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An interview with Jackie Warner

As a girl who has been on every diet imaginable, been to fat camp twice and also has an insatiable hunger for reality television, I jumped at the chance to interview the gorgeous, talented and ripped super-trainer Jackie Warner.

With the end of her docu-drama series, Work Out, Jackie has focused her energy into becoming a best-selling author. Her book, This is Why You’re Fat explores the ins and outs of dieting and what might be putting more junk in your trunk without you knowing it. She is also gearing up for the premeire of her new Bravo reality show, Thintervention, which has already started shooting and will hopefully make it to our TV screens soon.

I spoke to Warner about her book, her advice about weight loss when you really enjoy drinking and why she thinks straight women are so attracted to her.

AfterEllen.com: Was it harder for you to write this book than making your exercise DVDs?

Jackie Warner: It was a lot harder actually. I prepare for the DVD for two weeks pre-filming and then it’s an eight to 10 hour day shoot. It’s intense but it only takes a short period of time. The book took me a little over a year to write. I would leave SkySport every night and go write for two hours at this little local tea shop. So, two hours every night for a year? That’s a pretty intense process.

AE: Did you learn anything about yourself throughout that process?

JW:

I learned that I knew a lot more than I thought I did. The 11 years of my career – secrets, tips, everything is in this book. It was also really great to work with my researcher on this because I learned so much about the cutting edge stuff that’s coming out in the next 10 years, so that was really fascinating.

AE: In your book you say that you can have two cheat meals a week as long as you follow your clean eating plan the rest of the week. Now, when I think of cheat meals, I want to go nutso. What do you consider a “cheat meal”?

JW: Think about it this way, you don’t want to exceed 1500 calories per cheat meal, so it’s not like you can sit down and just eat 10,000 calories. An appropriate cheat meal would be going to the movies and getting some popcorn and candy. Or going out and having a cheeseburger and fries with your friends – or chips, salsa and drinks with your friends. Or even just going to the supermarket and getting a couple of things you’ve been craving all week. But of course there are guidelines.

AE: Well I’m really happy to hear that drinks are an OK thing to use as your cheat meal because I find that for myself and my friends trying to lose weight, we struggle with the alcohol aspect of things.

JW: Yeah, you can drink alcohol, you just have to plan it like everything else. Plan your time and consider that a cheat meal and plan accordingly.

AE: I know you should stay away from fruity drinks if you’re going out, but let’s say you are out at a bar and someone wants to buy you a drink: What should they order for you?

JW: I’d have Patron silver over ice with water or a vodka soda because those only have about 65 calories and they’re lower in sugar.

AE: Probably stay away from shots yeah?

JW: Well shots, I can’t even do those anymore. I like the high of tequila but I like to sip it slower. It’s a fun way to get your buzz on slowly. Shots aren’t even in my vocabulary anymore.

AE: How would you suggest trying to lose weight in a household where your partner is able to eat pretty much everything, so there’s stuff around, but you’re trying to lose weight?

JW: You have to be a team. If your partner really loves you then they will help you clean up the closet and clean out the house and help you stay on track. If the food is in the house, you will eat it. So the first rule is to clean out the pantry and get rid of the processed foods and the sugars and that means all of the white bread, white pasta, all of that.

You have to sit down with your partner and really say, “Look I’m actively trying to lose weight and I need you to be on board with me on this and we need to do this as a couple.”

AE: Are there any exercises that you would suggest doing together?

JW: I think it’s great to work out together but I don’t like exercises where you pair up necessarily because you don’t get the most effective workout. But I think it’s great for partners to hit the gym together or go for a hike together, take a bike ride together, take a class together. Try something you’ve both been curious about and do that together. When you do that together, it definitely increases your sex drive for each other and that’s going to increase the longevity of your relationship.

AE: I think that’s fantastic. You actually mention an increased libido in your book a lot, which I appreciate. Most people are looking for a physical change when they are trying to lose weight and sex is a lot of what they hope comes out of that.

JW: Women tend to get into long-term monogamous relationships and – let me tell you – after a few years, the sex starts dropping. And the best way to revive that is to start a fitness program or to lose weight. That’s really sexy, when you take charge of your life like that, you become more attractive to your partner.

AE: On your Bravo show, Work Out you were very open and honest about your personal relationships, how has that affected you in life and on the dating scene?

JW: Well I couldn’t have done it any other way because Work Out was sold based on the premise that I would share my personal life. So there was no doubt that I couldn’t have open discussions because that was about half the show. In terms of hurting me professionally it didn’t.

In terms of dating, whenever you’re a public personality, people think they know you anyway, so you kind of go into any situation with people have preconceived notions of you. Then it’s up to you or it’s up to me to define who I am quickly and honestly.

