A: I’m actually triple-board certified as a nutritionist, holistic nutrition specialist, and exercise physiologist. I’ve also got over 40 graduate and doctoral-level courses under my belt – I’m a science geek and proud of it! I never stop learning and sharing what I find out with this awesome community.

A: Yep, I bet you have! I was co-host for both seasons of TLC’s Freaky Eaters, served as the health expert for Dr. Phil’s weight loss challenges for 2 years, and am a regular on shows including Dr. Oz, Rachael Ray, Hallmark’s Home & Family, The Doctors, the TODAY Show, Larry King Live, and Access Hollywood. I’m also excited to be featured on the Evine home shopping network.

A: For those of you who don’t know, my then 16-year-old son, Grant, was involved in a brutal hit-and-run accident right as The Virgin Diet was published. He spent months in a coma and rehab, but he’s now home and doing things doctors never thought possible. (You can read about the lessons I learned and the enormous good that came from that tragedy in my book Warrior Mom.) For other Warrior Moms and Dads out there, never give up the fight! My thoughts and prayers are with you. xoxo

A: Absolutely – sometimes two! I’ve been doing it for decades, and it’s still the single easiest way I’ve found to shift your health and see weight loss results fast. You can find out more about why you should make protein shakes a daily habit, plus get my new Smoothie Guide with 48 stellar recipes HERE.

A: It sure is!

Team JJ is proud to offer a wide selection of quality protein shakes, meal replacement bars, and supplements, books, and online programs to support your healthy lifestyle.

Answers to FAQs about specific products can all be found on the product listings at JJVirginStore.com.

A: No more counting calories! Our bodies are chemistry labs, not bank accounts. Calories matter, but where they come from matters more.

For help creating the right balance of clean, lean protein, healthy fats, and slow-low carbs in every meal, check out the handy infographic in this blog. (It applies to both The Virgin Diet and the Sugar Impact Diet.)

A: It’s best to avoid a big meal 2 hours before working out, since you want your blood flow to go to your working muscles, not your stomach!

But if you need a little something before you exercise, try one of my Dark Chocolate All-In-One Protein Bars in mint, mocha, or cherry. I formulated them to have the right amount of healthy fat, protein, and carbs to take the edge off your hunger without slowing you down. And if you’re looking for another light, pre-workout meal, this Energizing Pre-Workout Coffee is ideal.

After you’ve hit the gym, it’s important to eat a meal within one hour of exercise that contains 20-25 grams of protein and about 25 grams of carbs.

This is the ONLY time I recommend eating low-fiber and low-fat, as you want your body to be able to rapidly absorb the protein and carbs you’re getting. Check out this delicious Post-Workout Recovery Shake for everything you need to burn fat and build muscle after exercise.

A: On average, people lose up to 7 pounds in 7 days when they start The Virgin Diet or the Sugar Impact Diet, oftentimes more!

But your weight loss will depend on what your diet was like before starting the program, your individual metabolism, and how much weight you have to lose. Everyone is different!

It’s also important to remember that dieting isn’t just about weight loss, and being healthy isn’t only about numbers on a scale – it’s about feeling your best. The goal of both my books and programs is to find the right fit for your own personal body chemistry and needs.

Yes, you’ll lose weight! But you’ll also fight inflammation and painful symptoms that are holding your health hostage, so you can look and feel your best every day. That’s what really matters!

A: Yes, you can! In fact, not only can you follow these diets as a vegan or vegetarian, you absolutely should!

That’s because I have found that ALL (yes, I can honestly say all) of the vegetarian clients I have worked with personally over the years have developed some level of food sensitivities from overexposure to the same proteins on a daily basis.

Eating vegan and vegetarian can often also result in issues with sugar and chronic inflammation, since so many vegan protein alternatives are packaged and contain hidden sugars. (Yes, Oreos are vegan, but that doesn’t make them healthy…)

I’ll be honest: I don’t personally believe that a vegan/vegetarian diet is the best way to eat for long-term, optimal health. I feel that humanely treated, grass-fed, organic, free-range and wild animal food sources are an important part of a balanced diet.

However, if you’re a vegetarian for ethical or spiritual reasons, I want to do all that I can to support you on your path!

That’s why both of my online diet programs include a Vegan Guide to show you how to succeed without animal products in your diet, and both of my cookbooks include dozens of healthy, delicious meat-free options.

A: During my three decades as a celebrity nutrition and fitness expert, I’ve worked with numerous clients who struggle with “weight loss resistance,” a term I coined to describe people who do everything right, yet are unable to consistently lose weight.

I’ve found there’s several key factors that can commonly contribute to weight loss resistance, as well as weight gain. Find out more about each of them, plus get my top tips on what you can do to get the needle moving again in this blog.

And no matter what, don’t give up! My team and I are here for you.

If you want to dive deeper to identify your own sneaky weight loss resistance culprits, I highly recommend a First Steps Health Coaching session with one of our trained health coaches. They’ll help you identify any roadblocks to your weight loss goals and give you simple action steps you can take to address them.

A: Absolutely! While fast fat loss is a huge perk, the Breakthrough Online Programs offer numerous other health benefits.

