Hi.

Thanks for stopping by! Let's get sweaty and figure out this whole parenting thing together!

An Evening With Jillian

When I think about spending an evening with Jillian Michaels, I immediately think buckets of sweat and a fierce attitude in your face. So I was skeptical when I heard about her "Maximize Your Life" tour. I know she offers motivation in the form of one-on-one talks on Biggest Loser, but they are also getting their butts kicked by her in the gym. Of course, the second Melissa asked if I wanted her extra ticket for last night's show I practically jumped through the computer screen to hug her.  The crowd itself was intriguing--mostly women of varying shapes and sizes. What really struck me was the purchasing of alcoholic beverages and snacks to listen to someone dubbed "the world's toughest trainer" talk about nutrition and weight loss..that just seemed off. I know I am being a bit judgey...but really?[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/lanes0220/status/327211534126284803"]

After a pretty disturbing video, the kind I think they show in spy movies to wipe your memory and implant new ones, Jillian took the stage. She was herself--a bit foul mouthed, funny and energetic. She was actually really entertaining to listen to.

Her talk was broken into three parts: (1) science; (2) sweat and (3) self -- basically nutrition, exercise and self worth.

A few tidbits from the nutrition: 

  • Counting calories sucks, but the truth is we are creatures of habit and basically only eat 20 different meals. Learn the calories once and there you go.
  • Think of calories like money, you only have X amount to spend
  • Turn on your bullshit meter when you are reading labels. (Jillian told us she called a certain butter spray company to understand how it could possibly be zero calories when they have things like butter cream in it)
  • DON'T EAT SMALL MEALS THROUGHOUT THE DAY this doesn't allow your body to go into the proper burning system
  • Avoid starch and sugar at dinner

Exercise: good for Jillian's salary, simple for you to do

  • Calculate your BMR (basal metabolic rate), if you don't do ANYTHING at all, you will burn this much during the day. Then add on your active metabolic rate and if you don't go over these calories you are golden. 
  • It isn't about specific exercises, it is about techniques -- body weight training and free weights; works more than machines
  • Don't workout over 6 hours a week; and have one rest day

The goal setting stuff was good, and she got me geared up to make and reach my goals, but man it was a long talk.

Like I said she was incredibly entertaining and I can see why people attach themselves to her, but I still would have loved to have walked out of there drenched in sweat.

Exercise As A Threat?

Sidelined and Other Ramblings