The Northern Family of Goodlettsville, Tennessee
Jillian Michaels is ready to spend another week with another family. The father is Patrick and the mother is Kim. They have 14-year-old twins: son Ameer and daughter Ameera. Patrick lost his job and it has taken a psychological toll on him. Kim feels fully responsible for the family while Patrick has withdrawn completely from the family.
Jillian’s Wake Up Call
Jillian is sitting in a car down the road watching the family make their “Southern cooking” lunch. The father is outside deep frying chicken wings in a very large fryer. Inside, the mother is making macaroni and cheese and buttering corn bread. Jillian calls and tells them to stop eating. She sounds furious! Jillian demands that they go to her doctor for a full health assessment. They are also instructed to bring their work out clothes because Jillian will be waiting.
The Doctor
Patrick is about 200 pounds overweight and Kim is about 150 pounds overweight. She has a percentage of body fat of 53%. Ameera starts crying and tells the doctor that she is scared that her parents will die. Patrick says that he didn’t get this way in a day and it will take a while to lose weight and get his health back.
Jillian Arrives
The family is ready to exercise and is anxiously waiting for Jillian. Jillian arrives infuriated and immediately confronts them on their food choices. The family knows it isn’t healthy, but eats it anyways. Jillian says that only makes her more angry. Patrick says his “first impression of Jillian: Bulldog.” Jillian continues to challenge the family through exercise and they are struggling to keep up. Ameera cries and tells her dad she wants him to try. Jillian says that Patrick isn’t bringing his full effort. The kids tearfully tell Patrick that they need their parents to be healthy. The entire family is crying and it is obvious how much pain they are in. It looks like they have gotten through to Patrick and Jillian commits to him that she will be there to turn them around.
Back At Home
Jillian starts going through the kitchen. They start with their “Southern Cooking” lunch that goes straight into the garbage. Jillian talks about the fat in the macaroni and cheese that is fat in their arteries. They throw out a five-gallon jug of oil. Patrick shows Jillian where his “stash” is and they throw it out. Kim hides candy in her bedside drawer. Kim admits that she wants to escape and it looks like she is using to food to help her do that. Jillian says that Kim is “shouldering the weight of the entire family and Patrick needs to wake up and see what he is doing to his family.”
At the Gym
Jillian introduces the Body Bug as a fitness tool. Kim and Patrick are at the gym for their one-hour workout. Jillian wants Patrick to use this workout to show his family that he is not quitting. She tells him to “re-write history”. While Kim is running and says that she is doing it for herself, Patrick is moaning on the treadmill next to her. Then he falls saying that his leg gave out. Jillian pushes him and says that he is quitting and challenges him to jog without quitting. He does it! Jillian says that Patrick has shown that he is physically capable and he needs to make changes and stop quitting.
Family
Kim’s sister LaTasha comes over for a visit and chats with Jillian. LaTasha has been a great support to her sister. LaTasha tells Jillian about Kim refusing a 40th birthday party. Kim admits that she didn’t want the party because she wasn’t “Sexy at 40”.
Step Dance
Patrick is working on music for a high school Greek show. It is a step dance competition. Kim tells Jillian that he had the opportunity to participate, but he didn’t want to. They all decide to go to the show that night. While at the show, Jillian starts a conversation about Patrick and step dance. He use to dance in high school, but his children have never seen it. Patrick says he won’t dance again, even if he lost the weight. The family has not seen him dance and they all encourage him to dance. Patrick continues to protest. Kim asks if he is scared. Patrick denies it and he walks off. Kim thinks that he doesn’t try so that he won’t fail.
Jillian says anytime Patrick is confronted with feelings that make him feel “less than” that he “shuts down”. Jillian decides that she will “unravel Kim” in front of Patrick to see if that gets through to him.
The Next Day
At the gym, it is obvious to Jillian that Kim isn’t doing well. Kim starts crying and says she is hurting. Jillian tells Kim to tell Patrick about it. Kim says that she needs to lean on him and it is too much responsibility. Patrick says that he knows that she has said it before. Patrick heard her then, but now he is truly listening.
Patrick has started doing some projects around the house that Kim has asked him to do. He says that he is done “procrastinating”. Patrick is looking forward to Kim being happy and “seeing her smile”.
Successful Workout
Jillian and Patrick are back at the gym. Jillian wants to help Patrick feel successful. Patrick has a great workout and does not even think about quitting. Then, Jillian has Patrick train Kim. Jillian wants Patrick to bring Kim through the work out and show Kim that she can lean on him. Patrick does a wonderful job of pushing Kim while supporting her. He tells her “I have your back!” Jillian is downright giddy as she is dancing around in the background thrilled with how Patrick is stepping up.
Family Activity
Jillian asks the Northern’s what they do as a family. Kim says they use to skate, but Patrick would stand on the sidelines and watch. Patrick gently protests and says he doesn’t skate. Jillian says that she doesn’t skate either so they’ll have fun together. Patrick does try to skate and he falls a lot. The family is having a great time. Patrick says that he didn’t realize how much it meant to his family to have him skating with them.
Last Workout
Jillian takes the family to the state capitol and they run up and down the stairs. They look like they are having fun and enjoying each other’s company. Big difference from their first workout with Jillian that ended in tears!
Goals
Jillian will be coming back in 2 months so the family needs to set goals to achieve for Jillian’s return. Kim at first commits to losing 20 pounds. Then with Jillian’s encouragement, she decides to strive to lose 40 pounds and have her 40+1 party. Patrick wants to lose 60 pounds and open up more to his wife. Jillian shows Patrick her website and how she will continue to train them over the Internet.
Kim thanks Jillian for giving the family a “jump start”. Ameer thanks Jillian and is clear that she has saved his father’s life. Patrick says that he “used to be a quitter”. Jillian is confident in the family and looks forward to seeing them when she returns.
Jillian Returns
They are in downtown Nashville at a surprise 40th birthday party for Kim. The kids come out and are looking fantastic. Jillian gets the crowd pumped up and ready. Ameer calls his father out. Patrick is in a suit and totally hamming it up for the crowd. His weight loss and confidence gain is obvious. Now for Kim, the crowd yells “Surprise!” Jillian asks Kim “Do you feel good enough for your 40th birthday party now?”
Kim has lost 41 pounds and Patrick has lost 61 pounds. They have both achieved their goals! Patrick says, “I had to get it together to get my family together.” Jillian says many wonderful things about the family and presents them with a check for $50,000. Patrick surprises Kim with a step dance performance. Kim and Jillian are thrilled to watch him doing what he enjoys.
Kim has lost 4 dress sizes and has made permanent changes. Patrick lost 4 shirt sizes and is back to work.
Sources:
NBC’s “Losing It With Jillian” original airdate June 22, 2010
