Jillian Michaels diet - JP Fitness Forums

alessa · 04-11-2008, 09:35 AM

So curiosity got the better of me, and I finally picked up her book Making the Cut at a bookstore recently. The diet is so low in calories and depending on metabolic type, very low in carbs. It's 3 meals with one snack. One breakfast was a hard boiled egg! Anyone would lose weight on this. I would probably lose weight even without the workout (not that I'd want to that way, but just saying). Not only that though, I would balloon up after going back to semi-normal eating. Looking at the plan makes me hungry. Contrast that with NRO4W, and it's a huge difference and makes me wonder if one can keep up that type of diet or close enough so as not to regain. It also makes me wonder about what it will actually take to lose the weight. I am in the target population for that book having 10 or so lbs to lose, but I hope it does not take me the kind of diet recommended there to do it. Perhaps it is just the 30-day part causing it to be so extreme, but she seems to suggest that to get cut, she believes that is what it takes. Anyone else take a look? Makes me feel less deprived anyway.

marygrace · 04-11-2008, 09:44 AM

I went through Making the Cut a couple of months ago out of curiosity. I think the point of her program is to make you look your best for some specific deadline or event, not so much that you are going to achieve this incredibly ripped body and be able to maintain it. Towards the end of the book she talks about peaking, and I think really her entire program is geared towards that. I also found the meal plan to be sort of ridiculous, and I'm not sure if I'd even want to put myself through a program like that where I can look "ripped" as she puts it for a small amount of time and not be able to maintain it and then just go back to looking as I did before.

I was kind of disappointed by the message of the book to be honest. I watch Biggest Loser and really like Jillian on the show. She really pushes her people and especially in this last season, I feel like has tried her best to empower her girls and make them feel tough and strong. Which is why I got depressed when I read about her book's diet plan, especially the end section where she instructs you to eat something like 1,000 calories a day. Maybe that would be good if I was getting ready for some kind of figure competition, otherwise its pretty ridiculous.

sharsell119 · 04-11-2008, 10:13 AM

I just bought the book too and was planning to start doing it on Monday. I too think the calories are a bit low. I frankly don't care if I lose any weight, but I want to get some ripped abs and incorporate some new exercises into my routine. So I'm going to do her exercises for the 30 day plan and modify the diet a bit. I'll cut out the alcohol as she instructs, but I don't think I'll stick to the 1445 calories she says I should be on. If that's all I eat and I burn 500+ at the gym, I'll fall over! I'm going to do my best to eat 95% clean, try to stay at 2000 calories, and see what happens.

LisaS · 04-11-2008, 10:21 AM

isn't that book designed for someone wanting to lose "the last 10 stubborn pounds" rather than a longer term weight loss plan?

sharsell119 · 04-11-2008, 11:09 AM

Pretty much. She says if you have 20 pounds or less to lose, are already pretty fit and just want to hit the finish line in a big sprint (metaphorically speaking) then this book is for you.

I'm trying it because I feel like I'm at 95% of my goal but just have a little extra jiggle around the tummy that I want to get rid of. THEN I'll have hit my goal.

rixatrix · 04-11-2008, 11:28 AM

I have her first book, Winning by Losing, and it's much more moderate. She talks about zig-zagging calories and has you figure out how many calories to eat for your body. You also take the metabolic typing quiz.

I agree that I think the purpose of Making the Cut is to help someone who already looks pretty good look even better for a specific event. I'm thinking bikini photoshoot. So naturally, the calories are going to be a lot different for that goal than for overall health and fitness. I would say that the results are probably NOT maintainable, which is why athletes periodize and fitness models peak - they train and eat differently for different goals. Fitness competitors have a competition weight and an off-season weight. No woman needs to maintain 9% body fat indefinitely.

Jillian has also pointed out in the past that weight loss like that seen on the Biggest Loser isn't unhealthy - AS LONG AS IT'S OBTAINED BY EXERCISE, not by starvation. I think she would be the last person to ever recommend you consistently under eat. She knows how to push those kids in the gym, and damn, you need energy for that.

LaraT · 04-11-2008, 11:56 AM

I have done similar short term programs like that and unfortunately the results are rarely lasting. IMO its not worth the pain and suffering.

alessa · 04-11-2008, 12:26 PM

Lara, So have I. Actually, I have noticed our stats are quite close. I'm 5'3' and 124. In fact, I just went through the gain that results from restricting too much. I was down to 113 or so while nursing and was eating well but not making up for the calories used for that, so of course, when I stopped, I zoomed right up (seriously within a month) and past my usual weight. Since I was not eating a lot more while nursing, I did not have much to cut out once I stopped. Now I just want to do something where there will be no maintenance issues. I wasn't really ripped at 113 anyway bc I had probably lost some muscle too. I was just small. I definitely feel the most metabolically challenged I ever have in trying to lose weight - I mean, it's never been this much of a struggle to lose a few lbs, but I guess it's age and the past catching up. So now, I really do want to do it in a reasonably sustainable way.

