Making the Cut
On Monday when I came home from work this was waiting at my doorstep:
Yes, that’s right- it’s Jillian Michaels! Making the Cut is an intense 30 day diet and exercise plan designed to help one lose the last few pounds (up to 20) and looking fierce. I’ve been eyeing this book for over a year after I read Master Your Metabolism. I was happy to sit down and see what ol’ Jilly has to say.
The Diet
Basically there are two tools needed to develop a customizable menu for the next 30 days in Making the Cut. The first is figuring out your Basal Metabolic Rate. A BMR is the number of calories your body would need to survive while staying at rest in any one given day. There is a formula or you can just use this calculator.
Next you take a test to determine if you’re a slow, balanced or fast oxidizer. This test allows you to understand what types of food are best for your body. Jillian provides a 30 day menu, grocery list, recipes and important diet information based on what type of oxidizer you are.
My BMR is 1290 and I am a balanced oxidizer.
The Workout
The first activities Jillian suggests is taking your measurements, a picture and a small fitness test. These tools will help measure and track progress throughout the program.
The workouts are variations of Circuit routines that combine weights, High Intensity Interval Training and Plyometric. The workouts are also designed in a “Push-Pull” format meaning on day you work on one set of muscles such as chest and triceps and the next you focus on back and biceps. The plan involves two days of working out, a day of rest, two days of working out followed with two days of rest. And repeat. Jillian also asks that you give at least 15 extra minutes of cardio in per day.
There is an index and explanation for all the moves used throughout this 30 day program including some pictures. If you’ve done any of Jillian’s DVDs some of the moves will be familiar.
My Commitment
I can tell you right now, I don’t do diets. After I read MYM, I gave my eating habits a big change. On occasion I’ll eat a processed meal and on even more rare occasions you’ll find me at a fast food restaurant. I buy organic and whole grain whenever given the opportunity. I’m always looking for ways to make my sweet treats healthier with sugar and oil substitutions, dark chocolate over milk/semi and opting to swap out some white flour for whole wheat whenever possible. I would say overall I’m pretty happy with my diet, my weight, my BMI and my BAI. But that doesn’t mean there is room for improvement.
After reviewing what Jillian had to say in this book, I’ve determined I need to eat more protein and cut back on carbs. I don’t eat a ton of carbs but it’s tricky like sodium- it’s in things I don’t think about such as bananas. I love bananas (I eat them almost daily) but I probably should be eating a pear instead. A lot of what is on the balanced oxidizer shopping list are sugar free or carb friendly options. While I don’t particularly like the substitution ingredient in “sugar free” products I am willing to give them another try. I developed a menu for the next 30 some days incorporating a lot of Jillian’s eating plan. But I do plan on having alcohol during the various holiday gatherings I’m attending along with some sort of dessert (mostly fro yo) every day. Those two things are a big no-no on MTC. I’m okay with that- it’s my decision not to deprive my chocolate tooth.
I am committed though 100% to the workout. I hope to be ambitious enough to add two extra runs and some yoga each week. I don’t see myself asking everyone to hold up opening presents so I can get a workout in during our Christmas Holiday so I plan on extending the “30 Day” cap until I’ve fulfilled each workout for this program. I started on Monday and I’ve completed 3 MTC workouts for Week One in addition to a 1.75 mile run yesterday!
I am using my end results from the 30 Day Shred for my starting point. And hopefully in 30ish days I’ll have some good news to share!
And if you think I’m crazy for starting such a high intense program in the most over indulgent month of the year, that’s okay because I’m not alone! Kimi, Mike, Heather, Stef and Christine are all doing this too. What can I say; New Year’s resolutions came early this year?
PS. I’m still doing the 100 day challenge. I’m lumping that in with the cardio Jillian recommends to add to her circuit routines. That’s a win-win in my book!
What’s the craziest diet/workout program you’ve tried?
