But she can’t make me dinner. That pretty much sums up my reaction to June’s Jillian Michaels’ Making the Cut experiment.
The Food
I have weird taste. I admit that. But tastes issues aside, her food plan sucked. Problemo numero uno: the insanely low daily calorie allotment. She expected me to not only wake up every morning and take care of my house and kids but to work out on my BMR: a measly 1300 calories a day. Even refugee camps provide 1800.
Secondly, I don’t know if I buy her whole “oxidation type” theory. I (kinda) get the science behind it but just because something sounds scientifically correct doesn’t make it so. There are a lot of variables in metabolism and upping my carb intake by a lot didn’t help my weight or my muscle at all.
Third, the food tasted terrible. Not to mention the overabundance of mercury-contaminated large fish (one day in my menu plan called for 6 oz. of swordfish followed up the next day with the same – the FDA recommends avoiding swordfish altogether as it is one of the most heavily contaminated fish in the ocean.)
Fourth, she came from a totally California rich girl mentality where organic produce grows on trees (hee!) and tempeh is at the corner gas station.
The Exercise
This part was obviously Jillian’s field of expertise. She provided two new workouts per week, each repeated twice. The exercises were varied and worked out the entire body. She relied mostly on tried-and-true body builder standards like the squat and the bench press but added in some novelties I’d never tried before.
At first I thought her workouts were too easy until you guys pointed out to me that I could do them twice in a row. Once the Gym Buddies and I did that, we consistently got our butts kicked. Although I had to up all her recommended weights, speeds and inclines.
The one thing I didn’t like, and I know I’m being nit picky here, was that her exercise program felt a little bit “old school” and not in a good way. Her reliance on the Swiss ball and push-pull technique were all very hot a few years ago but have since been relegated to the what-were-we-thinking bin. It was only after I looked back at the copyright date that I realized the book actually is several years old. So it was probably cutting edge… when it came out. (So don’t ask me why they are marketing it like it’s new now.)
My Results
Weight: +9 FREAKING pounds (but we’ve already discussed that that was probably due to the over training and not to Ms. Michaels)
Body fat: +2% (sigh)
Measurements (ready for some weirdness?)
Waist: -1/2 inch (after gaining 9 lbs???)
Arm: +3/4 inch – goooooo biceps!
Hips: +1.5 inches
Butt: +1 inch (which I admit that I kind of like. I don’t have much of a butt usually)
Thigh: +1.25 inches
Gym Buddy Allison’s weight and measurements stayed constant.
My Conclusions
There was nothing really exciting or earth shattering in here. The strength of the book lies in Ms. Michaels’ considerable charisma. I loved her honesty about how hard she and other H’wood types work for their physiques. I loved her no-nonsense no-coddling here tone. And, since I now own the book, I will probably continue to use some of her workouts (slightly adapted, natch) to break up my routine. But the food plan – blech. And I have to say that I will NOT miss her smirk on her cover photo. Seriously, after a few days I started turning it over just so she’d stop looking at me like that.
I know a bunch of you tried this one with me – what were your thoughts? Results? Anyone end up with Jillian’s abs??
cant WAIT to see what other people thought as Im with you on your insights especially that uber low calorie count.
perhaps Jillian might subsidize our shopping bill as Id love to be 100% organic!
Miz., who oddly finds J to be her nemesis.
Quite interesting! Thanks for saving me from buying the book! Char, I never in a million years would think you’ve gained anything! You look fabulous!
Sounds like I’ll give this one a miss!
Thanks for the detailed (and amusing) review.
And 1300 calories a day? Yikes! I’d be starving.
I didn’t follow the meal plan either, because I don’t really eat that much meat, and there’s no way I can survive on 1500 cal/day. I eat closer to 2500 per day. Or more.
Anyway, I really liked the workouts for a number of reasons:
1. I don’t belong to a gym, and many of the exercises rely on body weight and dumbbells. This, along with creative uses of resistance bands makes it a routine adaptable to the non-gym goer. So even though some of the ideas are no longer in vogue, they are nice alternatives to machines!
2. Variety. Changing up the workouts regularly made it much easier to stick to than, say, the action hero workout.
3. You work your whole body in 45 minutes or so. Not bad, especially for the time crunched! Or for people who just can’t stand to work out for hours.
Obv., since I don’t belong to a gym, I had to change some bits (like uphill sprints) but supplemented with extra mountain climbers or other form of cardio that targets the same muscle groups.
No change in weight, but I lost about a half inch off my waist and thighs, and added about a half inch or so to my biceps. I did notice an increase in muscle definition in my arms and some in my thighs, which definitely pleases me!
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to finish the program before I hurt my back, but I plan on finishing the last week when I get back from vacation. And I’ll probably incorporate some of these sets into my regular routine.
I just started yesterday. I’m totally not doing the food either.
I’ll let you know how it goes!
May I ask a slightly off-topic question? Well, I’ll ask and then you can answer if you want (anyone!)
How much error do you think comes into your body measurements? You have touched on this before, but I have been getting some weird results lately, and I wonder if .25 inches is just measurement error, rather than real loss. For instance, how do you know you are measuring “exactly” the same place on your waist? I always measure over the belly button, but up a tad or down a “tad” (a highly scientific term!), the measurement can change wildly.
Very nice review..I have been skeptical of her food plan. If you want to see some amazing abs check out Dara Tores at 41 years of age! I posted a quick blurb about her story. She is quite an inspiration.
