44 Responses

1. Great plan

   April 16th, 2009

   I recommend this book. I am on day 23 of the 30 day plan and am very happy with my results so far. If you follow the workout plan and make the right food choices by following the plan, you will see positive results. I am planning on creating a maintenance plan from the exercises in the book because they have worked very well so far and I believe they will continue to give me the results I want.

2. Highly Effective Program

   April 16th, 2009

   I came across Jillian’s book online one day and took it out of the library to read it before purchasing. I read it from cover to cover in a couple of hours and was hooked. It seemed completely do-able to me. I recruited a friend to join me and went out and bought us each a copy of the book. We spent some time the day before we were going to start doing the fitness test, weighing/measuring and determining our BMR etc. We decided to use Fitday.com to track our calories and % of carbs, proteins and fats. The bottom line is that Jillian lays out an easy to follow program – all the work is done for you. You just have to commit and do it. She gives you a day to day meal plan for the 30 days and a work out plan for the 30 days. You don’t have to eat exactly what she indicates for each meal – you can substitute what you have on hand as long as you stay within your calorie allotment and % of carbs, proteins and fats. This program awarded me the ability to lose weight, gain strength and muscle tone, create some great habits that lose some bad habits. I’m just finishing month two – not because the first month was unsuccessful but because I will use this plan as a tool indefinitely. To date, I have lost 9 pounds and 14.5 inches. I have reduced my body fat %. I now am in the habit of working out 4 days per week, drinking 8 glasses of water per day. I broke the habit of drinking wine with dinner every night (you will be shocked at how many calories you save). I easily eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables daily so I’ve increased my vitamin and fiber intake naturally. I have been trying for years to eat “clean” – this plan helps me do that. A couple of tips that I can offer: Use Fitday.com or another site to track your calorie and nutrition intake. You can even track your workouts. Once you get going, it takes only 10 minutes per day. My suggestion is to pre-plan for the next day to keep you on track. Trust me, when you have to be accountable and put it in “writing”, you’ll stay on track. Don’t fret over her workouts and needing a gym: I work out at home – some of her moves require gym equipment, no doubt about it. I modified what I could or just put in a different exercise altogether that worked that body part. After the first month, I decided to not follow her workouts – instead I use my DVD collection and workout 4 days alternating cardio and weight training. I have to say I did not love her workouts – they felt chaotic to me. BUT, that being said I did follow her workouts for the first 30 days. The other thing I modified after the first 30 days was my % of carbs, fats and proteins. I read on a couple of web sites that anytime you decrease your calorie consumption or go on a “diet” your metabolism will slow down. So even though I was a “Balanced Oxidizer” eating 40/30/30, I modified myself to a “Slow Oxidizer” in month two eating 60/25/15. I then played with those % a touch because I feel that 60% carbs is too much for me. So now I eat 55/30/15. My advice would be to take the test and follow that plan for the 30 days. Then modify if you feel it’s needed. In summary, this is a no nonsense plan that uses basic principles: eat healthy, eat in moderation, work out! It takes 21 days to form a habit and you will form GOOD habits following this plan. Give Jillian 30 days!

3. A swift kick in the a** even for the most fit of us athletes

   April 16th, 2009

   I’ve been a fan of Jillian’s since the first season of “B.L.” because of her bada** attitude and the respect she demands for herself and those she trains. Last summer I started using her 30-Day shred DVD in conjuntion with my running regime to make sure I got some strength training done daily. MAN! I don’t think jumping jacks were that hard when I was 10, but they got my heartrate up in no time. After doing the DVD a few times, I progressed to Level 2 pretty quick and was there for a couple of weeks before moving onto 3. I knew what kind of a workout I could expect from Jillian as I have recently tried her Fat-Blast and Metabolism-Boost DVD’s, and the workouts in the book aren’t too different. It’s intense for sure, but it’s a good solid workout that still makes my legs and arms burn. Her diet plan is very well planned out, offering lots of options for all types of bodies. What I like best about Jillian is that she understands beyond different “oxidizers” that there are still so many more “types” of people. I don’t feel like I’m starving myself and I don’t feel like I’m getting up and killing myself with this workout; it’s a gentle nudge in the right direction.

