I watched the Biggest Loser. I watched you change those contestants lives, teaching them about proper nutrition, how to exercise efficiently, and most importantly about willpower and determination.
So why in the world would you set yourself up to look like a cheesy weight loss rep by claiming that those who do the 30 Day Shred can “Lose Up To 20 Pounds in 30 Days!” You should know better than that.
I have heard of no clinical study that would back up these claims and make them valid, but I have read many times that a realistic and healthy weight loss goal is 1 to 2 lbs per week. I know it works on your show, in an unrealistic setting where contestants are forced to exercise 8+ hours/day and have their diet hand fed to them. This is not how it is in the real world, and when you make claims like this you disappoint so many who have come to believe in your brand. Why Jillian, why?
February 13th, 2009 on 10:18 am
Because it sells…
I was reading an interesting article about the Biggest Looser this morning in Entertainment Weekly and how they are using the good ratings of the show to sell a lot of products on the side. Quite interesting.
It’s all about surfing on the wave of fame.
It mainly means that one person lost that much, and they can give it as an example that way.
Good thing you know better.
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February 13th, 2009 on 10:28 am
I always get caught up in the “cleanse” or “detox” claims. I try to tell myself that my body has its own detox system (liver, skin, etc), but I can’t help but fantasize about following one of those systems and losing tons of junk that has been floating around in my cells for years.
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February 13th, 2009 on 10:51 am
That’s why I like Bob better
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February 13th, 2009 on 12:05 pm
Another reason those people on the biggest loser lose so much weight is *because* they are so heavy. The human body does not want to be 400+ pounds. They might not look at it this way, but they do a lot of “work” to get that large- the sheer amounts of calories taken in before are astounding. Simply by eating better and working out, if you have never done either, you will lose *at least the first bit* of weight quickly.
One of my really close friends lost 85 pounds- and just by exercising and calorie counting she lost 18 pounds in the first month. She always said the last 20 pounds were the hardest too lose.
But I agree with you about Jillian- I guess we can cut her some slack thanks to the caveat of “up to” 20 pounds, but most people will fall for it because they trust her brand. Sigh.
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February 13th, 2009 on 12:06 pm
Just to clarify- by work to get that large I mean their daily lifestyle choices are constantly counter to healthy weight, and that’s another reason I prefer nutrition education over fad diets
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February 13th, 2009 on 12:37 pm
I’ve never even watched Biggest Loser. For me, I bought it to get a good workout in minimal time, which is exactly what it does. I don’t follow any of their diets (if there are any) and I didn’t even think of the 20lbs in 30 days when I bought it. I also think that this is because I learned many moons ago that there is no fast track. You eat right, you exercise, you lose (at the pace that your body decides to).
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February 13th, 2009 on 12:39 pm
I was just going to say the same thing as Sophia — it works on the show because the more oveweight you are, the easier it is to drop weight quickly. My MIL is very overweight, and when she tries, she can drop 20 pounds in a month just by walking around the block once a day, whereas I’d have to run 10 miles a day and I still wouldn’t hit 20 pounds in a month. But 20 pounds in a month is NOT practical (or healthy) for your standard, run of the mill, 30 pounds overweight, pudgy individual, and if you lose weight that quickly, you are far more likely to put it right back on.
That said, just because of bad marketing (or good marketing depending on how you look at it, because people will buy it… just false), doesn’t mean that it is a bad work-out. It could actually be a great workout done long-term, even if it won’t (and I’m sure it won’t) cause you to lose 20 pounds in 30 days.
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February 13th, 2009 on 1:15 pm
For what it’s worth, Jillian Michaels freely admits in a radio show she does (1) marketing people often determine the titles/selling pitches (she has been complaining that one of her most recent DVDs, titled something about no more problem areas, is annoying because you can’t spot reduce fat, but the marketing people called it that anyway); and (2) she says over and over that weight loss that fast IS possible, but IS NOT realistic. (I really like her show, and you can listen online for free either through itunes or the radio station website–it’s on KFI 640, an AM station in Los Angeles.)
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February 13th, 2009 on 1:30 pm
I have to say I *do* shred, but not to lose 20 pounds in 30 days. In fact, I had just heard it was a good workout so didn’t even notice that it said that! I really like it alot for an at home workout video.
And yes, I most definitely agree that the claim is silly, but most workout videos are, aren’t they?
