Making the Cut: The 30-Day Diet and Fitness Plan for the Strongest, Sexiest You

From Publishers Weekly
Michaels, who gained recognition as a trainer on NBC's The Biggest Loser, pushes to get you in "the best shape of your life." Assuming you are already in fairly decent shape, if you have 20 or less pounds to shed and are willing to make the commitment, Michaels promises to have readers "feeling comfortable running in a bikini." Determining body fat percentage and taking a "fit test" is par for the course in this sort of book. What separates Michaels' program is that she bases the diet on whether a person is a "slow oxidizer, balanced oxidizer, or fast oxidizer." The idea is that slow oxidizers require more carbs, while fast oxidizers need higher percentages of protein. Michaels provides three different sets of menus and recipes (she claims that there is sound science behind this, but don't expect to see helpful footnotes quoting clinical studies). The majority of the book is list-like and not invigorating to read. A glut of trainer-driven fitness books seem to be hitting stands lately; this one only stands out if you accept her notion of oxidizing.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review
“Making the Cut by fitness trainer Jillian Michaels is the perfect book to get you in the best shape of your life.”
–Complete Woman

Product Description
You’ve seen her change lives on The Biggest Loser–why not yours?

Are you in good shape but struggling with those last ten to twenty pounds? Do you have an event on the calendar where you’d love to make jaws drop? Or do you just want to see what it would be like to have the best body you’ve ever had? Then you need to discover what millions who’ve seen Jillian’s training methods on The Biggest Loser already know!

Making the Cut empowers you to:

• Identify your unique body type and metabolic makeup (are you a fast, slow, or balanced oxidizer?) and customize a diet plan that is perfect for you
• Acquire the mental techniques that will greatly enhance your self-confidence and sharpen your focus on success
• Develop your strength, flexibility, coordination, and endurance
• Reach levels of fitness you never before thought possible

About the Author
JILLIAN MICHAELS is a strength trainer and life coach for NBC’s hit series The Biggest Loser. She hosts a successful website, www.jillianmichaels.com, and is the author of Winning by Losing.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter 1

STARTING

As with any fitness regimen, before you even begin this one you must visit your doctor or health care professional to make sure you're in fighting shape to start Making the Cut. Once you get the all-clear, the first step toward success is setting goals-you can't get anywhere if you don't know where you're going and what you want. But it's no good setting goals if you're not straight with yourself about where you're starting from, which is why Making the Cut begins with a thorough assessment of your current situation. Identify in cold hard terms where you are right now, and you'll have a crystal-clear idea of where you want to be. And once you get there, you'll never want to go back! Having a record of where you started is also a critical and often-overlooked source of motivation. Sure, you may know that when you complete my program you will lose inches from all over your body and get stronger. But if the going gets tough and you need an inspirational boost to keep going, you won't believe how motivating it is to take a step back and be able to chart the progress you've already made.

Last but hardly least, it is important to make sure you are mentally prepared for the hard work and the changes that lie ahead. Most fitness books deal only with the diet and exercise parts of losing weight and getting fit. In my experience, mental readiness is just as key to your lasting success.

The following chapters walk you through all of the important first steps, so that we're sure you're starting with your best foot forward.

GOODBYE PHOTOS

Where would any kick-ass makeover be without "before" and "after" pictures? Well, that's where we're going to start, except this is more than a before picture; this is a goodbye picture. Say goodbye to the old you, and get ready to embark upon a fitness journey that will change you for life. Take several photos from different angles, one from the front, one from the side, and one from the rear. And wear as little as possible-the more you show, the more you'll know.

BODY FAT ANALYSIS

Let's be clear: Making the Cut isn't about losing 100 pounds;* it's about tightening up, getting strong, and changing your body composition. You'll be shedding fat and building lean, strong muscle in its place. You'll be developing a drop-dead, smokin'-hot body. So while you'll see the difference in the mirror and feel it in the way your clothes fit, you may not see a huge drop on the scale.

If you know your body fat percentage going in, you'll have an accurate way of measuring your success as you work the program. Below are some guidelines so you know where you are in comparison with the general population. Personally, I like to see my guys ripped at 8 to 10 percent and my girls ripped at 15 to 18 percent, but it's your body. I am here to empower you with the tools and knowledge so that you take the reins.

l BODY FAT RECOMMENDATIONS

FIT ATHLETE ELITE ATHLETE

Men 14-17% 10-13% 4-9%

Women 21-24% 16-20% 12-15%

There are several different ways of measuring your body fat, but at the end of the day the only thing that really matters is that you are consistent in your methods from one measurement to another. The most accurate, but also the most expensive, is to ask your health care provider to run a DEXA scan on you. The next most accurate is hydrostatic weighing, which is offered at most university health care facilities, but it involves being dunked under water (so it's not the most convenient).

The easiest and least invasive methods of measuring body fat percentage are (1) have an expert measure you with calipers (which you can have done at most health care facilities or gyms at little or no cost) and (2) use a BIA scale (which uses bioelectrical impedance analysis, or BIA, to measure how much of your body is made up of water and roughly how much is fat). When using the calipers method, make sure you get the same professional to measure you each time; and when using a BIA scale, make sure that every time you test you do so at the same time of day, preferably first thing in the morning before breakfast, but after a glass of water, since your body needs enough fluid in it for a measurement of bioelectrical impedance to be meaningful.

