.. but Jillian Michaels would!
- You’re fat. And it’s killing you.
- That is not food. That is packaged disease.
- Stop whining and just do it.
- Don’t waste my time. I am trying to help you.
- Your children do not buy their food. YOU do. Take accountability.
- Do or die. Trying is just failing.
- Stop being so selfish. If not for yourself, think about those that care about you.
- How can you just not care?
- Eat healthy or enjoy diabetes.
- This is your life. Is this really how you want to live it?!
This is a list I made up. Jillian did not actually say these things, but the idea of this post was her tough love mentality that the medical industry has to tip toe around. What are your thoughts on this? Is honestly always the best policy? In my opinion, when it comes to our lives, it is. Jillian and her tough love are helping people around the country reach their goals and live a healthier lifestyle. Sometimes you just have to hear the truth, as painful as it is, to get you going.
Jennifer is a 27 year old personal trainer living in Connecticut. She is "Coach Jen" at 
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my gosh, I love this! With clients I often try to take the soft approach and encourage small changes, but there are some that I want to just sit down and yell your list at! Sometimes tough love is the answer, right?
Americans are always full of excuses… Nike. Just Do It!
Twitter: mrsdomesticity
July 28, 2010 at 8:02 am
I think honesty is the best policy. Part of the reason Americans are in such horrible health is because the truth about healthy and unhealthy living has been glossed over. People think they can buy Sketchers Shape Ups and that walking around the store in them is exercise.
I’m not saying that we’re being lied to, but most seem to be subscribing to the notion that ignorance is bliss. I think that if we were more honest with ourselves and each other we’d be better off in the long run. Thank for a great post!
I love this! And I totally agree. You’ve got to show tough love many times in order to get someone or yourself to change. Like with Jillian, the people basically hate her at the beginning, but then once they get the reality check, they realize that she is right.
Jennifer´s last [type] ..Going Back To My First Love
Twitter: elizabethparent
July 28, 2010 at 9:22 am
Haha that’s a great list! I totally agree!
Twitter: inquiring_mind_
July 28, 2010 at 9:36 am
YES. All of those are things a doctor should say if they need to, and a lot of people need to hear it.
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I agree with you. This is a great list! I haven’t always been a big fan of Jillian, but I do think her tough love is necessary sometimes.
BostonRunner´s last [type] ..Discovering DC
Twitter: nicoleculver
July 28, 2010 at 10:04 am
I personally think tough love is that way to go, but I think some would disagree. I think people need to hear this to get their lives on track! Love this list!
I think it depends on the receiver. For some people tough love works wonders – it’s that reality check that gets them into gear. For other people, though, tough love makes them even more defiant NOT to change. Perhaps that defiance stems from a place of fear?
Twitter: ActiveEggplant
July 28, 2010 at 10:39 am
Well said – I wish I had that list about a year ago…would have been just what I needed to get my azz off of the couch before I finally found the motivation myself!
ActiveEggplant´s last [type] ..Morning Glory
I think that sometimes, as humans, we need to hear the brutal truth. But you can’t give such a hard fact without some solutions. If you just tell someone they are fat, but then do nothing to help them, it’s useless and probably just going to make the problem worse.
Twitter: FitChickNYC
July 28, 2010 at 11:51 am
While I agree with you, I also find it hard to tell a client the brutal truth. I have however told quiet a few clients that they were wasting my time. Didn’t seem to help them out, but it did make me feel better.
I agree with Katie that it depends on the person. I think some people are too sensitive and would rebel against that type of tough love.
Liz´s last [type] ..Take a Recess
I’m all for brutal honesty for myself. It doesn’t always work for everyone else though. I’m so sick of all the handwalking in this country for every little thing, especially when it comes to health.
I can totally see Jillian saying, “That is not food. That is packaged disease.” I might actually adapt that mantra. I don’t eat a ton of packaged food in the first place, but it’s a good saying to make sure I’m getting more “real” food!
she is to the point and i like that
I love this post and the idea behind it. Sure we can sugar coat things but the last thing most people need in their lives is more sugar!! I think people need to hear the truth as long as its from a supportive and well-intended source. And if you dish it out be prepared to get it back.
My favorite: You’re fat and it’s killing you. You can’t get anmore honest then that!
Totally not a Jillian Michaels fan, but I could definitely see her saying number 1! haha cute post!
I love it! Jillian is such a motivator for me.
Thanks for the comment on my blog – I’m looking forward to HLS & meeting so many new people.
Jessica´s last [type] ..Yes- I’m a bad blogger
Twitter: pennylaaaane
July 28, 2010 at 3:48 pm
I love tough love.
I actually remember doctors saying some pretty harsh things to me when I was a young chubster. Well, it wasn’t harsh, but it hurt my feelings: “Let me ask you this, Alexandra. Are you satisfied with what you weigh?” My cousin’s doctor also told him that he needs to stop eating snacks before bed. Ouchkabibble.
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Twitter: AMYSRANDOMNESS
July 28, 2010 at 4:38 pm
I totally see Jillian saying something like this- simple and to the point. I know that health issues can be a really sensitive issue- but sometimes all it takes is an ugly truth, right?
Amy B @ Second City Randomness´s last [type] ..Worth The Wait
Twitter: lauryannraik
July 28, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Do you know HOW fantastic it would be if in real life, a trainer could actually get away with talking to their clients like that? I would be out of work and on the streets if I tried to pull that crap with peeps…maybe someday, I will be famous, and then I can tell it like it is! I feel like she gets through to these people, and is amazing how she works and what she does…and sometimes, its what people really need to hear. I guess I am just jealous…because I know this is what a lot of my clients need to hear…but I need to tip toe around everything, because that’s how they respond. So, with that being said..I have a love/hate relationship with Jillian.
love yah girlie!
