Jillian Michaels diet plan for 30 day shred is a weight loss program that Jillian put together for her reality show. By following the 30-day shred, you can lose up to 15 pounds in one month. It provides information, a meal plan and exercises to help people lose weight through various ways. The whole program is focused on anaerobic training which gives a lot of energy and powerful effect in several minutes of training. The diet plan is related to the training schedule, which means that if you train on Monday then you eat the nutrients needed on Monday.
Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred: Does It Help You Lose Weight?
The 30 Day Shred is a workout program designed by celebrity personal trainer Jillian Michaels.
It consists of daily, 20-minute, high-intensity workouts done 30 days in a row and is claimed to help you lose up to 20 pounds (9 kg) in a month.
This article reviews the benefits and downsides of the 30 Day Shred, investigating whether it can help you lose weight.
How it works
The 30 Day Shred workout videos are available for purchase at various e-commerce sites.
The program also requires you to have two 3- or 5-pound (1.5- or 2.5-kg) dumbbells.
There are three 20-minute, total-body workouts designed to progress through three levels.
Each level is done for 10 days, and you should ideally reach Level 3 by the end of the program:
- Level 1 (Beginner). This level is designed for people who are just starting out, very overweight, or haven’t exercised in over six months.
- Level 2 (Intermediate). These workouts are for people who are active in sports, dance, or any regular exercise two to three times per week.
- Level 3 (Advanced). This level is intended for those who are very active in sports or consistently work out four or more times per week.
The exercises are based on Jillian Michaels’ 3-2-1 interval system, consisting of three minutes of strength exercises, two minutes of cardio, and one minute of ab exercises.
Each workout starts with a two-minute warmup, followed by three interval circuits and a two-minute cooldown.
Some specific exercises include:
- Strength: pushups, double-arm row, chest flyes, military press
- Cardio: high knees, jumping jacks, squat thrusts, skate jumps
- Abs: crunches, leg lifts, double crunches, plank twists
Does it aid weight loss?
The 30 Day Shred program is claimed to help you lose up to 20 pounds (9 kg) in a month.
The two main factors responsible for weight loss are calorie intake and physical activity (2Trusted Source).
People starting out with more body fat will likely see more weight loss over the course of the program (3Trusted Source).
The initial weight loss may be related to reduced carb stores and mild fluid loss (4Trusted Source).
Though the program may provide enough physical activity to promote mild weight loss, 20 pounds (9 kg) is an unrealistic expectation for most people. Plus, nutrition guidance is lacking.
For more substantial weight loss, it’s important to stay active throughout the day rather than solely during your 20-minute workout (5Trusted Source).
How many calories does it burn?
A major influencer of weight loss is the number of overall calories burned (2Trusted Source).
In general, a person weighing around 150 pounds (68 kg), who is of average fitness, can expect to burn 200–300 calories per workout on the 30 Day Shred. This equals about 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg) lost per month from exercise alone (6Trusted Source).
How much weight you lose also depends on your calorie intake and overall physical activity aside from the 30 Day Shred workouts.
SUMMARY
The 30 Day Shred program claims that participants can lose up to 20 pounds (9 kg) in 1 month. This may be unrealistic for most people.
Other potential benefits
While weight loss is the main focus of the 30 Day Shred, daily exercise may offer additional benefits.
Can support muscle gain and healthy aging
Resistance training, such as the strength portion of the 30 Day Shred, can help increase muscle mass.
Gaining muscle is associated with a boost in metabolism, decrease in injury risk, and prevention of muscle loss that commonly occurs with aging (7Trusted Source).
Additionally, resistance training is linked to other benefits, including improved bone density, blood sugar control, and resting blood pressure (8Trusted Source).
Therefore, following a program like the 30 Day Shred can support healthy aging.
Jillian Michaels’ 30-Day Shred Diet – A Complete Guide
The 30-day Shred Diet was created by celebrity fitness instructor Jillian Michaels. It is a 30-day fitness challenge to push your body to shed excess fat and get a more toned and shredded body. The Shred Diet also helps you become agile and fit. Read on to get a complete overview of the 30-day Shred Diet, its benefits, side effects, and more tips. Swipe up!
What Is The 30-Day Shred Diet Plan?
A number of popular diet and weight loss plans are actually devised by dietitians, health gurus, and fitness experts. One such contender is the 30-Day Shred Diet plan. It is not exactly a diet plan, but more of a fitness program aimed at hardcore fitness enthusiasts.