MEASUREMENTS

This is one of my favorite ways of tracking progress because it's a motivational tool that doesn't require any fancy equipment-it's just you and a tape measure, baby!

Here's what to do:

u Start by getting naked! If you measure while dressed, wear thin clothes and make a note of what you're wearing so you know to wear the same clothes the next time you measure.

u Pull the tape snug but not too tight. It should never squeeze your body.

u Measurements taken around the hips, thighs, and upper arms should be taken around the largest circumference, while the waist measurement should be taken around the smallest circumference. Stand with your feet together when taking hip and thigh measurements.

u Never flex or tense your body while you're taking measurements. Don't suck in your stomach to take waist measurements. Relax, let it all hang loose, and enjoy knowing that very soon you'll be able to see your progress both on paper and on your body.

The specifics:

u Bust: Measure around the chest right at the nipple line, but again, don't pull the tape too tight.

u Chest: Measure just under your bust.

u Waist: Measure a half-inch above your belly button or at the smallest part of your waist.

u Hips: Stand with feet together and place the tape measure around the biggest part of your hips.

u Thighs: Measure around the biggest part of each thigh.

u Arms: Measure around the largest part of each upper arm.

Starting At Your Peak

Weight: Weight:

Bust: Bust:

Chest: Chest:

Waist: Waist:

Hips: Hips:

Right Thigh: Right Thigh:

Left Thigh: Left Thigh:

Right Arm: Right Arm:

Left Arm: Left Arm:

FITNESS TEST

This is a series of tests designed to quickly gauge your general fitness level and to act as a benchmark for future testing. If you have one, use a stopwatch. If not, your cell phone clock or a wall one will do just fine. After you complete my program, take the test again and compare the results.

If you rate below average on any of these tests, you may be better off beginning a less advanced fitness program and saving this book for later. Again, you can go back and pick up my first book-it's a great place to start.

The testing is divided into four sections, but you should do all parts of the test in one session, with a four-minute rest between each to give yourself the recovery time you need so you will see ideal results.

Step Test to Measure Aerobic Endurance

Using a 12-inch-high bench (or a similar-sized stair in your house), step on and off for three minutes. Step up with one foot and then the other. Step down with one foot, again followed by the other. Try to maintain a steady four-beat cycle; it's easy if you say "up, up, down, down." Go at a steady and consistent pace. At the end of three minutes, remain standing while you immediately check your heart rate by taking your pulse for one minute. To do this, find your wrist pulse-point, and using your index and middle finger, count the number of beats while watching a minute go by on the clock. Then consult the charts below, to see how your rate compared with others in your age group.

l THREE-MINUTE STEP TEST (MEN)

AGE 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+

Excellent <79 <81 <83 <87 <86 <88

Good 79-89 81-89 83-96 87-97 86-97 88-96

Above Average 90-99 90-99 97-103 98-105 98-103 97-103

Average 100-105 100-107 104-112 106-116 104-112 104-113

Below Average 106-116 108-117 113-119 117-122 113-120 114-120

Poor 117-128 118-128 120-130 123-132 121-129 121-130

Very Poor >128 >128 >130 >132 >129 >130

l THREE-MINUTE STEP TEST (WOMEN)

AGE 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+

Excellent <85 <88 <90 <94 <95 <90

Good 85-98 88-99 90-102 94-104 94-104 90-102

Above Average 99-108 100-111 103-110 1-5-115 1-5-112 103-115

Average 109-117 112-119 111-118 116-120 113-118 116-122

Below Average 118-126 120-126 119-128 121-129 119-128 123-128

Poor 127-140 127-138 129-140 130-135 129-139 129-134

Very Poor >140 >138 >140 >135 >139 >134

Push-ups to Test Upper Body Strength

How many push-ups can you do in a minute? Both men and women should use the standard "military style" push-up position, with only the hands and toes touching the floor. Keep your back and legs completely straight as you lower your chest to the ground. ("Girly" push-ups? I don't even want to hear it-toughen up or go buy someone else's book.) Do as many push-ups as possible until exhaustion. Count the total number of push-ups performed. Use the chart below to find out how you rate.

l PUSH-UP TEST (MEN)

AGE 17-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-65

Excellent >56 >47 >41 >34 >31 >30

Good 47-56 39-47 34-41 28-34 25-31 24-30

Above Average 35-46 30-39 25-33 21-28 18-24 17-23

Average 19-34 17-29 13-24 11-20 9-17 6-16

Below Average 11-18 10-16 8-12 6-10 5-8 3-5

Poor 4-10 4-9 2-7 1-5 1-4 1-2

Very Poor <4 <4 <2 0 0 0

l PUSH-UP TEST (WOMEN)

AGE 17-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-65

Excellent >35 >36 >37 >31 >25 >23

Good 27-35 30-36 30-37 25-31 21-25 19-23

Above Average 21-27 23-29 22-30 18-24 15-20 13-18

Average 11-20 12-22 10-21 8-17 7-14 5-12

Below Average 6-10 7-11 5-9 4-7 3-6 2-4

Poor 2-5 2-6 1-4 1-3 1-2 1

Very Poor 0-1 0-1 0 0 0 0

Sit-ups to Test Abdominal or Trunk Strength

How many sit-ups can you do in a minute? To perform the traditional sit-up, lie on the floor with your knees bent, feet flat. ...