Think of it this way: You had the cookies.
You canoodled with that gallon of ice-cream.
You dug your way out of a bag of Doritos.
It's time for the New Year – and author-trainer-media guru Jillian Michaels wants to shape your midlifer self up in a major way.
New year, new you? She wants you to take it seriously again.
Thankfully, she's back in a major way for the new season of "The Biggest Loser." Although this season focuses on shaping up both adults and the children in their lives, I asked Jillian for her midlifer dieting and exercise tips.
One of the friendliest people in the business, Jillian was happy to share her dieting tips and healthy ways to lose weight for those of us stuck in that same old, over 40 body rut.
I asked her: Jillian, what do you say to women over 40 who lose and gain the same 10 or 20 pounds again and again and again?
HELP!
MICHAELS MIDLIFER DIETING TIPS AND HEALTHY WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT
Jillian Michaels says midlifers make the same dieting mistake again and again.
"The biggest dieting mistake people make is they don't understand calories in and calories out," she says. "In my opinion, they don't understand that you have to create a calorie deficiency and eat less than your body is burning in a day in order to lose weight.
"You have to understand fat," she says. "Fat is stored energy. You will store your calories as fat if you eat too many of them."
Michaels says that her best diet tip is actually very easy to follow. "If you eat higher calories, less healthy foods then you will gain or keep the weight on."
Now the good news: "You can have these foods a few times a week, while eating healthy foods all of the time.
"Again, it's calories in and calories out," Jillian says.
Of course, she's right. It's not about how many blueberries you eat or if you eat pasta on every third Tuesday.
It's calories.
Period.
SAY NO TO FAD DIETS IN MIDLIFE, SAYS JILLIAN MICHAELS
When I ask her for specific midlier tips, Jillian says one of her biggest pieces of dieting advice is to avoid fad diets.
"You cannot get involved in fad diets in midlife or any other period of your life, but it's tough in midlife because that's why people are yo-yoing," she says.
"I hear, 'I'm going to do 'this 17 day thing' or 'I'm going to go on the cookie diet,'" she gripes.
Her plan focuses on a reasonable approach to eat less calories.
"You have to eat better and healthier. Eat in a balanced way to create an energy equation where you burn the calories," she says.
"When you eat quality foods like lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, you will maximize your metabolism," she tells midlifers. "You don't have to each so much less, but eat better."
Of course, exercise plays into the equation.
"I tell clients to eat better and move more," she says. "If you do both, you'll not only lose weight, but you'll boost your immunity. Your weight will also balance out in a healthy way that you can sustain."
She says the best diet secret can be summed up in two words.
"Common sense," Jillian says. "Eat good foods in moderation and find an activity you love like a spin class or zumba. Run or bike.
"That is the answer," she says.
Then she laughs.
"There is no secret diet answer that we've been all holding out on you," she says with a laugh. "It's all about common sense."
TOMORROW: JILLIAN TALKS ABOUT THE NEW SEASON OF "THE BIGGEST LOSER" INCLUDING WAYS FOR YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS TO SHAPE UP AND LEAN OUT WITH YOUR HELP.
