NBC's hit weight loss program, "The Biggest Loser", just wrapped its' current season, crowning Danni Allen its' champion. Jillian Michaels, one of the shows fitness counselor's and guru's, sat down with Fox 411 to chat about her stint on the show, as well as, her new book.
When asked if she was too tough on the television program, Michaels said that she doesn't feel that way. Rather, it was quite necessary to be tough with the contestants because of the short time frame of the show.
"I don't feel like that at all. I feel like I find the right balance. I feel like people don't understand what it is," she said. "You've got a group of people that are literally killing themselves with food, who have come to this place which is basically rehab and you can get sent home in six days or six weeks or six months.
"You have to get through to them very quickly and accept many different things...The reason I'm so aggressive is because there's not enough time," she said. "I don't have weeks for them to say, 'Hold on let me get rid of my victim mentality.' That needs to go as quickly as possible. They need to take responsibility as quickly as possible. It's a very unique situation that requires a very unique skill set."
Though Michaels is a fitness coach and preaches good health, she does admit she occasionally snacks, just a bit.
"I usually will have this candy called Unreal. I have had at times a Sprinkles cupcake, usually a little one."
She also delved into what her new book, "Slim For Life", is all about.
"It's an attempt in giving people a simpler, straightforward, cost-effective plan so they get results and they keep it off," she said. "It's taking all the accurate information and turning it into lifestyle strategies so you know what it looks like in your life. It deals with diet dilemmas like hunger, cravings, plateaus, finances, time constraints."
For those who can't afford a gym membership and workout on a regular basis. Michaels offered a solution and a few ways to save money for people in that sort of situation.
"I tell them how to use their own body weight to work out. How to work out outside, how to build home gyms for nothing, how to create a DVD library for $50," she said. "There's a section on how you can find $25 to put towards either better food or a better fitness level...like stop buying Starbucks coffee, don't buy the gossip rags, get your info online, only go to the ATM at your bank."
She finished by talking about how the "system" does not set you up for success, but you have to find a way to make it work. Michaels also spoke on how she balances her daily life with fitness.
"The reality is that the system is not set up to work for you but at the end of the day even if the food is not ideal you've got to eat less of it and move your body more often," Michaels told Fox. "Everyday there's something that goes wrong...You're never going to get it all perfect...saying, 'You can have it all, just not at the same time,' it's true.
"There is some sacrifice but I look at my kids and they're worth it. It makes you try to be a better person," she said. "It's extremely confrontational. I feel like I'm the one growing up, not them. It's a challenge, and I love a challenge so I'm doing the best I can. I'm not going to pretend I'm this great mom and I have it all figured out because I absolutely do not."
