As a triple board certified health expert, Fitness Hall of Famer, and 4-time New York Times best-selling author, JJ Virgin has made huge advances in the health and fitness world. As a nutritionist to countless celebrities, she found a universal way to heal your body and loose weight permanently. JJ has always been a huge inspiration for me! I can honestly say she started me on my health journey when I read (and religiously followed) her book, The Virgin Diet. Fast forward 6 years, I have the privilege of talking to her about her daily food habits, what inspires her, and how all of us can achieve a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle.

Our Q&A with JJ Virgin

Q.

What is your food philosophy?

A.

Your body isn’t a bank account, it’s a chemistry lab. The old advice – everything in moderation and counting calories – doesn’t work! Instead, I believe in avoiding inflammatory foods that cause intolerances and lowering your sugar impact. I also recommend getting plenty of clean protein, fiber, and healthy fats with every meal. I choose organic anytime it’s an option, and I think sustainability and responsible farming and harvesting are key.

Q.

What 5 staples do you always have on hand?

A.

I always have my protein shakes, a variety of pastured, organic, or wildcaught meat and fish, frozen cauliflower rice, frozen organic berries, and green leafies stocked in my kitchen.

Q.

Have you always had a healthy lifestyle?

A.

Good health has been a lifelong passion of mine! Growing up, I was a dancer and an athlete, then became one of the first personal trainers in L.A., back in the days of leotards and leg warmers. That’s what led me to dive deep into the science of nutrition and fitness.

Q.

What are your thoughts on between-meal snacks? What are some healthy snacks to keep on hand?

A.

I generally don’t snack between meals because insulin levels spike every time you eat, especially if you load up on carbs. Snacking also teaches your body to burn sugar for energy instead of fat. An exception is when I’m working out. I’ll sometimes grab a preworkout snack for an energy boost or for recovery post-workout. My favorite snacks are my meal replacement bars or hummus and fresh veggies.

Q.

Can you share a fitness tip or your favorite fitness routine?

A.

I love burst training – a.k.a. high-intensity interval training. It’s fast, effective, and can be done anywhere. I like to use my Xiser, and when I’m traveling, I run up and down the stairs in hotels. (Yes, people think I’m a little nuts, but I get a great workout!)

“I spent years doing hands-on research, working with doctors and clients and taking dozens of grad school and certification courses. I discovered that by finding your food and carb intolerances and working out a whole lot less, you can create a healthy lifestyle customized to your personal body chemistry and needs.”

Q.

What recipe do you love to cook for friends?

A.

I love grilling wild caught salmon, wild rice cooked in bone broth, and broccoli topped with grass-fed ghee.

Q.

What is your typical breakfast?

A.

I’m a big protein shake fan! They’re fast, easy, and I can pack them full of fiber, healthy fats, and a handful of leafy greens. I’ve been drinking smoothies for years, and I love the versatility – one day, it will be a chocolate shake made so thick I can eat it with a spoon with crunchy salted almond butter swirled in. The next day, I go for one with cherries, raspberries, and chia.

Q.

What inspires you?

A.

I love hearing about the success stories from my community! It always makes my day when I hear about how changing their diet and lifestyle has made a huge difference in their health and quality of life. Their stories are so amazing and inspiring!

Q.

One piece of advice for someone just starting their health journey.

A.

Do one thing at a time. For example, start by finding your food intolerances with The Virgin Diet or figuring out how many carbs are right for you in the Sugar Impact Diet. Once you have your diet dialed in, then add in exercise. Don’t move on to the next step in your health journey until the one you’re on now is a lifestyle habit. When people try to do everything at once, they get overwhelmed and set themselves up to fail.

Q.

What are you currently working on?

A.

I’m about to launch an all-new version of my Sugar Impact Diet Online Program called Breakthrough Carb Intolerance. I’m filming the videos now, and I’m so excited to update my New York Times bestseller with the newest research and advances in reverse fasting, as well as over 100 new recipes in the meal plans!

Q.

What is the first step to clean up a dirty diet?

A.

Sign up for my free 7 Day Stop, Drop & Swap Challenge at JJVirgin.com/Challenge! It’s designed to clean up a dirty diet and get rid of the 7 most inflammatory foods. I’ve included step-by-step instructions, meal plans, an awesome Facebook community, and monthly Facebook Lives, where I jump in and answer questions.