Jillian Michaels: Webchat, Thursday 15 January, 1-2pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Jillian Michaels is joining us at Mumsnet HQ for a webchat on Thursday 15 January from 1-2pm. For those who are unfamiliar with Jillian, she’s one of the world's most successful health and fitness personalities; star of Channel 4's The Biggest Loser and 15 fitness DVDs (including MN fave 30 Day Shred), as well as several best-selling books. Her Jillian Michaels Show podcast has garnered millions of listeners since its debut in 2011.

With such a die-hard crew of shredders, rippers and JM devotees here, Jillian has long been on our hit-list of webchat guests and we're delighted we're finally able to offer the opportunity to chat with her. Join us on Thursday at 1pm or post a question for Jillian on this thread in advance and we'll put your questions to her on Thursday.

Jillian is over in the UK with her critically acclaimed Maximize Your Life motivational tour, which has already taken the US by storm. The nine-city live event begins on 18 January in Glasgow and ends on 28 January in London. Find out more and buy tickets here.

Oh! Excited! Another Jillian-worshipper here.

My question is: any tips for the best fun exercise I can do WITH a small child (under 5)? I try giving them drums and maracas and things so they can dance at the same time as I'm squeezing in a workout, and they can just about stay occupied for a twenty min shred, but I would love to do more that involves them and keeps it fun. (I'm a single parent of a child who doesn't sleep much, so it's not always possible to exercise on my own.)

Delighted to see Jillian here...

I know other people touched on it but do you have any recommendations on how to modify the Shred for people with mobility issues? I have Rheumatoid Arthritis since a child so its not a weight related illness but as I'm getting older and less active, it is a challenge to do anything.

I love the idea of the shred, Ive seen peoples results.. you do great work!

Another massive Jillian fan here as well! I started doing the 30 Day Shred before my wedding in 2011 and have been a loyal fan ever since.

My question is the same as some of the others'. I have just found out that I am pregnant with my second child and (unlike with my first!) I am keen to stay active and as fit as possible. I have been doing the cardio and strength parts of the shred but can't do the abs sections. What advice can you give as to how to keep active and fit during pregnancy? I have had a look at some other pregnancy dvds and they are really not very challenging and so very very dull!

Naughty I know but another question (again echoed from earlier posters), I had a c-section last time and have been left with a tight scar and a pooch that overhangs it (if that makes sense!). No matter what I do or how skinny I get it won't shift! Can it be shifted? Are there any specific exercises I can do?

Thank you so much, you rock!

I am in my early 60's and walk for an hour at least five days a week. I have tried other forms of exercise such skipping and power walking but unfortunately I have osteoarthritis and have had just curtail my exercise to walking.

My question is are there other forms of exercise which do not trigger arthritis?

Thank you.

Jillian - what do you think of BMI measurements ?

I ask as I am quite active, quite fit, have minimal bulges and wobbles, but always, always weigh in at the top end of the acceptable range for BMI.

Have recently lost just over a stone - which I knew I needed to shed - but am struggling now. It seems my body just naturally likes to stick at this weight.

It's tough, as I know that if I go for a medical I will be told that I am overweight, but my ribs and hipbones are visible!

Hiya Jillian,
I started my fitness journey 4 years ago at the age of 38, my goal to be as fit and as healthy as possible to be of support to my children when they are grown.
I do cardio and weights 5 days a week and feel amazing.
Do you realistically think a woman post menopause and into old age can retain a high level of fitness, Ernestine Shepherd aside?
PS See you on the 20th in Birmingham!

Hello Jillian and THANKS for coming on Mumsnet

Gutted I can't be at MNHQ to meet you in person, so I'm posting from the sticks Mumsnet Country Outpost.
I loved the shred following the birth of DS2
But I had twins a year ago and utterly TRASHED my tummy muscles - I have a self-diagnosed diastasis recti - my bump was positively pointy. So I am guessing all the sit ups are OUT.

I am much slimmer than I have been for years, but what can I do to smoothe the tummy?
TIA

Huge thank you to Jillian for helping me lose 85lb last year (20lb to go!).

I'd echo the requests above for a prenatal and postnatal program. I'd love to be pregnant again this year but would hate to undo all my hard work.

Hello Jillian. I just want to say thanks for the Shred!

I keep dipping in and out of it, but the fact that I can exercise hard at home whilst my baby sleeps and be done and showered in 30 mins has meant that it actually got done. I feel so much better.

Oh I love Jillian!!!!!

My question is what is the best way to combat emotional/comfort eating? I don't smoke, drink much alcohol or do drugs.....my crutch in life is food.
Every time I have a bad day or something goes wrong I reach for food- be it chocolate, crisps and even mash potato. Anything that will make me feel better.
I am piling on weight and I feel horrible. I cant seem to break this habit.

