Jillian Michaels under fire

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!

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 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.

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.

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.