Thoughts on Jillian Michaels..? Do you have/love any books or dvd's by her..?

MSH2930
MSH2930 Posts: 161 Member
edited January 2016 in Health and Weight Loss
I am thinking about getting one of her 'diet' books, and reviews on amazon can be mixed. Curious what MFP'ers think of some of her books and dvd's and if you feel her type of training is safe. As with so many things, to each their own, but some of her workouts seem dangerous to me, even when watching 'form'. Maybe I just need to get more fit..?-before taking the plunge with her DVD's..? After all, everyone can have limitations and excel at many things, regardless of starting point or current situation.

But I might get a book from her nonetheless and I already got a couple of her DVD's for Christmas (So far I am pretty intimidated by them!!)

I am just getting back into fitness after years of being sedentary, so I have quite a bit to lose!! My core is strong, always has been, even though a surgery and subsequent complications over 6 years ago really took a toll on me. Yeah, wah wah wah... ;)

But please share your thoughts on her techniques and all, again, no hard feelings if opinions differ!!
Thanks so much for any and all thoughts/advice!!
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Replies

  • hsmith0930
    hsmith0930 Posts: 160 Member
    Book, absolutely not. What good is it? There isn't anything in there that can teach you more than you can learn for free online (or heck, at a library). DVDs however, sure. I hate her personality but her workouts are good.
  • myheartsabattleground
    myheartsabattleground Posts: 2,040 Member
    I have a love / hate relationship with her. I don't understand how some people can do 1 DVD for 30 days straight! I prefer Bob more though.
  • gems74
    gems74 Posts: 107 Member
    I've done level 1 & 2 of the 30 day shred. It totally kicked my *kitten* and was awesome. Easy to follow steps, but really challenges you.
  • MSH2930
    MSH2930 Posts: 161 Member
    I often wish MFP had like buttons for replies!!! Thanks all!!!:D
  • RetroPolkaDot
    RetroPolkaDot Posts: 83 Member
    I've never read any of her books.
    I have the 30 Day Shred and Body Revolution. Several years ago I got to level 2 of 30 Day Shred. I did the first phase of Body Revolution but I've not done the rest of the program. They sit on the shelf gathering dust because I let my fitness level go down too much to jump back into them today.
  • BuddhaB0y
    BuddhaB0y Posts: 199 Member
    No
  • MSH2930
    MSH2930 Posts: 161 Member
    She has a diet book or two out there, with meal plans, etc..that is what I was referring to by her books..
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    JM's workouts are great! I started with 3DS a 260lbs and LOVED all three levels. Since then, i have done every other of JMs DVD except the killer arms and back. They definitely kick your butt.

    Diet wise, just stick to myfitnesspal...
  • maroonmango211
    maroonmango211 Posts: 908 Member
    Loved 30 ds as a beginner and would recommend it to anyone starting out at home. Also really like body revolution, its not as repetative (days alternate and switch out completely every two weeks) and it is as difficult as you make it. I always get great results when I go back to it after a few months away doing something else.
  • tasch79
    tasch79 Posts: 17 Member
    I'm currently doing Level 2 of 30DS and I'm really enjoying it. Hell of a workout in 20 minutes and my arms are like jelly after. Feels awesome.
    I wouldn't bother with the books.
  • angelexperiment
    angelexperiment Posts: 1,917 Member
    I'd say start with beginner shred it's easy on the joints and low impact and a way to work up your fitness level. You do it for 10 days per level. I'm on it now. I've done her burn fat boost metabolism which is killer. I have not read her books but see them at the book store. I'd like to do 30 DS after I complete my beginner then do body revolution and then body shred eventually. There are modifications for everything you just have to know what they are bc some videos she will not tell you. The only one I heard was truly not safe is the kettle bell one or shred it with weights bc the form is improper or something.
  • spzjlb
    spzjlb Posts: 599 Member
    I agree with others: do the DVDs and use MFP to track your diet. I don't know anyone who appreciates the books.
  • misskarne
    misskarne Posts: 1,765 Member
    I would also suggest starting out with the beginner shred if you haven't done it before. I was massively unfit when I started and couldn't even finish level 1 the first time - and that was the beginner shred! I can only imagine how it would have gone if I'd jumped straight into the 30 Day Shred!
  • besaro
    besaro Posts: 1,858 Member
    30ds more than once, she's annoying and terrible, but once you learn the video, sound down, music up. She's better than the guy who does t25, he's an awful instructor, all he does is say, "you got it" you good? you doing it?" much rather have less rah rah, and more specific instructions, counting it out or talking about form.
  • MSH2930
    MSH2930 Posts: 161 Member
    edited January 2016
    Thanks all, great replies and info and suggestions!!! :)
  • mil_arce
    mil_arce Posts: 11 Member
    I've done the 30 day shred videos and loved them (youtube has them
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    I don't see the point of buying her books other than maybe for recipe ideas. She won't teach you anything you can't learn via google or MFP.