It is devised by celebrity fitness trainer Jillian Michaels and includes an exercise DVD that contains circuit workouts, each 20 minutes long. Michaels, however, recommends nutritional and dietary changes as well. It is by no means easy to follow the regimen, considering that it is devised by a lady who is also called “America’s Toughest Trainer.”
Jillian Michaels used to be an obese kid, but since her teen years, she has devoted herself to keeping herself fit. Her tenure at The Biggest Loser made her a household name. She has released six fitness books and nine fitness DVDs. She also runs a health website that gets approximately 1.6 million monthly visitors.
Basics Of The 30-Day Shred Diet
Michaels is a role model for those who want to get rid of their bloated bellies. She is a successful entrepreneur, an efficient reality show trainer, a popular talk show host, a NESTA, AFAA, AFPA and Kettlebell Concepts certified professional, a bestselling fitness author, and a great motivator. With so many feathers in her cap, this Daytime Emmy-nominated fitness expert-cum-wellness coach is considered a complete brand in herself.
The initial days of her 20 years in the fitness industry were not so smooth. Michaels had to struggle a lot with her body weight. Hard work, true dedication, and strong determination helped her immensely in reaching her goals and made her dream come true. It is her personal journey towards fitness and wellness that inspires millions of people. She is now one of the most inspiring personal trainers in America.
The 30-Day Shred program, according to Michaels, will help you lose 20 pounds within a month. There are three levels in the program. Each level is harder than the previous one. You have to complete each level within 10 days and then move on to the next. The workouts are based on her Strength/Cardio/Abs 3-2-1 training circuit. The DVD also comes with a cool-down and warm-up session for each of the levels.
Michaels loves to share her weight loss secrets with other people who are dying to go from ‘flab’ to ‘fab.’ According to her, it’s all about the perfect combination of a healthy diet and selected ab exercises. While ‘Jillian Michaels 3 DVD Set’ can guide you through the workout regimen, we are here to unlock the exclusive ‘belly-bloat-banishing meal plan’ of this American fitness guru. If you also want to eat like Jillian for getting into shape, here is what you need – Jillian Michaels’ diet plan!
Jillian Michaels Diet Program
Jillian Michaels’ Breakfast
Michaels believes that stocking up on carbohydrates through a proper breakfast is essential for kick-starting a whole new day and retaining energy for long.
- Her favorite breakfast food is Ezekiel English Muffins. They are made of whole grains and are high in carbohydrates. She consumes two muffins with almond butter, which gives her a whopping 500 calories.
- Michaels also includes fresh whole fruits in her breakfast. They contain lots of vital nutrients, which are required for a perfect healthy start.
- Organic yogurt is another staple item in her breakfast. It is rich in probiotics, which make the process of digestion easier and help the body absorb the nutrients more efficiently. She mostly loves to consume Oikos Greek Yogurt as it is full of protein and tastes wonderful.
- Michaels stays away from bacon as well as other food items that are high in salt.
Jillian Michaels’ Lunch
- When it comes to lunch, fish is Michaels’ first choice. It is a great source of protein and contributes to healthy muscle mass. Salmon carpaccio is what she likes as her main lunch item. It can be any other type of fish too.
- She loves to eat veggies for lunch. Fresh veggies are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and many other nutritional elements that are required to provide proper nourishment to the cells and combat unwanted body fat.
- Salad is a must for Michaels’ lunch. She includes cucumbers, green bell peppers, lettuce, and several other greens in it. She considers lettuce as one of the best natural food items that promote weight loss. It is full of water, which keeps you filled for long and controls
- Michaels totally avoids French fries and other similar items as they contain large amounts of oil and salt. She also steers clear of cheese.
Jillian Michaels’ Dinner
- Michaels is a huge fan of fish and tries to include it in dinner.
- She also eats grilled chicken from time to time to give herself a boost.
- Vegetables, especially spinach or asparagus, are an indispensable part of her dinner. In fact, asparagus is a must in her weight loss diet. She prefers these veggies to be cooked with garlic and lemon to get a wonderful flavor.
- For dinner, Michaels tries to reduce her carb intake and replaces her food ingredients with organic options wherever possible. Pizza is a big ‘no-no’ for her.