Well, based on what you said, I will pass. Thanks for the review!
I’m with you about the food. I’ve got four kids and a rather fussy wife when it comes to food, so I’m not even trying her menus. On her radio show she is always plugging Ezekiel bread, which is so free of preservatives that unless you’re going to eat a whole loaf in one afternoon, it will go moldy on you. My kids can get through a loaf of bread pretty fast, but they won’t touch the Ezekial bread anyway, for which I don’t blame them, given that it has the tast and texture of corrugated cardboard.
But, my biceps and triceps are showing a little more definition with the exercise plan.
AT22 – in my experience, measurements are accurate to within 1/2 inch. I can measure the same area twice and get a measurement within that range. So if I get a change of 1/2 inch or more, I’ll consider it real. Less than 1/2 inch, no real change. Of course, I can always tell whether those changes are “real” or not based on how my clothes are fitting!
Anyone else have a cut off point that you consider no real change?
For me, it’s 1750 calories a day. So it’s very doable for me. I slacked off a bit this month so I’m starting over as of today. Need to get in shape for rowing.
What i don’t like is that you have to go between the weightroom, the track, the cardio room, and the aerobics room- All of different floors for me= big time waster!
But I like that it kicks my bootay when I do it 2 times through 🙂
I’m currently doing the workouts as a sort of supplementary strength/interval routine (I’m nowhere near organized/wealthy enough to prep an all-organic menu for myself for a month.. I mean, hello. Would be nice, but no) and really like the variety. Yeah, there’s nothing revolutionary here but it’s given me some new ideas for when I’m at the gym to do weights and am feeling uncreative. Also, anyone else get confused with flipping back to the exercises each day? I’ve been photocopying the day’s exercises the night before and bringing it to the gym the next day, by which time I’m all “What’s a burpee?”
Wow. I don’t think I’ll be buying that book:) Although I did get my hands on her dvd of 30 day shred and I really like it. It’s tough and its a quick workout. I’ve only done level 1 but I’m enjoying it.
i was out of town so
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
i could totally kick Jillian’s ass. she has to have some sort of achilles heel. Like…her achilles heel.
I smell crash diet. which smells like poop. eat food!
I also have the 30 Day Shred, and I love it. I think I’ll stick to that, and leave the book at the bookstore. Thanks for the info!
Gena – EXCELLENT point about the workouts. You are totally right about them being very adaptable. And that is a huge bonus. And HELLO – those are awesome results! Congrats on the inches, girl.
AT22 – good question about the margin of error on my trusty tape measure. I’ve been measuring myself for long now that I think I’m pretty good about hitting the same spot but I still give myself a good .5 inch before I believe it. Unless it’s on my arms and then, I put on muscle so slowly there that I’ll take that quarter inch of pump;)
Bill Quinnan – so true about the Ezekiel bread. Not to mention that stuff is ridiculously expensive. I ended up keeping mine in the freezer so it wouldn’t mold and then i had to toast it every time I wanted to eat it or risk losing a tooth.
Molly – Yeah, i had the same problem. I ended up just toting the whole stupid book around with me wherever I went. Great conversation starter tho!
Thanks to everyone who joined me on this one!!
I read Jillian Michael’s earlier book…the name of it is escaping me right now, but it’s something like “Biggest Winners,” I believe…and it sounds very, very similar. I loved the workouts, but the cal count was waaaay to low and the food was boring. Doesn’t look like she’s changed her program much.
I am a little confused, when you said the food tasted terrible was this because it advised you to eat food you simply dont like or did you have to buy some sort of Jillian endorsed product/supplement? because I’d imagine you could still make food taste good, maybe low calorie, but still tasty if you were able to use your own food.
I’ll never forget watching the biggest looser chick from Des Moines on some talk show looking back at her unveiling. She said something like yeah I looked great but I was miserable.
I started the experiment late and just finished a week off from it so I’m on day 12 and still determined to finish it. I had to throw her food plan out the window and use it as a general guideline – as I have some specific allergies, etc.
Overall, I do find that the the abundance of pushups has helped my chest and shoulder definition. I may have been counter productive in doing my running plan at the same time, but her severe lack of cardio would have “killed me” otherwise.
I find that it is a good way to push myself to do new weights as I was in a rut with my previous routine. It was also nice to be able to do a lot of the work at home, if I didn’t have time to get to the gym.
It is actually sad and surprising that inspite of being the first in the market to have started the trend of shedding weight by pill popping, phentermine is non existent today. Owing to the fact that the drug proved to be too dangerous, it had to be pulled out of the market. The good thing however is that there is a ‘safe’ weight loss drug that has entered the market albeit with a different but similar sounding name, you can buy phentremine a natural appetite suppressant.
It is rather interesting for me to read this post. Thanx for it. I like such topics and anything connected to this matter. I definitely want to read a bit more on that blog soon.
The write-up has verified beneficial to me personally.
It’s quite useful and you are obviously extremely experienced of this type.
You get exposed my personal eye for you
to varying views on this specific topic with intriguing and strong content.
Pretty! This has been an extremely wonderful post.
Thanks for providing these details.
I did this along with running 3 times a week. I lost 15lbs in a month and was in the best shape of my life. I’m getting read to do it again. I however, like you, did not do her meal plan but did carb cycling instead.