4. Excellent workout, not for the faint of heart

   April 16th, 2009

   I have done this workout for about a year and a half, and can testify to the fact that it can really change your shape after consistent use. The diet is ok, too, but hard to stick to for more then the month it was intended for. It is definitely difficult, but for the determined individual, it is very rewarding.

5. Not very helpful.

   April 17th, 2009

   I bought the book then took the metabolism test. I got the results went to the store and bought EVERYTHING on the shopping list. When I went to the first day to start the diet it had things on there that werent on the shopping list. Infact it has more recipes with stuff that arent on the shopping list then it does for stuff that is on it. So Im pretty frustrated that I bought a lot of food that I didnt need. I wouldnt recomend this book.

6. Motivating but........

   May 6th, 2009

   Jillian is the new up and coming ‘fit girl’ and her work outs in the book work! I give her credit where credit is due. But the recipies in the catalouge well, for us normal working people aren’t very helpful. I know how to eat right, and when to eat, but her recipies are a little to ‘Froo-Froo’ for me.

7. Not Realistic For Average People

   May 23rd, 2009

   I have been patiently waiting to get this book from my local Library. I am SO GLAD I didn’t buy it. Let me tell you, I’m a huge Jillian fan. I believe this book and its information are RIGHT ON! HOWEVER it is not practical for most people. I have access to a GREAT GYM. However, even with that access, it is severely difficult to perform these moves in the “circuit” at the speed that is required without brakes. I don’t know about you, but my gym’s weight room and cardio room are in two different areas. I can’t jump from move to move, without waiting for a machine, and then cleaning it down. This is the type of workout that is practical if you have your own gym, or access to a “BIGGEST LOSER” type where every machine is available for you at all times. The information is right on, and I believe that this would work. However it’s not practical. I’m so disapointed.

8. I tried it - it worked and is still working and I didn't follow the eating routine to a T! Try it, you need stamina & commitmen

   May 23rd, 2009

   It is hands down a great book. You have to be committed and have access to a small gym or a little equipment at home. It WILL kick you butt, BUT you will come back asking for me. I am starting my 61st day. I kind of wish there was a new book or she would train trainers because that’s where I am headed. Try it BUT be committed… This book is NOT for beginners or whimps. The trainer in my building said it won’t work and I said well I can’t afford a trainer so I will have to at least try it. Today he is like I can’t believe it and I am like IN YOUR FACE from Jillian and I! lol – Enjoy!!!

9. I made the Cut!!

   May 25th, 2009

   I just completed my 30th day of the Making the Cut, and I’m pleased to say I see a major difference I lost 12 lbs. I’m stronger, I’m leaner and my stomach is flatter and tighter. Before starting this program I went to the gym 3-4 days a week and I thought I was in good shape. Julian’s exercises really isolate each muscle group and I really enjoyed the different workouts. The hardest part for me was the NO alchol for 30 days you just realize how much of your social life involves drinking but I made it!! I enjoy going to the gym and I do think this program would be hard to complete if you don’t have a local gym. I highly recommend Making the Cut!!

10. Great book, tough recipes

    May 27th, 2009

    I really like the straightforward, in-depth coverage of how to drop those last few pounds and look great. However, I had a hard time with some of the recipes. There are a lot of items that aren’t widely available (I had to go to three different stores to find fennel) or very expensive, and a lot of fish. I love seafood, but worry about the mercury intake when eating fish up to 6 times per week. Yeah, the workouts are hard, but what else would you expect from Jillian Michaels? She’s not exactly known for a gentle approach.

11. Needed an editor who did the workouts

    June 2nd, 2009

    I finished the 30 days and found most of the workouts intense and interesting. There is a lot of focus on lats and obliques (which is odd because in the book she specifically says she doesn’t want to work her obliques). My upper body is much more developed. Would have liked some more focus on calves (other than plyo exercises, there was none.) I personally need more cardio and did it on the “off” days. Some of the exercises do not match photos (eg the woodchopper says end in a squat but the photo shows a lunge). Also she doesn’t say if she wants you to pause on the exercises where you do a drop set of 3 within a circuit (20/12/6-8). As far as the food, the recipes I tried were not so good and I didn’t understand how she can be such a proponent of clean, whole food but then include in good conscience Dannon Carb Control yogurt which is a bunch of chemicals. So I think all it would take is a good editor to go through and fine tune and things would be fine.

