Jillian Michaels: Being Fat as a Teen Was 'Pure Hell'

By PopEater Staff Posted Jun 17th 2010 12:24PM

It's hard to believe that Jillian Michaels, the trainer on 'Biggest Loser' and star of 'Losing It With Jillian' was ever overweight.

But Michaels has been open with her struggles as a kid, and talks to Redbook about her problems.

Of being 175 pounds when she was a teen, she says, "Oh, my God, it was pure hell. I spent all of eighth grade in my classroom because God forbid I ever left. I was terrorized. And karate saved my life. It all stopped the day I broke two boards with a kick." Read more about Jillian, her childhood and what she thinks the biggest misconception about her is >>>

Biggest misconception that people have about her: "That I'm a bitch. I really don't have a mean bone in my body! Do you know how easy it would be to tell people what they want to hear? It would be heaven! But, unfortunately, it doesn't get the job done."

She was in therapy at the age of 5: "I was a really disturbed kid. You know how kids have night terrors? Mine were really bad. I thought sharks were coming out of the drain in the bathtub. I couldn't sleep at night, every night, waiting for aliens to come. I'm not kidding you: I. Was. Traumatized. And mom got me into therapy."

Her troubles continued as a teen: "My parents got divorced when I was 12. They were married for 18 years. They were kind of midlife-crisis-ing, and I was sort of the afterthought. I became pretty angry -- no one wanted to deal with me -- so when I was 17, my mom was like, 'You're not living here.' We were fighting. But I learned a lot being on my own. I grew up. I had to make money. I learned how to make decisions that are right for me."

Tags: biggest loser, Jillian michaels

Comments

(121)

Friday 18 June

By Mike

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Popeater is a farce and AOL refuses to see that it gets fixed.

By Suzanne Howard

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SHE IS A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR US ALL. JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU WHAT A LITTLE WILL POWER AND A LOT OF HARD WORK CAN DO AND PAY OFF.

By rominakatz

She is no role model. An obsession with weight and image, blamed on divorced parents is BS. She has lots of problems and must get help to see herself as a person and not just a body.

By J.E.B.

She had a cute face, even back then, and she has only improved on a good thing!

By r

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i lost 100lbs and all fat people could do is acuse me of having aids, fatsos are dumbies

By Lisa

Jillian Michaels is mean and nasty! I don't watch TBL because SHE is on the show.

By GLK

Why do there have to be people to say such mean and horrible things about Jullian. I think she is a wonderful motivator and has a heart of gold. She has to get to the core of their issues as why she has to yell. When people are in the military do you think they don't yell. Hello, they have to break you down to build you back up. Sounds like there are a lot of jealous people out there. Why some people always have to find something bad to say about someone instead of looking at the good in people. She is just telling her story and how things have affected her. Why must people take her story and tear it apart word for word and try to destroy someone who has made her life helping others. WE love you in our household Jullian and please keep it going.

By Kathryn

I must tell you that watching Jillian for the last several years has finally gotten me off my lazy butt. I have sat in the chair and watch every season and said to myself there is just no way I can do that, am I excessively over weight no, however it is all in how one views themself. I know the world treats you totally diff. if you are the least bit over weight trust me the world is the way it is. Thanks Jillian for getting me out of the house and into the world again, 2 days ago I started Cross Fit, it seemed to be the closest thing to The Biggest Loser work out I could find. I hope and pray that you continue to do what you do, I think you are amazing.

By Nancy Laurens

I think Ms. Michaels needs to look in the mirror during one of her sessions and see how scary she actually looks. I would not take that insulting ridicule from her. I would ask her to leave my home.

By Mary

I really don't like Jillian's personality. I think she is very difficult to listen to. But, I think she was a beauty heavy and is
a beauty now. Just cause you don't like someone doesn't mean they
are not good-looking.

By Jensee

Wow, she looked just like, Julia Roberts! I think she was very beautiful even if she was 165lbs.....!

Oops...I meant 175lbs..! She 'looked' beautiful.

By g

jeez - that mentally messed up simply over parents' divorce??? try molestation or worse. Sometimes, ya just gotta STOP PLAYING THE VICTIM & GET PAST IT!!!!!!!!!!

By delores

Sorry , but being a fat teenager leads to being an obese adult and I think Jillian's right . More teenagers and Parents need to get serious about diet and health . Too many fat , lazy kids in this world and they follow their fat lazy parent's .
I say Congrat's Jillian and if you don't want kids , so be it . It is your business.

By bob

I'd bone either one. Is she a carpet muncher?

She said she goes both ways, but I'd bet anything your thoughts are right on target.

Her weight obsession is scary. Her not wanting to be a mother to save her body is insane. She needs a good therapist.

By craig

Jillian Michael's was far more attractive, feminine and healthy looking in her teens than she is now. Very sad that women in the U.S. feel they have to be either pencil thin or very muscular like a boy.

By Shara

Back in the day 175 was heavy especially at 5'2". In school kids are hard on others.. but if you watch the shows she is on, she is the most caring and loving person... I would LOVE for her to take me to the gym for one week and straighten me out!!!!!!! I need healthy disipline and she ROCKS!

By Ray

Let me see now, ah yes continue your psychiatric therapy you need it "Big Time". You're still in Looney Tunes!

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