Jillian Michaels is kicking my a$$!

Well, tonight is the Biggest Loser finale. I can’t wait to see who wins. They’ve all worked so hard. In fact, I don’t think that NBC really gives us, the viewer, the real picture of what is going on. Let’s be realistic…these people are in the gym all day, literally all day! Unless we were to take a leave of absence from life, we could not get the results that these contestants do.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am in no way discounting the hard work that they have done, but I think that the show needs to show more of this…or at least give the viewer an idea of the reality of it. I visited neversaydiet.com which is a website that they promote on the show. The website had exit interviews with the contestants, and one of the questions was something like, what would you like people to know that they don’t see on the show. And you know, just about every answer focused on how much time they actually spend in the gym. Someone even commented that if they had a few calories left to burn for the day they had dance parties. Think about this…if you were trying to lose weight would you spend a few hours dancing in your basement with your friends late at night to burn calories? Perhaps I’m the weird one here, but I can unequivocally say “No!”.

All that being said, Jillian Michael’s is kicking my ass. Yes, you read it right. About 4 weeks ago I bought Jillian’s book Winning at Losing. Great book. Great information. And, I have to say, great workout. The hubby and I did it religiously for 3 full weeks. That means that I have been in the gym every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evening for 1 hour sweating like I mean it. Then, Saturday morning I do an hour of cardio. Because we have to work out in the evening, we don’t get to the gym until 5:30 and it’s 5:45 before we actually get going. 5 minute warm up, 50 minute routine and 5 minute cool down and it’s 6:45. Monday’s my parents have the kids, so we don’t have to rush as much. But, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday we’ve got both kids in the daycare at the gym. So, by the time they’re packed up and in the car it’s past 7pm. Lucky for me, the kids like to eat “cold dinners” and on Friday’s they always get Wendy’s (they love the baked potato, go figure). So, life has been hectic to say the least.

We were starting to feel a little overwhelmed…cause sometimes you need some time to just relax…and what’s the point of working out so hard just to go home and sit on the couch? Well, my husband got a reprieve…baseball started. So, twice a week from now until the end of August he’ll be playing baseball. Personally, I don’t think it’s a big deal. This is life…not TV. We were not going to be able to keep up the pace forever. I am going to try my best to continue on my own, but I know that once the kids are out of school it will be much harder.

I didn’t say it, so I’m sure you’re wondering…does it work? That is a two part answer I think. Am I building muscle? Absolutely. Am I losing inches? Absolutely. Am I losing weight? Slowly – although I’m sure this has more to do with calories consumed…which I’m experimenting with this week. Am I losing lots of weight fast like it claims? NO. Short and simple…NO. Neither one of us are losing weight rapidly. However, I haven’t been following the program exactly as laid out as far as food is concerned. I will be this week….then we’ll see.

Most important, I think…keep moving!