AE: With “reality TV” – and I want to put that in quotation marks because nothing is ever really “reality” once you’ve put it into the editing room – whoever is splicing it up is crafting the story to look the way they want it to. Do you think the editing was fair in what they did?

JW: Well, I don’t think what they did was fair, but they’re trying to edit the show to get the highest amount of drama. So that’s why I would never do a docu-drama about my life ever again. I wasn’t comfortable with the editing, and what I shot after the hours and hours of footage wasn’t represented after the final editing and that was always disappointing to me. That’s sort of the game you’re in when you sign up for a reality show.

But it’s different for this new show that I’m shooting for Bravo because I’m executive producing it so I am in the editing room. It’s a whole different ballgame.

AE: It’s funny because when I originally sent out a note to my friends on Facebook and Twitter that I had the opportunity to interview you, it was mostly my straight girlfriends who got back to me right away with semi-inappropriate sexual questions for you. Why do you think you elicit that type of response from the, I guess, bi-curious ladies?

JW: That is interesting isn’t it? I think that women are attracted to charisma and alpha personality types and I definitely represent that. I also think that I’m just masculine enough to be intriguing for them but also feminine enough for them to feel OK exploring their lesbianism.

AE: Well you’re rocking the longer hair now.

JW: I know, and now I get hit on by straight girls more!

AE: Ha! Well they’re probably like, “Oooh you look like me! Let’s get it on!”

JW: Now I get asked out by straight girls and men, I never get asked out by lesbians anymore.

AE: Oh no! Well, that could be interesting.

JW: Well I only date gay women so it makes it a little harder but that just means I have to be more aggressive.

AE: It’s funny because I feel like you are more of a type A personality and charismatic but you also struck me on the show as being a little shy and sensitive than I would attach to a stronger personality, is that fair to say?

JW: I would say I am definitely sensitive. I’m a Leo, so I wear my heart on my sleeve. You always know how I’m feeling. Shy? I think that was more of me just being uncomfortable with the cameras. Not feeling in control of what was going on, so it made me quieter than I normally would be. It was extremely invasive and I had no control over the editing so it made me more reserved. But people are going to see a whole other side of me with this show which I’m more comfortable with.

AE: Speaking of Thintervention, can you give us a little preview of what’s to come?

JW: I take seven people through a life changing journey over the course of eight weeks. We really go through emotional ups and downs and they were very very brave for allowing their personal lives to be exposed. They are very charismatic people and people are going to want to watch these little superstars coming out of their shells.

AE: Are you open about talking about your previous relationships?

JW: No, I don’t mind, Mimi and I are like best friends now. We’re sisters. We see each other three to four times a week. We’re very close. Rebecca and I are best friends and see each other frequently too. The only person I didn’t remain close with was Brianna from Season 3.

AE: I don’t suppose you watch the shows from those seasons with them have you? Probably best not to do that.

JW: [Laughs] No, I’m OK watching Work Out again.

AE: You used to be involved with Jillian Michaels who recently opened up about her bisexuality. The two of you seem to be on a pretty similar career path, has that pushed you to work harder and do you keep in touch at all?

JW: I do keep in touch with Jillian! We try to grab dinner every couple of months or so because we’re so busy. I definitely like to keep up with her because she’s someone who has been in my life for so long now and I’m very proud of her achievements. We both started training together, so a lot of the things we did – we’re on a similar path, as you said. So I wish her nothing but the best.

AE: What are your thoughts on picking up people at the gym?

JW: I think the gym is a great place to meet people and be single because it’s a much healthier environment than a bar. I don’t think people are behaving in their best way at a bar. So when you’re in a gym circumstance, you’re around people who are healthy and like-minded and personally for me that’s very important. I could never date someone who didn’t work out.

AE: What’s your favorite part, if you have one, of a woman’s body?

JW: I don’t know if I have just one, because I love women so much I love every part of them. I’m not like a legs person, or butt or boobs. I just love women, so every single part of them is amazing.

AE: This is the more fun “getting to know you” segment. Is there a fashion trend that you think needs to go?

JW: First of all, I really am sick of seeing girls in super short shorts that should not be wearing short shorts. Very few people can pull that look off , like very few. So definitely with the short shorts. Also, I’m sick of leggings with oversized tank-tops. It’s not sexy to me.

AE: Let’s say you’re going to a karaoke place with some friends – maybe you’ve been sipping on some of that Patron. What song do you sign up for?

JW: I always sign up for Joan Jett andThe Blackhearts or “Lola” by The Kinks.

This is Why You’re Fat is in bookstores now.

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