5 Workouts by Jillian Michaels I Used & Lost Over 40 Pounds

Have you been considering trying one of the workouts by Jillian Michaels, but you’re unsure which one is best?

Or perhaps you’ve heard that Jillian Michaels’ 30-Day Shred is all the rage, and you want to join in?

I’m here to help you choose the right workout or workouts that will guide you toward your fitness goals in the end.

However, before I help you with that, I’d like to briefly explain why you should trust my recommendations regarding Jillian Michaels workouts.

You see, I used to be fat- not big-boned, curvy, or heavy. I was simply overweight.

One day, I decided I needed to stop living in the future, of what I would look like if and when I lost the weight. You may relate to that part.

I didn’t like how I felt. I was always tired and didn’t have the energy to care for my kids or enjoy life.

How I Started Doing Workouts by Jillian Michaels

One day it just clicked that I could actually change my story even though I couldn’t afford a gym membership at the time.

I knew about Jillian Michaels from her days on The Biggest Loser but wasn’t aware that she had a massive collection of workout plans.

During that period, there were full Jillian Michaels workout videos on YouTube, including 30 Day Shred. (This is no longer the case, as there was a legal battle between the huge YouTube channel that hosted the free videos and Jillian Michaels’ legal team).

Anyway, I found the first workout by Jillian Michaels, fell in love, and started consistently working out.

I lost massive weight and bought almost all her workouts after that. This was a few years back.

I have done lots of Jillian Michaels workouts since then and even wrote a comprehensive review of all her workout plans that I have done. 

You can read my unbiased and honest Jillian Michaels Workouts reviews in this article.

I say all that to say this: I know which one of Jillian Michaels’s workouts is the most effective.

Within a few weeks of consistently following any one of the workouts highlighted below, you will go from being ridiculously out of shape to being super fit.

*This post may include affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure here.

Dumbells to use

All of these Jillian Michaels workouts require dumbbells. If you don’t have a set, you can purchase this dumbbell set on Amazon, which includes 5, 10, and 20 lbs.

The colorful, feminine dumbbells may look cute, but they are often not sturdy and can have an unpleasant odor.

I now have my own home gym, equipped with great equipment like a squat rack. Don’t be intimidated by the weights, ladies. You won’t get bulky with these workouts, trust me!

You might also like:

• 5 powerful workout motivation tips (how to motivate yourself to workout)
• How to build a home gym on a budget
• How to increase metabolism for weight loss
• 8-Week HIIT Workout Plan (PDF)

Top 5 Jillian Michaels workouts that helped me lose weight

 

5. Kickbox Fastfix

If you love fast-paced aerobic classes, for weight loss and toning, but don’t want to do it in the gym, then you need to get Kickbox Fastfix.

 There are many reasons why I love, and never get tired of the exercises in this video, but one that stands out is that this is my go-to workout when I am strapped for time.

Kickbox Fastfix is a set of 3 cardio kickboxing and strength training workout videos, which target abs and upper and lower body.

Kickbox Fastfix breakdown:

• Workout 1- cardio and upper body
• Workout 2- cardio and lower body
• Workout 3- cardio and abs

I think the name Fastfix comes from the fact that in less than 20 minutes, you get to warm up, do a combo of cardio and strength training, and also cool down and stretch.

I was sold on not only how fast this workout is, but also the fact that I get to burn an insane amount of calories in a short time! Even with push-ups, you get to go push as fast as you in 30 seconds!

Jillian’s energy and how the girls kick fast and hard will inspire you to push yourself harder.

If you are on a time crunch and need to get your workout in, this video series is a must. Better still, if time is all you have, you can do all three workouts back to back and burn close to 1000 calories! I once did this and loved it.

My favorite among the three workouts is workout 1. I love the jab/kick combos and the moves aren’t as hard to memorize compared to workout 2.

I should also mention that there’s a fourth video which is a 14-minute one-on-one tutorial where Jillian explains the moves and correct form in detail.

So, why should you buy Kickbox Fastfix?

Well, in a few words, I would say, that if you love HIIT, real kickboxing, and cardio and want something fast-paced and fun to help you get toned, this program is a must-have.

By the way, you only one pair of dumbbells for this workout.

4. Jillian Michaels k*ll*r buns and thighs

K*ll*r Buns and Thighs is a workout made up of levels 1, 2, and 3. This workout promises to tone and tighten your legs and butt, and yes, it delivers on the promise.

I saw amazing results with this workout and as you can see in the photo below, my butt went from being flat and out of shape, to being perfectly lifted and toned. My legs went from fat to lean and sculpted, like a dancer’s.

 

K*ll*r Buns and Thighs workout is structured in such a way that each level is tougher than the previous one, with level 3 being the most difficult.

Level one is my absolute favorite and consists of fairly basic but very effective workouts. I saw incredible results with just level 1 alone.

Level 2 was kind of a mission for me and didn’t entirely like it because it involved quite a lot of upper body as well, which I didn’t want to train on the days that I did the lower body. I found that I was doing extra upper-body workouts on days when I needed to rest those muscles.

So, I skipped level 2 after two tries and went straight to level 3, and nailed it.

My honest opinion on the buns and thighs workout is that should you decide to stick to level 1 alone, your butt will still be perkier and your legs more sculpted in a matter of two weeks- it’s that effective!

