Losing It With Jillian: Northern Family
I don’t know what it is about Jillian Michaels and her show Losing it With Jillian but it really tugs at my heart strings and makes me reflect on my own personal life. Each week I see the struggles of the individuals and the families and relate to them so much and this week was no exception. Tonight we were blessed with Jillian introducing America to The Northern family. Tonight, June 22, 2010 the episode was all about how Jillian helped the family to realize that all of the power to take back the control of their lives was not on some television
show but right there in their hearts and within themselves. Tonight was a good episode and was enjoyed by the entire family that sat and watched it in our home. Even the teenage daughter was inspired by the show and she is not even over weight.The Northern family resides in Goodlettsville, Tenn. and there was the father (Patrick), the wife (Kim), and the two teenager children that were about 13 years old. Their names were very pretty and the son was named Ameer and the daughter was Ameera. They are a Southern family and they had a love for food and they sure knew how to cook it in old southern traditions of thick and greasy. Patrick had lost his job and that was an emotional drain on his self esteem and he turned to food which propelled him to 329 pounds while he should have been 192 pounds. Kim was a whopping 283 pounds and her healthy weight should have been 192 pounds. They were both soon to learn that they were very close to major health problems if they did not make a change.
In this episode we saw something new which was that Jillian was watching the family live on a flat screen, in her automobile. She watched them prepare a gigantic pot of fried chicken and a massive dish of some sort of greasy, artery clogging casserole. We soon
At the initial workout Jillian mocked their “100,000 calorie lunch” and for the first time she publicly acknowledged her approval of The BodyBugg on Losing It With Jillian. We were very excited that she was getting the word out because we personally know how effective it is towards weight loss and great it works!!!!!! This is the first time that the Body Bug was mentioned on Losing It With Jillian despite it has been visible on the arms of all the people of all previous episodes of the show. It was a very short mention but her approval and endorsement of BodyBugg was there nonetheless. We know she loves it because it empowers a person to be able to make the needed decisions on what to eat and how many calories are being burned on a daily basis! Jillian said the BodyBugg needed to be their Bible for weight loss!
Jillian then noticed a trend with the family and that was where Patrick goes, the family follows. Ameera started to cry because she felt as if her Dad was not really trying to exercise. Jillian then tore into Patrick that he was the leader of the family and that he was the one leading them down this road to unhealthiness and he had to stop giving up in life. Jillian told Patrick and Kim that they had to make their life a priority and take care of their bodies first or they would not be around to take care of the kids. The kids both got teary eyed and the family started to dispose of all the unhealthy food in their home and put it into garbage bags. Jillian was then alone in her room and said to the camera “I am in another strangers house again”
We were soon in the gym and Patrick was on the treadmill and trying to jog an then fell down with Jillian promptly responding “Right on time.” She then screamed at Patrick “You tell your body what you need it to do and it will do it.” Soon he was running for 10 minutes on the treadmill despite all of his protests that he could not do it. Jillian proved her statement that Patrick could run for 10 minutes. It was soon evident that the emotional barrier Jillian had to break through this week was the low self esteem Patrick felt because he was unemployed. Since he was not working he started to lose the leadership role of his family. Jillian had to get Patrick back as leader and Jillian had to wake that up from inside of Patrick, that was the struggle.
At the end of the show we were all back with the family 8 weeks after Jillian had left them. It was at a surprise 40+1 party because Kim chickened out at her last party because she was too ashamed of her body, so she cancelled the party. This time when she showed up she had lost 41 pounds and dropped 4 sizes. Patrick soon appeared looking pretty good after having dropped from a size 52 to a 44 and having lost 61 pounds. Patrick said he was able to do it because Kim had her “foot squarely in my butt.” Soon we saw Patrick step dancing which was something he was too ashamed to do with Jillian before he lost his weight.
While he was step dancing we heard Jillian tell America that this is what life was really all about. That despite bad times, or hard times being happy and being healthy was what it was all about. Overall this show was not as powerful as previous, but it was pretty good overall.
Losing It WIth Jillian Theme Song By Beth Hart, Learning To Live
The Losing It With Jillian Theme Song By Beth Hart, Learning To Live is a very popular song and loved by millions. If you have ever watched the show Losing It With Jillian, you have heard this song.
We have provided this quick article for the sole purpose to help people find the song that is the featured theme song on the Jillian Michaels television show Losing It With Jillian. If you would like to hear a recording of this great song by Beth Hart, just check it out below and we hope you enjoy it as much as we have.
