Jillian Michaels under fire

Mesmereyes
Mesmereyes Posts: 83 Member
edited September 22 in Fitness and Exercise
FIRST LET ME SAY - I have never done a Jillian Michels workout and have only seen a handful of episodes of The Biggest Loser. Although I have heard great things about her DVD's and was hoping to work up to it. I am posting this aritcle that I ran across on Yahoo since so many of my MFP friends seem to enjoy her Shred DVDs. I really have no opinion on the article but am just passing on some information that may be helpful to some, as so many of you have passed on helpful info to me.


Health Experts Call Foul on Jillian Michaels' Regimen
By Erin Carlson | Wednesday, October 13, 2010, 12:40 PM

Jillian Michaels built her fitness empire on the success of her tough-love persona on NBC's "The Biggest Loser" and "Losing It with Jillian," where the personal trainer teaches desperately overweight contestants how to lose weight The Right Way: Eat less, move more.

As her many happy reality-TV contestants can attest, her method certainly seems to work. But still some are skeptical as to whether Jillian's way is truly the best way.

A damning new op-ed in the Los Angeles Times calls into question Michaels's qualifications as a trainer, painting the reality-TV star as a hypocrite who misleads fans to make a buck. In the article, writer James S. Fell -- a certified health expert based in Canada -- zeroes in on her new workout DVD, "Shred-It With Weights," her guide for novices on how to burn fat using cannon-sized weights called kettlebells. He writes:


"I don't know much about proper kettlebell techniques. Neither does Jillian Michaels. I have an internationally respected fitness certification and 17 years' experience with free weights, yet I lack the audacity to pretend I am qualified to teach kettlebells. Jillian Michaels, on the other hand, is lacking in shame. At least that's what I thought until I realized Michaels is not actually a real fitness trainer -- she's an actress playing the role of fitness trainer on TV and in a line of popular DVDs."

[Related: See more of trainer Jillian Michaels]

Among Fell's allegations: Michaels's technique is shoddy and her routines unsafe, leading her target audience -- obese men and women looking to shed pounds without crash diets -- to work out The Wrong Way. While a blurb on the kettlebell DVD claims users can "lose up to 5 pounds in a week," Fell breaks it down, calories and all, leading him to conclude that an inexperienced user would need to do four hours of kettlebells per day to fulfill Michaels's weight-loss promise.

So, who is the writer behind this anti-Jillian screed? He's a certified strength and conditioning expert who wrote a book with his family-practitioner wife, Dr. Heidi Fell, called Body for Wife: The Family Guy's Guide to Getting in Shape. His regimen relies on the fitness basics of cardio, weightlifting and a healthy diet.

On top of that, he cites several personal trainers who slam her kettlebell teachings, calling foul on her form. One of those trainers, Mark Cheng, is a specialist at Kettlebells Los Angeles, and he had this to say:

"Her technique is appalling," Cheng told Fell. "What she says in the video and what she demonstrates are two different things. She doesn't break things down into manageable pieces that prompt people to get the correct form, so instead she is enabling bad form ... I would not recommend this from a safety perspective."

Other trainers have taken to the internet to vent their frustration with what they say are Jillian's mistakes in kettlebell training.

David Whitley, a kettlebell aficionado and self-described fat-loss coach, applauds Jillian's efforts at introducing the world to his chosen fitness method, but says she has "no idea how to use kettlebells." He wrote on his Iron Tamer website: "Celebrity/TV trainers of the world: I know you are trying... You just need to get some instruction on how to do it. I just want to you to demonstrate correct form."

Brad Nelson, a Russian Kettlebell instructor with a lengthy fitness resume, had even harsher words, saying on his Bradrants blog: "Jillian, you should be ashamed of demonstrating something you obviously have yet to learn how to use yourself."

When contacted by Yahoo!, Michaels's representative Ashley Sandberg declined comment on the Los Angeles Times story, but said she would make Michaels available for questions on the "Shred-It" DVD.

[Jillian Explains Why She Won't Ever Get Pregnant]

In recent months, Michaels has been sued four times over her dietary supplements. The latest lawsuit came in August, when an anonymous plaintiff filed a $10 million suit alleging that the fitness guru's product "Triple Process Total Body Detox & Cleanse" contained dangerous ingredients.

Last February, two women separately sued Michaels for false advertising on a diet pill she endorses, "Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Calorie Control."

Michaels responded by calling the suits "baseless" and standing by the supplement and its maker, ThinCare International, which is based in Utah. She told the Associated Press: "My reputation and credibility are of the utmost importance to me."

