Exclusive: PIC: Biggest Loser's Jillian Michaels Once Weighed 175 Lbs.
Biggest Loser's Jillian Michaels wasn't always in such good shape.
The 36-year-old admits to the July issue of Redbook (on stands June 22) that she weighed 175 pounds at her heaviest.
"Being big as a kid was pure hell," says the 5-foot-2 1/2 trainer, who began to pack on pounds at age 12 after her parents announced their divorce. "I spent all of eighth grade in my classroom because God forbid I ever left. I was terrorized."
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Michaels had a troubled childhood, and entered therapy at age five.
"I was a really disturbed kid," she says. "You know how kids have night terrors? Mine were really bad. I thought sharks were coming out of the drain in the bathtub. I couldn't sleep at night, every night, waiting for aliens to come. I'm not kidding you: I. Was. Traumatized. And mom got me into therapy."
But she began really getting into trouble once her parents split after 18 years of marriage.
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"They were kind of midlife-crisis-ing, and I was sort of the afterthought. I became pretty angry -- no one wanted to deal with me -- so when I was 17, my mom was like, 'You're not living here.' We were fighting," Michaels says of being kicked out of her home.
Deeply depressed and overweight, Michaels began doing martial arts. "Karate saved my life. It all stopped the day I broke two boards with a kick," she says.
From there, she eventually became a certified fitness trainer, and auditioned for The Biggest Loser at 30. Now, she stars on her own show, Losing It With Jillian, writes books, stars in exercise DVDs and acts as a spokeswoman for nutritional supplements.
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"I learned a lot being on my own," she explains. "I grew up. I had to make money. I learned how to make decisions that are right for me."
The demanding trainer says the biggest misconception about her is that she's a "b-tch. I really don't have a mean bone in my body! Do you know how easy it would be to tell people what they want to hear? It would be heaven! But, unfortunately, it doesn't get the job done."
Now, she's proud of her success and svelte figure -- but has skipped every high school reunion to avoid the kids who mocked her.
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"Honestly, that's why I'm always with the underdog, because I'm always avenging that underdog part of myself," she says.
Her ultimate goal?
"I could never answer that without looking like a total monster. OK, [bleep] it: I would like to win a Nobel Prize," she jokes. "In a perfect world I'd like to get to that place where I walk away from everything. And then I can be pure Bill Gates. Cure smallpox. I want to turn around and be like, 'I cured smallpox. How about those apples?' You know what I mean? Or, like, "I reversed global warming. How 'bout that?"
Tell Us What You Think
67Jillian is amazing! I wish she would stop saying bad words! But she is still amazinng!I wish we could sit down 2gether and talk!
Catherine - there are no claims of personal injury against Jillian's supplements. The claims are a scam. Just a bunch of class action lawyers holding up another celebrity. Their plaintiff is saying she took Jillian's supplements for a month, didn't lose weight, and wants 5 million dollars. Come on people. I was a BL contestant and it has never ceased to amaze me how many people rip on her for saving our lives. If we love her shouldn't people leave her alone?
1. Catherine, read the lawsuits. The drugs aren't dangerous, as you allege. The lawsuits are over women who tried them for a month or two, but didn't follow the diet/exercise routine. I use most of Jillian's products only because she actually worked in developing them (she didn't put her name on someone else's product). Also, she takes them, as well as many of her friends). The women suing just want money-there's a defamation countersuit by Jill's side. Read that too. 2. The people on BL and Losing It are paid rather well to bare their problems. Funny thing is-the show is limited to 43 minutes ... most of the problems aren't even shown. 3. I spoke with several BL contestants recently. They all said that Jill may yell, but she is the counselor of the two trainers. She makes you figure out why it is that you let yourself go - why you don't love yourself to stay fit - yes, she's hardcore about it (why should I care if you don't) because most people respond to it.
She advocates dangerous diet supplements and is in a lawsuit over it. People wake up and stop believing she's so great. Everything you see on tv is not true. Someone else here said pretty much the same thing but I do agree wholeheardtedly.