Jillian Michaels’ Snacks
- 1. Michaels makes sure that her afternoon munchies are healthy. She either eats crunchy carrot sticks with hummus or opts for baked corn chips and salsa.
- If she wants to please her taste buds with something different, fruits and nuts top her list. She just loves to have raw almonds or Brazil nuts with a fresh orange in the evening.
Jillian Michaels’ Dessert
Jillian Michaels’ diet menu cannot be complete without a dessert! She has dark chocolate in-between meals. She gets 200 calories of her entire calorie intake through these yummy bars. It helps her a lot in shedding excess belly fat and getting washboard abs.
Here is a 4-week Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred Diet plan for you. Follow this plan to lose water weight and fat and get a slim and chiseled body.
Sample Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred Diet Menu
Before you start this diet, click pictures of your body from different angles for future reference. Here’s your Week 1 diet menu.
Week 1
| Breakfast (8:00 -9:00 a.m) | Lunch (12:00 – 12:20 p.m) | Snack (3:30 – 4:00 p.m) | Dinner (7:00 p.m) | |
| Day 1 | 1 Toast and 2 eggs | Avocado and turkey wrap | Apple, berry, banana smoothie | Turkey kebabs |
| Day 2 | Yogurt, berries, almonds | Grilled Sirloin salad | An orange and 4 almonds | Chicken satay |
| Day 3 | Bananas & low-carb waffles | Mexican pizza | Protein bar | Black bean chili |
| Day 4 | Toast with almond butter | Vegetable pita and hummus | Turkey jerky | Baked salmon |
| Day 5 | Oatmeal with pecan nuts and apples | Tuna salad | Hardboiled egg and apple | Black bean burrito and roasted chicken |
| Day 6 | Ezekiel English muffin | Chickpea burger | Veggies and hummus | Honey lemon chicken breasts |
| Day 7 | Egg white breakfast wrap | Tuna salad | 17 in shell pistachios and an orange | Shrimp veracruzana |
How You Will Feel By The End Of Week 1
By the end of Week 1, you would have lost a lot of water weight. This, in turn, will make you appear slimmer, and you will be motivated and focused on your weight loss goal. Here’s your Week 2 Shred diet menu.
Week 2
| Breakfast (8:00 -9:00 a.m) | Lunch (12:00 – 12:20 p.m) | Snack (3:30 – 4:00 p.m) | Dinner (7:00 p.m) | |
| Day 8 | Ricotta cheese and pineapple | Grilled chicken / tofu salad | Baked corn chips and salsa | Mediterranean pizza |
| Day 9 | Cream cheese and bagel | Salmon and blueberry salad | Watermelon | Mahi Mahi taco |
| Day 10 | Sausage and baked sweet potato | Grilled vegetable salad | 1 pear and 10 in-shell pistachios | Baked chicken and veggies |
| Day 11 | Egg white breakfast wrap | Chickpea burger | popcorn | Chicken satay |
| Day 12 | Oatmeal with apples and pecan nuts | Hawaiian chicken salad | Veggies and hummus | Mahi Mahi taco |
| Day 13 | Yogurt, berries, and almonds | Turkey and avocado wrap | Protein bar | Roasted salmon |
| Day 14 | Cheerios with banana or berries | Mexican pizza | Turkey jerky | Black bean chili |
How You Will Feel By The End Of Week 2
Your body will start mobilizing the fat. Your body’s metabolic rate will increase, and you will start to feel more energetic. You will love your new lifestyle and will look forward to Week 3.
Week 3
| Breakfast (8:00 -9:00 a.m) | Lunch (12:00 – 12:20 p.m) | Snack (3:30 – 4:00 p.m) | Dinner (7:00 p.m) | |
| Day 15 | Bagel and cream cheese | Salmon and blueberry salad | Almonds and an orange | Turkey kebabs |
| Day 16 | Toast and 2 eggs | Grilled vegetable salad | Protein bar | Honey mustard chicken |
| Day 17 | Pineapple and cottage cheese | Seared tuna salad | Sunflower seeds and watermelon | Chicken soup |
| Day 18 | Egg white breakfast wrap | Vegetable salad | Apple berry banana smoothie | Mediterranean pizza |
| Day 19 | Oatmeal with pecan and an apple | Mexican pizza | Baked corn chips and salsa | Black bean burrito and grilled chicken |
| Day 20 | Banana and waffles | Chickpea burger | Fruit bowl | Shrimp veracruzana |
| Day 21 | Yogurt, berries, and almonds | Vegetable pita and hummus | Turkey jerky | Roasted salmon |
How You Will Feel By The End Of Week 3
By the end of Week 3, you would have lost much of the water weight and fat. Your body will appear slender and toned. Moreover, you will start feeling confident about yourself. You will be more excited about Week 4.
