Jillian Michaels - Master Your Metabolism Want to diet and work out with the intensity of Jillian Michaels, but in the comfort of your own home? No need to sign-up for NBC's The Biggest Loser reality show. Jillian Michaels has produced a book called "Master your Metabolism" which includes Hot Bod in a Box - a set of flash cards to help you maintain a weekly exercise schedule. The book/card combination will teach you how to get a killer body with Jillian's help right from the comforts of your living room.

Your Hormones Affect Weight Loss
Some key topics of the book discuss how hormones play a giant roll in keeping your body weight at a healthy level. Jillian states that your hormones are your metabolism and how your metabolism and genetics are not static, they are dynamic and you can affect your metabolism by ther way you do physical workouts and with your diet.

The million dollar question: What plays a bigger role in helping produce the hormones that will speed up your metabolism? Is it physical activity or the food we eat? Or is it perfect balance of the two?

Jillian Michaels claims it is a balance of everything in your life. Part of it is you need to remove toxins from everyday items in your life. Toxins are in the cleaning and beauty products you use and the foods that you put in your body every day.

Supplements like Vitamin C Can Help
Then you want to restore the power nutritents in your body that boost your metabolism. As an example, lets look at Vitamin C. Many people dont realize that Vitamin C reduces Cortisol, which is a fat storing stress hormone. As your life becomes more stressed, your body will produces Cortisol which can easily store more fat on your body. So there are simple steps like taking Vitamin C that you can affect your hormones and assist you with weight loss. And when you eat healthy foods, the better food with special nutrients can really ramp up your metabolism and help you shed fat.

Jillian also discusses lifestyle and how getting enough sleep, working out properly with intensity for the correct length of time can really boost your fat sheading hormones. Her training and diet really takes a holistic approach to wellness and weight loss.

Hot Bod in a Box Flash Cards
Jillian's book "Master your Metabolism" is really focused on changing your lifestyle and how to use weight loss techniques with food and supplements to aid in weight loss. There is no mention of exercise in the book -- all of the fitness exercises are covered in the Hot Bod in a Box flash card program.

What are Hot Bod in a Box flashcards? Hot Bod in a Box is a series of flashcards that includes all different kinds of exercises. The flash cards target specific exercises and takes you through circuit training -- different programs you can do throughout the week that will help you develop a complete exercise program that touches all the import areas on your body. There are 15 different kinds of pushups and cardio exercises. These exercises are all moves that you can do at home with no equipment or you can take the cards to the gym and try them on exercise equipment. The flashcard program provides a customized weekly workout based on numbers listed on the card -- so it is easy to develop a workout program and do different exercises each day of the week. The program is based on doing 15 reps in 3 cycles.

Hot Bod in a Box Flashcard Examples:
Scorpion Push Up: This unique push up instructs you move your leg up over your back as you go downward on the push up. It helps workout your abs, chest, shoulders, triceps and hamstrings.

Squat Press: This simple cardio interval is just moving your legs back and forth when you're in the push up stance. It helps get your heart rate moving and works out your abs, chest, shoulders and triceps.

The "W" Press: Using light weights, you balance on one leg as you move your arms out away from your body. This excecise works out your upper back helping to create a "V taper" -- that increases the width of your shoulders, which will assist in making your waist look skinnier.

Jump Rope Exercise: The unique aspect about this exercise is there is no jump rope. Since most people dont own a jump rope, Jillian suggests grabbing some very light weights and jumping as if you had a jump rope. The exercise increases your heart rate (cardio), and works out your biceps.

This program works best with no rest in between individual exercises. Try completing the whole circuit, then take a short break before starting the next reps. If you do this all week long, there are enough exercises that you would not need to do the same workout twice.