Laury @thefitnessdish´s last [type] ..Something Exciting is Coming August 10th!!!!!
Twitter: iamyouremotion
July 28, 2010 at 9:43 pm
I think when it comes to health and fitness it’s great to be honest and blunt. To me it makes it seem more serious, and makes me laugh at the same time. Honesty always gives me a good laugh…but makes me listen.
Kristen´s last [type] ..Harajuku Lovers at Target- and Design- Blog- & Fashion finds
I have a love hate relationship with her, but i do agree that honesty is important. She is growing on me actually.
Ashley@thehungryscholar´s last [type] ..Finally- a beer
hmm….i guess it depends on the person. i don’t think tough love would work on me. i’d just feel guilty and cry. i guess doctors also have to keep things “not personal”, while Jillian can say it however she likes. (i really liked #5 though, good point!)
Awesome list! I think it’s always hard for doctors to tell their patients to lose weight though, because most of them know it and just don’t have the motivation to lose. My dad deals with that all the time!! I wish people WOULD pay attention though!
Twitter: spabettie
July 29, 2010 at 1:35 pm
this is great. I LOVE Jillian and think her approach is necessary – obviously it works – and there are people that are SO lost and I cannot imagine how that feels – the “I don’t know where to begin”.
thanks for this.
sometimes tough love works. it just depends. When I was 15 and losing weight on weight watchers, and i went to my doctor for something, he called me obese. I almost cried. I mean, I knew I was fat (clearly, I was doing something about it!) but the way he said it made me want to cry. I was 15 and losing weight. He should have applauded that.
i generally dislike doctors based on my many experiences with them, HOWEVER, i know that when its life or death, i think doctors do have the responsibility to tell their patients that what they are doing will cause them to have a shorter life, increased rate of disease… lets me real, most people know these things, they are just in denial about it.
Leslie@Chomp´s last [type] ..Black Beans and Chickpeas Veggielicious dinners!
Honesty is best but not when you’re being cruel to make a point. That isn’t helpful. At all. And the BMI thing really bothers me when people say you’re fat. That may be a common indicator but it’s not the only one.
I love it! I love Jillian and especially love #5. It kills me when people say, “My kid will only eat a Happy Meal” or “chicken nuggets or fish sticks”. NO THEY WONT! They only eat that because that’s what you are feeding them! Great post.
Twitter: lisaeirene
August 13, 2010 at 5:57 pm
That’s funny because my doctor DID tell me those things. And I was so mad at her and offended that I switched doctors. Then I realized she was right…I was obese. I was 250 pounds, pre-diabetic and killing myself. I wish I had listened to the doctor sooner and lost the weight! I missed out on my 20′s because of being obese. Now, I’m 110 pounds lighter and so much happier and healthy!
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Twitter: stampylisa
August 26, 2010 at 5:12 pm
this is AWESOME. Can I borrow and of course link to your blog post?? My mothers kidneys have now failed due to her diabetes and congestive heart failure. most of my 4 decades on earth were spent eating junk. or fluctuating between junk and faux healthy food (aka lean cuisine, fad diets, aspartame/saccharin), smearing chemicals on my body in effort to relieve my dry skin, and choosing destructive behaviors rather than healthy options ( I smoked from 15-40). But since then I have been smoke free (2.5 yrs) and have made healthy/mostly organic eating choices, recently (march) chosen vegetarian as my eating style, and no longer use harmful bath & body products. I walk or run/walk almost daily and REFUSE to let the diabetes monster get me. Thank you for putting together an awesome list! Let me know.
Twitter: Gina_Parker
October 2, 2010 at 5:34 pm
♥ ♥ ♥ this list!
I think America has gotten PC to the point of it almost being destructive of morals, values, good health and common sense!! Three cheers for speaking the truth. Sometimes…
THE TRUTH HURTS.
gina´s last [type] ..the 3 most useful posts for online WAHMs
I think we all need a little bit of Jillian sitting on our shoulder as we go through the day! I love this list and may just have to print it out and post it on my fridge.
Char´s last [type] ..Womens Plus Size Long Underwear for Layering
Sorry, but that list is crap. Going up to fat people and saying those things to them does not magically make them see the light and rush to the gym. It makes them more miserable, switch off from what you’re saying to them and reach for the nearest chocolate bar and shut you out of their little bubble.
If someone’s shouting and bawling at you over a subject you don’t want to hear about, will YOU listen?
Of course not, it would get your back up, make you angry and argumentative towards the person yelling at you.
You’re also forgetting something – fat adults are adults and can, should they wish to live their lives like that. I don’t get why, but they have that right.
My mum is huge, she’s the size of a settee. I work out because I don’t want to end up stuck in a flesh prison. Yes, she’s had tons of lectures and comments from people in the street and yes, her doctor, but she’s not interested.
It’s like drugs – the addict has to want to change and do something about it. Fat people are the same – they have to want to change their lives.
Until they do, don’t yell at them, don’t lecture, don’t enable, People listen better when you talk TO them, not AT them.
I think doctors SHOULD say these things. It might offend their patients, and they might lose a few patients, but those that know the truth but need to hear it (like me) will respect their doctor for saying what they wouldn’t admit. Too many doctors enable their patients by not telling them exactly how bad the situation is and what they have to look forward to if they don’t change.