Jillian Michaels likes to just shoot from the hip and not mince words! She was interviewed for Health Magazine’s November issue and conveyed her thoughts on a few subjects from Oprah to organics to why she has her own personal trainer!
if there’s someone I think is utterly misguided, it would be Oprah Winfrey. She says she had a thyroid problem and ate soy, and I’m like, How? Where is Dr. Oz? She’s just so misinformed, it is shocking to me on a daily basis. Soy is terrible for you [if you have thyroid issues].”
People familiar with Jillian’s “ways” might know that she’s a huge advocate of organic foods and products. When asked about ways people can improve their health:
“Go organic. That would be the one thing-it’s not even exercise. Our food is corn derivatives, food derivatives and chemicals. It is making us fat and sick.”
Jillian is also huge on fitness – not just walking. I can hear her voice on the “Shred” dvd – “when someone tells you just take the stairs – it is a false message of lethargy”.
“We sell ourselves short when it comes to capability and potential. We read on the treadmill. We walk. People will be like, ‘I’ve been walking.’ And I’m like, ‘Really, Really?’ ‘OK, you walked to the car, and then to the door at the mall, and then you took the stairs, too? Come on, man.’ If I can take a 66-year-old man and train him six hours a day, six days a week, you can do more than just take the stairs! People have no concept of what the human body is really designed to do. They have no concept of their strength! And they function in a zone that is well below what their potential really is.”
She’s far from perfect and will admit that she KNOWS how hard it is to keep yourself motivated to do it every single day. She shared the area of her life that she struggles in:
“The only thing I would tell you is fitness… Yeah, it’s exercise. I’m like, ‘ugh,’ because I know that with diet and sleep and lifestyle, I can control my weight. I get tired, man, I get so tired! And if I don’t work with a trainer, I’m like ‘OK, I ran my 30 minutes, I’m going home.’ People often ask me, ‘Why do you work with a trainer?’ And I say, “Because he’s a monster. He pushes me in ways I wouldn’t push myself.’” Michaels also notes, “I’m totally flattered [being named America's Healthiest Body]. But I just think, ‘God, if people had any idea of the stuff that goes on behind closed doors: the struggles in the middle of the night in front of the refrigerator, the weeks on end I can’t get my ass to the gym!’ But, in reality, there’s a part of me where it makes perfect sense.”
I will admit I was very shocked to hear she had her own trainer! I suppose if she’s busy motivating other people – who’s going to be there to motivate her? Makes sense!
Are you watching the current season of The Biggest Loser? It’s pretty early in the season, but are you cheering on any particular competitor yet? That Tracey is sure keeping things interesting! LOL
Photos by WENN
Wow, what a face she has in that main pic, lol.
I find everything she said refreshing. We have gotten lazy – there are 24 hours in a day. You CAN find time to exercise your body and it is one of the most important choices you will make. Helps you live a longer, higher quality life, sets an example for your children that it is important to take care of yourself and make yourself a priority. No, not everyone has the money to buy ALL organic foods, but there are options and choices in every grocery store.
LMAO!
those wide hips she sports can stand to lose a few
No Jillian you are wrong. There is no evidence that people with hypothyroidism medication need to completely avoid soy. Soy can alter the absorption of medication used to treat hypothyroidism, but this can be avoided by waiting about 4 hours after taking medication to consume soy products. Same goes for high fiber foods, iron and calcium supplements, and aluminum or magnesium-based antacids.
No Jillian you are wrong. There is no evidence that people with hypothyroidism medication need to completely avoid soy. Soy can alter the absorption of medication used to treat hypothyroidism, but this can be avoided by waiting about 4 hours after taking medication to consume soy products. Same goes for high fiber foods, iron and calcium supplements, and aluminum or magnesium-based antacids.