Week 4
| Breakfast (8:00 -9:00 a.m) | Lunch (12:00 – 12:20 p.m) | Snack (3:30 – 4:00 p.m) | Dinner (7:00 p.m) | |
| Day 22 | Cheerios with banana or berries | Seared tuna salad | Protein bar | Turkey kebabs |
| Day 23 | Toast and 2 eggs | Vegetable salad | An orange and 4 almonds | Mahi Mahi taco |
| Day 24 | Ezekiel English muffin | Grilled sirloin salad | Pear and peach | Black bean chili |
| Day 25 | Bagel and cream cheese | Salmon and blueberry salad | Watermelon | Chicken satay |
| Day 26 | Sausage and baked sweet potato | Grilled vegetable salad | An apple and a hardboiled egg | Grilled chicken and vegetables |
| Day 27 | Ezekiel English muffin | Chicken salad with mango and avocado | Apple berry banana smoothie | Honey lemon chicken |
| Day 28 | Pineapple and ricotta cheese | Vegetable pita and hummus | Baked corn chips and salsa | Shrimp veracruzana |
| Day 29 | Bananas and waffles | Avocado and turkey wrap | Veggies and hummus | Mixed veggie pizza |
| Day 30 | Cheerios with banana or berries | Grilled sirloin salad | Plum and apple smoothie | Black bean burrito and BBQ chicken |
How You Will Feel By The End Of Week 4?
Click pictures of your body from different angles and compare them with the ones you took before starting this diet. Look in the mirror; look closer – you will see a confident, active, and badass woman who can achieve anything that she sets her mind to. Congratulations!
How To Practice The 30-Day Shred?
Michaels believes in making use of every single muscle in the human body to shed the excess flab and attain a toned body. The workouts are tough, but you will not need any heavy investment or equipment. Take some weights, spend 20 minutes to perform the moves, and be consistent about it to get the desired results. You also need to wear comfortable attire and shoes.
Is It Suitable For People With Obesity?
While a lot of women and men from various age groups have benefited from this weight loss plan, it may not be ideal for everyone. You should get your fitness status and health conditions checked by a doctor to be clear about your suitability for this rigorous workout plan. Not everyone loses 20 pounds of weight in a month after trying this plan, but losing up to 15 pounds is a common experience.
Tips To Make The 30-Day Shred Plan Effective
You can very well buy the DVD and try the moves at home, but careful planning is required if you want to get maximum results from this program. Here are a number of handy tips that you can utilize to succeed in this regard:
1. Measuring Before And After
Before you begin the program, take a tape and measure your waist, chest, hips, and thighs. You may write down the found measurements. These can be compared with the changes you find after completion of the program one month later. This can help you understand how well you have fared.
2. Consistency
Diligence and consistency are absolutely required when you want to shed pounds while adhering to this plan. Based on your daily schedule, you will need to allocate some time every day for exercising. It will require less than an hour. It can be done either at night or morning or at any other suitable time. However, it is required that once you start working out at a particular time of the day, you stick to it.
3. Healthy, Balanced Eating
Any weight loss program requires the followers to stick to a healthy diet. While Michaels is not very particular about what you can and cannot eat, she asks the users to stick to the basics. Throw away fat-laden processed and fast foods from your kitchen cabinets and fridge. She lists out what type of foods you can and cannot eat on the DVD.
4. Preparing The Body
A lot of people who buy the DVD and try the moves fail because they do not schedule enough time to watch and develop the moves in advance. Before you start any of the three levels included in the DVD, watch them several times and practice the moves. This will save time and reduce the risk of injury. Eventually, you will be able to complete each level properly.
5. Stretching Helps
At the beginning of the 30-Day Shred program, Michaels tells you to perform dynamic stretching. It helps in opening up your muscles. However, doing this just before the sessions may lead to sore muscles, and you will find it hard to carry on.