12. Great workout, but many won't have the necessary setup

    June 24th, 2009

    I am fortunate to have free weights, a treadmill, and a weight cage. Still there are a couple of cable exercises in this program that I don’t have the equipment to do. I just sub another exercise in the same family. This could be tough to do in a gym because of the quick changes necessary, and the required floor space for some of the more unusual exercises. So I think the equipment required will make this difficult for some people. I also find the diet advice to be contradictory to Jillian’s “Master Your Metabolism” book (which I read before I read this one). There, she talks about the evils of artificial “Frankenfoods” that are filled with fake sweeteners, fillers, preservatives, etc. And yet this book advocates eating these things. I am a bit disappointed about that. However, I like the workouts. They are tough, and they make me sore. I am certain they are changing my body. I liked the idea of circuit training, but didn’t know which muscle groups to work on what days, and which exercises to do to work them. This breaks it down nicely. Even if I don’t keep on with this program after 30 days, I will keep working the same muscle groups together on the same schedule. I find this workout is a little light on ab work, for me. This is a particular area of focus for me, so I add a lot more bicycle crunches and standard crunches when working abs. That probably sounds like a lot of negatives, but I really do like this workout. Without a doubt, it will give results.

13. Great workout, but VERY inefficient and unrealistic to do at your gym

    June 30th, 2009

    I love this workout plan and the butt kicking it provides. HOWEVER, unless you have a home gym set up with lots of equipment, it is very unrealistic and difficult to do the circuits at a gym. I have been following this plan religiously for 2 1/2 weeks now and unless I can go to the gym in the middle of the day when it is not as busy, I get extremely frustrated. In order to do the circuits as they are intended, you need to run from one side of the gym to the other to use the various pieces of equipment needed for just one circuit. Then the problem ends up being going back to do your circuit for the second time and there are people using the equipment. Like I said, this is not a problem if you have a home gym set up with a treadmill, weight bench, dumb bells, ball, and a weight lifting machine with pulleys. Great exercise plan, but not practical for most readers.

14. Making the Cut

    July 2nd, 2009

    Good book for guiding you into a healthy eating and exercise program. I liked the recipes and guide, but you really have to be committed to follow this program. It takes devoting a lot of time and effort.

15. Loved It!

    July 7th, 2009

    This is only day four of my 30 days and I am already loving it. I don’t usually eat very healthfully, but the recipes I have tried are really good. The workouts are tough and exactly what I wanted; they’re very motivating. I leave the gym feeling like I put a good workout in and don’t feel disappointed that I couldn’t get through it all.

16. Get off your butt and do it!

    July 7th, 2009

    As Jillian would say, Get off your butt! So as my kids were playing Xbox at Target about 35 days ago I was perusing the books and of course Jillian’s slammin’ cover picture caught my eye. I was going to dismiss it as just another “diet” book as I’ve read so many, until I read what her clever marketing and publishing people put as the 1st bullet point on the cover: Drop the last stubborn 10 to 20 pounds once and for all. Now you had my attention. I eat whole foods, I workout. Why can’t I get that leaner physique I’ve been desiring? What am I doing wrong??? So I bought it. I didn’t take the fitness tests, as I had already started back on a regular high-intensity circuit training workout. I did weigh and take my measurements. I didn’t take photos and now I wish I had. It was eye-opening to me the subtle ways I was sabotaging my efforts. I cleaned up my diet and portion sizes (the culprit) and used some of her recipes but made my own variations to the meal plan. It was a great guideline though. For those who read/reviewed the book and are whining about not having a gym to do the workout at, QUIT COMPLAINING. YOU CAN do these workouts at home with some variation. Use your search engine to find some different options. It’s worth the extra time. I felt the oxidizer test was pretty accurate and I had NO HUNGER if I ate every 3-4 hours. PLAN ahead folks. The key to success in living this way is don’t let yourself get too hungry. Keep some quality food bars in your purse at all times. We also eat-out more often than is ideal, but no worries. Just make smart choices and put half your restaurant meal in a to-go box when it first arrives at the table. Eat the rest later. Ok, so I could go on and on…Here’s the bottom-line: In 30 days I lost 7 lbs off my already size 4/6 frame. 13 inches overall and have landed at a healthy, strong 19.2% body fat (I got dunked on my last day). I’m going for another 30 day round to get even stronger and will update you again then. Just DO IT!

