Jillian Michaels Body Revolution Review – My Results After 3 Months

If you have followed this blog at all, you will already know that I am an avid Jillian Michaels fan. 

Her workout programs are tough, engaging, and perhaps most importantly – effective.

By now, I have completed many of her programs, including her well-known DVDs 30 Day shred and Ripped in 30. 

But perhaps the most epic program of all is Body Revolution. This is a 12-week program that was originally released on DVD back in 2012, but even though it is 8 years old I only came across it recently via her fitness app.

I recently completed this beast of a program and not only have I survived to tell the tale, but I am excited to share my results!

I think you will enjoy this Jillian Michaels Body Revolution review if you’re on the hunt for that killer workout program.

Disclaimer: I was not paid to write this. However, there are affiliate links in this post which means that I may make a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one. These are my own honest thoughts and opinions on the program. Full disclaimer here.

Body Revolution Overview

Body Revolution is a 3-month program designed to get you into super fit shape by taking your training up a notch every two weeks. 

Each week consists of 3 x 30 minutes workouts that you rotate through twice. For example, Week 1 looks like this:

• Day 1: Workout 1 (Strength training – front of the body)
• Day 2: Workout 2 (Strength training – back of the body)
• Day 3: Cardio Workout 1
• Day 4: Workout 1
• Day 5: Workout 2
• Day 6: Cardio Workout 1
• Day 7: Rest

The strength training workouts utilize compound exercises and metabolic training. And every 2 weeks they get harder, while the cardio exercises change every month. 

Body Revolution Cost

I did a search online but it’s not too easy to find the DVD set anymore. You might still find them floating around on Amazon but they seem really pricey.

The best place to access the program now is via the app, My Fitness by Jillian Michaels.

This way, you not only get access to Body Revolution but to all her other DVDs too!

That alone would be more than worth the cost of admission, but the app also comes with meal plans/recipes, premium customizable workout plans, and a workout generator. 

The app is quite affordable too, with subscription plans that work out to between $9.99- $14.99 per month depending on which plan you get. 

I’ve had this app for a year and frankly, I’m obsessed. (Read my full review if you want to learn more about it!)

Equipment Required

This program was designed to be done in the comfort of your own home so fortunately, does not require a ton of equipment. However, you will need some basic equipment:

• An exercise mat
• A set of light, medium, and heavy dumbbells (if you are relatively new to exercising with weights I would start with 3lbs, 5lbs, and 8lbs)
• A resistance cable

The mat and dumbbells are pretty important, although you could probably make do with 2 sets of weights if you needed to. 

She usually busts out the resistance cable once or twice per workout, but if you really needed to you could probably mimic most of the movements using dumbbells as a substitute. 

My Experience with the Program

Initial Goals

I started this program on May 12th, 2020, and finished on August 4th. 

First off, I should mention that the app has you working out 6 days a week but I sometimes only did 5 days and I missed either a strength day or a cardio day. 

I should also note that I am not a beginner; I have already completed several other fitness programs so keep that in mind! 

My goal was to lose a few vanity pounds and try and get some definition, particularly in my arms and abs. 

A Note about Diet

Regarding my diet during this time; I did make an effort to eat clean but I didn’t really follow the app’s meal plan. I was partaking of some of my favorite recipes from the app, like her matcha chia pudding and Tandoori chicken skewers, but for the most part, I did my own thing. 

I was definitely watching my calorie and macro intake. (I used Cronometer to track these!) On the days I worked out I targeted 1600-1700 calories, and on rest days I tried to keep it to 1500. (Doesn’t sound like a lot but remember I’m a bit of a shorty!) 

My diet is not strict but I prioritize protein and try to scale back the carb intake to 100-150 grams per day (which is by no means low-carb but lower carb than the average person.) 

I have also ditched most processed or refined foods.

Lastly, I also introduced a 16/8 intermittent fasting protocol into my routine about halfway through the program, and I think that may have helped too. 

First Impressions

From Day 1, I knew that this was going to be a program I enjoyed. Her workouts incorporate a lot of compound movements that work out multiple muscle groups, and they were fresh and different from the types of exercises I’d been doing before. 