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February 13th, 2009 on 1:50 pm
What I find sad is how when inevitably the contestants no longer work out for 8+ hours a day guess what the weight comes back and then the show abandons them, or tries to hide them.
Yeah if you’re fat you should do the world a favor by making working out your job. Give me a break.
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February 13th, 2009 on 2:27 pm
I have no idea how realistic this claim is in regards to weight, but this is my favorite workout CD. It’s harder than anything I’ve ever done, and you can continuously work harder and harder with added weights and three levels of intensity (combining each of them into a longer workout period). Also, it was $13 and we use it almost daily, so its much more cost efficient than a gym membership. Maybe the claim pertains to morbidly obese clients? Also, you can lose more than 3 lbs in a week in a healthy way. Especially if you are morbidly obese. I don’t believe that 2 lbs limit is really true, as I have done it in the past by eating a very healthy diet and working out for 30 minutes a day. Maybe they mean average over time?
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February 13th, 2009 on 3:30 pm
Just seconding (and thirding!) some of the other folks — this is a really good workout! The first time I did it, sitting down even hurt, so I can’t imagine doing it 30 days in a row. The title is dumb, but it’s a great DVD.
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February 13th, 2009 on 3:55 pm
I love Jillian but i completely agree with you on this one. what is she thinking? she deserves more than this and knows much better. she doesn’t need to pretend things that she knows aren’t true. sad. BUT i LOVE biggest loser.
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February 13th, 2009 on 4:44 pm
I’ve been interested in the Shred workout ever since reading others’ blog raves about it. I have had mediocre experiences with at home workouts, so after my initial interest, I pretty much forgot about the Shred. Then awhile ago, I stumbled upon Shred 1 and 2 in the free section of our “on demand” cable subscription! I figured I’d give it a shot and actually liked it. I have been very out of shape for awhile now, and need something to get me going. I think I might buy it to get me motivated a couple of times a week. But, I’d never expect major weight loss out of the plan – especially not 20 pounds in 30 days. I think some commenters are correct. That is only a realistic goal for people who have a lot of weight to lose.
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February 13th, 2009 on 8:31 pm
I just wanted to comment on shred it. I have been doing the video workouts for a week and love them. She keeps you constantly moving. I doubt I’ll lose 20 lbs within the next month (not really why I bought the video) but I have felt and seen improvement in my own body for the 7 days that I’ve used the video. I have no doubt that if I continue that I will see a lot more toning and weight will naturally follow.
Also, to lose the 20 lbs, it is recommended that you follow a diet laid out in her book (which is very interesting in itself. Her book basically says there is three ways that people metabolize food and depending which of the three you are, your diet should be adjusted accordingly). I’m not following a strict diet, just trying to eat heathy most the time.
If you are looking for a quick workout that you can do in your home, I would def. recommend picking up the dvd. There is 3 diff workouts that you can switch up (I think Level 2 is the hardest, but apparently Level 3 is suppose to be)
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February 19th, 2009 on 10:12 am
I keep being tempted by the Shred – not because of the 20lbs in 30 days thing, but because so many people recommend it.
I was reading an interview with her in a wedding magazine about how much weight it is possible to drop in a short period of time and she was giving totally unrealistic goals, like that you could lose 15 pounds in the weeks before your wedding. I think setting people up with that mindset is really negative, because like you, I set out to track my food, exercise, and be smarter about my weight, and its been nearly two years – I’m 20lbs down, and that last ten was lost and then snuck back up, but at least I know that I can’t realistically lose it in a month.
There are also a lot of people that want to lose 20lbs even though they either don’t need to or they shouldn’t.
Is she a certified nutritionist or just a trainer? Because I kinda think the show should have the trainers focus on the exercise portion and the nutritionists talking about food (instead of advertising pam, gum, and ziploc bags).
Does anyone else Tivo Biggest Loser so they don’t have to watch all the product placement junk they’re putting in now?
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December 9th, 2009 on 3:56 pm
I have the 30 day shred but I haven’t been good at using it… once thing that I have used by Jillian is her book, “Making The Cut.” The hubs and I did it (not every day) but tried to do if at least every other day for a month, and we tried to watch our calorie intake. I lost 8 pounds! And then I stopped working out and watching my weight and I gained it back… My New Year’s Resolution (besides helping my hubs find a job since he’s graduating in two weeks) is to cut my work hours and try to work out for 20-30 minutes a day, some of it using Jillian’s book and dvd. I don’t want drastic weight loss, but 15 pounds over the next 3 months sounds pretty good!
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