I know this isn’t the forum to bash Oprah Winfrey but Jillian is sooo right. Nobody ever has the guts to say Oprah is wrong (btw – if there is any self righteous person out there – it’s Oprah!). Soy is horrible if you have a thyroid problem. Having said that, I don’t know if Jillian yelling at me would motivate me either. I’d just want to smack her.
wow! are you kidding me!?!?!? You sound like the unhappy fat lady that picks everyone apart but really needs to look in the mirror. Her body fat % will blow anyone out of the water!
She can be my monster any day.
I don’t watch Biggest Loser.
well it seems like having a trainer is working for her.
I don’t think she and I can be friends
when did we get so lazy?
Honestly asking, how much would it cost to hire Jillian as a personal trainer? Wondering how much money she is getting out of all of this and good for her for being able to find something she is so good at and making teh most of it. This is her vocation and if she was not this ruthless she wouldn’t be this good.
i have mixed feelings about jillian…
on the one hand…i’m “curvy”…not at all fat. About a size 6 with most of my weight sitting on my hips/ass lol. I work out…but would never work out for more than an hour on any day…i have more important things to do, and i am happy with my life. I could, but wouldn’t want to be super skinny…or even too muscular, because i think my curves are what make me sexy and feminine.
Although, i do understand where she’s coming from…she wasn’t always as “fit” as she is now, and she’s proud of it. That and she wants to help people. That’s all well and fine, but I get sick of seeing her and hearing about it myself. And i don’t like how she has this personality like anything less than her idea of “perfection” is unexceptable.
you’re fit…you’re sexy…we get it…now stfu and go do some more crunches while i go have a life.
Well I have a thyroid problem and everything I have read says avoid soy – and to whoever says Jillian needs to lose a few on her hips…first off – she looks amazing..she is over 35 I think (I was surprised to read that) – and she has hypothyroidism…the fat doesn’t move…believe me…It sucks – and no I’m not overweight..I’ve been working out and lifting weights for 8 years – became hypo probably five years ago and diagnosed 2 years ago. I have slowly gained weight – I still workout but it is hard…hypo makes you TIRED..dead tired..and it depletes muscle tone and it’s harder to gain muscle..and people don’t realizE – you fluctuate a lot before you get your meds right..I have had my dosage changed 15 times and it still isn’t right..my hair is falling out and I’m 15 pounds heavier. So Jillian looks amazing and not only because she works hard..she has to work out three times as much and probably eat three times as less…that’s what I have to do..just to not gain
wow, what a self-righteous b*tch…
you’re having all the resources to eating organic, the time to exercise all day long? Congratulations. My world’s a little different, and so are my personal choices.
Jillian’s accomplishments pale in comparison to Oprah’s. But then if you think it is realistic to spend 6 hours per day working out………….you aren’t going to have much to show for it but muscles. Jillian clearly has a skewed view of what is really important and an overinflated sense of her own importance outside the confines of the Biggest Loser Ranch.
keep making excuses for yourself!
Well, my world’s a LOT different from hers but like she says you can make the time to work out and you can change your diet. Vegetables aren’t more expensive than a hamburger and they keep you full longer. But I guess it’s a lot easier making excuses than making changes.
Jillian is too abrasive for my taste. She exudes anger. Her style wouldn’t motivate me.
I’ve never watched the show, but she sounds pretty tough–not sure why she needs someone to push her.
Same here. I love her dvds. And I used to think she was obnoxious and then I finally tuned in to the show and I really love her!! People just see these little snippets and assume she’s a jerk but she’s a truly caring person who just doesn’t like all the whining and excuses. LOL
the 30 day shred is so hard!
Well, I’ve done her DVDs and nothing has worked better for me. Yes, she’s tough as nails, but some of us need a bully to work out every single day.
i LOVE jillian! i have a little girl crush on her haha i would love to work out with her because thats what i need, if i don’t have somebody there yelling at me i won’t do anything.
I can not stand how she bullies and She is why I cant watch the show.
I would LOVE to see some trainer kick HER ass for once!
yes her body is fit but very manly….i would not want her body. YUCK!!!
I really like the show. Jillian sounds really unrealistic in this interview. Sometimes the only thing a person can do is walk and not all grocery stores sell organic food.