Losing It WIth Jillian Theme Song By Beth Hart, Learning To Live
Losing It With Jillian: Franklin Family
On the Losing It With Jillian Episode that aired on Tuesday July 13, 2010 had a lady on the show named Amy Franklin that Jillian was trying to help with her weight issue. What made this episode different right from the start was the fact that Amy gastric bypass surgery and lost many pounds, only to gain them all back again. This is the first time on a major television show the sad fact that we have pointed out for years about weight loss surgery.
What we have always said is that if a person does not tackle the REASON why they are overweight…the weight loss surgery will only cause a person to lose weight in the short term. This episode is so fitting to have on Losing It With Jillian because of the weight loss philosophy that Jillian is always teaching and preaching.
Jillian Michaels is always talking about getting to the core issues that does not allow a person to permit themselves to lose weight. Jillian entered this show knowing Amy had weight loss surgery and yet gained back too much weight. We really think that Jillian wanted this episode to sway some people into thinking that there is a better way to lose weight and get healthy than to have surgery.
The show began with Amy telling America her story about gaining all her weight back and her young daughters and husband telling her that she needed to stop smoking. Jillian sent the Franklin family to the doctor and found out they were all doing really poorly and her and her husband were both right at 50% body fat and the husband was teetering on becoming diabetic because of his weight.
Jillian then appeared and told America that the Franklin family thought they were just filming a casting video, so her showing up at the home was a total surprise. Before the Franklin family returned home Jillian was snooping around and inside the Franklin family home. Jillian found cigarette butts all around the home and a really poor food selection in their home. The worst part was the CPAP machine next to their bed. Jillian was ready to surprise the family.
When the family returned from their “video shoot” Jillian was sitting in their living room and Amy was almost in tears when she realized she made it on the show. At first it appeared that Amy wanted no part of the show and hid from getting ready to go to the gym. Jillian asked her if she was alright and then we soon we were in the gym with Jillian asking the hubby (Todd) what he expected from the week. Jillian told America that he really did not understand anything about what was going on and he was pretty much clueless as to what he needed to do to lose the weight. Jillian then tried to get Todd to work out and he said “we are not going to get along” and then Jillian asked Todd if he wanted to quit and then Todd said he was going to quit as he took a drink of water.
Jillian then told Amy her husband quit and then they both focused in to what Amy was trying to do. Amy said that she could not make him do it and if he did not want to do it, then so be it, she could not make him. Next we were in the home with Jillian seeing her room for the next week. Jillian soon revealed that although Amy and Todd were happy there were issues with them getting their exercise and weight loss done.
It was midnight when Jillian came down down the stairs and asked what Todd was doing at the fridge eating. Todd then realized that he was “grazing” in secrecy
Next we were in the gym again and Todd, who was all sweaty, once again told Jillian that he was done. Jillian once again turned her attention to Amy and Amy confided with Jillian that she had weight loss surgery and lost her business, which caused her to gain all her weight again. Jillian then established the fact that Amy gained her weight back again because Todd was not on board with living a healthy lifestyle. That night Jillian decided that Todd needed a support group and he was going to be a tough one to get through to and help.
After a commercial break we were in a bowling alley with Todd introducing Jillian to all of his friends. Jillian then learned from his friends that they were all afraid for the health of Todd, but could not get through to him. Todd’s friends then said that they had their doubts that he was ready to change. Jillian then took the family to Subway for sandwiches which was a built in commercial. We only mention this fact because Subway is really a good place to eat. As as side-note we will warn you to skip the tuna at Subway, as it is REALLY loaded with calories because of the mayonnaise… it is full fat.
Jillian was then talking to Amy to learn that she enjoyed Yoga. Jillian said that was good at it and soon Jillian had Todd and Amy in a boxing ring. Jillian then asked Amy what she wanted from Todd. Amy, while in the ring, said that she could not make him want to get his life back on track, if he did not want to do it. Amy then yelled to him that if he did not make the changes in his life, she would leave him and end their relationship. Jillian looked as if she was awkward by this statement which just sort of hung in the air. Jillian was then in the kitchen with the children and said that you can still eat tasty stuff and yet it be healthy. She showed them how to make brownies with honey, applesauce, olive oil (no butter) and whole wheat flour.
Jillian then had all of Todd’s friends over and they told Todd that it would be really sad if he died from being obese. They mentioned how he went to the sleep center and could not sleep through the night. The friends then told him that they were no longer going to nag him because it was his choice and his choice alone. Todd’s mother was then there and told him that she did not want to bury him. Amy said she was going to lose the weight and make life style changes with or without him. Todd then told Amy to stop taking care of him and that he needed to do it all by himself. Jillian then said that alot was covered and Todd told America that he realized he was killing himself with food.
