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

by Jillian Michaels (Author)

Editorial Reviews

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.
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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


From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Crown; 1 edition (April 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307382508
• ISBN-13: 978-0307382504
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (166 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #52,970 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

122 of 122 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome the challenge!, April 17, 2007

By	Tracey Calvin "Super Mom" (Joplin, Missouri) - See all my reviews

I just got the book 3 days ago. I am only on day three, but the information in this book is eye opening. Jillian covers everything from hormones and metabolism, supplements like hoodia, even the master cleanse.

I saw the review below and can't help but wonder if that person actually read the book. There ARE in fact 3 separate 30 day menu plans. One for each oxidizer type (slow, balanced, and fast). For that reason, 1 plan will ask for non-fat cottage cheese and another will ask for low fat. Those two ingredients are not on the same meal plan and they are also on separate grocery lists (of which there are 3, one for fast, balanced, and slow).

Jillian goes on to explain that the recipes make up to 10 - 12 servings for the following reasons: Most women don't want to make separate meals for their families. Also, the book allots each reader with and individualized calorie allowance. As some of the recipes are very low calorie, some people doing the plan will require up to 5 servings of each recipe. Last, if you are like me, always on the run and finding it difficult to cook every night this book will solve your problem. This way you will have healthy food prepared when you are pressed for time. All that said, she specifically mentions in the book that if you want to make less food you can simply cut the ingredients in half and the meal will still come out perfectly making half the servings.

With regard to the workouts: There are over 100 separate exercises in the book and less then 10 of them require gym equipment. The workouts seem predominantly designed to utilize body weight exercises (no gym required).

The workouts do seem tough, that is for sure. However, you can easily modify the exercises to accomodate your fitness level. Jillian offers over 8 variations of plank exercise, 11 different variations of lunges, 8 variations of push ups, and 8 variations of squats just to name a few. For those that don't have a treadmill accessible she offers up over 10 different types of cardio intervals that require no equipment like mountain climbers, butt kicks, squat jacks etc.

As for not being able to tackle weeks 3 and 4 of the workouts on day 1, I think that is the whole point. In order to lose weight quickly you must progress your fitness level quickly. For example, the contestants on Biggest Loser couldn't walk around the block on day 1 and by day 7 she seems to have them running miles and doing push ups. This is why she instructs you to follow the plan religiously. I assume that by doing the workouts from week 1 and week 2 you will be ready to take on weeks 3 and 4, hence the books promise of delivering "the best shape of your life".

I love Jillian. I have been a fan of hers sine season one of Biggest Loser. I listen to her radio show religiously and trust her advice. I use her dvd's and have gotten amazing results. I love this book so far and although it's no walk in the park, I welcome the challenge.

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I lost 8lbs in week one, April 18, 2007

By	Alissa Cooper (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

If you want to know how people like Vanessa Marcil go from having a baby to getting back on the cover of Maxim in only a few months, get this book.

The scary part: the workout is challenging and I can't even sit on the toilet I am so sore, but the diet is a no fail. Jillian literally walks you through every second of your day for a month. From exercising, eating, sleeping, supplements you name it. She leaves you no room for error.

I have been doing her plan for exactly 1 week today and weighed in this morning 8 POUNDS LIGHTER! After a week!

122 of 135 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A POWERHOUSE OF A DIET/FITNESS BOOK, April 18, 2007

By	Jan Idlas (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

True to form, Jillian comes through in a manner that is clear, concise, and no-nonsense. I lost 32 pounds utilizing her first book, "Winning by Losing." I've maintained my loss for almost a year, in part, by listening to her weekly radio show. She won my loyalty long ago, because this woman KNOWS HER STUFF! So when I heard about her new book, I decided I was ready to dive back in and go for "the cut." I've lost 5 additional pounds in 8 days. I'm so jazzed -- thank you, Jillian!