    However, I like her workout DVDs. In particular, I LOVE her Body Revolution program - best workout DVD I've ever done. It's 12 weeks, and every two weeks you advance to more difficult workouts. So it starts out at a beginner level and gets much harder over time. The summer I did it I was in the best shape of my life!
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Before investing check out the site below (21 day challenge) it has the shred videos and the diet menu plus recipes for Ripped in 30.

    Cheers, h

    http://www.the21daychallenge.com/jillian-michaels-30-day-shred
  • eviegreen
    eviegreen Posts: 123 Member
    I've never read her books, but I've done (and completed) 30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, and Body Revolution. Heck, I still pull out No More Trouble Zones and Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism if I'm travelling and don't have access to a gym.

    I don't use her DVDs as much anymore (I've now moved on to lifting and other activities), but I absolutely credit them with getting me into fitness after spending all my life as a sedentary person.

    If I had to recommend one, I think I'd go with Body Revolution. A lot of folks start off with 30DS (I did), but I think Body Revolution eases you into circuit training a bit more gently (when I started 30DS, I was so unfit that I gave up after 12 minutes the first day), it goes on longer, and the workouts are a lot less tedious because you cycle through different videos rather than using the same one over and over until the next level.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Don't do any of her kettlebell workouts. Her form is horrendous
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    I have 30DS and Ripped in 30. Like them both. It's a good, get it done quick workout if you are low on time. I also used them when I was on vacation and didn't have access to the gym or when it's too cold to run outside. I have no issues with her workouts.

    I don't recommend the diet books. I've never read them, so I can't say what's wrong with them. But I've never seen any diet book that's worth reading.
  • Kenda2427
    Kenda2427 Posts: 1,592 Member
    I have Beginner 30 Day Shed, great for just starting your fitness routine and 30 Day Shed. I like both DVD's and find her personality very supportive and non abrasive. She likely gets more intense as she moves up the scale of intensity in her DVDs.
  • sanfromny
    sanfromny Posts: 770 Member
    I just started 30 day shred (video) last night. I'm keeping a blog of my progress. Never tried her before but looking forward to getting good results based on the many reviews I read.
  • bdorri00
    bdorri00 Posts: 38 Member
    I haven't read any of her books but when I was at a plateau I did the first two levels of 30 day shred and finally went down another pant size. It is very hard, no doubt--but so worth it!
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
    I have done the 30 day shred video. The work outs were good for my fitness level at the time. I haven't read any of her books, but I signed up for her online program for diets once. It's kind of the same typical website diet; chicken breast, steamed veggies, egg whites etc. Seemed kind of behind the times with what you could potentially be cooking. The Weight Watchers or South Beach Diet cook books have better recipes if you want to purchase a low calorie oriented cookbook.
  • MSH2930
    MSH2930 Posts: 161 Member
    LaurenAOK wrote: »
    I don't see the point of buying her books other than maybe for recipe ideas. She won't teach you anything you can't learn via google or MFP.

    However, I like her workout DVDs. In particular, I LOVE her Body Revolution program - best workout DVD I've ever done. It's 12 weeks, and every two weeks you advance to more difficult workouts. So it starts out at a beginner level and gets much harder over time. The summer I did it I was in the best shape of my life!

    Thanks!!

