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14 Questions with Jillian Michaels
Written by Katie Marzullo. Published: May 10 2010
If there is truth in the phrase
"what goes around comes around," then Karma has been very kind to Jillian Michaels.
After getting herself in shape as an
overweight child, Jillian has since dedicated her life to showing
others how they too can benefit from healthy living. This has in
turn materialized into national fame for the personal trainer,
appearing on the hit reality series, "The Biggest Loser," and now
its upcoming spin-off, "Losing It with Jillian."
Most
recently, she appeared on the 2ndepisode of the MTV
series, "When I Was 17" (which you can watch in its entirety
onMTV.com). Jillian was
kind enough to take some time out from her hectic schedule to
answer some questions for YH via email:
---------------------------
YH:
How were you first approached about doing "When I Was
17"?
JM: The MTV peeps
approached the NBC PR team and asked if I'd be
interested.
YH:
Without revealing too much about the show, but what might your fans
expect from this episode?
JM: 17 was one of
the most pivotal years in my life. People will get an idea of how I
became the woman I am today.
YH:
What was it like taking a step back to the days when you were 17
years old?
JM:So
trippy. Years of memories that I had forgot came flooding back.
Made me want to call old boyfriends and see how they're doing. So
odd.
YH:
How have you and your goals changed since
then?
JM: I know who I am
now. 17 was when I began to find myself.
YH:
If you had the opportunity to go back and shake some sense into
your younger self, what would your advice be?
JM: Skip all the
beating yourself up. It does no good and wastes precious energy.
You're perfect with your imperfections.
YH:
What's one thing you wish you could have done
differently?
JM: I wish I had
finished school and become a doctor.
YH:
Are there any habits or parts of your personality that remain 17
years old?
JM: I'm still
passionate, intense, and adventurous.
YH:
Celebrities often have had a moment or event that completely
altered the course of their lives and brought them success.
What was yours?
JM: There were two.
The minute my martial arts instructor through me out of his studio
when I was a kid until I got my act together and getting cast on
The Biggest Loser.
YH:
I would imagine that when you decided to make a career out of
health and fitness, you didn't foresee yourself becoming a
celebrity in the process. How has the adjustment been since you've
entered the public eye?
JM: It has
definitely been jarring. With that said, I realize that this is the
life I chose and with good always comes bad. I spend my days
being grateful for the opportunities I have been given and learning
that to whom much is given much is required.
YH:
We all have our vices, admit it! What's
yours?
JM: CHOCOLATE,
CAFFEINE - flat out.
YH:
Putting someone on a TV show about weight loss seems like it would
be enough motivation for them to lose weight, but that rarely seems
to be the case. How do you get people motivated to make healthy
decisions and break their bad habits?
JM: By identifying
the reasons they want to change and making every decision in their
daily routine with that agenda in mind. "When people have a
why to live for they can tolerate any how."
YH:
Sometimes the small things can make a big difference. Can you think
of a simple change people can make in their daily lives to be
healthier?
JM: Quit drinking
soda (of all kinds including diet). Go for a walk every morning or
every evening after dinner. Avoid processed foods as much as
possible and eat fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, and lean
protein. Count calories.
YH:
When you became the The Biggest Loser trainer, did you have to make
adjustments from the way you normally work with your
trainees?
JM: Hugely. On
the The Biggest Loser we are often dealing with life or death
interventions in which I sometimes have only a week to get through
to someone. In real life Los Angeles most people want an 8
pack instead of a 6 pack. VERY different
world.
YH:
What can we expect to see from you in the
future?
JM:
LOTS!
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"The Biggest
Loser" airs Tuesdays at 8PM on NBC.
"When I was 17"
airs Saturdays at 11AM on MTV.
"Losing It
with Jillian" premieres June 1 at 10PM on NBC.
(Image provided by
Fanscape)
- Katie Marzullo, YH Staff
Editor
-Additional reporting: Nick
Rasmussen, YH Staff