New "Ask Jillian" Column on EveryDayHealth.Com

Jillian Michaels is kicking off a brand new life and fitness coach column called “Ask Jillian” and she wants to hear from you!  

She is asking for your "toughest fitness, health and wellness and emotional health questions" on her Facebook page, and just might feature them on her column!

The column is slated to begin in April and will be featured at www.EverydayHealth.com.

Review: Jillian Michaels' "6 Week Six-Pack"

By Jumping The Candlestick

6 Week Six-Pack provides two approximately 35-minute workouts.  In keeping with the DVD title, there's an emphasis on abs, but the workouts incorporate enough cardio intervals that both workouts are good all-round exercise sessions.  Jillian Michaels' workouts are challenging, fast-paced (in a good way), full of variety, and effective.  6 Week Six-Pack is no exception

They're a convenient length, filling what I perceive as a gap in the workout DVD world:  you can find tons of 10-minute workouts, and plenty in the 45 - 70 minute realm, but the 30-minute workout seems strangely enough to be a rare breed.

Each workout starts with a warm-up.  You then go through two circuits of multiple exercises.  The second circuit repeats the first (or mostly so) but at a faster pace.  The two circuits are followed by a brief cool-down/stretch.

The first workout is a bit easier than the second, but there are modifications provided for making the first workout harder or the second easier.  In the second workout, the music gets a bit faster near the end, and Jillian goes into a dramatic you-can-do-it tough-love mode; this can be just the thing to get you through it, or annoying, depending on your mood.

I would definitely recommend this DVD, especially if you're a fan of Jillian's workouts and/or if you're looking for a good half-hour cardio/ab workout.

The Meaning of Life, Per Jillian

"I just wanted to remind you of this today - for any of you who were doubting... We are brought into this world at this time and place for a reason, and it’s our one and only responsibility on this planet to find out what that reason is, no matter how long it takes. The “meaning of life” is not some truth that is handed down to you—it’s something YOU create for yourself, by living in authentically in YOUR truth, and by cultivating your passions in any and all circumstances. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!"   Jillian Michaels March 16, 2012 on Facebook

Congratulations Jillian!

Jillian Michaels To Be Honored for her
Exemplary Leadership & Humanitarian Efforts 

The T.J. Martell Foundation, a charity foundation that funds leukemia, cancer and AIDS research has announced that it will present Jillian Michaels with the “Spirit of Excellence Award,”  for her  professional leadership and humanitarian efforts at its annual "ARTWORKS for the Cure 2012 event" Saturday, April 28, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Pier 59 Studios.  The event features art, music, an auction,  cocktail reception and honoree dinner while raising money for medical research.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/03/14/3938434/tj-martell-foundation-to-host.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/03/14/3938434/tj-martell-foundation-to-host.html#storylink=cpy

As a leading health and wellness experts in the country, Jillian Michaels educates, inspires and motivates millions through her bestselling books, fitness DVDs, videos games, podcasts and television appearance.   She is also an ambassador for the American Cancer Society, Stand Up To Cancer, NFL Play 60, works with military families through the USO, and also works with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a program dedicated to eradicating the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/03/14/3938434/tj-martell-foundation-to-host.html#storylink=cpy

Over its history, the T.J. Martell Foundation has provided over $27 million to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to fund their ground breaking work in their fight against pediatric cancer. Grants provided by the T.J. Martell Foundation have produced amazing results, especially in the area of children’s cancers, where the survival rate for neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that attacks the young, has increased from 15% to 80% over the past fifteen years.

Alex Hodges, CEO of Nederlander Concerts; and Harvey Mason, Jr., music producer and songwriter will also be honored during the event.

Jillian's Top Tips

Weight loss has been shown to increase happiness, improve health, and add years to one's life. The more overweight a person is, the more likely they are to have increased health problems: heart disease, stroke, diabetes, breathing problems, cancers...

Jillian Michaels offers up four of her top tips on changing your body:

1. Count Calories.
 Jillian's number one mistake is not counting calories!  Use whatever medium you're on most frequently. If it's the web, both caloriesperhour.com and weightwatchers.com are great resources. You can also use an iPhone app, or carry a pocket calorie counter with you.

2. Avoid Processed Foods At All Costs.
Processed foods are loaded with preservatives and chemicals. If it says high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated anything, artificial coloring or sweetener, stay away!

3. Do Five Intense 30-Minute Workouts Each Week.
Go walking with friends, plan a family outing, and if it requires you to get up a little earlier, do it.

4. Inspire Yourself.
Establish the why: Why do you want to change your life? What's inspiring and motivating you? A long life? To wear your skinny jeans to your 10-year high school reunion?

[Source: http://www.cbs42.com/content/health/story/100-Pounds-and-Counting/2HjRsvK6rEqH3Gxgp8CHLA.cspx]

DVD Review: Jillian Michaels SHRED-IT with weights

Quick review for you today:
Jillian Michaels: Shred-It With Weights ($9.49 at Amazon)

So, there are several things that I do like about all of Jillian's videos to be sure…

• They are all within a doable time frame. Not everybody has over an hour to work out, sadly. I like to TRY to use 2 shorter workouts in a day for maximum results.
• There are options! She always has somebody doing the beginner/low impact version and somebody doing the higher impact/advanced version. You always have a visual.
• I’m not gonna lie here, I like the fact that the people on the video are in amazing shape. It motivates me to push harder.
• THERE ARE NO EXCUSES. JM keeps it pretty real and although there are modifications, no excuses are allowed.

These like are pretty much across the board for all of her videoss. SHRED-IT in particular will more than most likely end up in my regular rotations. I love kettlebells and this is well structured, highly efficient kettlebell training. No worries if you don’t have a kettlebell! You have a modifier using a hand weight and very good instruction on how to make it happen. The workout itself is about 28 minutes long with an easy warm up and cool down. I was sweating my booty off and I was pretty sore the next day (note: I am ALWAYS sore, so please don’t base the effectiveness of your workouts on soreness alone). My core in particular felt as though it was getting a draw in the whole workout, just to maintain control. Don’t be scared if you have never done a kettlebell workout, this DVD is for all levels. It includes 2 progressive workouts, so you can alternate them (for the more advanced fitness enthusiast), or move on to workout 2 once you feel less challenged in the first one. I LOVE OPTIONS!

So, this is a definite YES in my opinion and I think Jillian and her team offer up a solid, time friendly, efficient workout that you’ll find yourself using again and again.
I will most certainly be reviewing Bob Harper’s Kettle Bell workouts in the following weeks as well, so stay tuned!

Keep on the FIT path!

Posted by: Michelle Carlson 

Jillian Michaels' Advice for the 700-lb Man

By KRISTA WICK

Robert Gibbs became a viral sensation when the morbidly obese man took to YouTube as a last resort of sorts on the eve of his 23rd birthday. His cry for help touched many, including health guru Jillian Michaels who offered words of advice for Gibbs on his journey to overcome certain death.

"What he really needs to do is find a therapist that can help him understand why he's engaging in these extremely destructive behaviors," says Jillian, bypassing her Biggest Loser-style regimen of strict diet and exercise. "This kid is not lazy-- he's in a tremendous amount of pain."
Declaring Robert a very special case for which the usual rules don't apply, Michaels says Gibbs will need to "rebuild his self worth and self esteem" before he can tackle his physical weight problem.

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