LaraT · 04-11-2008, 02:38 PM

Alessa, yeah my weight is up from having eaten too little and gotten to a weight that is "too low" for my body. It is a vicious cycle I have repeated over and over. I get to the weight that is "ideal" in my mind and then it is so hard to maintain I rebel and wind up gaining. Luckily this time I nipped it in the bud before I gained too much (in the past it has led to a 25 lb gain!)

I am now resolved to lose weight in a more rational way (eating more) and focus on inches lost as opposed to the scale.

GinaKina · 04-11-2008, 06:25 PM

I was confused by the nutrition program in her book. But like the others hava said, it is definitely geared towards a specific event, something you want to be at your PEAK for...it's not designed to bring you to a weight you can easily maintain.

Karen P · 04-11-2008, 06:38 PM

I might have to check that out. I'm getting married in 6 months and although my current plan is working well, I'm just nervous I'll get down to a month before the wedding and not be where I want to be. I'm curious to see what this book has to say in case I get in a desperate measures situation. Otherwise, I'd say sat away from quick fixes.

Nikster · 04-11-2008, 10:40 PM

I liked Jillian's Making the Cut, I did her workouts for 30 days and felt much stronger and her abs work is a killer! AFter her 30 day circuits I started to see a smidge of a 4 pack.
I also did not stop my normal weight lifting days so this was even more weights on my between days...so I kept them somewhat lower so that I wouldn't die! I used it mainly for the circuits and just wanting new ideas in the gym. I learned a ton of new moves and really liked the jump rope addition to my workouts.
I Didn't follow her diet plan at all though and just stuck to my normal. I didn't gain-- and didn't lose sticking to 40/30/30, but I DID look slightly more defined which is what I was going for--that and just new ideas for circuits. I loved her workouts too.....I am all about hard intervals and getting in and getting out and burning loads of calories in the process

But yes, I believe overall she is training someone for an event...I think that would be perfect for someone with those goals (like a wedding). I gave the book to my b.f. who is getting married this summer.

sharsell119 · 04-12-2008, 09:22 AM

Nikster, have you been able to maintain what you accomplished during her program after the 30 days?

Lost Dog · 04-12-2008, 09:35 AM

Does she give any tips on coming off the diet and maintaining your newfound svelteness?

Nikster · 04-12-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharsell119

Nikster, have you been able to maintain what you accomplished during her program after the 30 days?

Yes, I think I did, but I also went straight into NROL4W right after I finished so I am sure that has helped mostly....I really don't keep anything unless I keep it up! I felt stronger I guess because of variations of planks and pushups that she has and my core was stronger....it was a good jumping point of which to begin NROL4W, not really anything I would continue doing (unless I used it for it's purpose to get me ready for something). I also still do some circuit routines in place of HIIT since they are pretty much the same and get my heart racing!

The book said I was a "balanced oxidizer" which put me in the 40/30/30 club anyway, so I figured I didn't have to make changes to start NROL4W. I made a few of her meals but I use several books for menu options that all follow the same 40/30/30 plan.

She also is big on "purines" and how we metabolize them. Everyone is different.

She has you calculate your BMR and you are to stick to that number of cals/day. That is only about 1200 for me so I knew I couldn't do that. She does explain that normally she would suggest varying calorie intake to avoid plateau's and for weight loss...but that this book is designed to have you stick to this plan exactly, eat perfectly clean and you will CUT in just 30 days....for an event or whatever?? I am sure her other books are written quite differently for long term success.

hope that helps.
Nik

Nikster · 04-12-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

Does she give any tips on coming off the diet and maintaining your newfound svelteness?

Funny. No, probably like most authors...."go buy my other book to figure out how to do this for the rest of your life...." LOL

Nikster · 04-12-2008, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rixatrix

I have her first book, Winning by Losing, and it's much more moderate. She talks about zig-zagging calories and has you figure out how many calories to eat for your body. You also take the metabolic typing quiz.

Rixatrix was right, and has read the other one, seems like more "long term" than "Making the Cut" was. Might ask her more about the other book??

Natalia · 04-12-2008, 04:02 PM

Just wondering....has Jillian ever hit the sub zero BF% number herself?