To fare better, you should ideally stretch your pectorals, triceps, biceps, and calves. You need to do static stretching before beginning the 30-Day Shred Workout. This will bring down the risk of getting sore muscles and injuries.
6. Stop Starving Yourself
Michaels does not tell you to starve because you want to lose a significant amount of weight in one month. A lot of people think they need to eat less than what they do while adhering to the diet. Eating less than required may result in muscle loss and fat retention. This is definitely not what you want.
You need some carbs to get energy, but just do not go into overdrive. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits along with whole wheat products. Discard the refined flour-based foods.
7. Hydrating The Body
Before trying the workouts, hydrating the body is very important. Ensure that you drink plenty of water and homemade fruit juices. Each day, you are likely to lose plenty of body fluids through sweating while practicing the workouts.
8. Flexibility
Some people may need more than 10 days to complete each phase, while some have even stretched it to 50 days. While the trainer does not recommend doing so, you need to understand your body and take things slow if you want.
9. Make It Comfortable
The exercises are anything but comfortable, so you should ensure there are other possible means to make you feel better. Wear padded sneakers to guard your feet. It would be a good idea to use a thick mat on the floor. During the workout, it is natural to feel thirsty. Hence, keep a water bottle nearby.
Following Michael’s Principles On Diet
It is a tough task to follow the celebrity trainer’s fitness and workout regimen, but you may adhere to her eating habits to make the most out of the 30-Day Shred program.
Michaels does not believe in entirely depriving the body of foods that are calorie heavy. While avoiding processed foods is advised, she does indulge in chocolates sometimes. She eats crackers and candy bars but ensures they do not contain too many chemicals, fake flavors, preservatives, etc. As long as you take care of these aspects, there is no need to cut down on other foods. Basically, eating foods the body can process is what works.
To work out hard and regularly, one’s body will need a lot of energy. For this, she drinks plenty of protein shakes and eats Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. A good balance of fat, protein, and carbs in every meal keeps her energized.
Advantages Of The 30-Day Shred Diet Plan
- The short duration of the workout is a boon for everyone. Even men and women leading hectic lifestyles can squeeze 30 minutes a day into their schedules. Michaels is also flexible about timing. You are free to choose any time of the day as per your schedule.
- The plan has helped thousands of obese men and women lose weight.
- It works well for those who do not have access to the gym. You don’t have to pay gym fees.
- The stages involve a number of compound moves that benefit your body. They combine more than a muscle group, and you end up mixing various moves like squats and shoulder presses. Hence, you eventually end up burning more calories.
- When you adhere to the strenuous weight loss plan, you get other benefits too. Apart from achieving a slim body, you will find your endurance and stamina shooting up significantly within a month.
- In most diet and weight loss plans, you will find ways to cheat once in a while. As a trainer, Michaels is very stern – she has earned a reputation for being strict about her fitness lessons. However, those with lower fitness levels can find workarounds. One of the two ladies accompanying Michaels in the DVD shows moves that can be done easily by followers who find it difficult to do the tough moves by Michaels.
Limitations Of The 30-Day Shred Plan
No weight loss plan is flawless, and this is also applicable for the 30-day Shred. Its major limitations are:
- There is no denying that this plan is tough to adhere to. The duration may not be long, but the moves are tough for beginners. You can try Intermittent fasting or the 8-hour diet if you find the shred diet too restrictive.
- Those with injuries and recuperating from surgery should not do it. The second phase is focused on the knees, and those with knee injuries will find it hard to follow.
- Not all followers can lose 20 pounds, as promised by Michaels.
- This is not for those who are extremely overweight. With this plan, you may lose 20 pounds or so.
- Michaels says you should practice the plan six days a week. It sounds logical, but for most followers, this can be an overdose. It can lead to excessively sore muscles and body aches. A lot of people will not be able to keep up with the harder phases this way. Trying the moves four days per week is ideal for most followers.
- The phases involve the use of dumbbells, but Michaels does not specify the weights. This can make things tougher for beginners. Some moves may require using heavier weights than others.
This 30-day fitness challenge is designed to help you lose weight and obtain a more toned and shredded physique. This diet is not intended for obese people who find vigorous sweating undesirable. However, fitness enthusiasts with low to medium amounts of body fat who wish to lose weight without going to the gym may find the approach appealing. It is not impossible to attain the benefits of the 30-day Shred diet plan with consistency, hard work, and forethought.