Jillian Michaels: Making the Cut
The famed Biggest Loser coach pens her second book about serious weight loss.
BACKGROUND
Fitness guru, Jillian Michaels, known for her tough approach for losing weight on NBC's The Biggest Loser, has written a guide on how to drop those pesky last 10 or 15 pounds in 30 days. "Making the Cut: The 30-Day Diet and Fitness Plan for the Strongest, Sexiest You" sets itself apart from the myriad of fitness and weight loss books at your local bookstore because Michaels' program uses the process of oxidizing as a way to determine what kind of a metabolism your body has in order to lose weight effectively.
Michaels takes you through the steps to determine what kind of an oxidizer you are: slow, balanced or fast. Your new body classification then dictates what you'll eat supported by Jillian's own menus and recipes. She promises that you will feel comfortable in a bikini if you commit to her disciplined fitness and diet regimen. As part of Making the Cut, you must take a body fat percentage test and a "fit test" before starting the program as a measure to evaluate your pre and post self.
Michaels does not under estimate the power of the mind in the battle to lose weight. She includes helpful tips and advice for how to improve self-esteem and confidence. The book is also full of various exercises to improve strength, flexibility and endurance. Michaels also unveils some well-kept celebrity diet secrets to get your body prepared before a big event.
PRO
- Inexpensive
- Making the Cut’s approach to weight loss is personalized and sensible
- Program focuses on the mental aspect of losing weight in addition to the exercise and nutrition components
- Jillian Michaels is a popular weight loss coach with nearly 20 years experience
CON
- 30-day promise may be ambitious for many individuals aiming to lose weight
- Making the Cut is not for individuals wanting to lose more than 20 pounds
- Science behind the oxidizer theory has not been firmly established
DIET and NUTRITION
Michaels supplies a list of recipes and menus for each of the three oxidizer classifications. As part of your commitment to the Making the Cut program, you are supposed to adhere to her menu and calorie plan.
EXERCISE
During Making the Cut, you'll take a “fit test” which is outlined in the book. The test establishes your level of fit-ness and you are then required to exercise about 5 hours each week. Michaels provides you with various exercises to do. She also has her own line of exercise DVDs that can be purchased at an additional cost over the book.
CONCLUSION
There is no refuting Michaels’ knowledge and training expertise when it comes to getting in shape and losing weight. Her 30-day promise, like any similar promise is no guarantee but it packs a three-pronged approach of diet, exercise and mental awareness to help you to lose those lingering pounds. The clinical science behind her oxidizer theory is scanty but her belief that the road to weight loss is a personal journey that begins with changes in behavior, lifestyle and self-motivation is an important component that many diet plans disregard.
Common Misspellings
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Related Diets: Biggest Loser Club, Bob Harper: Are You Ready!, Jillian Michaels, Jillian Michaels Meal Plan, Jillian Michaels' Master Your Metabolism, Kim Lyons: Your Body, Your Life, Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum
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I got the book about 3 weeks ago. Even though I have not started the entire routine yet, I have taken what I learned about my self. Slow Oxidizer and modified my eating habbits and what do you know, I have alread dropped a dress size...from a 14 back to a 12. I can't wait to see what happens when I really start the program!!!
I'm on Day 16, I'm noticing HUGE differences in my body, I started this weightloss journey following the Biggest Loser plans and shifted to this for the last 20 lbs. I knocked off 6.9lbs the first week I did it and lost an inch off my waist, 2 off my chest, and 1 off my bicep. I'm a former athlete, and I honestly dont remember exercises this tough, but they work. I'm sore the day after each session so I know its working. My arms are finally getting defined, something I've always strived for but never achieved. The food is more expensive than what I can afford, but I found some meals in there I could, and I use those more frequently instead. By far the best diet/fitness/lifestyle plan I've EVER tried. She is truly incredible!
Day 9 and loving it! The exercises are very challenging but I can see a difference. There are quite a few typos in the book. I agree that Smart Start should be Smart Balance for a couple of recipes because you need to melt it. I'm unsure about the apricot chicken dish. I have strayed from the 30 day menu and pick the meals I like to save money on ingredients. It can be costly.
Day 9 and loving it! The exercises are very challenging but I can see a difference. There are quite a few typos in the book. I agree that Smart Start should be Smart Balance for a couple of recipes because you need to melt it. I'm unsure about the apricot chicken dish. I have strayed from the 30 day menu and pick the meals I like to save money on ingredients. It can be costly.