Jillian then told Todd that this was the first day of the rest of his life. Todd then was in the kitchen calling his friend and asked if they could go swimming. The friend, Mark, said he was glad that he was there while Todd told America that this was just the start. Next we were with Jillian and Amy rolling out Yoga mats. Jillian said that Amy was in her environment and she thrived doing Yoga.
Todd then told the two daughters, Chloe and Lilly that he was going to prove to them that he was going to make a change. Todd then told America that before Jillian arrived it was like he was sleep walking. He then told America that he was now awake and ready to take back his life. Jillian then was seen saying goodbye and Todd told America that he was going to prove to the world that he would lose the weight while she was gone.
Six weeks later Jillian was seen returning to the Franklin family in Troy, Michigan wondering how well the family did. It was at Lillie’s birthday party that the new family was revealed. From out of a tent Todd appeared to show that he lost 33 pounds and that he stopped using his CPAP machine.
The Amy was called out and she revealed to America that she lost 17 pounds. She was looking and feeling as if she was empowered by her weight loss and was proud that she was able to really quit smoking. Jillian then told the crowd that she was happy with what she returned to. Then Jillian gave the family a college fund for their children. This was the second episode in a row that there was no dollar amount given in the prize awarded to the family.
The two young girls told America that they were so happy their parents were trying to be healthy so they would not die. Amy then said that the changes were great and Todd then told America that the changes were permanent and this was the start of their new life. This was a decent episode but there was no real touchy feely moments that Jillian handles so well. Maybe next week?
Losing It With Jillian: Yavapai-Apache Indian Reservation, Plunkett-Marquez Family
The episode of Losing It With Jillian that aired on Tuesday July 6 2010 visited the Plunkett-Marquez Family who are American Indians and reside in Phoenix, Arizona. This visit went from trying to save one family to trying to save the entire Indian nation. Jillian wanted to start a grass roots movement to help change the direction this once proud Indian nation with regards to health and eating healthy. At the start of the show we heard how their people went from being a tribe of hunters and gathers to a people who are obese and out of shape from their lifestyle and eating habits. We were introduced to Cora-Lei, from Camp Verde, Arizona that was crying as she pleaded for Jillian to help, in what appeared to be an audition tape or whatever they call it when people ask Jillian for help. We learned from a doctor that the American Indian culture is suffering across the board of almost all of the possible obesity related health issues. The doctor showed an entire family that was at risk from all of the obesity related illnesses. The doctor was very frank and blunt to all the people present that they were in a bad way and prone to getting really sick from health related illnesses. The message to the TV audience was one of dire need for almost all of the people being filmed. We mean the entire population is at risk from being obese and all of the health issues that brings with it.
Soon we saw Jillian Michaels pull up on their ranch while the Plunkett-Marquez family was working in their yard. Jillian was introduced to the family while they were burning an agave plant that would take 4 days to cook. Jillian told the family that she would teach them all so they could pay it forward to their community. We were soon in the gym and Jillian entered the Jillian mode when she found out the 21 year old girl could not walk on a treadmill 12 minutes. Jillian then started to scream at the few family members present that they were so out of shape that they had to make a choice. When the girl said she could not continue and she did not know what to do, Jillian told her to leave the gym. Jillian said that since she could not workout, she was a quitter. Jillian then told the 2nd person to leave and the circle only had 3 people left to train. Jillian told the quitters to leave the gym or get it together. Soon all the family members were back exercising and Jillian was in a motel telling America this was going to be a rough one.
The next day we all saw
The response that Jillian received was that she did not know what she needed to do to make the change. Jillian then promised her the help make that change. Jillian said that the desire to lose weight was all she really needed. With that desire she could get a grip on it and make it happen. Jillian was then seen apologizing to the tribal elder about throwing away the fry bread. Jillian then told her that fry bread was not healthy and was poison. Jillian was then told by the tribal elder that throwing away the fry bread has ignited a movement that had many people talking about the bad food fry bread really is to people. Jillian then told America that the community walk she was planning for her last day there just might show what a failure this attempt might end up being.
Jillian was then in a truck with a bull horn inviting people to show up for the health walk. At 1030 the walk was suppose to start and Jillian said that if nobody showed up she would have a nervous breakdown. Soon some people started to show up and Jillian said that 100 people showed up for the walk and it was an accomplishment for so many people to show up for the event. Jillian said it was a first step and Rome was not built in a day. We soon saw Jillian running with some people as they raced to the finish line. Jillian then told the crowd and introduced them all to Jillian Michaels Websiteand gave all the members in their entire nation a free membership. It was her hope to inspire the people to take charge of their lives and make a difference and become healthy. The crowd was then challenged to try for the next six weeks make some changes. Jillian said that she did not think she was changing the entire nation but was starting a grass route movement. Jillian then said she was leaving for 6 weeks and would return then.
