Webchat with Jillian Michaels, Monday 14 March, 9-10pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Great news for all shredders and rippers! Jillian Michaels will be back at Mumsnet HQ for a webchat on Monday (14 March) between 9 and 10pm.

Jillian is 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.

Come and chat to Jillian on Monday 14 March between 9 and 10pm or post a question for her in advance on this thread.

The season finale of Just Jillian is viewing next Tues (15 March) at 9pm on E! From the fitness studios to home where she makes time for children, long-time partner Heidi and caring for the animals at the family’s farm the series gives viewers an unfiltered look at the woman behind the huge empire and meet the people inside her private world who help her juggle the chaos and support her through it all. Take a sneak peek here

Jillian’s latest video Hot Body, Healthy Mommy is the perfect workout DVD for getting your body back after having a baby. She worked with renowned pregnancy fitness expert Andrea Orbeck to create three incredibly effective workouts, each focusing on a different section of your body and lasting a manageable 20 minutes. Jillian also offers basic and advanced modifications for every single move and gives special instructions to moms who've had a C-section. Hot Body, Healthy Mommy is out in the UK on 15 March.

@Hippityyhoppity

Jillian, First thanks for the shred. If it wasn't you doing the dvd I'd just not do it. You're great motivation. Second , have you got a HIIT dvd ? If not, are you planning one or have you got any suggestions about that ? Looking forward to hearing and reading you here.

I don't have a straight HIIT dvd. I incorporate the technique into all my workouts. It's the cardio intervals during Ripped In 30 for example. I believe in working many different fitness techniques into one workout for best results.

@SnookyWookyWooWoo

Hi jillian

Haven't done the shred since having my 5 month baby and was a little nervous as have now had two cesarean sections. I went and did a buggy fit class today and I know I've overdone it (should have worked my way back slowly by doing shred again) have also been to the gym 3 days on the bounce and zumba before that. My question is how do I help my body (in particular my muscles) recuperate. I started eating healthier 4 weeks ago and am very unfit so I know I've just jumped in too fast and tried to do too much.

Anyway its back to 30 day shred soon it's a much better way to get fit for me.

Ha! I just did a podcast segment about this. You can find that for free my downloading it off iTunes. For core work I always like yoga and mat pilates. But pelvic floor is flat out kegels.

@whitershadeofpale

Hi Jillian,

Good to have you back . I broke my foot really badly last year. I spent a week in hospital and 5 months in a cast/ airboot. It's still healing but I rally want to start getting back into shape. I can't swim due to the hours I work. Do you have any other suggestions for how to exercise without putting pressure on my foot?

Thanks

Can you do upper body exercises? Lat pull downs, rows, push ups on an elevated platform, curls, presses etc. And what about row machine (with the injured foot resting on the floor.

@MrsFlorrick

Jillian!! You're fantastic!! Definitely my girl crush

Your 30 day shred and six week six pack saved me.

You cannot even imagine how. I put on massive amounts of weight after having the children and I struggled with it. I struggled with everything. It was all pretty awful really.

I struggled to fit in any kind of exercise until I found your workouts (via MN of course).

They are brilliant. I have them on my iPad and iPhone. When the children were tiny I would put the tv on for them and in the same room do one of your workouts.

You helped put me back together again and I seriously love you!!

I don't have a question btw I just want to tell you that you helped to save me.

you are so sweet. But you saved you. I am just a business woman who loves her job. You are the one that got the workout and actually put it into practice. Credit belongs solely to you. Don't give your power away!

@SnookyWookyWooWoo

Hi jillian

Haven't done the shred since having my 5 month baby and was a little nervous as have now had two cesarean sections. I went and did a buggy fit class today and I know I've overdone it (should have worked my way back slowly by doing shred again) have also been to the gym 3 days on the bounce and zumba before that. My question is how do I help my body (in particular my muscles) recuperate. I started eating healthier 4 weeks ago and am very unfit so I know I've just jumped in too fast and tried to do too much.

Anyway its back to 30 day shred soon it's a much better way to get fit for me.

Take it slow. Proceed with your doctors supervision. Check out the dvd I created for people exactly like you called Hot Mommy Healthy Body. It's for post part mommies. And takes specific care to modify for C-section and diastasic.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

Jillian - what advice would you give me on how to start getting fit?

I am very overweight (around 20 stone) and due to this, have all sorts of issues with my joints and back, so I can't walk very far at all - even to the point of struggling with the walk from the car park to the gym.

