Jillian Michaels: 'I never said pregnancy ruins bodies'

Jillian Michaels, a trainer on The Biggest Loser, insists she never
said pregnancy 'ruins' women's bodies. (Photos/Jillian Michaels)

The Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels triggered a media firestorm last month when she reportedly said she wanted to adopt rather than give birth because pregnancy would ruin her fit physique.

"I'm going to adopt," Jillian said in the May 2010 issue of Women's Health. "I can't handle doing that to my body."

'MY REMARKS WERE MISCONSTRUED'

Michaels, 36, is now speaking out, saying her comments were misunderstood.

"They were taken out of context and misconstrued," Jillian told Momlogic. "The writer wrote that I have an 'aversion' to pregnancy. I never said that."

Michaels says she was caught off-guard when asked if she ever wanted to have kids.

"It was at the very end of a three-hour interview," Jillian recounts. "The writer said, 'Do you want to have kids?' And I said, 'I'm planning to adopt.' She then asked, 'Why wouldn't you get pregnant?' I said there were many reasons ... one being that 'I can't handle doing that to my body,' but I didn't tell her why."

'I HAVE ENDOMETRIOSIS'

Many readers thought that Michaels -- who works out daily and diets to maintain her lean body -- didn't want to gain pregnancy weight. But she says she has ovarian cysts and endometriosis, conditions which make it very difficult for her to conceive. 

"It was a very personal question -- and I had a lot of shame about the answer," she says. "If I tell people I have issues in this area, will they judge me and say, 'If she has problems in this area, how healthy can she be?'"

Michaels explains: "The truth is, I learned very early on that I have endometriosis and polycystic ovaries. I was always told that fertility would/could be a problem for me. In order to get pregnant, I know it would require surgery. I've always just accepted that this must mean I was meant to adopt, and that's okay."

'I WAS HURT BY THE VICIOUS BACKLASH'

Michaels emphasizes she never said pregnancy makes a woman fat or ruins her body.

"Never have I said that pregnancy ruins bodies," she underscores. "I don't believe that. My best friend has an 8-year-old and she has one of the best bodies in town. Madonna has one of the best bodies in the world, and she's had two kids."

Jillian was hurt that so many women, especially moms, were up in arms about her remarks.

"I was really upset that an entire community of women felt hurt by what I allegedly said," says Michaels. "So much has been misconstrued and taken out of context. I do expect that from the media, so I don't really care about that. But what I DO care about is moms. Moms are incredibly important to me."

NEW TV SHOW DEBUTS IN JUNE

Michaels, who's 5'2" and weighs 120 pounds, has struggled with weight her whole life, ballooning to 175 pounds at age 12. Jillian says her parent's divorce at that time led her to overeat. She eventually lost the weight by dieting and exercising, has embraced a healthy, active lifestyle since then.

Meanwhile, Michaels is set to debut her own tv show called Losing It With Jillian, June 1 on NBC. In the 8-part series, Jillian visits a different family every week to help them confront the issues that are hampering their health and happiness.

Read more on Reality TV Stars:

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• Audrina Patridge: How I got my slammin' bikini body
• Kristin Cavallari: How I got so skinny