Janet Helm, a writer, registered dietitian who has appeared on the Today show, Good Morning America, and CNN as a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, also called into question Michaels' fitness credentials when the trainer started hawking her Quickstart Rapid Weight Loss System. Quickstart, she pointed out, relies heavily on caffeine and Yerba Mate, an herbal supplement some claim can aid weight loss.

"A review of existing studies on weight loss supplements in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that Yerba Mate (along with several other dietary supplements) is not effective for reducing body weight," Helm wrote in an essay on her site, NutritionUnplugged.com.

Jillian's supporters say it's not her workout and diet prescriptions that are the most important pieces of her fitness equation -- it's her psychological approach.

AZn essay on Yahoo TV's sister site, Shine, points out: "When things get tough once Jillian shows up, these people have a million excuses: I'm alone, I'm tired, I don't have any help, it's the way I've always done it. But, of course, Jillian blows those excuses to smithereens. Life isn't happening at you, she says; you are happening to life
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Replies

  • lina1131
    lina1131 Posts: 2,246 Member
    There will always be haters!
  • AnaNotBanana
    AnaNotBanana Posts: 963 Member
    I read both the article on Yahoo and the LA Times article and the author seems to be criticizing her kettleball technique and nothing else. Granted he did talk to kettleball experts that agrees but he also spends the first two pages on the article ripping on her and making fun of her. I might have taken him a little more seriously if he hadn't done that.

    And if you look at Richard Simmons he has not credentials but he started a revolution!
  • briteyes
    briteyes Posts: 435 Member
    all i know is that her workout DVDs are working for me.
  • ahsongbird
    ahsongbird Posts: 712 Member
    well DUH shes an actress , but does that mean she has no right to motivate us to work out? SOMEBODY is telling her how to do the things she does IF she is not a real fitness instructor, which means that regardless we are being instructed by a fitness instructor! The kettle bell thing, well her bad I guess but one eff up doesnt constitute all that trash talking. As for her supplements, I'd never use anything endorsed by celebrities anyway thats just asking to be ripped off LOL why else would they need celebrities to back them? B/c they have nothing else to offer. I stick to vitamins.
  • ProTFitness
    ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
    WOW. She is in the spot light and she will have haters just like anyone else. It is up to us as consumers to do our own research and not make harsh judgements just because others do. I have not done the newest DVD SHred it with kettlebells but I have done the rest and love them and found nothing wrong with how she did them and the forms with them. They are a great tool. There needs to be more DVDS like this out there not these nambie pambie ones that dont really challange people. Yes it is a balance of nutritious foods, exercising and a balance of mind and body. Make your own decisions do follow the haters just to follow them. On the supplements well I have tried ALOT OF THEN OVER THE YEARS INCLUDING HERS and they react differnt with different people. It may work or it may not. I know I have tried many of them out there. Here it is there is no magic pill just hard worjk and dedication
  • ProTFitness
    ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
    Jillian Michaels Never thought LA times would resort to liable & defamation to sell papers. Guess I'm canceling my subscription. I hold 2 current certifications. NESTA & AFFA. I've also developed a continuing education program for trainers with AFFA. I've been a trainer for 19 years. I OWNED a sports medicine facility & worked as a trainer & PT aid for the physiatrists, PT's, & chiro's I employed. AND i'm a black belt.

    Her words from her Facebook page
  • Jillian Michaels Never thought LA times would resort to liable & defamation to sell papers. Guess I'm canceling my subscription. I hold 2 current certifications. NESTA & AFFA. I've also developed a continuing education program for trainers with AFFA. I've been a trainer for 19 years. I OWNED a sports medicine facility & worked as a trainer & PT aid for the physiatrists, PT's, & chiro's I employed. AND i'm a black belt.

    Her words from her Facebook page

    I'd say that makes her pretty credible. A lot more experience than most people have!!
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    Jillian Michael's scares the hell out of me...i wouldn't be working my *kitten* off, i'd be crying my eyes out
  • ShaneT99
    ShaneT99 Posts: 278 Member
    There are always people who are jealous of success. This guy is probably just using Jillian to try and make a name for himself so people will buy his book (mentioned in the article he just wrote a new fitness book).

    I'll say one thing. You can look at Jillian Michael's and clearly see that she is very fit. While genetics might play some role in that, you don't get that fit without either knowing what you're doing or listening to someone who knows what they're doing.

