Jillian Michaels' new weight-loss book inspired by her post-parenthood weight gain
BY RENE LYNCH Los Angeles Times
Sunday, February 17, 2013
2/17/13 at 4:28 AM
LOS ANGELES - Jillian Michaels didn't think she had another weight-loss book in her. She'd already written several, including "Master Your Metabolism," "Winning by Losing" and "Making the Cut." What else was there to say?
Plenty, as it turns out. Her latest book is "Slim for Life," and it represents Michaels' most accessible approach to health and fitness. Not exactly what you might expect from the star of NBC's "The Biggest Loser," known for ripped abs and a no-excuses, take-no-prisoners approach to diet and exercise.
You see, Superwoman has been transformed into Everywoman.
Michaels' life changed dramatically last May when she became a mother to two: Lukensia, 3, whose adoption from Haiti was finalized the same week that Michaels' partner, Heidi Rhoades, gave birth to their son, Phoenix. Cue the missed workouts, less-than-ideal snacks and - surprise, surprise - not enough sleep.
And 5 extra pounds on the scale.
That might not seem like much to us mere mortals, but it gave Michaels a glimpse into the lives of millions of Americans struggling to wedge healthful food choices and exercise into lives packed with work and family obligations.
"It used to be that I didn't accept 'limitations,' " Michaels said over breakfast one recent morning while dining on a bowl of fresh berries at Le Pain Quotidien on Ventura Boulevard, where she was virtually unrecognizable - no makeup, ball cap, sweats and flip-flops - to the diners around her.
"I was like, 'It's a state of mind! No excuses!' But adding kids to the mix added a whole 'nother layer of responsibility, of time management, of financial obligations, of no sleep. It definitely made me understand."
It was a point driven home on one day in particular when she looked at her schedule and realized that she had only three hours to spare once she carved out time for work, travel and sleep. "I was sitting there thinking, 'Am I going to work out or do I spend the time with my kids?' "
That's the vantage point of "Slim for Life." Michaels said she tried to tackle every "excuse" she's heard over the years, including such well-worn favorites as not enough time, not enough money and no idea where to start. "Slim for Life" readers will find hundreds of strategies and tactics for weaving fitness and healthful food choices into their current lives (instead of the other way around.)
"Slim for Life" is intended to be a lifestyle approach, Michaels said, and one that readers will ideally return to again and again as their commitment to health and fitness grows.
Michaels offers ways to enjoy such favorites while adhering to the 80/20 rule - eat "clean" 80 percent of the time and loosen the reins a bit for 20 percent. But "Slim for Life" has concrete examples of what that looks like.
For Michaels, it's taking her daily calories (1,800) and calculating that she can spend 1,450 of those calories on "super-healthy stuff" like fish and leafy greens, leaving her with 350 calories for cookies or ice cream. "Deprivation is miserable and isn't sustainable. You're not going to go the rest of your life without a bite of chocolate or a piece of pizza." She does not condone a "cheat day" strategy, however, because it's too easy for people to overeat and "wipe out all the hard work they put in during the week."
Another trouble area for many people is food on the job, particularly in big offices where candy dishes, group lunches, happy hour celebrations and birthday cakes are the norm.
Michaels suggests some common-sense tactics such as keeping a stash of healthful foods in your desk and takeout menus offering smart food choices within reach.
"I know that you can't do everything," Michaels said. "But this book is about a lifestyle. This is how I want you to live ... I'm saying, 'I get it, I feel you, I hear all your obstacles.' I'm going to make it as easy as possible. And it's not going to get easier than this."
Original Print Headline: Life-inspired plan
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Associated Images:
"The Biggest Loser" trainer Jillian Michaels gained 5 pounds after her partner gave birth to their son last May. PRNewsFoto/Everyday Health, Inc.
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