Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill De Dong.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jill. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
After many years of international traveling, living in hotels and airplanes, going from one photo shoot to another and being permanently sleep-deprived, I had recurring health issues that indicated my immune system was weak. I didn’t know how to fix it, and I started looking for answers. A visit to a nutritionist was a real eye-opener. He displayed a drop of my blood on a flat-screen TV and explained what was going on inside my body.
I had to eat better: cutting out sugar, eating more veggies and less dairy and bread. There was a lot of room for improvement. But what was I going to eat? If I had to eat better, healthy food had to taste better, otherwise, it was not going to be sustainable. So, I started looking up simple recipes and taught myself how to cook. I wanted to feel better, have my energy back, and heal my body.
The journey felt empowering, and I wanted to share all that I learned with others. I knew that if I could do this other could too! I blogged for several years and created many recipes that I envisioned coming together in a book. I worked hard to get the book pitched to publishing houses, and it was disappointing when I only received rejections. (this was in 2013) But that didn’t stop me!
I used the rejections as a drive to improve all that I had to offer. I studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and got certified as a health coach and a personal trainer. In the following years, I helped hundreds of men and women lose weight, improve their health, choices, and mindset around food and fitness.
I became an expert in the field of health and wellness, and I landed the book deal I so eagerly wanted (in 2018) Instead of doing it by myself I teamed up with other women with the same mission; it became a powerful book collaboration;”Models Do Eat: More Than 100 Recipes for Eating Your Way to a Beautiful, Healthy You.”
On February 5th, 2019 the ten of us celebrated our book launch on Times Square with 12 billboards. A dream come true. ☺
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Haha no, not a smooth road; I pitched to publishing houses in 2013, and it was disappointing when I only received rejections. But that didn’t stop me! I used the rejections as a drive to improve all that I had to offer.
Rejection or I should say re-direction took me on a journey to become a health coach and personal trainer; a career path I didn’t envision for myself at the time but is the best job I have ever had. I’m grateful that I did not get that book deal in 2013.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Models Do Eat: More Than 100 Recipes for Eating Your Way to a Beautiful, Healthy You (published in February 2019) With contributions from ten different models, we all share our secrets to feeling healthy and looking great, and show that getting fit and the body you want doesn’t mean giving up delicious food.
We are all about body positive, bio-individuality and healthy at every size. We all had our own personal challenges staying in shape and dealing with health issues and some form of disordered eating. What we had in common was a desire to find better, more enjoyable ways to stay fit, healthy and beautiful.
In addition to being models, we are knowledgeable health coaches, trainers, and authors. Anyone can eat like a model and reap the benefits inside and out. Models Do Eat shows you how.
What were you like growing up?
I was born and raised in Holland. As a kid, I was energetic, curious and always up for an adventure.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.modelsdoeat.com & www.jilldejong.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Other: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and modelsdoeat.com
Image Credit:
Cover: Greg Hinsdale
Publishing house: Benbella
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
