Questions to Consider:
* How are overweight people portrayed in this video?
* How does Jillian’s training style make you feel about exercise?
* What message does this video send about sensible weight loss?
* How does the video make you feel about your own exercise habits?
* What might the show be selling to you?
What We Think:
Hey Jillian Michaels, you might consider exercise-induced vomiting a badge of honor, but we think it’s cruel and unusual punishment.
As the trainer on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Jillian routinely likes to intimidate, berate, and demean the overweight contestants, confident that her abuse is the key to success. If you measure success as weight loss, then sure, Jillian gets the job done. But how about the enormous physical risks, mental anguish, and emotional distress these competitors go through?
In this clip, Jillian not only pushes a participant to the point of near-collapse (“I’m proud that I made him vomit, that’s all that matters”), but in the process, she stands on top of him (“Are you kidding me with the falling on the ground right now?”), threatens to injure a fellow contestant (“Greg, if you don’t run, I will pull Alex on the floor and I will break every bone in his body”) and then attempts to justify her brutality by rubbing his head and cooing, “I’m actually super duper proud of you.”
Former competitor Kai Hibbard has already alleged that the show gave her an eating disorder. Is Jillian just waiting to see how many other people she can terrorize in the name of “health”? (by Michelle Konstantinovsky)
Take Action! Contact:
Jillian Michaels
Everyday Health, Inc.
4 Marshall Street
North Adams, MA 01247
(866) 348-9729
This proves that self-motivation is very important to oneself to attain his/her goal.
With the said video, overweight people should realize that not taking exercise regularly and not eating properly will give negative result in the future. Thus, the more weight you gain, the harder the exercise you will undergo to regain your ideal weight.
Hard isn’t it?
Stay healthy all the time!
Wow. I thought Jillian was mean, but this is a whole different level! Just horrible, and this will make people believe that this kind of abuse is justified towards fat people. I’m still :O about this.
I just read your post Boot Camp Houston, this site is not for denigrating fat people, by talking about them like they’re idiots who don’t know how to take care of themselves.
Most fat people eat better than thin people, due to the constant social pressure on them to eat right. This isn’t saying fat people wouldn’t eat right if there wasn’t that pressure, but that it’s ironic we’re leaving thin people out and they’re eating junk, and nobody is holding them accountable for it meaning thin people can eat themselves unhealthy without judgment or being blamed for rising hospital bills.
I’m shocked About-Face allowed this anti-fat tirade comment to remain on this site. You’re supporting a woman, Boot Camp Houston, who abuses fat people to a point of physical exhaustion and vomiting. While also threatening violence to those who don’t obey her will. I really shouldn’t be surprised, given your screen name.
What Jillian is doing isn’t about health, it’s a show celebrating that fat people are available for hatred and discrimination. If she engaged in the same behaviors off TV, the cops would be at her door. Yet, I guess when violence and abuse gets ratings, that’s okay, right Boot Camp Houston?
Jackie, I dont totally agree. People know that Julian is going to push you. It was wrong that she said she was going to beat Alex, that didn’t make sense. But it is important to know that you are stronger than you think you are!
“These people”! What if it was a black person? Or a mentally retarded person? A Jewish person? It’s okay to be mean and say demeaning things to fat person, because you KNOW they are just lazy and stupid. So stupid, in fact, they can’t even learn nutrition. I would say fat people know way more about calories, nutrition, reading labels and exercise than any skinny minny. People really buy into that media brainwashing that you can’t be a good person if you are FAT!!! Geez! I can’t understand how people really believe all that crap!