On this week’s episode of the award-winning “Listen In With KNN,” host and executive producer Kelsey Nicole Nelson welcomed Jeff Witherspoon to the show to talk all things health and wellness. Witherspoon is the founder & CEO of Eager to Motivate Fitness LLC (E2M), and a retired U.S. Army colonel. Witherspoon has become a leader in the health and wellness space.

As a fitness entrepreneur, Witherspoon has helped guide more than 250,000 people on their health journeys through his online programs that focus on weight loss and management, strength training, and overall wellness. Starting E2M in 2015 with just 10 clients, E2M has grown into a nationwide online fitness giant. Since the beginning, the E2M community has collectively lost over a million pounds; a milestone he says is as much about mental breakthroughs as it is physical transformation.

“You can have the best program ever … but if you don’t have the mental strength to stick to it, stay motivated, and actually see it through, you won’t be successful,” he said.

Witherspoon’s passion for fitness stems from a personal place. Coming from a family history of health-related illnesses, Witherspoon aims to forward the movement of fitness and wellness far and wide, allowing others to reap the positive health benefits, unlike some of his closest family.

“My whole thing that drives me is my father wasn’t into being healthy… and neither were his siblings,” he said. “For me, I saw the impact that had on my family, had on me personally, and I’m on a mission to help as many people fight and beat heart disease as possible.”

His mission took on a renewed urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic, when more people started to focus on underlying health risks. However, for Witherspoon, the conversation is bigger than COVID-19. He believes that fitness is all about reclaiming long-term health and quality of life.

“Heart disease is still a prevalent danger that’s killing people every day,” he said. “It’s robbing people of their ability to enjoy life, their ability to enjoy retirement.”

Describing himself as a person of routine, Witherspoon credits his military background for instilling the discipline needed to maintain a consistent, healthy lifestyle. The philosophy of consistency is one he brings into his advice to clients.

“If you can’t show up on a consistent basis, that’s going to be like peaks and valleys when it comes to your health and wellness,” he said. “The biggest thing that I learned in the military is consistency.”

Despite his military roots, Witherspoon’s programs are not designed for elite athletes, but for the everyday person. His client base ranges from working mothers to busy professionals to people recovering from injuries, all of whom are trying to take control of their health in the midst of hectic lives.

Community support is central to the E2M model. Witherspoon emphasizes the importance of being surrounded by like-minded people, cheerleaders who celebrate the wins and help carry the load.

“Sometimes having somebody cheering for you, supporting you, being there for you, can be the difference between failure or success,” he said.

This encouragement is key to Witherspoon’s programs, as for him, the ultimate transformation isn’t just about the weight loss- it’s about a mindset shift.

“I’m happy to see a body transformation, but I’m more excited about that lifestyle transformation,” he said. “People who’ve lost over 100 pounds are now running half-marathons regularly — that’s what it’s about.”

As discourse around weight-loss medications like Ozempic grows louder, Witherspoon has a balanced view on the drugs. While he is not opposed to using medical weight loss methods to aid or kickstart a fitness journey, he cautions against using them without healthy lifestyle changes alongside them to supplement.

“There is nothing wrong with anything that assists you to reach your goals,” Witherspoon said. “But you can’t get around the true fitness – you need a healthy lifestyle to maintain your health.”

He encourages people to see medication as a starting point. A helpful tool to quiet the “food noise” and gain momentum on your way to building new habits.

“It’s a tool, not the solution,” he said. “If you get off the medication and haven’t formed those healthy habits, you’ll basically just go back to where you were.”

Witherspoon and E2M continue to push thousands to a healthier and happier life, guiding the masses onto a path of longevity.

“Being healthy is almost like a life hack,” he said. “It gives you so many benefits you didn’t even realize you needed, just by taking control of your health.”

For the full conversation, check out the episode below!