Perhaps considered one of the most inspiring people on television through her role as trainer, wellness expert and life coach, Jillian Michaels has some suggestions for getting through the holidays and enjoying yourself while still watching your weight.
“For me in general I like to practice an 80/20 rule” said the trainer-extraordinaire. “So 20% of the calories in my day I allow myself to have the glass of wine, you know, a piece of pumpkin pie or a smaller piece of pumpkin pie.
When it comes to the holiday season I like to tell people it isn’t about oh it isn’t about of this is the season where I binge and every Christmas party I drink like crazy and eat like crazy.
Pick two key days and say all right, on Christmas or on New Year’s I’m going to indulge and allow myself to, you know, go a little bit crazy. With that said the rest of the time you should stay on your regimen. You should continue to exercise. If you’re traveling, bring exercise DVDs with you, get a guest pass at a local gym.
When you’re, you know, when you’re making choices or going to parties bring a healthier dish with you. Choose the healthier options that are there. It isn’t that hard. And, you know, make it white meat, not dark meats. Instead of a green bean casserole, green beans with a little olive oil, a little lemon and some slivered almonds. The idea here is 80/20 rule, most of the time, pretty much the entire holiday season 20% of your daily calories can be unhealthy, 80% have to be healthy and then pick two days and indulge on those days.”
Jillian returns to NBC’s Season 14 of “The Biggest Loser,” with a two-night premiere event on Sunday, January 6 (9-11 p.m. ET) and Monday, January 7 (8-10 p.m. ET). She spoke to us reporters on the phone promoting the new season which tackles child obesity, a major epidemic in this country, with kid participants for the first time ever on the show, joining 15 fiercely determined adults eager to lose weight and change their lives forever.
Lastly, Jillian gave advice and tips for women who especially this time of year are just so sick of gaining and losing the same ten pounds every year, and nothing seems to change.
“We addressed this a little bit in that you can’t – you cannot get involved in fad diets. I think that’s why people are yo-yoing. They try, you know, oh I’m going to do the 17 day thing. Oh no, no, no. Now I’m doing the cookie diet. And the reality is you’ve got to eat better. You’ve get to eat in a balanced way where then you’re creating that energy equation of eating less, moving more.
And it’s honestly, it really is that simple. When you eat quality foods you’re naturally going to maximize your metabolism and your biochemistry and everything is going to get better — your health, your immunity. Your aging process is going to slow as much as possible and your weight is going to naturally balance itself out in a healthy way.
So the simple answer to you in a nutshell is it’s common sense. Eat good food, eat in moderation, exercise as often as possible, find something you love that you can do more of whether it’s a Zumba class, a class, a spin class or fly wheel. You like to run, run.
And that is the answer.”
Fitness g-d has spoken.