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Jillian Michaels: Free Weight Loss Plan?

Jillian Michaels appears on her website wearing a top emblazoned with the word "BULLY". She states "I'm not here to offer you false promises and all that crap that sells. I'm here to offer you a real weight-loss solution."

Jillian Michaels is best known for her role as personal trainer and coach on TV show The Biggest Loser. Now she offers her own weight loss solution that is:

1 Part Diet
1 Part Exercise
1 Part Attitude
The site promises a "free" weight loss plan by way of a comprehensive questionnaire that asks everything from your resting heart rate to your body shape.

After entering my details - the site came up with some interesting customizations (note that the website appeared to lock up when using the Firefox browser):

  • Because I have an "apple" body shape (store fat around the stomach and chest) - a particular workout plan that targeted visceral fat was suggested.
  • Because I am a fast "oxidizer" - a lower carb approach was suggested (50% protein, 20% carb, 30% fat).
  • For the behavioral aspect of the program - Jillian tells me "Well, I say screw willpower". She recommends getting a hobby, curbing mindless eating, and avoiding dangerous situations (like walking by the donut shop).

Not Quite Free
After that the site wanted my billing details. So much for a free weight loss plan. The costs are $4 per week, billed in 13 week amounts. You can cancel at anytime and will receive a refund for unused days. If you cancel before 4 weeks you will be charged a minimum of $20.

No Bull
Jillian Michaels champions a "no bull / no hype" approach to weight loss that is much more than a simple diet. Michaels has also authored a book "Winning by Losing : Drop the Weight, Change Your Life" which maintains a consistent 4.5 star review status at Amazon. That alone is indicative of the popularity of her approach.

Like many websites - I wonder how well the presence of a personal trainer translates into an online tool. It's great to read about motivation - it's another thing altogether to have a coach beside you pushing you onward.

See the Jillian Michaels weight loss plan.

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67 Comments

Linda

Free! No way! I signed up for the $24.95 and got the DVD's thinking this was all! Got e-mails for a couple of weeks, then BAM! Notice from pay pal they had charged my account $65.00. Disputed with pay pal and closed their access. When I e-mailed, they kept saying they could not find my account. All BS. Then finally, they agreed to give me back $60.00 of the $65.0 after weeks of dispute. WATCH OUT FOR THIS ONE!
NOT FREE!!!!

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Ria

Hey...Jillian..you ARE amazing I enjoy seeing you in the biggest loser...you are tru motivator...I love the way you protrait yourself on the show....maybe you heard it alot but you are the GREATEST!!

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HLS

I joined this about a month. It's pretty much just like every other online weight loss program. I think Sparkpeople is so much better.... and it's free! I went to cancel on the 4th week and sat on hold FOREVER.

I finally sent an email and a week later they responded that my membership would not be auto-renewed and I had until July 7th to continue to use the site. When you sign up you are told that if you are not happy you only have to pay for 5 weeks ($20). You have to reply again to ask for the $32 to be reimbursed. Otherwise they charge you the full $52. Just a warning.

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Jeanette Dukulis

Does anyone care about the animal abuse website on Jillian Michaels site. I cryed my eyes out after winessing what they were doing to the chickens Cows and pigs. The Torturing has got to stop! If you want to loose weight just eat less fats and move around more. its as simple as that. and read the labels.I am Devistated!

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Linnea

Ok. I understand that you are vegan. I respect that. There are a number of people who are not. Protein is a very important nutrient for your body. True, there are other sources. It's not animal abuse, it's the circle of life. If you don't want to eat animal protein in your diet, don't. Don't get me wrong, I care for animals as well. I don't wear furs, etc... But eating animal protein is not a sin.

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Jeanette Dukulis

Shame on whoever took my comment off about the animal abuse on Jillian Michaels website!

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Biggest Loser Blog

My wife and I love the Biggest Loser and Jillian. I hope one of her trainees wins again.

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Fight Childhood Obesity

Jillian Michaels teams with Network for a Healthy California to fight childhood obesity. Jillian Michaels, star of NBC's reality show The Biggest Loser and host of her own radio show on KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles, has joined with L.A. County public health advocates in the fight against childhood obesity. The radio promotion, which runs through September, consists of radio ads, a website and an on-air contest.

The radio ads feature Jillian along with a number of “Champion Moms,” who are actual local moms that serve as advocates for a statewide “Champions for Change” campaign (http://championsforchange.lacounty.gov/). The Champions for Change are committed to helping their families eat more fruits and vegetables and be more physically active. They also help make healthy changes in their neighborhoods, like encouraging local stores to stock more fresh fruits and vegetables. Their goal is to help prevent serious health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and certain types of cancer. The ads are sponsored by the Los Angeles Collaborative for Healthy Active Children and the Network for a Healthy California--Los Angeles Region and funded by USDA's Food Stamp Program, an equal opportunity provider and employer. For information about food stamps, call 1-888-328-3483.

KFI’s promotion website features a contest where listeners can submit their own champion for change ideas for a chance to win a mini vacation to a Palm Springs Luxury Hotel and an opportunity to meet Jillian at the KFI studio: http://www.kfi640.com/common/championsforchange/championsforchange.html.

The Network for a Healthy California--Los Angeles Region offers resources, technical assistance, and support for anti-obesity and nutrition-related projects throughout L.A. County and supports the efforts of the Los Angeles Collaborative for Healthy Active Children. The Los Angeles Collaborative for Healthy Active Children is a dynamic partnership of over 150 organizations dedicated to improving the health of children and families in Los Angeles County (http://www.lacollaborative.org/). The Collaborative promotes healthy eating, physical activity and communities that foster healthy lifestyles. With quarterly meetings and trainings throughout the year, the Collaborative brings together and mobilizes diverse sectors including low-income consumers, government agencies, non-profit organizations, advocates, community leaders, businesses, social service offices, and other experts in nutrition and physical activity. Members of the Collaborative coordinate, implement and evaluate countywide campaigns and initiatives that increase access to and availability of fruits and vegetables, safe physical activity and food safety.