I also suffer from depression, so find it very hard to like myself enough to want to care for myself (either by eating healthily or taking any exercise). At the moment my depression is not as bad as it has been, but I still find that voice at the back of my head telling me that, if my weight caused me to drop dead tomorrow, it wouldn't be a bad thing.

Is there anything gentle I could do at home, that would be a tiny step in the right direction - something I can realistically achieve each day that would give me a small sense of achievement on which I could build?

I don't want to be an unhappy, broken waste of space all my life.

Awe buddy. You are going through one hell of a hard time. The first thing is to try and manage the challenges you are facing emotionally. I highly recommend counseling to help you cope right now. I have been in therapy since a very young age. My mom is a therapist. The work you do there can be invaluable.

That said, there can always be meaning brought to sadness and pain that allow us to transmute loss, anger, tragedy etc. into hope, wisdom, and empathy. What meaning can you bring to your journey? How can you grow from it and maybe one day share what you've learned to help others... Even if it's just a co-worker, friend, or neighbor?

When it comes to the workout, I recommend my Beginner Shred dvd. You can do it at home. It's only 20 minutes per workout. Completely manageable.

Hang in there. I know you will get a hold of this. Be loving with yourself. That's the only way forward.

Hi Jillian,

Thank you so much for your awesome attitude and DVDs. My 4-year-old son loves watching me almost die when I'm doing them He tells me off when I try and stop before you do! I got up to day 11 on 30 day shred before a killer cold hit, I'm looking forward to getting back on it in a couple of days.

I don't even have a question, just wanted to say thank you!

Not a question just wanted say you're awesome, lady. Thank you for the amazing workouts they are slowly changing my life.

Just want to say love your answers Jillian (sorry I already posted a question earlier and don't mean to clog up the thread but you're so inspiring!)

Gushing over, I promise. For now :P

@TheWildRumpyPumpus

Jillian, thanks for coming again! I found your last we chat very inspiring and love the programs.

I've had a copy of the Beginner Shred sat in my house for a couple of months untouched, I also have a gym membership that I never use. Can you give a fat girl some motivation to peel of the packaging and get going?

I've already started eating cleaner and losing weight but the exercise portion just isn't coming easily to me. I have plenty of time to exercise so no good excuse there either!

honestly, if you are like most, you probably don't love the actual act of exercise. I know I don't. BUT... I love what it affords me in my life. I love being able to keep up with my kids. I love the idea of maybe living to 100. I love skinny jeans. I love a two piece instead of a one piece etc.

Stop for a moment and think about all the ways your life will improve if you exercise consistently. THAT is the motivation you are looking for.

In the moment pizza will ALWAYS taste better than chicken. The couch will always sound better than the treadmill. But skinny jeans are better than pizza. And that's the key. Define your why and emotionally connect to it. Then the work will be tolerable. Work with purpose becomes passion. But without passion behind it work can be simply punishing. No wonder we would want to avoid that.

@Wanderingwondering

Hi Jillian, I'm another massive fan. I've done shred in the past and now halfway through body revolution. My question is-honestly-what is your average daily exercise routine? I think your figure is amazing and have a slight delusion that mine will be the same after I've shifted a stone of flab!

Thanks you :) I workout about 4 times a week for roughly 30 minutes. When I train I train hard to make it count. I do free weight training, body weight training, HIIT training. I like to mix it up with the occasional yoga class or spin class. I also like to take MMA classes and free running lessons for fun.

@Bovnydazzlers

I'm 8 weeks postpartum after a c-section with DS2. I have been exercising since 6 weeks and can now easily do 5-8k jogging and level 1 shred. However, I've just checked for diastasis recti and I have a huge (3-4 finger) gap.

Will your new video work on this? Guess I should stop the shred till it's healed a bit. Id be pretty gutted to stop the jogging!

OY! SLOW DOWN. you JUST had a baby. There's time for all that. Go easier on yourself and slow down. Yes the new dvd is designed for post baby. specifically to make sure you get your body back SAFELY.

@DontWorryBaby

Hi Jillian

Many thanks for your workouts, I'm still amazed at how easily I can fit in a 30min workout to my busy schedule, and the difference it makes to my body and to my frame of mind.

My question is:

My wrists struggle with all the push ups, table tops, plank jacks etc... Will this improve with time? I'm on day 12 of Ripped in 30 so level 2, which has a lot of plank position exercises, and my wrists are complaining somewhat.

Thank you, and keep up the good work!