    From looking at James Fells' Twitter page, it seems apparent to me that he holds some sort of personal grudge against Jillian. I don't really know why nor do I care. I think he's just doing this to draw attention to himself (and it seems to be working).
  • Scorpiomom222
    Scorpiomom222 Posts: 1,462 Member
    I really think this is a bunch of bull. People will always pick on the one that is at the top of their game. So what if she doesn't know anything about kettlebells? She doesn't have to be ALL KNOWING! I support her, and to be fair, my sister has lost 25 lbs doing her workouts and NEVER ONCE got hurt from improper form.
  • Scorpiomom222
    Scorpiomom222 Posts: 1,462 Member
    There are always people who are jealous of success. This guy is probably just using Jillian to try and make a name for himself so people will buy his book (mentioned in the article he just wrote a new fitness book).

    I'll say one thing. You can look at Jillian Michael's and clearly see that she is very fit. While genetics might play some role in that, you don't get that fit without either knowing what you're doing or listening to someone who knows what they're doing.

    From looking at James Fells' Twitter page, it seems apparent to me that he holds some sort of personal grudge against Jillian. I don't really know why nor do I care. I think he's just doing this to draw attention to himself (and it seems to be working).
    Maybe they were a fling and she broke his heart. HAHA
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    I really think this is a bunch of bull. People will always pick on the one that is at the top of their game. So what if she doesn't know anything about kettlebells? She doesn't have to be ALL KNOWING! I support her, and to be fair, my sister has lost 25 lbs doing her workouts and NEVER ONCE got hurt from improper form.

    Well, to be fair, if it's a dangerous practice for others to try to mimic, then that's why it should be less about celebrity and really about form. If someone throws out their back practicing incorrect form, that can be a very expensive repair, if even possible.

    And good for your sister :)
  • I read both the article on Yahoo and the LA Times article and the author seems to be criticizing her kettleball technique and nothing else. Granted he did talk to kettleball experts that agrees but he also spends the first two pages on the article ripping on her and making fun of her. I might have taken him a little more seriously if he hadn't done that.

    And if you look at Richard Simmons he has not credentials but he started a revolution!

    Well said!

    I love me some Richard Simmons ... when I don't feel like moving or workout I pop one of his tapes in and dance my hiney off.
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    Jillian Michael's scares the hell out of me...i wouldn't be working my *kitten* off, i'd be crying my eyes out

    she freaks me out, too. but i really am not a fan of celebrity in any form.
  • piquilter
    piquilter Posts: 119
    I like her & I like the show, some people like me :wink: need someone to get in their face & say "Listen, put the energy you put into excuses into exercise & you will accomplish a lot more!" I'm required to work with a personal trainer once a week because of back issues, she looks a lot like Jillian & can give me the no nonsense straight scoop when I'm a slacker. She's never had anything bad to say about her. Nobody just magically looks the way they do either. I don't know anything about the dvd's, but watching them do 'kettlebells on Biggest Loser & know my back couldn't handle it. I don't do supplements because I'm on too many other medications & they scare me. I tried Alli, but there too I used it to compensate for still making bad food choices. I take vitamins. As someone who has been yo-yo a my entire life I need people who "walk the walk" in my life. I've only been on ths site a few days, but it is already the way I feel about the people here. My favorite quote from my trainer is "Nothing tastes as good as losing weight feels." I'll get off my soapbox now :happy:
  • Scorpiomom222
    Scorpiomom222 Posts: 1,462 Member
    I like her & I like the show, some people like me :wink: need someone to get in their face & say "Listen, put the energy you put into excuses into exercise & you will accomplish a lot more!" I'm required to work with a personal trainer once a week because of back issues, she looks a lot like Jillian & can give me the no nonsense straight scoop when I'm a slacker. She's never had anything bad to say about her. Nobody just magically looks the way they do either. I don't know anything about the dvd's, but watching them do 'kettlebells on Biggest Loser & know my back couldn't handle it. I don't do supplements because I'm on too many other medications & they scare me. I tried Alli, but there too I used it to compensate for still making bad food choices. I take vitamins. As someone who has been yo-yo a my entire life I need people who "walk the walk" in my life. I've only been on ths site a few days, but it is already the way I feel about the people here. My favorite quote from my trainer is "Nothing tastes as good as losing weight feels." I'll get off my soapbox now :happy:

    I wish this site had a like button for forum! Cuz I *like like like* this.
  • ka_42
    ka_42 Posts: 720 Member
    Jillian Michael's scares the hell out of me...i wouldn't be working my *kitten* off, i'd be crying my eyes out

    she freaks me out, too. but i really am not a fan of celebrity in any form.

