Have you seen the TV show on Bravo called Thintervention featuring celebrity personal trainer Jackie Warner?

If you have tuned in you already know Thintervention is a show documenting the weight loss journey of a handful of men and women under the watchful eye of Jackie Warner.

If you haven’t caught an episode yet be prepared for a lot of sweating, screaming, swearing, and even a dose of heart-warming soul searching. Which pretty much sums up how my workouts go on any given day.

Anyway…

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to sit down with Jakie Warner for an interview.

No I didn’t.

But I did get to send her a few questions to answer along with a few other very talented writers. Here are a few of the highlights from the semi-exclusive interview:

JOANNA: I love to give recipes a healthy shake by doing little things like incorporating shots of protein powder in homemade protein cookies, brownies, pancakes, smoothies, and even coffee. Do you have a recipe you haven’t shared before using protein powder?

JACKIE: Protein pancakes are great.  Oatmeal, eggs, cinnamon, and protein powder. I make them for myself all the time.

JENNIFER: With body image being a hot topic [in Los Angeles], what tips do you have for instilling a positive (and realistic!) sense of self for your female clients?

JACKIE: People should never take pictures of celebrities and try to emulate them because everyone has different body types. And a super model’s body type is not the norm. I recommend to my clients to find the best picture of themselves and then try to get back to that. It’s a much more attainable goal.

ANNIKA: What’s the safest way to indulge a craving for, say, chocolate without having regrets later?

JACKIE: Eat dark chocolate that is at least 80% cocoa.  Instead of reaching for a candy bar, eat a protein bar, which contains nutrients in addition to protein.

JACQUELYN: We know that the goal of Thintervention is physical fitness, but we hear that therapy plays a large role in the process. Would you consider this “mental” exercise? Also do you feel this plays as important a role as the physical?

JACKIE: Mental exercise is a great way to describe therapy, and in my opinion it’s as important an exercise as the physical. Mental exercise is a huge part of my program. Teaching clients self-talk, turning negative self-loathing to self-loving is a key component of Thintervention.

JESS: What is the biggest obstacle that keeps people of any size from meeting their fitness goals?

JACKIE: Starving themselves. By not eating, you slow down your metabolism so when you do have a meal your body isn’t breaking it down as quickly and everything is converted into fat. Every day you should have breakfast, a snack, lunch, a snack, and dinner.

JOANNA: In one of your recent interviews you talk passionately about food journaling which the fitbook fitness and nutrition journal that I’m a huge fan of features. In your experience what is it about journaling that is so critical for people trying to get in and stay in shape?

JACKIE: Accountability is key.  By writing in a journal, you’re setting goals daily.  It allows you to revisit your goals and see if you have accomplished them.  It’s a part of the goal setting process.  It’s similar to if you study for an exam, you’ll get an A.

ALLIE: Do you worry that the contestants will perhaps take healthy eating and exercise to the extreme and end up developing disordered habits? If so, how do you prevent that from happening?

JACKIE: No, I’m not worried that my clients will take it to the extreme because I teach them how to live a healthy and balanced life.  It’s about knowing when and what to eat in moderation.  The goal is not to think about food.  I teach my clients to eat to live, not live to eat.

Now I really must go grab some chocolate protein pancakes and thank Jackie for the interview. Bravo!

I love pink, just ask my closet.

I also love fitbook, my 12-week fitness and nutrition goal setting system–just ask anyone who has talked to me in person or read Fitness & Spice over the last 12 months.

Well guess what?

Two of my favorite things just got together and exceeded my expectations. Check out fitbook PINK—->

Isn’t she adorable?

Not only does she offer all of the unique features of my beloved fitbook and is accessorized in pink, but she’s also a do-gooder.