What is the best way to break this cycle?

I am extremely overweight, think 10+ st....and I have no idea how to start exercising...I would like to join a gym but don't even know how to start...I realise this probably sounds ridiculous but I see people of a similar size starting to lose weight and going to the gym etc but I've no idea how to begin, how to push myself or anything

Hope this makes sense

Omg, I loved thirty day shred but I swear it put me in hospital for a week. I have back problems, previously broke it.

Did thirty day shred for a couple of months and was on stage two and my back got a lot worse and I ended up being admitted to hospital again.m had a break of a few months, started thirty day shred again and got the same pain within days so stopped.

I currently cycle to keep fit and also go to the gym to do some weights and crosstrainer.

But on dark evenings I want a DVD to do in my front room. Apart from yoga, can you recommend anything which isn't too high impact. I have just had a kettlebell delivered today so was thinking of trying that. I'm reckon it's the impact which stuffs my back but I need to burn some calories and tone my arms up.

Hello Jillian! Welcome to MN!

You have been quoted as saying you thought BL's winner, Rachel Frederickson, lost too much weight. Were you shocked by how big a controversy blew up over her win? Or was it just a slow news week and an opportunity to give one of NBC's biggest shows a kick?

Hello, I'm a big fan. I was a very unfit size 12-14, classic Apple shape. I did level 1 the 30 day shred for 3 months and when this became easy, I tried to move to level 2 but I found it too difficult mainly because the first move made me dizzy. If I find level 1 too easy, is it worth continuing? What other workouts should I try instead of level 2?

Hi Jillian,

Looking forward to reading your responses the other questions: Your DVDs are the only ones that I can use repeatedly without wanting to slap the instructor / mute the sound and helped me break my cycle of non-disciplined lazieness, so thank you for that.

My question (a classic): Would you rather fight a single horse-sized duck, or 100 duck-sized horses?

MrsBert

Ohhh, how exciting. Shred graduate and 100lb loser here.

What I'd like to know is can I have your body please do you ever have those days where you really can't be bothered to exercise? How do you motivate yourself when you feel like that?

I think it [exercise] can be hard to start it as part of a routine, especially if you've never been sporty like me .

Can I ask another question? I love your dvds - 6w6p and nmtz are my favourites, though I enjoyed ripped too. I tend to do the highest level for a few months then switch to another. I'm now wondering if it is best to keep at the top level of 2-3 dvds and alternate them or try one of your other dvds back at level 1. Are there any combinations of your dvds that you'd recommend?

Thanks again for everything, my body has totally transformed since I was introduced to you!

Ohhh, I love the Shred! Now I just need to actually do it instead of just thinking about it. Jillian, a 20 minute workout video was inspired. Right, I seriously am going to restart tomorrow after reading the Web chat.

will you move in with me for a month and make me Shred every day?

You're amazing! I look like a sweaty beetroot after shredding.

My question is as follows:

I'm a single mother of an 18month old, work full time and attend university part time too. When I've put baby down for the night after a long day working and studying I find it really difficult to motivate myself to work out, especially as I know you'll kick my butt. Any tips on how to get and keep the motivation to make working out an insintric part of my routine? I always tell myself I'll do it tomorrow!

2 stone down, 1.5 to go. I love you!

I'll be whizzing from work to yoga to picking up the dc:)

But- I loved her shred stuff and the extreme yoga made me smile as she doesn't do all the "om" stuff and is very real with it:)

Oh- and I often imagine gillian is my imaginary friend in the house, following me about and nagging me when I open the fridge- nagging me to do stuff, and being all swishy haired and fabulous:) it works. Sometimes she clashes with patsy from ABFAB who I think in some awful mix up in karma land is now my completely useless guardian angel and swills champagne whikst smoking fags and glaring at the lovely gillian:)

Sometimes I leave them to it:) they get on quite well really:)

Gillian, I have a question- I run 2-3 times a week, for 1 hour cross country, I go indoor climbing and I do yoga, when I wake up I do 100 sit ups. Why won't my CS tummy go? I lc, and I drink loads of water.. Practise deportment..

Other than that- you're v aspirational:)

Just want to say Thanks Gillian, you rock!!!!

I'll be back on the Shred tomorrow, just reading your name gives me a boot up the backside!

What are your rules with alcohol? I find it's the wine that holds my biggest hidden calories.

Love, love, love the podcast. Funny, honest and full of brilliant advice about far more than diet and exercise . The 'Love Doctor' is particularly insightful, and obviously Janice is brilliant.

Hope you have been able to draw a line under the Walking Dead phone cover incident.