    I can't say I really "like" Jillian Michaels... I have never watched her shows except maybe a few minutes (we don't have cable) and I'm not much for following celebrities. I recently started doing her video 30 day shred and I feel like she really pushes me and wears me out. I've only done it 5 times and I truly feel like my body has changed in that short amount of time. When I'm done I feel like I got a much better work out then I would pushing myself at the gym. In comparison to other work out videos I've tried-- hers is much more of a challenge. She does seem scary but it really helps! She talks about form a lot and I feel like I am doing the work out correctly... As for the kettleball video- I'm glad I know that it's not the best choice..
  • The author of this article explains that he knows nothing of this kettlebell technique, but he has the credentials to rip into Jillian Michaels' form. What a load of crap!!! The only thing I got from this article is a bunch of jealous people complaining because their names aren't posted on billboards.
  • pellenga
    pellenga Posts: 66 Member
    The truth of the matter is..... if your exercising...whether it’s with Jullian or Richard or with me (haha)...you’re going to lose weight. Even if you’re not doing the kettleball technique correctly...your still moving. You should be doing exercises that don't bore you and if her videos give you that, the I feel you should go with it.
  • I love her workouts and they worked for me. It's good to research everything you do and not believe everything one person says, they are only human, not gods.
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    I like Jillians No Nonsense attitude and the Tough love, give it to 'em straight talk..................I happen to be that way myself, which online people take it as being judgemental or condescending, which is far, far from the truth.

    I was, however, disappointed in her endorsing supplements...............
  • All I know is that Jillian kicks my butt for 45-50 minutes every morning, and I am seeing some great results. No one knows my body like I do, I know how far I can take it , and when something is uncomfortable. I then (being logical) modify it to my abilities. I do not know much about kettleballs other than what we do in my workout class, and the form seems very similiar. Again I know what I can and can't do, and just don't do something that I am not comfortable with. Jillian to me is no nonsese, which is what I need and gets the job done!
  • TGIBriday83
    TGIBriday83 Posts: 68 Member
    Ok, so her technique may not be "correct" but even correct technique can lead to injuries. Honestly I just find it funny that someone decides to criticize a person for how they teach kettle bells and their technique than has the balls to say "I myself don't know how to properly use kettle bells." That's like me saying i dont like how you teach astrophysics...but i myself dont know much about it i just know you teach it wrong. makes no sense.

    you cant argue with the results shes gotten out of the people on bigget loser, how the videos have worked for other people, and then to top it off look at her own body...it's totally bangin'. That's all i really need to know that MAYBE she knows what shes doing.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Jillian Michaels Never thought LA times would resort to liable & defamation to sell papers. Guess I'm canceling my subscription. I hold 2 current certifications. NESTA & AFFA. I've also developed a continuing education program for trainers with AFFA. I've been a trainer for 19 years. I OWNED a sports medicine facility & worked as a trainer & PT aid for the physiatrists, PT's, & chiro's I employed. AND i'm a black belt.

    Her words from her Facebook page

    If it is TRULY "liable" (oops--guess she can't spell either) and "defamatory", then she needs to file a lawsuit. If not, then this is just more BS.
  • lotusfromthemud
    lotusfromthemud Posts: 5,335 Member
    Jillian Michaels Never thought LA times would resort to liable & defamation to sell papers. Guess I'm canceling my subscription. I hold 2 current certifications. NESTA & AFFA. I've also developed a continuing education program for trainers with AFFA. I've been a trainer for 19 years. I OWNED a sports medicine facility & worked as a trainer & PT aid for the physiatrists, PT's, & chiro's I employed. AND i'm a black belt.

    Her words from her Facebook page

    If it is TRULY "liable" (oops--guess she can't spell either) and "defamatory", then she needs to file a lawsuit. If not, then this is just more BS.

    I notice that she defends neither her kettlebell expertise, nor her yoga expertise. These, along with her weight loss supplements, were the primary focus of the article.

    I know she gets results, but I see some of the things she does on the biggest loser (she lost me with removing the seat from the spin bikes...why?) and just say "wow...that's really an injury waiting to happen.

    She sure is making some money, though. She's definitely good at that.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    I normally stay out of these things, since I know she has a lot of fans here, and I don't believe in stalking other people's topics just to push my opinion.