17. Loved It!!

    July 8th, 2009

    Working on the 30 day plan and love it so far!! The diet is a little trickier/fancier than i would like as i don’t want to fool with alot of cooking so I just simplify that part (ie when it calls for a chicken dish I just put a piece of chicken on the foreman grill with a little garlic salt.) Lovin’ the exercise part!Changing things up in my exercise routine is a good thing for me it keeps me from getting borted and I’m already seeing some results!

18. Finally lost the weight.

    July 28th, 2009

    I just finished my 30 days and all I can say is that I am so happy I purchased this book! I lost a total of 9 pounds in the thirty days and my muscle mass has increased a ton. For people who are not interested in the recipes: Neither was I. There were only a few recipes that I was actually willing to eat, but I still managed. I varied those few meals with meals that I created that had a similar carb, protein, fat, calorie, and sodium count. I even ate out a few times, I just made sure to look up nutritional information for each restaurant before going. For those without a home gym: I don’t have access to one either. For each exercise that required gym equipment, I simply improvised. I was able to work out each muscle that the equipment would have worked out by just using dumbbells. Just search for variations online prior to beginning the workouts. So, if you don’t have a gym, no worries! I don’t have a treadmill either, so for the running portions I just jogged in place and for the incline exercises I just jogged up and down steps. I do suggest getting a body ball, however, as I don’t think improvising for those exercises would be as easy. I am so thrilled that I found this book. It helped me not only lose the weight I have been trying to lose for so long, but it also helped change my habits. I kicked my coffee addiction with this book, as caffeine is a big no no with the diet. I also learned how to track what I eat and just how many calories were in all the foods I was eating before! I have reached my 30 days but I am sticking with it. I started the workouts over starting with day 15 and I plan on sticking to the diet plan as well. Who knows, in 30 more days, maybe I will lose 9 more pounds! For anyone who feels they just can’t commit for 30 days, all I can say is JUST DO IT! IT may sound silly, but if I can do it, so can you. It is so completely worth it.

19. Awesome!!!!!

    July 28th, 2009

    This book is for anyone that is already fit, but wants an extra challenge. I completed the 30 days and it really cut my arms, thighs, butt and last but not least I got flat sexy abs. Just think yourself stronger and leaner in 30 days guaranteed.

20. Great for Beginners

    August 3rd, 2009

    I haven’t started the program yet but from what I’ve read so far I know it’ll be just what I need to make big changes for my own health.

21. Good Work out plan

    September 5th, 2009

    I enjoy the Jillian Michaels videos. I bought the book to help me get into a plan. The knowledge is provided to you and you are the one that will either do something with it or not. It is an easy plan to follow and like I said if you are willing to follow it I believe it works. I have enjoyed the book very much.

22. Most of the content in this book you cannot use

    September 28th, 2009

    I have had this book for about 6 months. I bought it because I am in decent shape and only wanted to lose about 10 pounds of fat and gain muscle tone. I read through it in its entirety. I only kept to it for about 2 weeks and here’s why: It was not helpful and unrealistic. This book has good advice. I like that it has you measure your fitness capabilities and measurements other than just weight before you start the workout. It tells people not to drink alcohol on a diet, not to eat high glycemic foods, drink lots of water and eat every four hours. Ok, great. The entire section on metabolism and what kind of “oxidizer” you are is unfounded and subjective. You discover what kind of oxidizer you are by answering quiz questions that are based on your “feelings” and questions you may or may not know the answer to (ex. you feel more depressed when you eat…). After taking this subjective quiz your entire diet is based on it. Even if you get over the fact that it has no founding in any kind of facts or research, the daily food chart is insane. It includes not just a few, but a majority of foods most people do not purchase at the local grocery store (ex. in the same week you have on your menu curried swordfish, grilled fennel, dijon lamb, bass, haricots, and lentils). Other than these foods being expensive, it also too much takes time to prepare the recipes on the days and times provides, especially difficult when eating every four hours. Some of the recipes are good, but in general I ended up ignoring this section. I eat pretty healthy on my own without all the fancy weird foods. The routine section was not very helpful either. The circuits were all different for each day so the moves required you to study before and during your workout taking away from the intensity of the workout, the time you allotted to do it, and making it difficult to get into a routine. In addition, many moves require specific equipment so you would need access to a good gym with that has all this stuff. Instead, I just did her video “30 day shred” everyday which includes workouts that are in the book. (Its really GREAT by the way). I didn’t use anything from the book hardly at all on my diet and exercise plan. I did use 30 Day Shred video workout and still do and have seen and felt a difference in my muscle tone.

