I received an email yesterday morning from one of my readers that said, “I’m not sure if you listen to Jillian Michaels but I listen to her podcasts every day and today she was talking about you!!” (Shout out to Leigh-Ann for running on the treadmill AND typing on her phone at the same time—that’s talent!)
Of course the only logical response was, “What!? For real? Holy shit!” Followed up a few seconds later with, “Actually, that deserves a
‘HOLY SHIT BALLS!’
All I could think was, O.M.G. JILLIAN MICHAELS READ MY 10+ Reasons I Love My Ugly Body BLOG!!!
I was ecstatic! But after listening to the first four minutes of the episode I was left with very mixed emotions.
I was THRILLED because when she said, “I LOVED HER” she was referring to ME! (JM LOVES ME!) But then I was sad because she said she wouldn’t share my story with her audience. WHY?! Why, Jillian, WHY?!?!?
She tells her listeners she has been looking for an inspiring post to share with her followers, a story that focuses on body acceptance AND health, not just accepting an unhealthy body. She said that my Ugly Body post has everything she is looking for but…well this is what she said:
“There was this one girl, and the only reason I didn’t post this one, because I really liked her and I really like everything she had to say, is because she was a CrossFitter and I don’t believe in CrossFit.”
I assumed that meant that she doesn’t believe in the methodology, or the coaching style, or the certification process, or the programming. And believe it or not, I can TOTALLY understand- there’s a lot of shit CrossFit out there.
But instead of saying ANY of those things from her professional point-of-view which I would fully respect, she goes on to say, “She would have been the one I would have posted but then you get into this whole cult of CrossFit which freaks me out”
DUDE! WHAT THE CRAP JILLIAN?!
I cannot for the life of me understand why she wouldn’t post an article that has received hundreds (if not thousands) of sob-fest inducing (I cry like a baby when I read them) comments and emails proclaiming from many that reading that article was “life changing” because CrossFit freaks her out.
I totally get not being a fan of CrossFit, I have no problem with that. As a certified personal trainer AND discerning human being, I am fully aware that it has its flaws. While I love doing it and recognize what it has done for me, even I am not a fan of all things CrossFit. I just know that MY CrossFit experience allowed me to find a LOVE for fitness that has enabled me to do things physically that never even seemed possible.
I respect her as a professional—I know she knows her shit—I hope to know half as much as she does about health and fitness one day—I’m working on it! But I cannot for the life of me understand how she could possibly keep something from her audience that she herself LOVED just because it has the word “CrossFit” attached to it.
**Facepalm**
I wish I had a celebrity telephone so I could just call her and be all like, “Yo! Jillian! What’s up with being freaked out by CrossFit? It’s not like I’m wrestling snakes in a mud pit! And also, my story is about WAY more than CrossFit, it’s about being FASTER, STRONGER, BETTER, aka HEALTHIER than ever before and isn’t THAT what it’s about? Let’s hang out some time.”
Anyway, I tweeted to her this morning but haven’t gotten a response. I’m sure she gets tweeted at all day and the chances of my tweets getting lost in the sea of tweets is probably pretty likely. But I am going to remain hopeful that she will see them and maybe, just maybe she will reconsider.
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Get ahold of her friend Bob Harper and he will make her see that crossfit is still an acceptable modality and it got you to do what all trainers,doctors, ect want to get people active in life. That is just pure silly.
Angie, unfortunately I don’t think it’s that easy. Would be nice if it was though! 🙂
Haha Ya I know its not so easy. That is too sad not to respect each formality of exercise. I guess thats how it goes for some though. Still love her but I guess everyone is human.
I’m shocked and saddened by this especially given her “relationship” with Bob Harper who is an avid CrossFitter. I think that it is very close minded of her to say that and to not share your story for that small reason is a shame. CrossFit or not, you have inspired hundreds, if not thousands, of people to be proud of who they are and keep working at it everyday. This has nothing to do with the “Cult of CrossFit.” And you know what I keep saying, this is a damn good cult to be a part of because we are all supportive of each other and have a healthy outlook on life. Shame on Jillian…
Thanks Sarah! I’d just like to think that there’s more to her reason for not sharing than what she says about it being a “cult”. I hope that her reason is more for protecting her brand or not believing in the methodology or for legal reasons or something like that. Hmmm…oh well.
Hey Andrea!
I follow Jillian on facebook and mentioned you and your blog in the comments to one of her post (she was actually responding as part of the conversation.) I hope I helped bring you to her attention, I knew she would appreciate your story!
I hope she reconsiders!
I think I remember that! Was it back in May?