Dropping the 7 foods most likely to cause food intolerances and lowering your sugar impact address inflammation that can help stop uncomfortable symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, headaches, anxiety and mood swings, skin breakouts, gas and bloating, and more.

I’ve guided hundreds of thousands of people through this transformation, and I can confidently promise that you can change your life. Join me to find out how good you can really feel!

A: The quickest way to safely satisfy your sweet tooth is with a Dark Chocolate Coconut Fiber Bar, which has an impressive 11 grams of heart-healthy, filling fiber and just one gram of sugar.

Eating 2 oz. of dark chocolate is also a great option – look for 75% cacao or more. And of course, check out the Recipes page of this website for dozens of healthy sweet treats.

But the real goal is to address your cravings so they aren’t a bother! (Read on…)

A: You’ll find that cravings will naturally subside as you gradually transition from high-sugar impact to low-sugar impact foods. The Sugar Impact Diet is key here!

But if you’re struggling with cravings as you’re starting to making the shift, drinking a glass of Lemon-Aid, taking a warm bath, or doing some burst training are all great ways to stop a snack attack in its tracks.

And believe it or not, how you spend your nights has a lot to do with whether you have cravings during the day! Getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep every night is a must when it comes to crushing cravings and burning fat. (Check out this blog post to find out more…)

A: I don’t actually recommend snacking! Eating between meals teaches your body to burn sugar for fuel instead of fat. It also causes insulin spikes that can lead to weight gain and dangerous inflammation.

When you follow the guidelines of the Virgin Diet Plat or Sugar Impact Plate, you should be able to eat every 4-6 hours without feeling deprived. If you start to feel hungry between meals, it’s important to go back to your food journal and review your choices.

Remember that food is information, and the right balance of clean, lean protein, healthy fats, and slow-low carbs is key to reducing hunger between meals.

And here’s another important tip: don’t skimp on the fiber! Getting enough fiber is crucial for helping you feel full and aiding weight loss. To find out how much fiber you need, take a look at this blog post.

A: My All-In-One Protein Shakes (available in Paleo-Inspired or Plant-Based) are exceptional quality and taste terrific. However, I understand you might sometimes buy protein powder elsewhere. You can find general guidelines in this blog.

A: I typically reach for JJ Virgin Sprinkles, my own 3-in-1 sweetener blend. However, other low-sugar impact options include monk fruit extract, stevia, xylitol, erythritol, and allulose.

Don’t fall for the lie that “natural” sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or agave are actually good for you! They are all still sugars, and the end result in your body is the same: cravings, inflammation, and excess fat, especially around your waist.

A: At the end of Cycle 1, you have a decision to make. If you’re making great progress and ready to continue your journey, you can move on to Cycle 2 to connect the dots between what you eat and how you feel.

But if you’re still struggling with symptoms, you have more weight to lose, or if you want to extend Cycle 1 beyond the first three weeks, you can stay in Cycle 1 a little longer.
The key is to make sure you commit to doing Cycle 2 within the next 3 months so you can figure out which foods work for you and which don’t. Going through this personal discovery process is a must so you know which highly reactive foods you need to be vigilant about.

Your body is a chemistry lab, and Cycle 2 gives you the chance to create your own long-term, individualized diet plan so you can do Cycle 3: The Virgin Diet for life!

A: The foods you’re testing in Cycle 2 are eggs, dairy, soy, peanuts, corn, and gluten. They can be reintroduced in any order, as long as you’re following the testing guidelines.

Remember, each week you’ll be eating one challenge food for 4 days, and then you’ll stop eating it for the next 3 days. Be sure to check out my exact instructions in the Breakthrough Food Intolerance Program for how to move through Cycle 2, plus tasty recipes you can enjoy for each of the challenge meals.

A: Oops! If one of the high-FI foods accidentally slipped into your diet during Cycle 1, you can continue moving forward in Cycle 1. Just be sure to wait 21 days before you test that food in Cycle 2.

A: In the Sugar Impact Diet, I explain that it’s the impact of sugar that matters. You don’t have to eliminate sugar completely, but you do need to choose your sugars wisely.

The Breakthrough Carb Intolerance Program walks you through a step-by-step process to wean you off the most damaging sugars with the highest-sugar impact, so that you can lose weight, drop fat fast, and improve your health without cravings or feeling deprived.

A: The fastest way to fail (or at least feel miserable) when you’re battling sugar cravings and carb addiction is to go cold turkey!

In Cycle 1, you’ll slowly taper from high-sugar impact to medium-sugar impact foods. The key is to transition over time, so you don’t experience symptoms of withdrawal and cravings that can set you back.

If you haven’t gone through Cycle 1, please don’t try to skip ahead! When you taper and trade your way down, you’ll hardly notice the huge shift your body is making into fat-burning mode.

A: The key in Cycle 2 is to tune into how your body is responding and pay attention to how you feel. Is there more progress to be made?

If you find that you need more than two weeks in Cycle 2, that’s completely fine. You can use your scores on the Sugar Impact Quiz to help you determine when you’re ready to move on.

Remember, everyone is different, and the Breakthrough Carb Intolerance Program is designed to help you create your own individualized diet plan.