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Rachael

So for everyone who is complaining about her site not being free: Get over it! Don't you know that is costs $ to maintain a website? And why do you go to work everyday, to make money right? Even people who work for non-profit organizationa have to make a living somehow. Americans complain to much, and this is coming from an American. No one put you in your situation except for YOU! If it costs $4 a week to get your life on track, DO IT! What is wrong with you people?!

And Jillian totally kicks ass! I started doing her DVD everyday and I feel myself getting stronger everytime I do it! I lost 6 lbs. in 2 weeks of rotating at the gym and doing her DVD. I haven't tried her diet, but I would probably lose a even faster if I did.

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Riley James

Free means free -- no cost. Just don't use the term unless you mean no cost. It's a matter of false advertising and we already have enough of that all over the place.

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Christa

Jillian Michaels is a fitness expert who gained prominence as a trainer on the NBC weight-loss reality series The Biggest Loser. She began her career in exercise because she was considerably overweight before her teenage years. Michaels has the best win/loss records of all trainers on every American and Australian season of the The Biggest Loser she has participated in. Jillian Michaels has one purpose, to maximize your diet and fitness potential so you’ll get dramatic results at an accelerated pace. Jillian Michaels has had tremendous success helping people lose weight on TV. Her devotion to helping others has inspired her to create a new online program customized and accessible to the rest of us.
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Christa


Sport betting guide

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Cleannie

My name is cleannie Henry and im from the Caribbean country of st.lucia. i simply adore Jillian michaels, she is a role model to alot of women out there and a huge inspiration to person aiming to get fit and toned. i have overweight from very young. i am 19 years old. 3 years ago at the age of 16 i decided to do something for myself and really get to the fitness level that i want. my dad was an athelete, but i could never compete in any sports because my weight held me back. my goal is to becoem a doctor specialised in the field of forensics, proably will me one of the first in my island. i will have to trainig to get to my goals but i am incapable. i feel inwanted and every morning im afraid to look at the mirror cause i couldnt stand to watch myself. i wanted to be fit, to be healthy, it was the least i could do for me. i started my journey 3 years ago at teh age of 16,trying whatever possible to loose weight and get really toned. i tried starving myself at a point. i hav enever been able to share my struggles with my parents because they always seem to say cleannie you're fine. i did loose weight but i remained untoned and very flabby, i feel horrible. from the summer of last year i have felt very demotivated and have stopped all efforts, i know this ha s not done me any good as i am quickly going back to weighing my former 210 pounds. i am tired of trying and not seeing results. i am at my wits end. please help. justa daily encouragement would be great to keep me motivated. i have not gone on a scale cause i am afraid of what i will see. please help :-(

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Shelly

why is that free is not free. I really need to lose wieght and so does my husband. We have 2 kids and we want to be around for the life but we try to diet and we have the motivation but we need help. can anyone help us we are a couple in crisis you are what we need please help

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melissa dawn Tatomir

I like when she tells them to do their job to lose the weight she is a great person and she is very good at her job to be a tranner I wish she could tran me and i will work very hard at it she is loving kind and very caring person I would love to meet her someday thanks again melissaTatomir

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Darleen

Free, come on. It got our attention didn't it?! I can't afford the online thing, but I can go by Barnes & Nobles and purchase Jillian's book. She lives all the way up in NY and that's a drive I can't make. I choose not to be bitter about the fact that it's really not free. I look at it like this. I was 210 pounds when my second son was born back in 1994. I am now down to 179.8 pounds and that is great for me, but I got that by working out and eating less! It works for me. My parents are trying hard to watch what they eat. Both my parents are retired and now they are starting to 'watch it', that's too late for me. I have no other alternative or excuse to say nah I will do it later. I was a caregiver for the elderly and put off myself to help others. That was stupid and now after 2003 to 2009 presently I have a lot of catching up to do! I will refuse to down Jillian for this program not being free. I joined The ROC gym connected with my church and I am there and drive by there, so a mile for 15 min and circuit equipment is great for me. I struggled and plateaued until going there so I am motivated within myself just from what she wrote about what I need to do. I don't need anyone holding my hand! I did need that little bit of boost to get me steered in the right direction.

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Brandy

I've seen a few people post it but I felt I should post as well. Sparkpeople.com is awesome! It has what all of these sites say they have and it is actually free. I've lost 10 pounds in a month with it and all of the people on there are really nice and supportive. It makes me excited to lose weight and go on there because of the support I get. Check it out!

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Edward

The program on her website may be helpful. However, they are employing some shady business practices. I signed up for the one week trial and before the trial was up I was billed for the subscription. When I called the toll free number to cancel the account and I was on hold for thirty seven minutes without actually talking anyone. I then emailed customer service that I wanted to cancel my account effective immediately. The next day I received a response and was notified that my account "renewal" was cancelled and my account would be inactive December 1st. I attempted to call the toll free number again with no luck. Replied to the email stating that I wanted the account cancelled immediately as stated in my email and would expect a refund for the unused portion as they advertised. Their response was that I would have to call to cancel and receive any refund. After another thirty plus minutes on hold the representative was surprisingly polite and helpful. I was refunded the full amount in "three to five business days." DO NOT sign up for this trial unless you plan to keep the subscription because they make it extremely difficult to cancel. It's not exactly on AOL level but still enough to turn me off to her brand. I will not go Jillian Michaels again.

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amanda

no money!!!!!!!!! just need 2 lose 30 or 40 pounds please help me gosh can i get a free trial?

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amanda

help me lose weight please

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