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.

Your response to winter made me cry too.

Hey Jillian love your DVDs :) I'm currently on day 12 of the 30 day shred :) as others have mentioned have you any plans for a pregnancy workout? I would hate to lose the weight just to put it all back on during my next pregnancy.

@glittershoes

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!

Hi glittershoes,

Congratulations!

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) has recommended that women maintain the same level of fitness during pregnancy that they had prior to pregnancy. This is a relatively good guideline for the intensity of your workouts. I highly recommend prenatal yoga and pilates for good core workouts during pregnancy.

With regard to the c-section, it's very common to have the issues you reference above. I've also heard other concerns from many women post-baby about 'pregnancy pooch', 'loose skin', 'separated abdominal muscles' - in many cases, these things can not be completely 'erased'. Honestly, who cares? You have a beautiful baby to show for it (!) and I suggest shifting your perspective - try to see these things as a badge of honor. Having the strength to carry a child in your body for 9 months, and deliver that child, is a massive testament to your power and abilities.

Hi Jillian
I really hurt at the moment thanks to you!
On Tuesday I did Six Week Six Pack followed by the Shred, and I can still feel muscles aching that I didn't even know I had! I also went for a run this morning, so my legs will also be hurting by this evening.

So my question is - is it OK to do the next workout whilst still sore from the last one, or is it better to wait until my muscles have recovered a bit?

I'm just getting back into exercising after a bit of a break so made the mistake of jumping right back in at the level I was at before!

The response to soulrebel's question is my exact response when people make comments like, '...you're so lucky, you can eat cake and stay slim...'. There are no sweetners in my home, I love baking, yep, I have my cake AND eat it too, life is too short.

Jillian,

I love all your dvds, they have changed my life (the fitness aspect of it)
You are a parent, too. In your opinion, what are the most important things I can do to encourage my daughter to have a healthy attitute towards her body/ good self esteem in the future? (Given that we are swamped with images of stick thin models and celebrities on daily basis)

PS: she is only two, but I would like to be prepared!

@Whitershadeofpale

Thank you Jillian. I love your DVDs and podcasts.

My question would be how do you find the motivation to stay disciplined with your eating when you're surrounded by diet sabotagers?

I work somewhere where we are gifted lots of chocolates, biscuits etc and although I can stay strong most of the time when they're just there on the side I find it difficult when some people almost pressurize me into eating (I think because it makes them feel better about indulging themselves). When this happens I feel bad about myself and lack of will power and am then more likely to comfort eat in secret.

Hi Whitershadeofpale,

Sabotage and lack of support are often the number one reason people cite for abandoning a wellness regimen. Saboteurs often engage in this type of behavior because of their own insecurities.

Try to remember, it's not about you, it's about them. That said, I recommend communicating your needs and the specifics of how others can help you directly to them. People are not mind-readers, let them know what's important to you and give them the tools to change and become supportive.

In some instances, this does not prove successful over time. In these cases, you need to re-evaluate those relationships and if it's not the snarky friend that you can kick to the curb, but rather a judgmental mother in law, boundaries are critical. Don't engage in conversations where they can beat you down, and work on finding supportive individuals in healthy environments. For example, meet friends in a favorite fitness class, go to book clubs, mummy blogger meet-ups, and so on.

I'm sobbing now, what a wonderful response to glittershoes question.

Jillian, your answers are just reinforcing my longheld view that you are awesome.

@FiloPasty

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.

Hi filopasty,

Great question. Boy are you going to hate my answer!

Alcohol is public enemy number one when it comes to a weight loss regime. Beyond the excess calories it adds to your diet, the biochemical effects on your metabolism are significant. Even one drink can dampen fat metabolism by up to 73% for 24 hours. Given the above, I recommend no more than four drinks a week. Choose clear alcohols with calorie-free mixers, have a tequila on the rocks with a splash of lime instead of the 500 calorie margarita, have a glass of wine instead of the 400 calorie long island iced tea. Also, on a broader note, please be aware that alcohol significantly increases our risk of breast and ovarian cancer. So I can't stress enough that moderation is critical.

@obsessiveshopper

I am struggling with motivation!! Tips/advice please on getting started and staying focused please!