Soon it was 6 weeks later and as the family members walked out one person lost 30 pounds while Brandon lost 52 pounds. Delores looked great and then told America that she not only lost 18 pounds but her health was improving. The next person Cora-Lei 33 pounds and what was really interesting was that the community has been woken up and now it was time for the movement to grow beyond the small group present.
Cora-Lei – lost 33 pounds and 6 dress sizes
Delight – lost 30 pounds and dropped blood sugar 30%.
Delores – lost 18 pounds, glucose dropped 21%, and cholesterol dropped 43%
Brandon – lost 52 pounds and plans to try out for both football and basketball
Jillian then told the crowd that JillianMichaels.com would like to fund their new health program all the while she told America that they were all starting to awaken and that all members of the world could make a health change regardless of their situation. Soon we heard all of the family tell America how just losing the little weight they lost was important and meaningful. It was evident that just six-weeks could change someones life.
Overall this episode was almost a loss and almost flopped in Jillian’s face. This was a sort of a choppy episode that really was not as intense or as coherent as previous episodes. This was not one of the more emotionally involved episodes that we have seen. We only hope future episodes do not seem so piece-meal and thrown together. It was good, but not her best, although it was interesting to see an entire culture be so unwilling to make positive and healthy changes. I guess time will tell if Jillian made any impact on this culture. Maybe there needs to be another visit in about a year?
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Losing It With Jillian: May Family
This was by far the most enjoyable and most intense episode we have seen yet. We provide this longer than normal reacap and review because the story was so good and grounded in truth. In this episode Jillian ended up in Bakersfield, California to spend a week with the Mays family. Jillian landed with a family that consisted of a single Mom, Ruth and her daughters Ashley, Rachel and son David. Three years prior their world fell apart when a divorce came from out of the blue and Ruth was also diagnosed with ovarian cancer. These life events caused not only the family to fall apart it caused the Mom, Ruth to gain alot of weight.
The doctor told her she was at her present weight of 300 pounds and she should have been 179 pounds. The doctor was blunt in telling Ruth that she and her children were all on the same path to being overweight. The doctor then advised them that the children wer on the sma path as her for obesity related illnesses. The very next scene we saw and heard Jillian call the May’s household phone and told them to meet them at Bakersfield College stadium, in their gym clothing, in 20 minutes.
Jillian greeted them and immediately sent them to jog an entire lap around the 1/4 mile track. Jillian was ruthless with the entire family and followed behind even Ruth’s children with a no pity frenzy. Jillian went on and on with the entire family and it was evident that none of them were in good shape. Jumping jacks, stair running, screaming and yelling was just evident truth that Jillian would be a great Marine Corps Drill Instructor.
The first morning at the May’s home Jillian opened up the fridge and stuff literaly fell out on the floor. Jillian had a field day and pulled out a massive amount of processed “crap” as Jillian referred to it. When Jillian pulled up a garbage can and said it all had to go in the trash, the mother almost lost it emotionally. Ruth said that she did not deserve to get blamed for the food that was in the home because she only bought what the kids wanted. It was quite an intense scene that continued on out by the freezer in the garage. After Jillian moved into what appeared to be a very nice suburban home a secret started to unravel that showed the world that the family was hoarding massive amounts of clutter in that garage. There were boxes neatly stacked all over the garage from floor to ceiling and Jillian soon revealed that Ruth was trying to hold onto the past by all of the boxes and boxes in the garage. Jillian said she needed to let go if the past and start to live in the future and get
Soon all of the “crap” that was in the driveway was part of a garage sale and Ruth was frantically trying to stop every single item from being sold. Ruth once again flipped a gasket and did not want to sell it. Jillian tried to tell her that she was trying too hard to hold onto her old life and did not want to let her old life go and until that occurred, she would never be able to move onward in life. The family was in crisis because Ruth did not want to get rid of anything. The daughter cried that Ruth had to get over the divorce and move on with her life. That junk in the garage was Mom not wanting to let go of a life that no longer existed.