Since Jillian weighed 60 pounds more than she should, she understands what its like to be overweight. She isn't like any regular trainer...she gets it, that is prob. why she is so successful! She really gets it! Jillian is the best trainer and I love how she devotes her life to helping middle of America...not just celebrities! She is spreading the word of health, rather than skinny! Jillian rocks!
She certainly looks better than ugly a.s.s., pasty a.s.s., pansy a.s.s. Boob, I meant Bob. He's hideous. Yuck!
I hate Bob, and love Jullian. Keep doing your thing girl. I would rather have you train me than Bobby, any day.
I would love to have her for a trainer...
I understand emotions often trigger weight problems, but Jillian could be more respectful of people who do not wish to have all the skeletons in their closet broadcast on national television. If she really had the best interest of her contestants at heart, she could discuss those issues privately instead of getting up in their face about them while a camera films it. Sure, you don't have to be a professional counselor to give advice or help someone with their problems, but since this is such a huge part of weight loss, Jillian should consider educating herself on how to appropriately counsel people.
Bob is a way better trainer then she is.
I like her, and I think that losing weight is all upstairs. I lost nearly 80 pounds and have kept it off nearly 8 years. It's all about cutting out calorie drinks and eating fairly healthy... and of course... EXERCISE! I wear a size 2 after two kids! I won't lie, I eat out at least twice a week, but I make sure to order unsweetened tea instead of getting a disgusting soda!
She's all about making money. Don't kid yourselves people. The way she does things don't not work in the long run. I can say this after having lost over 50 pounds myself. It took me almost 2 years but it has stayed off for 10. These quick fixes don't work people. Everyone in America wants a quick fix for everythig and sometimes that's not the best way.
I agree with the poster loveblue2, if you loose weight that fast it's going to come back on, and I don't like how she screams in their face either!
At 5' 2 1/2" and 175 lbs- that is way beyond "chunky" as someone claimed. That put her BMI in the obese category back then. Someone 5'8" and 175 lbs might be considered merely "chunky" but not at her height.
Oh my goodness MsM aka LoriA...Obsess much? You really need to get a life girlfriend! I notice your vocabulary mainly consists of one word, "IDIOT." Do you buy chance live in a glass house? I think you've proven what defines idiot. Thanks for clarifying. You best get back to your education I mean TV shows so you can learn something new.
The Biggest Loser show has its' merits, but, let's face it, losing weight that fast is a guarantee for putting some or most of the weight back on. And, instant extreme exercise, with Jillian screaming in your face, isn't the best idea either. Jillian doesn't "care" as much as she's using this to make her millions. If obesity suddenly disappeared from the planet, so would her fame and her money stream.
OMG, 175. That is SOOOO huge that you should be in Oprah.
Jillian was at best "chunky" and she would never make it onto The Biggest Loser because she wasn't FAT enough for sensationalism/ratings. I think she is setting people up for failure by setting such extreme conditions for unhealthy rapid weight loss. She is the fad of the day, but look at the facts, just about EVERY former contestant of the show has put most if not ALL of their weight back on. What good does that do anyone? And it makes me very angry when she torments someone for having "ONLY" lost 2-4 lbs in a week. THAT amount is exactly what I lost per week when I lost 130 pounds and have kept it off for 15 years. I was slow,I wasn't the biggest loser, but I am a permanent loser! I will take that any day of the week. Julia Havey FREE diet plans for everyone, no money EVER! I will help YOU be a permanent loser too! ViceBustingDiet dotcom
BTW, when Jillian talks to someone haven't you noticed how she always seems to hit the nail on the head???? She knows what she's talking about. Migdalia was a perfect example of someone who needed to release all her pent-up emotions and anger but wouldn't do it. And as a result she's still fat today.
Some of you are morons. Maggie, she counsels her clients because that is a HUGE part of weight loss. Being fat is never about the food; there's always some emotional/mental connection. Jillian knows this and trys to tap into the ROOT of the problem. Sorry if you don't get that. I think she is incredibly inspiring and a tough chick. I love Jillian. PJ-the ideal weight is the weight at which you look and feel your best. There is no 'magic' number. 130 lbs looks different on everyone.