For every limited edition fitbook PINK purchased, her parent company, fitlosophy, inc. is making a healthy donation to two deserving breast cancer related charities.  For each PINK book sold, $2 will be donated to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade whose beneficiaries range from leading cancer research and clinical centers to community-based, non-profit breast health education programs. In addition, $2 from each fitbook PINK will be donated to MyLifeLine.org, a charity dedicated to supporting the needs of cancer patients and their families and friends.

So if you are looking for a great workout and nutrition tool and want to support the battle against breast cancer, meet me at www.getfitbook.com.

Now I really must go stock up on my fitbooks, put on my pink goody-two-shoes, and hit the gym!

I’m looking for America’s Top Next Fitness & Spice Model!

No I’m not.

But Wilhelmina Models is on the hunt for fitness models and since only Fit & Spicy people read my blog they asked me to tell you about their 2010 Hot Body Model Search.

Wilhelmina Models has teamed up with Shape Magazine and Men’s Fitness to search for talent just like you. And by “just like you” they mean anyone over the age of 18 that’s in great shape and ought to be in pictures. If you’re selected as a winner you could win a modeling contract, a photo shoot for Shape and Men’s Fitness, a handful of other fabulous prizes including an exclusive interview with Fitness & Spice! Ok, I just made up the “exclusive interview” part, but if you want to be interviewed I know the publisher and I can hook you up.

So what are you waiting for, Gorgeous? Go learn more about this opportunity and apply in person or online!

Now I really must go and so should you because you’re too sexy for this blog.

I woke up this morning and I could not move.

Yes I could.

But it hurt to move. And it’s nearly impossible to sit or stand without whimpering, “Ouch!”

I blame two things for my aching lower body: That glorious spinning class I told you about yesterday and (the three sets of six) jumping Bulgarian split squats that made an appearance back in my training program this week.

I’ll have one of my Precision Nutrition coaches, Krista Schaus, demonstrate this move since I cannot (but who’s complaining?)…

So basically this is just a back leg elevated jumping lunge. JUST a back leg elevated jumping lunge you say?! HA!

A few disclaimers:

• Don’t try this move if you have bad knees, backs, joints, or other bad parts.
• Don’t try this move if you enjoy sitting, standing, or walking the next day.

Consider yourself warned.

Now I really must go take some Advil and do nothing but a giant set of diddly squat today!

I HAD THE BEST WORKOUT EVER TODAY!!

Yes, I’m screaming and yes, I just went back and added the second exclamation point for good measure.

My trainer has me splitting my cardio into two sessions a few days a week, which means I’m lifting in the morning, followed by some cardio, and then going back later in the day for an additional session. 

When I was planning my workouts for the week I peeked at the new fall class schedule at my gym, which to me is far more exciting then the primetime TV line up, by the way. Anyway, I noticed the new schedule had a spinning class at just the right time for my evening session today so I went. AND IT ROCKED!

The instructor was new-to-me, the people in the class were new-to-me, and the energy in the room was contagious. It was one of those workouts that leaves you drained and fired up all at the same time, not to mention clinging to the hand rail on the way down the stairs.

And all it took was changing up the time I went to the gym and trying out a different instructor.

I challenge you to change one thing in your workouts this season whether it be trying a new class, changing the time of day you workout (even just one day a week), taking a different path on your run or bike, or even working out with someone new. It just might give your workouts a healthy shake, too.

Now I really must go, this extra spring in my workouts is causing me to fall asleep!

I do not belong to Lifetime Fitness, but by the looks of the outdoor water park attached to the gym, it looks like fun. Which, by the way, is part of the reason I affectionately call the place Funtime Fitness.

That, and when Lifetime Fitness built it’s first gym in my neck of the woods all of the cool kids made a mass exodus from my gym and went there, taking all of the fun with them (right, Carrie, Sabrina, Sarah, Jen, Heather, and Kristen?)

While I am not a member of Lifetime Fitness, I recently discovered I can get a piece of their fun, or at least a piece of their minds, by reading their magazine Experience L!fe.