    I am glad to see so many positive remarks about her workouts, I had read some places online saying her workouts can be dangerous. But I remember years ago when the Cindy Crawford/Radu workout came out and some criticized IT for being risky/dangerous, and I used to do that workout all the time and was in the best shape of my life when doing that workout, so it goes to show, proper form and common sense and adjusting when/if needed make a world of difference.

    Interesting to see some here have said her kettlebell form is bad, I am glad to hear/read that, because I was actually thinking of getting her kettlebell workout at some point..

    So great to hear real honest opinions and get solid advice and personal experiences here on MFP. I feel like sometimes things on amazon reviews and online sites are phony or I swear it sounds like some people review videos without actually doing them..?!?

    Thanks, everyone!!!
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Yes, her kettlebell form is bad.

    Otherwise, I'd say check out the workouts. My sister has loved many of them (she's also enjoyed Insanity and various others), and recommended that I do 30DS when I was starting out. I ended up deciding I prefer the gym and outdoor cardio and don't usually stick to videos in my house, but I did it for a while and quite enjoyed it, and it wasn't too difficult. I tried a boxing one that was more confusing, but her basic format is not.

    I'm not a believer in most diet books and think Jillian pushes some woo sometimes, but some stuff she says is decent (again, from my sister, mainly). If you like podcasts, she has one (I found it on iTunes) that I've listened to on occasion. She seems to want to be a general life coach and not stick to fitness, but still talks about it some and the older ones are more focused on fitness, if they are still available. That might be a nice free option to see if you like what she has to say. (I haven't listened in some time, since I found others I liked more, but that's not her, it's my own changing interests.)
  • MSH2930
    MSH2930 Posts: 161 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Yes, her kettlebell form is bad.

    Otherwise, I'd say check out the workouts. My sister has loved many of them (she's also enjoyed Insanity and various others), and recommended that I do 30DS when I was starting out. I ended up deciding I prefer the gym and outdoor cardio and don't usually stick to videos in my house, but I did it for a while and quite enjoyed it, and it wasn't too difficult. I tried a boxing one that was more confusing, but her basic format is not.

    I'm not a believer in most diet books and think Jillian pushes some woo sometimes, but some stuff she says is decent (again, from my sister, mainly). If you like podcasts, she has one (I found it on iTunes) that I've listened to on occasion. She seems to want to be a general life coach and not stick to fitness, but still talks about it some and the older ones are more focused on fitness, if they are still available. That might be a nice free option to see if you like what she has to say. (I haven't listened in some time, since I found others I liked more, but that's not her, it's my own changing interests.)

    Great info, thanks so much!! May I ask which others you have found and that you like more..? Thinking I may like her, but I also like variety, as well!! :wink:
    Thanks!!
  • jcow84
    jcow84 Posts: 75 Member
    Just for fun I looked up Jillian Michael's qualifications. From her website: Since 1993, Jillian has held two personal training certificates from the leading certification programs in the country: the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA) and the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). In addition she is Kettlebell Concepts certified. Jillian...also holds a nutrition and wellness consultant certificate with the American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA).

    I then Googled all of these associations and it looks pretty dang easy to get certified- if you have $ and a computer, you're golden - my thoughts being that if I want non-woo health/fitness advice I'd rather get it from someone with an actual academic degree in the subject area. Hence people talking about her bad form , etc.
  • MSH2930
    MSH2930 Posts: 161 Member
    edited January 2016
    jcow84 wrote: »
    Just for fun I looked up Jillian Michael's qualifications. From her website: Since 1993, Jillian has held two personal training certificates from the leading certification programs in the country: the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA) and the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). In addition she is Kettlebell Concepts certified. Jillian...also holds a nutrition and wellness consultant certificate with the American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA).

    I then Googled all of these associations and it looks pretty dang easy to get certified- if you have $ and a computer, you're golden - my thoughts being that if I want non-woo health/fitness advice I'd rather get it from someone with an actual academic degree in the subject area. Hence people talking about her bad form , etc.

    Interesting, good points. What is 'non-woo' by the way..? I've seen people say 'woo' a couple if times..I am such a greenhorn and behind the times!!!! THANKS!!!! :smile:

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