Master Your Metabolism - Jillian Michaels' New Book

by Bev Sklar (Subscribe to Bev Sklar's posts)
Apr 27th 2009 3:00PM

Categories: Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products

To keep her gorgeous physique, "The Biggest Loser" trainer Jillian Michaels used to work out eight hours a week, eat only 1,200 calories a day and felt tired all the time. She was also addicted to Diet Coke and into fat-free foods. After a poor report card from her endocrinologist, Michaels started paying attention to metabolism -- your hormones -- to keep her biochemistry in balance.

Mastering her metabolism delivered big: Now she eats about 2,000 cals a day, works out strenuously two to three hours a week and has written a new book, "Master Your Metabolism." I recently reviewed the book and found the hormonal connection to weight loss a worthy, fascinating read. Here are a few highlights:

Metabolic Hormones -- Jillian explains your metabolism is more like a chemistry lab, not a furnace. The trick is having the right balance of hormones in your system to properly burn fat and build muscle, not the opposite. She painstakingly covers 12 key metabolic hormones in a way the average Joe can understand. I finally know what ghrelin is and how to pronounce it (it's a hunger hormone and pronounced like 'grill-en').
Endocrine Disruptors -- Get ready to be scared straight on how yo-yo dieting, processed foods, environmental toxins and our sleep-deprived, stressful lifestyles influence our metabolisms toward the Land of Fat. I knew about the yo-yo, sleep/stress part, but I've thought less about how processed foods and environmental toxins impact my hormones -- my metabolism.
Remove --Learn the first step of The Master Plan -- get rid of these six Antinutrients and eight Less-Than-Stellar-Foods that trigger your fat-storing hormones. Bye-bye diet soda.
Restore -- Step 2 is to reach for the Master 10 Power Nutrients, including winners such as legumes, alliums (e.g., onions, leaks, chives), the right meats and soluble fiber. Jillian stresses that if your food doesn't come from a mother or grown from the earth, don't eat it.
Rebalance -- Step 3 explains when to time your eating, how much to eat and what foods you should combine for effortless weight loss. Yes, you have to eat breakfast, eat every four hours, don't overeat and reach for the right combo of fat/carbs/protein.

Has anyone else read this book, yet?

Comments (6)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

renae 4-27-2009 @ 3:57PM

This sounds really interesting. I just requested it at the library although it'll be hard to wait....I'm 31st in line!

cr 4-27-2009 @ 8:01PM

I just finished this book - packed with interesting info, and combats the "I have a slow metabolism" excuse in ways I hadn't expected. Jillian really did her homework on this one, and it shows. It is a step beyond her previous diet and exercise books. Renae, try and find it discounted online- it's worth having and referring to again and again. Plus your friends will all want to borrow it- mine are lining up! Thanks to Ms. Michaels for her fine work!

Anne 4-27-2009 @ 11:04PM

Easier said than done.

http://www.000health.com

Joca 5-11-2009 @ 2:59AM

I read her book and it makes a lot of sense to me. I also find a lot of similarities between her approach and that of the Zone? See the review at: http://optimalbodyweight.com/blog/diets/the-zone-diets/an-overview-of-the-zone-diet. I think scientists are developing a much better understanding about how the hormonal processes work though.

Nina 5-21-2009 @ 10:40AM

I just got the book and I'm beginning to think this is the reason why I haven't lost an ounce after cardio pounding at the gym and counting my calories.I really thought it was my thyroid like every doctor wanted to think. I recently went to my local organic grocery store and decided to give away all my canned, processed and hormone treated foods to the nearby shelters. I hadn't realized how much I had in my kitchen that was not supposed to belong in my body. Jillian Michaels really knocked this one out of the park for me. Many of the points she makes are very similar to that of Dr.Oz, who I hear will soon have his own medical show. This is definitely a good reference to have in everyone's kitchen. Kudos to Jillian for making it straight to the point; I myself will never drink another diet coke, juice or anything else, much less give it to my kids!!

Bella 5-21-2009 @ 10:43AM

I just got the book and I'm beginning to think this is the reason why I haven't lost an ounce after cardio pounding at the gym and counting my calories.I really thought it was my thyroid like every doctor wanted to think. I recently went to my local organic grocery store and bought all fresh foods and pretty much shopped outside the perimeter of the store to get all natural and organic. I decided to give away all my canned, processed and hormone treated foods to the nearby shelters. It's definitely worth spending an extra 20 bucks if it means I won't have to pay for doctor bills and maintenance prescriptions later on in life. I hadn't realized how much I had in my kitchen that was not supposed to belong in my body. Jillian Michaels really knocked this one out of the park for me. Many of the points she makes are very similar to that of Dr.Oz, who I hear will soon have his own medical show. This is definitely a good reference to have in everyone's kitchen. Kudos to Jillian for making it straight to the point; I myself will never drink another diet coke, juice or anything else, much less give it to my kids!!