My friend and colleague Tammy and I have often had deep philosophical conversations about many topics: ways to improve the education system, the best strategies to meet student needs in math and language arts, and we have even occasionally ventured into talking about politics. But one of our deepest and most heated conversations were on a topic that I find the most important of all--who would make a better personal trainer, Jillian Michaels or Bob Harper?
Well okay, maybe it isn't that important in the scheme of things, but they were heated conversation nonetheless. People who know me well are aware that I can be very sensitive, a little emotional, and that strong emotions cause me to burst out into tears (as my family can personally speak to as I burst into tears just reading a poem at my grandmother Pearl's memorial this weekend).
Now for those of you that do not religiously watch The Biggest Loser like I do, I will give you a brief summary of the show and talk a little about their star fitness trainers. The Biggest Loser is a show that brings people who are very heavy together with a team of personal trainers. These obese contestants compete to be the biggest loser--the one who can make it through all the weekly challenges and weigh-ins to lose the largest amount of weight.
They have had a variety of trainers over the years, but the two most famous are Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. Bob is an amazing trainer, and he nurtures and supports his team members with a firm but gentle approach. Jillian is the complete opposite in that she can come at you like a Mack Truck. She can get in contestants' faces, bring people to tears, but her ability to get at the root of why they are heavy in the first place makes her teams consistent winners.
I wonder if people who know me will be surprised to know that Bob Harper just doesn't do it for me. Tammy, on the other hand, always argued that he would be the best trainer for her. Ironically, I think her current trainer is more like Jillian than she would like to admit.
However, when I was at the beginning of my journey it was Jillian that I always took inspiration from, and at the risk of sounding completely crazy, I must share that I would actually picture her at the end of my treadmill screaming at me to "get my f*$!ing hands off the handles!" I needed the push in the right direction and no touchy feely trainer was going to work for me.
I even subscribed to get daily inspirational emails from her website, and her books and food plan helped me lose a large amount of my weight. That is why when Jillian left The Biggest Loser I refused to watch the show anymore. After all, who could live up to her in my eyes. That is why I am happy to announce that Jillian is back on Biggest Loser and I now know what show I will be watching as I do long training miles on my bike trainer. Sorry Ellen--your show has been a great support, but I must be moving on. Jillian is calling!
So for the next couple months if you are looking for me you will have to look at the gym, at work, or in front of my television with my family watching my girl Jillian whip her team members into shape. After all, no matter how flabulous I get, I will never lose that need to have my friends, family, and yes, Jillian Michaels push me in the right direction.
Welcome back Jillian! We have missed you and are happy to have you back. I am even sure Tammy will be happy to see her back. Now we can go back to arguing about what really matters, which trainer really is the best--Jillian!!!
Love you Grandma Pearl! You were an amazing woman and we will greatly miss you!
Well okay, maybe it isn't that important in the scheme of things, but they were heated conversation nonetheless. People who know me well are aware that I can be very sensitive, a little emotional, and that strong emotions cause me to burst out into tears (as my family can personally speak to as I burst into tears just reading a poem at my grandmother Pearl's memorial this weekend).
Now for those of you that do not religiously watch The Biggest Loser like I do, I will give you a brief summary of the show and talk a little about their star fitness trainers. The Biggest Loser is a show that brings people who are very heavy together with a team of personal trainers. These obese contestants compete to be the biggest loser--the one who can make it through all the weekly challenges and weigh-ins to lose the largest amount of weight.
They have had a variety of trainers over the years, but the two most famous are Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. Bob is an amazing trainer, and he nurtures and supports his team members with a firm but gentle approach. Jillian is the complete opposite in that she can come at you like a Mack Truck. She can get in contestants' faces, bring people to tears, but her ability to get at the root of why they are heavy in the first place makes her teams consistent winners.
I wonder if people who know me will be surprised to know that Bob Harper just doesn't do it for me. Tammy, on the other hand, always argued that he would be the best trainer for her. Ironically, I think her current trainer is more like Jillian than she would like to admit.
However, when I was at the beginning of my journey it was Jillian that I always took inspiration from, and at the risk of sounding completely crazy, I must share that I would actually picture her at the end of my treadmill screaming at me to "get my f*$!ing hands off the handles!" I needed the push in the right direction and no touchy feely trainer was going to work for me.
I even subscribed to get daily inspirational emails from her website, and her books and food plan helped me lose a large amount of my weight. That is why when Jillian left The Biggest Loser I refused to watch the show anymore. After all, who could live up to her in my eyes. That is why I am happy to announce that Jillian is back on Biggest Loser and I now know what show I will be watching as I do long training miles on my bike trainer. Sorry Ellen--your show has been a great support, but I must be moving on. Jillian is calling!
So for the next couple months if you are looking for me you will have to look at the gym, at work, or in front of my television with my family watching my girl Jillian whip her team members into shape. After all, no matter how flabulous I get, I will never lose that need to have my friends, family, and yes, Jillian Michaels push me in the right direction.
Welcome back Jillian! We have missed you and are happy to have you back. I am even sure Tammy will be happy to see her back. Now we can go back to arguing about what really matters, which trainer really is the best--Jillian!!!
Love you Grandma Pearl! You were an amazing woman and we will greatly miss you!
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