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MEDIA
05.21.2008
BY ANNE
 We have talked a lot here about Jillian Michaels, the kind of terrifying trainer on The Biggest Loser with the amazing abs. Weetabix has had a long, complicated relationship with Jillian, which has moved from hate to fear to a kind of bemused and wary understanding. I have so far been lucky enough to avoid the show, but could not help but catch her interview with Kim on The Daily Special. I was as blown away as Weet was, when Jillian admitted that she just doesn't like exercise and running is a special kind of hell. So she is a special kind of awesome, as it turns out. I think the official stance, here at Elastic Waist, is that we love her. That doesn't explain why we're willing to do something as insane as subject ourselves to her (frankly, terrifying) 30-day fitness plan that she tells you is going to make you spectacularly, outrageously fit. Or rather, I am willing. I think the rest of us are too smart. But for this installment of the Elastic Waist Book Club, I've gotten a hold of her newest fitness book, Making the Cut, and that's what I'm going to try to do. It's got a month's worth of clean-eating meal plans (something I always appreciate), and an incredibly detailed, incredibly rigorous daily exercise program that Jillian guarantees will turn me into a cut-and-polished statue of a Greek goddess. I have never come anywhere close to being a super-buff goddess with abs of steel, and I've generally been okay with that. I don't have 10 or 20 pounds to lose. And I'm not thrilled at the idea that I am supposed to look like Jillian Michaels before I'm allowed to feel confident wearing a bikini--but I have never really been that strong, either. And Jillian, if nothing else, looks super strong and buff. So I am intrigued, and curious, and what I'm going to do is give this plan a shot, out of intrigued curiosity--and also for entertainment's sake. It's going to be hilarious. You're totally welcome. Send help. Or, if you're feeling a little nutty, come on and do it with me. I dare you. 11 CommentsLeave a comment |
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One of the cover blurbs says "lose that last stubborn 1-20 pounds". Is that supposed to happen in 30 days? Or is that what will (can) happen if you stick with her plan for longer than the 30 days? Because if it's the former, I am really, really afraid of what the "clean eating" and "incredibly rigorous" exercise plan.
I could use something to kick my sedentary butt into gear, so I may check this book out on the way home, but, ack, hold me, Anne, I'm scared...
Um, I meant, "last stubborn 10 - 20 pounds". I don't think a fitness plan that promised increased fitness and 1 pound of weight loss a month would scare me too much.
I might do it just because I'm bored with my normal gym routine (treadmill, self-loathing, water, stop at Starbucks) and it might be good blog fodder.
If you're in, I'm in.
No thanks, this sounds hideous, girls. I think I'll just watch.
Jillian has said on her radio show that Making the Cut is specifically geared for people who are losing what she calls "vanity pounds" -- the last 10-20 pounds in a weight loss regimen. Her first book, Winning by Losing, is directed towards people who are looking to start a weight loss program.
That doesn't mean that it is necessarily a bad plan for people who have more weight to lose, but the MTC plan is apparently pretty intense -- a strict eating plan, no alcohol, exercising at least five times a week. That could potentially be intimidating for someone just starting out.
Intimidating is a good word for it. And actually, the book's making me a little uncomfortable, now that I'm taking a closer look. It's "dramatic results at an accelerated pace," and she says "It's about seeing how far you can go, getting a little crazy, and maybe along the way making that ex of yours want you back."
And okay, that makes me pretty unhappy. That sounds like a recipe for possible obsessiveness, that it could be dangerous for anyone who is likely to get carried away, cause a lot of damage, mentally and emotionally, in a whole lot of ways.
Suggesting wholeheartedly that other people try this out feels irresponsible. So I'm going to ask that you consider this carefully, before you make a decision to do it. And if you do decide to dive in, that you not take it too seriously, not actually go crazy, give yourself a break and don't obsess over the pounds, or the weight, or any of that--think of it as a way to get strong. A kickoff to exercising regularly. Not something to drive yourself nuts with. Okay?
Hmm. I have to go to the bookstore today anyway. Will check the book out, and am tentatively up for a non-obsessive version of the program, if it lends itself to such a thing. Maybe you can do semi-regular checkup posts where those of us participating can talk about modifications we are implementing, and how they are working out?
Any idea what the gym requirement/day is? I have access to a gym at work but I am, well, supposed to be working during that time and am worried about being in the gym for like 1.5 hours at a shot.
I looked through it and thought that if I had more gym time, I would definitely give the workouts a try. Some of her food sounds OK and some not -- she has changed her mind about Splenda and now says it's "poison."
I would like to try the exercises, though, if I ever get out of my crazy work-situation that gives me almost 0 free time.
She says that it's about 45 minutes of gym time for the weights, with an optional 15 minutes of cardio. Which doesn't seem like too much of a time suck to me. Though you're supposed to do it five days a week, with weekends off.
AAAARGH! Come ON girls. When are we going to learn that we don't need to go on yet another diet or rigorous exercise plan? Eating healthy and with as much moderation as you can muster, and getting some physical activity in MODERATION is what's important. Jillian Michaels is just another person making money off of your low self-esteem. Forget about what other people want! I am 23 and a recover(ing/ed) anorexic, and I am telling you, it is just not worth it.