The key to lasting motivation is to establish your "WHY". Often we look for inspiration outside of ourselves and while a great story, song, book or TV segment might catalyse you towards a change, lasting and permanent motivation must come from within. It's imperative you identify all the reasons why you want to make a change and the ways in which the quality of your life will improve in great detail and I do not mean speaking in generalisation like 'I want to be healthy'; what does healthy look like in your life? Is it a two piece instead of one piece? Meeting your great-grandchildren? Playing with your toddlers? Having sex with the lights on? There's no reason too profound or superficial as long as it matters to you and you will find that with this "WHY" you can tolerate any "HOW".

I was also wondering the same as Eleanor Abernathy. If I'm still sore from the day before should I have a day off?

Now that reply made me cry! Wine is definitely my down fall too.

Jillian, I used to love doing the shred and bfbm DVDs but I har hypermobile joints and found the pace you move at meant my technique suffered and I frequent injured myself.
I've kept fit by swimming 5-6 miles a week but would love to get back to circuits type exercise for variety.
Do you have any specific tips to help with technique or any particular DVDs you'd suggest I try?

My question has been answered but just want to say that I think you are an amazing inspiration
Even that I do curse you from my living room most nights when I'm jumping about like a mad thing!

@ShowMeTheWonder

Jillian, I am a hopelessly devoted fan too. I did the Shred in September/October and felt amazing - I lost 11lbs and felt so much stronger and energetic. Unfortunately, my baby is a bad sleeper and I got a bad cold which was followed by a succession of minor illnesses which sapped all my energy and left me exhausted. I'm now back to work after maternity leave, I still keep getting ill and I'm functioning on not much sleep. I'm determined to get the Shred back into my routine as it's so quick but I keep putting it off.

Do you have any recommendations for how I can a) boost my crappy immune system and b) recover my motivation?

Those 11lbs are nearly back on again and it's seriously depressing to face losing them again!

Hi ShowMeTheWonder,

My heart goes out to you. Both my kids are not fantastic sleepers! During my first year of motherhood, I was sick constantly to the point of being hospitalised after ten days with walking pneumonia. I have subsequently become a master at boosting my immune system for that reason!

I highly recommend hydration and supplementation. While there is no substitute for sleep, and that is clearly what you need most, there are some natural things you can take that will help. When sick, take products that have zinc, elderberry, astragalus, and vitamin C. These are all naturally-occurring antivirals. For prevention, I regularly take vitamin D, a quality multi, probiotics and a greens powder with an assortment of antioxidants and minerals.

@EleanorAbernathy

Hi Jillian I really hurt at the moment thanks to you! On Tuesday I did Six Week Six Pack followed by the Shred, and I can still feel muscles aching that I didn't even know I had! I also went for a run this morning, so my legs will also be hurting by this evening.

So my question is - is it OK to do the next workout whilst still sore from the last one, or is it better to wait until my muscles have recovered a bit?

I'm just getting back into exercising after a bit of a break so made the mistake of jumping right back in at the level I was at before!

Hi EleanorAbernathy,

What you're describing is called DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). This will improve after two weeks of consistent fitness. That said, I often prefer muscle split training to allow for optimal recovery. However, when utilising fitness DVDs, there isn't much room to program for this as people are looking for a full body workout. If you are extremely sore, I don't recommend resistance training the same muscle group for at least 24 hours. It's in these instances that a straight cardio workout is appropriate and beneficial. You can still get a burn on while allowing the muscles to recover.

@PelicanBriefs

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.)

Hi PelicanBriefs,

When my kids were very little, I used to strap them on my back (one at a time of course!), and take them hiking. A great jogging buggy can also be really useful in this area. I've also been known to do fitness DVDs in the living room while my toddlers mock me in jest!

It may not be that 90 minute yoga class you used to take, but it will get the job done.

one quick question
if you wanted to loose weight and had to choose between focusing on a better diet or focusing on exercising which one would you choose?
thanks

Hi Jillian,
Thank you for inspiring me to get fit. I'd really like to achieve a toned and buff body but find doing the same routine everyday a bit boring. Can a achieve the same results with a pick and mix approach or would I get better results sticking to 6w6p or ri30?

@okitoki

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!

Hi okitoki,

Absolutely! In fact, I have found that women in their 50s and 60s are often stronger than their daughters in their 30s.

I've often wondered if this isn't because they have internalized life's hardships over the course of their lives, and allowed it to manifest into physical strength and fortitude. I could also reference the hard bodies of Jane Fonda, at 80, or Madonna, in her mid-50s. But to step away from celebrities, with extenuating tools and circumstances, in the United States version of Biggest Loser, season 7, I had a 50+ year old woman crush all the 20 year old men and win the whole show! It's all about eating clean and exercising consistently, no matter what your age.