23. THANKS JILLIAN!!!

    September 29th, 2009

    My daughter and I both bought this book and worked out together! We both wanted to lose that last 10 pounds that has eluded us for a long time. By following Jillian’s diet and workout routine we were both able to exceed our goals. Never have I sweated so much! Yet never have I felt better!! I have received so many positive comments from others and I feel so healthy. We used many of her recipes that helped us stay on track. I never felt like I was starving. Also, her workout routines were challenging and had a lot of variety in them. Even though I was tired after a workout, I felt empowered and looked forward to the next day’s workout. I have since recommended this book to many of my friends and I continue to use many of her recipes and workouts in my regular life. Thanks Jillian!

24. Insightful!

    October 5th, 2009

    This book contains great recipes and workout plans. Some recipes may require a lot of cooking, but some are easy to follow with low carb, low cal Roast Beef and Cream Cheese wrap. Useful foods are likable by most people, e.g. Peruvian Beef Kabobs, shrimp, brocolli and sun-dried tomato with pasta. The workouts include machines, weights and physio ball. Many exercises can be done at home with no machines. There is also a workout dvd 30 Day Shred that the reader can read about and a website. All together the fitness plan is insightful.

25. THIS PROGRAM KICKS BUTT!

    October 16th, 2009

    By reading the reviews, most people have covered what the book is all about. I just wanted to make a review about the circuits and exercise program of this book. I am a huge Julian fan and it inspires me to follow a program from a trainer that looks amazing! I am on day 17 of the program, and each and every week is hard. The fast pace of the circuits give me a great cardio workout! Not to mention that I am so sore every week! The exercises are intermediate to advanced, and I suggest that you prepare yourself for a hard-core workout! Beginners can surely get to that stage once you begin the program and should not be intimidated. This program will make you feel inspired, strong, determined and the results you want can be attainable if you follow this book to the “T”. I recommend you buy this book if your looking for something different or need to get over that plateau. It’s so worth it!

26. best book ever

    November 7th, 2009

    I love this book. I have been using it for over a year. it always helps me stay motivated and keeps me from running out of workout and cooking ideas!

27. Fungirl

    December 10th, 2009

    The book is very interesting and it is also easy for almost anyone to follow and stick to. The price is also exceptional with respect to the product offered. I am looking forward to the end results. Thank you Jillian and Amazon.com

28. Great Results

    December 30th, 2009

    I am a very fit individual and had hit a plateau in my workouts. This book solved that problem. Wow. I can’t seem to recommend this enough. I feel like I should be getting paid for the amount of promoting I do of this book. The cover is a bit intimidating to take into the gym, but I’ve gotten over it. Again, wow!

29. Holds a lazy girl's interest

    January 1st, 2010

    A coworker offered to loan me this book after a conversation we had about how discouraged I felt about losing weight. I was a bit skeptical at first; even though I watch The Biggest Loser, I think the show is overexposed and I wasn’t sure how fresh and captivating the book would be. This particular book is meant for people of an average or better fitness level with 20 lbs or fewer to lose, so right off the bat I liked that it’s specifically geared toward me. It’s divided into 3 parts: diet, exercise, and supplements. The diet portion actually contains meal plans and grocery lists for 3 different metabolism types. I was surprised to see which type I am, and although I don’t follow the specific meal plan/grocery list, I have already seen a difference in my energy level and cravings (I’m on Day 4) from eating healthfully and using the ideology behind fast oxidization. The book also includes healthy recipes. The fitness portion is wonderful. It has tons of pages of exercises with illustrations and written directions. Because there are so many, I find the index quite useful. I recommend taking 5 minutes to familiarize yourself with all the exercises in a given day before you even hit the gym. It will save you a lot of page flipping! Each daily workout is comprised of about 5 cicuits. The workout is different every single day for the whole 30 days, which I love, love, love! Basically you’ll do resistance training and calisthenics, followed by a minute of cardio in every circuit. Jillian even tells you how to figure out how much weight to use (when applicable). She recommends followed each 45 minute workout with 15 minutes of cardio. There are also days off built in, and not necessarily where you’d expect! The final section of the book addresses the many supplements out there. Not certain brands, but the ingredients themselves. She goes into what each one actually does, how well it works, who should take it, how much to take and when, and what to combine it with. She also goes into which supplements to avoid and why. I found this section very enlightening and invaluable. I was able to choose a caffeinated, fat burning supplement with the knowledge that I had the ingredients present in the dosage I wanted, as opposed to just picking one at random off a shelf. Nice! I think the best thing about this book is that it has breathed new life into my fitness regimen. I’m now excited and committed to going to the gym, because every day is like a surprise and that makes it really fun! I feel energized and proud afterwards. I am of barely average fitness and I find the workouts challenging, but not exhausting. I feel enough soreness the next day that I know I worked hard, but that I’m not in pain. And I love the way she works out the front of your body one day and the back the next! I showed this book to my personal trainer to use during our sessions, and she wants to buy a copy, as well.