This is not uncommon for many. You may have limited flexibility or possibly an old injury etc. You could also be putting more weight into the lower part of your hand as opposed to focusing on gripping the ground - more weight into the upper part of the hand. For now, do planks on forearms. Try pushups on fists (on top of a mat). This will help a lot.

@Pigwitch

Hi Jillian - I love, love, love your 30 day shred DVD! It has really worked for me in the past. I just need to motivate myself to start it again. What size weights should I be using ? Also is there a particular kind of diet I should be following to get maximum results? I saw your beautiful children in magazine article recently, congratulations you must be so proud x

I'd start off with light weights like 3lb and see how you do. There is a ton of bodyweight exercises in my dvd's that fatigue the heck out of your upper body. If you can, ultimately it would be great to have a staggered set of weights. Use the heavier weights when doing back work like rows. There I would recommend up to 8lbs

@BusinessDad

Are you a fan of coconut milk and oil? There seems to be some confusion around saturated fats and MCTs

Yes. Huge fan. Medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil are great for your health. They give us lasting energy and do NOT clog arteries. The true devil when it comes to fat is fake fat. Hydrogenated and fractionated oils. That's what people need to worry about.

8 lb weights!

Hi Jillian, thanks for doing this Q&A!

I am very overweight (about 5 stone). I started doing your beginners 30DS which I'm enjoying.

My question is, for someone with a lot to lose are your DVDs a good option or should I be trying to do some more cardio? It seems the DVDs are more about strength and muscle. (I'm pretty clueless!)

Hi Gillian. I've recently been diagnosed with bilateral hip impingement and waiting for surgery. I'm really struggling to even walk and feel unfit and have put on 14lbs in six months. I do Pilates three or four times a week but I'm missing cardio. What, if anything can I do to burn calories without making my hips worse.

@Wishfulmakeupping

Bingo wings- what can I do?! I need quick and easy if possibly...pretty please :) Ps I have serious body and hair envy you look fab

That is so funny. You have me ROFL. Honestly part of that is simply loose skin. But the simple answer to make that area as toned as possible is overall fat loss and triceps work. So do your total body training and watch your calories to burn excess body fat. And to tighten those muscles in your bingo wing area do bench dips, triceps extensions, triceps kickbacks, push ups. :)

@StrawberryLeaf

Hi Jillian, thanks for doing this Q&A!

I am very overweight (about 5 stone). I started doing your beginners 30DS which I'm enjoying.

My question is, for someone with a lot to lose are your DVDs a good option or should I be trying to do some more cardio? It seems the DVDs are more about strength and muscle. (I'm pretty clueless!)

No. The dvd's are about burning fat and maintaining muscle. BUT the key to losing is DIET AND EXERCISE. Sorry to shout at you here, but want to be sure you understand. Learn how to count your calories. Very important. To lose a pound of fat in a week you have to burn 3500 calories more than you have eaten.

While the DVD you are doing is effective you can wipe out all it's effects with one extra piece of pizza. Does that make sense? Keep up the exercise. When you feel strong up the intensity to Ripped In 30. And focus on your diet.

Thanks, really appreciate your reply

@Justfivemoreminutesplease

Hi Jillian, Big fan of yours and also of your reality show - is a second season planned yet please? If not, who do we need to tweet / email / harass to make sure it happens?

Ha! Thank you buddy! I certainly hope so. It's looking good, but any tweets to @eonline don't hurt!

@Munongwe

I am turning 42 years in May. I have been trying to conceive but to no veil. what must I eat? please help.

Working on a book all about pregnancy, fertility, maternity etc. Should be released this fall. That said, I highly recommend seeing a registered dietician. Getting off alcohol entirely. Try acupuncture.

@VilootShesCute

Not a question just wanted say you're awesome, lady. Thank you for the amazing workouts they are slowly changing my life.

No. you are. keep at it. xoxo

@Chapsie

Hi, Do you have any advice to help the beginner work through the pain of the first few days of 'shred' and keep going through the stiffness?

Every time I start I get so sore for the first few days that I am unable to do the sessions properly and so I end up feeling miserable and giving in. Can I do anything to reduce the 'stiffness'?

Yeah this can be a real pain. It gets better after about a week. Here is what I suggest. Do the workout. The next two days do cardio (hike, row, skim, bike, walk, jog etc.) then do the workout. Cardio again for two more days. Take 7th day off. Drink a lot of water. No non steroidal anti inflammatory medicine for pain. That stuff is terrible for you and slows down your results. Sleep and hydrate. IN a weeks time you should be flushed out and ready to work.