The next scene we saw the sun rising and another day starting. We saw the daughter wake up and climb out of bed with her BodyBuggon and yet there was no mention of The BodyBugg. This was another episode of the BodyBugg being used by Jillian to help the family lose weight without any commercial advertisement. We know that many people have asked “what is that on their arms on Losing it With Jillian” and we just want you to know it is The BodyBugg. We believe it is just proof that the BodyBugg works because it is on the show and yet there are no commercials or advertisements for it. We believe that Jillian really likes it and provides it to the people she is trying to help. Later on during the show we saw Ruth wearing her BodyBugg while exercising in the gym with Jillian. In fact we encourage you to look for the people on Losing It With Jillian each and every week. You will notice that it is that simple looking black band on their arms.
As the morning started Ruth stepped out of her bedroom and told Jillian see was mad over the fact that she had to get rid of all her stuff and then Jillian told her to stop acting like a victim because she was not a victim. Jillian said she was not a victim and needed to stop. Jillian said she always acted like a victim and then the daughter chimed in and told her Mom to stop it and the entire situation soon was revealed that the whole problem was over “just stuff.” Jillian told Ruth that it was now time to start over and time to rebuild and time to take charge of her life. It was time to get over the old life that no longer existed and that it was time to step into the reality of the present.
Ruth was soon to be seen in the gym putting a 100% effort into exercising with Jillian which was followed by Jillian telling Ruth she needed to start dating. Ruth said she did not have time to date because she needed to be with her kids. David (son) then chimed in that she needed to go on a date and Ruth was really nervous and yet she agreed. Soon a date showed up at the door while Ruth admitted she was terrified because she had not been on a date in over 30 years. The date appeared to have gone well.
Jillian then told the camera that the kids were also in need of help because they were deflecting all of their issues on their Mom and all of their responsibilitiesalso. Soon we saw everyone at the 24 Hour Fitness Center the next day with Jillian was pounding Ashley into the dirt on the treadmill. Jillian kept making her sprint while having little pity for her frustration for not being able to keep up the demands of Jillian Michaels. Ashley was struggling with her confidence and Jillian was trying to find a way to help her show confidence. While in the gym there was once again scene after scene of the May family exercising with shots of them wearing The BodyBugg, which really continues to impress us, as it is not advertised.
Jillian then had a conversation with Rachel and drilled down into the reason why Rachael always gives up and why she fails and ends up giving up before completing anything. Jillian then showed her that the core of her failure was that she was not allowing to release herself from thinking her mother needed her there. Jillian showed her that she was cutting herself short in life and using her mother and the issue’s of her mother to allow her an excuse to just give up.
Rachael then accompanied Jillian to a soccer field and started working with her on the reason why Rachael was not allowing herself to succeed. Rachael then had an emotional breakthrough when she realized that she was afraid to trust people because her Dad let her down and left. Jillian explained to her that she cannot be defined by her Dad or the needs of her mother being divorced. Rachael then confronted her mother and told her of all of her concerns. It was a touching moment to see the mother and daughter bond. Rachael said this moment was a turning point in not only their individual lives, but also in the family dynamics.
Jillian then told the family that she needed to leave and would return in 8 weeks and asked what goals the family members wanted to make to have accomplished in the next 8 weeks. Those goals were
as follows: Ashley wanted to lose 40 pounds and Rachael wanted to wear a size 7 and Jillian told her to make it a size 6. Ruth said she wanted to not be so angry and open with her children. Ruth also wanted to get more friends and then blurted out she wanted to lose 20 pounds. Jillian said that was a low goal and told her that the goal was going to be doubled to lose 40 pounds in 8 weeks. Ruth told America that she realized that she was going to give it her all.
Jillian left the family and was gone for 8 weeks…
We quickly saw the days fly by with the Mays family exercising and eating right and weighing in on the bathroom scale. Ruth was afraid that she would not reach her goal and looked very frustrated. Quickly it was 8 weeks later and Jillian was showing up for the May’s family reunion. As the reunion began Ashley walked out looking much thinner and very healthy. Rachael walked out looking hot and Jillian said she looked like a supermodel. They really both looked very pretty. Ruth then stuck her leg out from behind the curtain and Jillian said she looked amazing. Ruth then told America that what Jillian taught her worked and having lost 74 pounds in 8 weeks was amazing.
Ruth then told the family reunion members that Jillian saved their lives and what they learned was amazing. Jillian then gave the family $50,000 to pay for schooling costs. It was then realized that Ruth was off her medication and was so much healthier. We soon heard the children (Ashley and Rachael) tell America that what they learned was not to diet, but that they needed a lifestyle change. That lifestyle change is what got them to lose the weight and that lifestyle change was going to carry them well beyond the television show. Jillian proved that diets do not work, it was a lifestyle change that was what worked. Maybe that is why Jillian provides a BodyBugg because that is what pushes them into the direction of being able to make a lifestyle change??
Once again the teaching of Jillian were inspirational.