leading the group through countless pushups, plank holds, and jumping jacks while beaming with positive energy. Even the littlest kids joined in on the fun while their parents got their sweat on, and at the end of the 30-minute session everyone was smiling..

“The first thing we want to say is thank you,” Michaels said as the workout, co-sponsored by Thrive Market, wound down and participants took to their mats. “Thank you for your service, thank you for your sacrifice. We know it’s one percent of our country that is shouldering the burden of protecting our freedom, and we are so grateful.”

Her gratitude is echoed in the Thrive Gives mission to donate a membership to military veterans, teachers, students as a small “thank you,” for everything that they do.

Thirty percent of veterans combat health issues like chronic bronchitis and asthma, and as many as fourteen percent of those who have deployed suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. A positive PTSD diagnosis can mean difficulty finding work, relying on disability pay, and other health issues.

The event with Michaels and Blue Star Families kicks off Thrive Market’s biggest giving partnership to date. We’re donating 50,000 memberships to Blue Star military families, and every family who attended the event went home with one tucked inside a tote bag.

Sheena Craig, 26, a new Blue Star Families member, lost 15 pounds working out with Michaels’ DVDs, said she was excited to try out Thrive Market. “I try to buy organic, it’s expensive though,” she said.  “I have a six- and a four-year-old—right now they’re really big on Goldfish so I’m excited to try some new discounted, healthier snacks for them.”

These Thrive Gives memberships ensure that veterans and their families will have access to healthy, wholesome food no matter where they’re stationed in the United States.

We believe that everyone deserves the right to access healthy food. But even in the United States, it can prove impossible for some families. So we created Thrive Gives: a program that gives access, family by family, to affordable, healthy, and wholesome food. Click here to see if you qualify for a free Thrive Gives membership!