I first grabbed a copy of their magazine that was left behind in a waiting room a few months ago and I picked up my second copy at my local grocery store this week. Who knew it was a mainstream magazine?!

Why am I telling you this?

I’m telling you this because I want you to Experience Life (arr, arr.)

In all seriousness, if I was handing out an award today, I’d Experience L!fe the Fitness & Spice Seal of Approval.

Experience L!fe is not packed full of fluff, workouts that I would never do, or recipes that I would never eat. But what it is packed with is sound advice, articles written by reputable sources, the latest gear that I’d actually use (and some that I’m already using like Lynx Performance Grips and Valslides!), and food that I will be eating later this week.

Be on the lookout for Experience L!fe on magazine racks where you shop, consider a subscription, or take a look online and while you’re there, check out their blogs. There’s even a blog over there titled “Pumping Irony”…now why didn’t I think of that!?

Now I really must go quit having so much fun and go see what’s happening over at 48 Hour Fitness and Rural Inactive!

Can I ask you a question?

I want you to think about it before you answer.

How are your workouts, really?

Are your workouts uncomfortably-comfortable? Uncomfortably-comfortable is when you know you could work harder. It’s when you reach for the same set of weights workout after workout, when you set the elliptical to the same setting every trip to the gym, when you take the same path on your run time and again. It’s when you’re going through the motions. Checking your workout off your to-do list. Punching the clock.

Or, are your workouts comfortably-uncomfortable? Comfortably-uncomfortable is when you are indeed pushing yourself…you’re breaking a sweat, you’re feeling strong, you’re almost out of breath. On a scale of 1 to 10 you’re cranking out a 6 or 7. But. You’re still comfortable.

Or, are your workouts Uncomfortably-Uncomfortable? Uncomfortably-uncomfortable is when you’re having a Rocky moment. You’re pushing yourself harder then you ever thought possible. You’re chasing the burn instead of stopping when you’ve reached it. You’re workouts are uncomfortable but you leave comforted knowing you stepped into the seldom talked about and seldom reached: UNcomfortable zone.

Are you reaching your potential? If not, what are you going to do to change zones?

Now I really must go put on some comfortable shoes, Adrian and I are going to hit the gym for a really Rocky workout!

In the last two weeks I’ve been called “sassy” on two different websites—that I know of.

I think the word sassy sums me up perfectly. Maybe that’s why I want this whimsical little magnet pictured here (and others!) so badly from Allison Strine’s Etsy Store.

Anyway…

I am inspired by everyday athletes like you, and these two beauties as my Grandmother would say.

Grab a glass of water and some popcorn and take a look…

This video makes me want to go the extra mile this week, how about you?

Now I really must go return the movie and run like a (grand)mother!

When I bit into my first peanut butter with white chocolate chip cookie from The Protein Bakery, I ran to Twitter and declared:

The Protein Bakery is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy! -@joannasutter

And then I took another bite, had a sip of coffee, grabbed my Blackberry and sent photos of these guiltless goodies to all of my Blackberry Messenger contacts. And then I made a few phone calls. It was that kind of moment.

And don’t even get me started about their Black and White Brownies. Well…since you asked, I’ll give you my one word description of these freshly-baked brownies: Nirvana!

The Protein Bakery bakes a wide assortment of all-natural, wheat-free, trans-fat-free, and protein-packed cookies, brownies, and blondies. And the good news is they are all available online at www.proteinbakery.com.

And the great news?! The Protein Bakery is now a client of mine. I’ll be helping them spread the good word about their healthier-for-you treats and introducing them to more gyms, coffee shops, restaurants, corporations, you name it! No really, you name it…if you have a business (like where you work, workout, shop, eat, drink, or hang out) that you’d like to see carry The Protein Bakery product sweet, I mean, suite, please let me know and I’ll do what I can to make it happen!

Now I really must go back to work…it’s a crummy job but somebody’s got to do it!