Interesting...I never thought orange extract would be a bad thing. Good to know. If you don't mind can you post any research links for the above? Thanks

I'm sure it's a mix of both there. It's just sad.

I had a look at her page. I am totally surprised that she is now pushing pills. Just because it is all natural, doesn't mean it is safe - as nelie pointed out quite nicely. I'm just going to keep plodding along without using supplements (except my good ol' multi-vitamin). My trust in what Jillian says has gone down quite a bit, though. Kinda sad - I thought she was one of the people that wasn't just out to make a buck.

I find it interesting that we are being given the impression (and not just here, many other products do this too) that because the ingredients are natural and we can pronounce then, the product is somehow safe. There are some pretty dangerous plants out there.

I guess she considers this "natural"... um, I don't particularly agree but I was never planning to buy this sort of thing anyway.

It is too bad though since I like her videos and her workouts have been effective for me.

Foxglove is a flower, from which we get Digitalis, a potent and lethal substance.
Deadly nightshade is a plant, and is, well, deadly.
Hemlock -- need I say more?

So if I prepare a pill that is all natural, with no chemicals or preservatives, and it has foxglove, deadly nightshade and hemlock in it, is it safe???

The side effects of these plant extracts can lead to serious, serious side effects -- cardiac, kidney, liver effects that can't be cured. Just remember the Ma Huang issue...

I'm really disappointed...

Kira

Pinto -
Here is an article from the mayo clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bitter-orange/AN01218

and here is a copy of the Consumer Reports overview.
http://www.consumersunion.org/pdf/dirtydozen1.pdf

Basically bitter orange extract and variations are a natural version of ephedra which has been banned on the markets due to deaths/health risks.

Bitter orange (aka Citrus aurantium, green orange, kijitsu, neroli oil, seville orange, shangzhou, zhiqiao, sour orange, zhi oiao, zhi xhi) can cause high blood pressure, icreased risk of heart arrythmias, heart attack and stroke.

She has always been pro-supplementation, and it has always bothered me, ever since I read Making the Cut.

This is sad, though, because she built up a whole message board (like 3FC, but paid) of followers, and I'm sure she's pitching like crazy there. She basically has guru status with a lot of people who will do whatever she suggests, and I just don't think this suggestion is in the best interest of the people reading.

Really, really disappointing that it has a dirty dozen ingredient. I mean, willow bark and caffeine, fine (unless you're aspirin sensitive, in which case, the willow bark is a different thing) - it's basically the same as taking an Excedrin, minus the tylenol. But BITTER ORANGE? Ugh.

Thank you, Nelie.

And, I agree, I am very disappointed with all her pill pushing as well. I really liked her and thought she is different as she always said eat healthy, whole grains, natural and exercise.

Ahh, this saddens me too. I really believed she was about more than fame and fortune. I reckon I was wrong

In all honesty I have never been a huge fan of hers. Once she started pushing books and dvds it to me seemed she was already milking the cow. Now don't get me wrong I have some of her dvds that I do enjoy working out with I just never have been one to think she was out to "Help people" and not herself. It is upsetting to see this but I must say im not really that shocked.

I'm with Pammy. I have never liked her approach. She's way too macho and sadistic about the whole thing, and I blame her personally for that woman on Biggest Loser who cracked her hip doing those high-impact exercises Jillian insists on.

I've always seen her as a performer, not a trainer, and she's obviously in it to make money. There's nothing wrong with making money, but there is something wrong about doing the same thing everyone else does, only giving it a spin to make it sound OK. (Also known as lying?) Just my opinion.

Getting down now.

Jay

I just liked how she said, "Have a killer weekend" on her FB page. Anyone else catch that irony, given the stuff in those pills?

How disappointing! .. and shocking Especially with all the research you guys did with the ingredients.. I can hardly believe it!

agreed

well yeah once you get some popularity and gain a couple of million bux why not create something to gain a few more and only kill a handful along the way? Its like most people who are in the limelight. They loose sight of the big picture. Really sad, coz I liked her aswell.

Let me start with my own point of view on Jillian - "Profit" is NOT a dirty word in my book. She gets paid and paid WELL to help others lose weight. That's her career. I still like Jillian as much as I always have. Her workouts work well for many people. I may be wrong, but I believe every person who's won a quarter mil on TBL has been one of Jillian's trainees. If not every winner, then I believe MOST have been trained by her. She knows how to lose weight and get fit. I will definitely buy all of her DVDs and most of her books.

If she believes in the supplements enough to put her name, and therefore her fortune, on the line, good for her. I hope she's right about the safety of them - but I won't be buying her new pills.

I'm more disturbed by her book "Master Your Metabolism" than I am about her selling supplements she believes in. She came across as a bit of a fanatic in that book on the subject of organics and such. She believes that $100 per week is a reasonable grocery budget to buy organic products and wanted everyone to turn their household and life upside down to get rid of anything she didn't think was good. Excuse me but I spend about $120 to $160 per MONTH for groceries and that's buying meat and produce that's on sale and running to the store to take advantage of double coupon days. Organics are twice or 3X the price of regular food. I'm not rich and can't afford her organic frenzy, sorry. Nor do I care how the meat gets to my table. I'm not an activist and can't afford to be choosy.

Jillian's no different from anyone else who makes a living off giving weight loss advice - I listen to what they have to say, then make up my own mind and make my own choices. I can follow her concepts (or anyone else's) that fit in with my views and lifestyle and disregard the rest.