I did the excercise program without doing the diet program... and I am totally sculpted but I gained about 3 1/2 lbs. So i plan on doing it again in the nbear future while trying to do the diet. It's expensive though!!! To buy all of that food is insane! You'd spent about 400 bucks a week. And i live alone and all the recipes serve large groups. No good for me. Leftovers are not my thing.
note to kendra's comment..it's not a typo in the book for smart balance. smart start is a cereal..you crush it up and use it as bread crumb style in her recipes
Day 30!! Incredible results! People started to notice my muscle definition, my mother in law told me that it seems as if iv'e lost the curves, and just packed it onto my arms! Exactly what i wanted.. well, carrying on with the program, back to day 1... Thanks, this has really given me alot more self-confidence, endurance, made me think twice before i had the slice of "chocolate cake", instead enjoyed my apple & nuts as my snack.. :-) will have more updates later...
Hi there! I am on day 16 of Making the Cut. Loving it! Currently weighing 106.7 lbs. 5ft.5. Very excited about the last 14 days, feeling great, getting muscle definition, this program works!! I have changed the eating plan to suit my pocket and being from South-Africa, we dont always have the same food types, so i try my best to make sure that my calorie, (carb,fat and protein) intake remain the same as her eating suggestions.. it takes alot of dicipline, but most definately worthit! Will carry on with the program afterthe 30 days. It's a lifestyle and i tend to help others with what i have learned! it's addictive!!! :-) Thanks for a GREAT program! Madelyn
"Smart Start" is a typo in the recipes in the book. It should be "Smart Balance" a butter link chemical-laden food. I love this book but ignore her chemical ingredients like Smart Balance and Slpenda
Last week, I started this book because the workouts in Winning by loosing were becoming less and less challenging. i have more than 10-20 lbs. to lose, however I am still in good shape. I've paired the exercises in this book with Power 90 cardio videos, and I've been seeing great results. I highly recommend this book for anyone willing to work your butt off (and i mean REALLY work) despite how much you have to lose.
What is Smart Start and where do I find it?
This isn't what I'd consider a "Diet Book," but more of a book that offers healthy alterations to your dietary intake and an amazing fitness plan. I'm a 20 year old college undergraduate and let me be one of the many to tell you that Jillian Michaels is possibly one of the most motivational individuals you can come across. Before beginning this program I weighed 171lbs and am ending week one weighing in at 164lbs. I've lost adipose tissue (fat) and have noticed much more muscle definition. If you're wanting to lose some of those extra pounds and want to show some definition in those muscles, get this book. Her fitness plan will kick you in the butt; however, if you're looking for a change, you need to make the effort! The changes aren't just in appearance, but in overall mental well-being as well. If you're overweight and need to lose weight, she suggest you start with her other book instead. Response to Nicole: You can definitely alter the diet plan. As long as you use a general exchange for those foods that she is suggesting you eat that day. Perhaps it's the Apricot Glazed Chicken... you could easily just do grilled chicken with any variety of spices (ie: garlic, rosemary, etc.) as long as you limit your sodium intake...which she covers as well.
Do you have to follow the diet plan exact as she has it? Can you just use that as a guideline?
I have gone over the book w/a fine tooth comb and was so excited about starting the program. I did start 4/7 and have lost 3lbs in just 5 days. The work outs are very intense but go by fast. The first two times I worked out I almost threw up several times thank God the third day was an off day. However I did hurt in all the right places. I worked out again last night and it went better than the first. The meals are very time consuming but I am so dedicated to doing this for myself that it has been worth it so far. They are very tasty too. Stuff that I will continue to eat after the 30 days are up. I am hoping to lose at least 7 but I am working hard to lose 14. I will let you know how it is coming along.
Hello I'm A 28 year old and I Have a wonderful husband and 7 children.But I very over weight amd I need help I weigh 205 and I'm 5ft 4in
My daughter (23) and I (48) just finished the 30 day plan in Jillian's book. It is for people w/ 10-20 pounds to lose and we did it. We look great, but the meals were a lot of planning, time, etc. The workouts were hard, but not impossible. I would have liked more cardio. I did more on my own but my daughter would have done more had it been in the book. The Making the Cut book is not for people starting a big weight loss and she says that on page one.
can you say thorough??? This woman is a genius and her website has everything you can imagine for the plan. you will see results with this
i am 45 single mom 330 plus lbs, two diabetic children, have disabling problems that most my exercise needs to be in water,...ever considered a biggest loser chalenge in water????? or even for us disabled and somewhat disabled biggest loser challenge.....????
jillian michaels is no doubt tough. I would imagine her book paired with exercise is going to change your body...5 hours of working out each week would improve anyone's body
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