30. Not for Vegetarians!!

    January 2nd, 2010

    I love Jillian Michaels.. I have her 30 day shred DVD which I use frequently. I bought this book looking for inspiration and a better eating/lifestyle guide. I’m a vegetarian and did not think that would necessarily be a problem, but most of the recipes are aimed at meat-eaters, so if you’re a vegetarian, I would suggest just googling weight-loss inspirational articles and healthy vegetarian recipes.

31. Great Book

    January 8th, 2010

    I love Jillian. My wife asked for her books about a year ago. I thought to myself why? My wife is not fat or even chubby, she was size 3. WOW my wife is now a 1 and is SUPER HOT. Totally ripped and heads turn everywhere we go. Now she did put in the work and it was not 30 days. More like a year or so. But this book was the key. We have always be active. Wakeboarding, biking, hiking and active stuff. I have never seen my wife so HOT. BUY THIS BOOK. for wives, gfs, friends, friends wives. Follow this book and it will get you there. Everybody asks my wife what she is doing and she will not say but I am reviewing the book so BUY IT NOW. Thanks Jillian, I owe you one.

32. Very Motivating

    January 26th, 2010

    Jillian is great. I really liked this book and also get her e-mails and use her dvd’s. What’s great is her holistic approach that makes it about so much more than just weight. I also really liked and was helped by reading Clarity in Weight Loss on [...]

33. Best Work Out and Recipe Book - All in One!

    January 26th, 2010

    I love the work outs in this program! The program employs a variety of exercises to motivate the participant: weights, the participant’s own body weight, jumping exercises, running, jumping rope, resistance bands, etc. I run half marathons and this program is an excellent way for me to build some muscle for running and increase my upper body strength. I recommend taking her fitness tests at the beginning of the book so that you know what your weakness is: cardio, leg strength, upper body strength, etc. The program is challenging – I have been humbled. I just tell myself, “I’m doing it and I’m getting stronger every day!” The recipes are good, but not the best I have tasted. In general, I am not a big proponent fat-free, low-carb, low-fat. I substitute olive oil for cooking spray and full-fat cream cheese for low-fat, and real tortillas (I’m in Texas!) for low-carb. BUT, I am not trying to lose weight – just gain a little muscle! For people trying to lose weight, the recipes are perfect. You will lose weight if you stick to her exercise and diet routine. You will gain muscle. She uses a proven approach to balancing blood sugar to reduce cravings. I have yet to find another book like this one! And believe me I have tried to find another book for variety.

34. Circuit Training is the way to go!

    January 28th, 2010

    My husband and I have been using the 30 day workout plan for the past 2 weeks and we love it! It breaks us out of our old rut of just doing the same old routine. I actually look forward to what’s ins tore that day! Of course her circuits are hard, they will kick your butt, but day by day I see and feel the difference. The first week we lost 4 pounds a piece. Definitely recommend this book. We aren’t following the exact diet but are using her ideas to create our own.

35. Good, but

    January 29th, 2010

    I read the book and think her perspective may actually work, if it was as easy as following the eating plan. I am a vegetarian and eat very little dairy products..no milk, cheese or cottage cheese..the only dairy I eat is occasionally a yogurt. I dont eat eggs. It is just too complicated to try and figure out the swaps for protein and fats from her plan. Every menu contains either eggs or milk or meat. Based on the book, I have concluded that I am probably eating way too many carbs, I eat alot of rice, potatoes and bread..should probably cut down on those!