    However, since, in this case, her qualifications ARE the topic, I don't feel I am overstepping my bounds. I believe in learning about things before I express an opinion, so I have watched TBL (difficult as that was), I tried some of the 30DS classes (in my living room with the dog) and also went back and watched the routines with pad, paper and stopwatch, analyzing the moves and the general class structure.

    Based on what I saw, the opinions expressed in this article don't surprise me. I understand that there is some jealousy involved--there is a natural tendency for fitness people--esp instructors and trainers--to snipe at someone who has become a "celebrity"--they KNOW that they could do better and be "famous" had they gotten the chance.

    However, just from a physiology/biomechanical standpoint, her classes are pretty mediocre. The mix of exercises in 30DS was not balanced, a couple were just bad exercises. She doesn't know all that much about strength training or exercise science--a lot of what she says about exercise is just wrong. It didn't surprise me when she started selling supplements, because that's the natural progression for someone who is mostly about self-marketing at this point--not to mention she has "people" who are pushing her into this stuff as well.

    For all that, she is still no worse than probably 50% of the other stuff that's out there. Most of her shortcomings are pretty much par for the course for the average "trainer" or "fitness celebrity". The fact that she has risen to this level and can boast "19 years" of experience is more an indictment against the overall mediocrity of most personal trainers than it is a testimony to her "qualifications".

    That being said, I know many people on MFP like her and I know a number of people have found her motivating and helpful to their success. I respect that, so I don't feel the need to go around blasting her all the time. But, in this case, I also can't in all honesty sit back and pretend that she is anything more than what she is.
  • SaraTN
    SaraTN Posts: 536 Member
    While I like and respect what JM is doing -- in terms of getting people moving and implementing some good nutritional advice I do think she is a bit of a "sell-out" and is far more interested in the self promotion and selling the next craze (as demonstrated with the Kettleball). I have done her 30 Day Shred video and it is pretty simple and straightforward however, it has annoyed me that the reps aren't equal (maybe I am wrong but I have always been told to work out both sides the same -- and not allow your strong side to overcompensate for your weak side).

    With respect to nutriton, JM's products are a farce! I picked up her whey protein mix to check out the ingredients and it was loaded with fillers. I dont recall what at the moment but I can go check it out if anyone would like to know. I do remember looking at her ready to drink protein shake and seeing the third ingredient is "concentrated cane juice" -- aka sugar water. (This product and endoresement coming from the person who chastises contestants for the amount of sugar and crap they eat, put out a book that promotes throwing all foods away that aren't whole foods etc.)

    Again, congrats to her and Bob for drawing attention to the issue. I don't see him out there promoting every new trend in fitness etc. Maybe Jillian needs to examine why she feels the need to be everywhere promoting everything rather than sticking to what she knows and if she wants to expand go learn and get certified and become an expert before creating a new DVD to sell.
  • I haven't tried the kettlebell dvd, but I have three of her other dvds and have lost 20 pounds in four months. She seems legit to me, thanks for the info though.
  • cutmd
    cutmd Posts: 1,168 Member
    Well maybe she has her finger in too many pies, but she changed the way I think about life and fitness. I lost weight I didn't think I had to lose and her exercises served as a gateway to even more intense stuff. I think 30 day shred, no more trouble zones, and banish fat boost metabolism are excellent, though I haven't tried the kettlebell workout. I'm not going to lie, she seems to have "sold out" a bit over the years with the supplements and yoga, etc, byt I will forever be grateful for her changing my life and getting me into cardiovascular fitness and a much better body.
  • I read both the article on Yahoo and the LA Times article and the author seems to be criticizing her kettleball technique and nothing else. Granted he did talk to kettleball experts that agrees but he also spends the first two pages on the article ripping on her and making fun of her. I might have taken him a little more seriously if he hadn't done that.

    And if you look at Richard Simmons he has not credentials but he started a revolution!

    To me there's the argument in a nutshell.

    I really think 'biggest loser' is a huge marketing tool and lots of companies probably pay to get their products on the show (especially subway FNAR!) but I also think both Jillian and Bob (And Shannon and Michelle from the Oz version which you should watch too!) are not only great trainers but they also have the right psychological approach, stop the excuses, get on the treadmill :)

    Biggest loser is a great show for motivation, I do think people lose too fast on it but they make a bit point of getting people ready for 'life' as well as using the time they have correctly and I'm sure if we all have 24/7 to look after ourselves and not have to worry about where out next meal comes from, we could get similar results with a little push.

    People, experts, are right to question from time to time but journalists will always spin it into an attack even if it wasn't meant that way.
This discussion has been closed.