Most of Jillian Michaels’ workouts are tailored for beginners, apart from BodyShred, which is very advanced from beginning to end.

Out of all her workout videos (and there are many), I believe these three that I am about to share with you are the best Jillian Michaels workouts for beginners that will help you lose weight and get toned really fast. 

3. Ripped in 30

Ripped in 30 by Jillian Michaels was released after the famous 30-Day Shred.

Unlike the latter, which has only three levels, Ripped in 30 features four levels and promises to get you ripped in just four weeks!

I started with the 30-Day Shred, and the thought of an extra level terrified me. However, as I progressed, I gained strength and became ready for the challenge.

I loved Ripped in 30 because it incorporates the same 3-2-1 interval system (3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs) that the 30-Day Shred is known for.

The levels are progressive, allowing you to advance from level 1 to the next after one week.

Ripped in 30 is one that I saw the most results with in terms of getting rid of belly fat. If you struggle with belly fat, I would suggest that you skip Jillian Michaels 6 Week Six-Pack workout, and make better use of your time with Ripped in 30.

I had tried 6 Week Six-Pack, and honestly, it won’t give you a flat tummy, let alone a six-pack! In the photo below, you can see the progress I made with Ripped in 30, in just 30 days.

One thing you should bear in mind about Ripped in 30, is that it comes at a price, as Jillian herself says at the beginning of week 1. 

The price is that you’ll be shedding a few tears during the workout, BUT, at the end of the 30 days, you’ll be in the ‘sickest and most incredible shape you’ve ever been in your entire life.’

2. Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

Let me start by saying that everything you have heard about Jillian Michaels 30 30-day Shred workout is absolutely true. Yes! You can lose up to 20 pounds in 30 days, with this workout!

30-Day Shred is a mix of cardio and strength training designed to help you lose weight in a month.

30 Day Shred follows the 3-2-1 interval training, which involves doing 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio (lots of jumping jacks, shadow boxing, and high knees), and 1 minute of abs.

The series has 3 videos, and you work through each video for 10 days, before proceeding to the next.

If you are an absolute beginner, you can follow Anita, the girl who does the basic moves, or if you feel you’ve got more, you can follow Natalie, who does the advanced exercises.

Throughout the workouts, Jillian leads or goes to either Natalie or Anita to show you how to do the exercises correctly.

She is literally your personal trainer in the comfort of your home, or wherever you are working out from.

This workout transformed my body in ways I hadn’t imagined for myself. I was unrecognizable from where I was 30 days before starting it. I lost weight, I felt amazing, and yes, I also looked stunning.

I say it from the heart that if you want to do Jillian Michaels workouts, you must start with 30 Day Shred.

After that, you can move on to Ripped in 30, and eventually progress to Body Revolution, which by far, is the best workout by Jillian Michaels!

1. Body Revolution

I will say it again, in case you missed it. Body Revolution is the best out of all of the Jillian Michaels workouts I have tried!

Body Revolution is a 12-week or 90-day, extreme weight-loss workout plan, divided into 3 phases.

Phase 1 involves low-impact basic exercises and doing them correctly before moving to the advanced version. For instance, in phase 1, you get to do knee push-ups, while in phase 2, you start pushing yourself to do military push-ups.

By the end of phase 1, your strength and conditioning will improve so much. You will be fitter, panting less during the exercises, and shedding lots of inches off your waistline.

At the end of the first 4 weeks, you move to phase 2 of the program, and this is where intensity builds up, and things start getting really serious.

I have done Body Revolution countless times but for some reason, I always dread week 7, of all the weeks. For me, week 7 is the most challenging, but so worth it when I reach the end and marvel at the results.

When I started 30 Day shred, I weighed 94kgs (about 207lbs) and by the time I was done with the final phase of Body Revolution, I was weighing 72kgs (about 158lbs).

This may not seem like much, depending on how much weight you want to lose, but what you must know is that you will be losing a lot of fat, and gaining muscle at the same time.

This means that you will lose more inches, all around than the weight on the scale. Your clothes will be looser before the numbers on the scale start to budge. You seriously won’t believe how toned you are going to be at the end of this 12-week plan.

I strongly encourage you to get rid of the scale for the duration of this Jillian Michaels workout and instead, use a tape measure to track your progress. 

Jillian Michaels Body Revolution meal plan

It’s also worth mentioning that Body Revolution comes with a meal plan but honestly, I never followed it. I just used to track my daily calories without cutting out food groups or dieting.

Feel free to read this article about how I lost weight by tracking my meals and setting my weight loss goals properly.

Final thoughts

Jillian Michael’s workouts will help you reach your fitness goals, but you have to come to the party with everything you have got.

You have to be disciplined and consistent with your diet and workout.

Your diet has to be balanced. Remember, carbs are not your enemy, and neither is fat- don’t be afraid of them.

Importantly, you have to have a WHY. The ‘why’ is just as important as the effort you put into any Jillian Michaels workout. You have to have a ‘why’ because your ‘why’ will fuel your drive to consistently workout no matter how tired, or how hard it gets.

Related workouts:

• Fat-burning 30-Day Weight Loss Challenge (Beginner-friendly)
• Best Fat Burning Exercises at Home for Women
• 28 Day Workout Challenge to Start Exercising Again (Free PDF)