36. good and....

    February 1st, 2010

    I like Jillian Michaels. She’s inspiring and smart. She has a lot of good information to pass along. Unfortunately I didn’t realize when I bought the book that it’s for people with 20 lbs or less to lose – I’ve got 8 more before I really get to make the most of it. Because I liked the way she says what she has to say I bought “Winning by Losing” which has helped me start losing weight. I look forward to being ready to put “Making the Cut” to really good use.

37. great info!!!

    February 5th, 2010

    this was a great book to read, however i never did follow it completely as i do not have time to cook for myself. but it was great to read and the exercises i liked. the information was right on the mark. i highly recomend this book and any of jillian’s books

38. workouts and pagination are difficult to follow

    February 5th, 2010

    I find that while these workouts might be good to do, they are difficult to follow. I am fairly knowledgeable about exercise and I think that the instruction in the workout section is difficult to follow and lacking in detail. It will show Jillian in a position in the photo and then describe her in a totally different position for the description of the exercise that correlates with the photo. Then it will say to do a certain number of reps and not say to even them out on both sides. I realize this is probably common knowledge but there are a lot of people out there that are going to be doing these exercises incorrectly based on the lack of detail, and could injure themselves. Additionally and most importantly, this book will list the exercises and the number of reps on a given day’s routine. THEN you need to look in the back of the section to see a GLOSSARY where THEN it refers you to a page to find the info on how to do the exercise. So basically you have to have your fingers marking at least THREE different pages to flip around to figure out what to do! It’s very difficult to use, poorly organized, and basically the first time you go through any given workout you need at least 30 minutes the night before to prepare for the workout the next day. Then you need to make notes and know what you are doing before you even start so that then you can move from circuit to circuit quickly or you won’t build up a sweat and get your heart rate up. While there is some great info in this book, I do not recommend it because it’s a HUGE time committment! YIKES!

39. Exercises Good, Recipes/Food Bad

    February 12th, 2010

    Buy this book if you are looking for some kick butt workouts. I am a runner and so consider myself in decent shape, but I found these circuits quite challenging, which is exactly what I was looking for. She does a great job of listing variations of moves so that if you aren’t in a gym you can still work that muscle. And each week you do different moves so you never get bored, although you might feel like throwing up here and there. The only downfall to the exercise portion is that there aren’t pictures of each move, which would help me make sure the form is correct. Don’t buy this book for the diet/food aspect. Most of the recipes turn out bland and tasteless or require expensive ingredients that you won’t use all of in a week. The diet plan doesn’t have hardly any fruits and vegetables and requires you to use things like butter substitute, splenda and items with high fructose corn syrup in them. Those things don’t mesh with healthy eating in my mind.

40. Results within 2 weeks that even my husband noticed!

    February 12th, 2010

    This book is great! I went through 2 “cycles” and had remarkeble results. You work HARD and you look silly doing it, but the results come quick and noticable. I am an avid exerciser and have been serious about health for at least 10 yrs now. Don’t buy the book if you don’t have a gym membership. It’s almost required for the book. My husband was inspired after my first 30 days and decided to join me with my workouts. Many times he almost passed out because he was working so hard (and he only lasted 2 weeks). This is a great way to tone up and gain cardiovascular health. I didn’t follow the diet to a tee, though I did mix my protein and carbs and also was very mindful of what I was putting in my mouth. I just find it very expensive to follow specific plans. Overall, this is a great buy if you are looking to jump start your health, get toned, and just feel great!

41. Jillian Rocks!

    February 12th, 2010

    Working out with Jillian is awesome! If you are ready for hard work….and ONLY if you are ready for hard work, then buy her DVD’s. I have all of them and LOVE each one! None are the same at all, and each will kick your butt! However…YOU need to make that happen. It’s your intensity that will make it work. So if you are a “fluffy trainer type” person, then you probably won’t like Jillian.Although she does talk about beginner moves and promotes doing the easier moves if that is what your body is telling you what to do. She also helps encourage you to give it your all. She just a “tells it like it is kind of gal” and helps push you to be your best. No half assing it. It’s YOUR workout she says…you buy the DVD, you do the work. Each of her DVD’s have different routines, but the message is the same if you want your outer shell to be hot, then you also need to work on your inner shell, your mind & nutrition have to be in the game with you as well. Jillian Rocks! Great intense workouts in all her DVD’s and in her Biggest Loser DVD’s. Good Luck to you!