I also loved the workout crew on the DVDs. Since they work through all the moves with you, it really made me feel like I wasn’t working out alone.

By the end of the program, they felt like my buddies!  

Jillian loves to torment them too which is amusing. Despite how much pain you may find yourself in at times, you will laugh and have fun. 

The first set of workouts definitely made me sweat, but more or less met me at my current level of fitness.

I do think that for absolute beginners this first week might be a bit intense but she does a good job of offering modifications for the moves to help you get through. 

Progressing through the program

The first two weeks were very doable for me but after that, playtime was over.

These workouts really pushed me! Every two weeks when the strength workouts got even harder, I felt like I was going to die, but then surprised myself at how quickly I adapted by the end of 14 days. 

I really hit my stride by mid-program and was actually looking forward to the workouts. I know that sounds crazy to say but something about JM and her crew just really fire me up to do my best and get it done!

Maybe I’m just the kind of person who just really needs someone to scream at me to jump my butt into the air. (She really does shout at you a lot!) 

Adapting the cardio workouts

The cardio workouts were a different beast from the strength training. 

As a former runner, endurance has never been my issue. But although I love some good plyo exercise now and then, Cardio workouts 2 and 3 were a bit too intense for me at times.

There was just SO much jumping.

Honestly, it was a little too jarring for me to do on a regular basis. So to take the impact down a bit, I very often swapped out her cardio workouts for another form of cardio, like spinning, rowing, or dancing.

My Results

This is the part of my Body Revolution review you’ve probably been waiting for – The Results! 

Because I knew that my weight might not change much but I wondered if there would be a visual difference.

But before we get to that, some quick background facts about my fitness journey: In 2016, I weighed about 140 lbs, which isn’t overweight but I was definitely uncomfortable, out of shape, and living in the land of stretchy pants. 

I made a change in 2017 and started exercising regularly. Between walking a lot and completing the BodyBoss program, I lost 20 lbs by April 2018. 

Since then, I’ve been able to maintain, typically fluctuating between 120 – 125 lbs depending on how vigilant I’ve been with workouts and diet.

Overall, I have been active and healthy, but had more or less plateaued and was struggling to break through that 120 lb mark.

Not that I want to necessarily weigh less but I am focused on adjusting my muscle to fat ratio. 

When I started Body Revolution I was back up to 123 lbs. When I finished I was 118 lbs.

A 5 lb loss doesn’t sound like a lot, but I have noticed a significant change in my body composition.

Before & After Photos

Here is a side-by-side comparison at the start of the program and at the end of the program:

Okay, so I debated posting these pictures because:

a) Dorky expressions (why am I so spaced-out looking in that first picture?)
b) I tried to choose form-fitting clothes but the outfit makes the differences look even more subtle than they are.

However, if you look closely, you can see my legs are definitely leaner and my midsection has slimmed down as well. In fact, I lost a full 1.5 inches of my waist! 

I also gained a lot of upper body strength and there is definition to my shoulders and back that is certainly new!

Oh, and I finally have visible abs! Nothing like the “washboard 6-pack” variety but there is definitely more than a shadow of definition happening. 

Body Revolution Review Summary

I highly recommend this program if you need help breaking through a fitness plateau or are serious about stepping up your fitness in a 3-month time-frame. 

This program is hard but it’s also effective. And when you come out on the other side of it, you will feel like you’re on fire – in a good way!

I will say that absolute beginners might find it a bit overwhelming. 

If that is the case, I would recommend you start off with one of Jillian Michaels’s’ beginner programs. She has few tailored to newbies within the app including her Beginner Shred DVD and Fitness for Beginners program.

As for what’s next for me? I’m going to complete her Take Back 2020 challenge and then maybe move on to her BodyShred DVD. I’m excited to see where my fitness journey takes me next!

That concludes my Body Revolution review! Have you tried this program or the Jillian Michaels app? 

Pros

• Highly effective 12-week program
• Quality videos to follow along with
• Accessing via the My Fitness app comes with access to a meal plan and a ton of other fitness programs

Cons

• Might be a bit overwhelming for someone brand new to exercise 

Other considerations

• The Cardio workouts involve a LOT of plyo which is effective but are really intense. I personally found them a bit too jarring to do on a regular basis.