42. Lots of great sutff, but not perfect.

    March 2nd, 2010

    This book is packed with lots of really great information. Like what kind of diet is best for your metabolism, which muscles to work for improving your posture, and how to “peak” to look your best for a special event but there was a lot I disliked about it too. Lets start with the good stuff. The diet is great! It’s customizable to meet your individual needs. There is a formula to help you figure out the minimum amount of calories you can ingest before your metabolism starts slowing down, so you can lose the maximum amount of weight. This was great for me, because I’m currently nursing. I was able to adjust for that. There is also a test at the beginning to help you find your oxidation rate, which is basically how fast your body converts food to energy. I have tried a few different diets that give you a day by day menu and they’ve been a disaster for me, loaded with all kinds of food that I won’t eat. This book has three different ones. The diet recommended for me was filled of foods that I like. There are tons of recipes and so far they’ve all been really good. I was worried about having to make a meal for myself and another for my family but it hasn’t been a problem. The recipes give you all the nutritional information and most of them contain several servings. It’s easy to double it up or cut it down to suit your needs and the food is good so my family doesn’t mind eating it. Now for the bad things. As wonderful as I think the diet is, because it’s so customizable you need to figure out how many servings of everything you need each day to make your calorie intake. I don’t think there’s any way around this because it’s different for everybody, but it’s still a pain. The recipes are all delicious but they can be pretty time consuming. I have to cook something moderately complicated for just about every meal. I’m a stay at home mom, so I am able to do this, but I can see it being a big problem for someone who works. It can also be a bit expensive. The menu has me eating lamb twice this week. Not the cheapest meat in the world. The book’s exercise portion I thought, left a lot to be desired. Like the diet, the book provides a routine for each of the 30 days but it’s not personalized the way the diet is. There are some nice tips on customizing your workout but no guide on how to incorporate them into the routine. There are tons of exercises, but no information about which exercises are good substitutions for another. If you’re injured or working out at home this is a problem. The details about cardio are also a little muddled. The book says you should split up your weight training and cardio if you can, and that you should do interval training but that’s about it. There is nothing about how often you do it, what you should do or how long you should do it for. Some of the instructions for the exercises are also pretty vague. After a week I stopped doing the exercise portion of the book all together and used a different one that I got from a magazine. Even though I found about half the book to be utterly useless I still gave it 4 stars because the diet is so fantastic. I’m losing weight at steady rate and any book that can help me do that is well worth $10.

43. Great workouts for the dedicated gym-goer!

    March 2nd, 2010

    This book provides a lot of information about how to plan your diets. I followed the diet part for a little while, but I tend to eat a healthy diet anyway, so I didn’t feel the need to follow it to a tee. The workouts, however, are great, but you definitely do need a gym membership to do many of the workouts (which was fine for me since I belong to a gym). I wish there were tear-out cards for the workouts, though, since I am not about to haul the whole book to the gym and it would be nearly impossible to memorize every detailed workout plan. I end up spending time writing down the workouts on index cards, which is slightly time consuming and seems like it would be easily solved by tear-out cards. I do each circuit once rather than twice and it generally takes me about an hour to get in the five different circuits for each day. These workouts are NOT for out-of-shape people. I am in good shape and I still find myself feeling like I worked so hard I might vomit (but I never do). You’ll see results quickly with this workout. Some reviewers find that the exercise illustrations in the back are not sufficient for them to understand how to do the exercise. I agree that these illustrations could be improved by providing pictures of different stages of the same exercise for clarity, but I’ve solved this problem by just Googling the exercise(s) in question to find another source. Overall, i love the challenge these workouts provide! Definitely not boring!

44. This book is very helpful

    March 9th, 2010

    The training guide in this book was just what I was looking for.It has helpful info as to what to do, how much, and how often. However, the diet portion needs some review. The shopping list does not match the recommended foods to eat. Some items are not on it, while others on it are not used. I ran out and bought the list and was disappointed it didn’t follow her plan exactly.