JJ Virgin is a Celebrity nutrition and fitness expert. She teaches clients how to eliminate food and carb intolerances so they can transform their health and their lives. As co-host of TLC’s Freaky Eaters and health expert on Dr. Phil, JJ is a prominent TV and media personality, including appearances on PBS, Dr. Oz, Rachael Ray, Access Hollywood, and the TODAY Show. JJ is the author of four NY Times bestselling books: The Virgin Diet, The Virgin Diet Cookbook, JJ Virgin’s Sugar Impact Diet, and JJ Virgin’s Sugar Impact Diet Cookbook. Her latest book, Miracle Mindset: A Mother, Her Son, and Life's Hardest Lessons, shows warrior moms how to be strong, positive leaders for their families, while exploring the inspirational lessons JJ learned as she fought for her own son’s life. JJ also hosts the popular JJ Virgin Lifestyle Show podcast.
Contact Info
Website: JJVirgin.com
Podcast: JJ Virgin Lifestyle Show
Book: Miracle Mindset: A Mother, Her Son, and Life's Hardest Lessons by JJ Virgin (This book is being renamed 'Warrior Mom')
Twitter: @JJVirgin
Facebook: @JJVirginOfficial
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jjvirginvideos
Most Influential Person
Kay Smith, my first mentor.
Effect on Emotions
The way mindfulness has helped my emotions is, I tend to be very ... I'm a quick start in the Colby. I'm a red on the color code personality. I'm very reactive, very quick to move and being mindful allows me to take a breath and not over-react.
Thoughts on Breathing
Breathing is something I've got to work on, Bruce. I was just doing a podcast interview yesterday with the gal who told me about a new App and I said, I need to get that one. Either that or I've got to get my butt into yoga. Something to be a reminder.
Suggested Resources
Book: Miracle Mindset: A Mother, Her Son, and Life's Hardest Lessons by JJ Virgin (We're re-titling it Warrior Mom)
App: N/A (My Journal is my best 'App')
Bullying Story
Bullying obviously has a whole spectrum, right? The outright obvious, like, when I was in elementary school, we had a bully that I shut down who was bullying one of my girlfriends. I just stepped. I was always the tall kid. I'm six feet tall and she was a little five foot tall Japanese Gal and this kid was bullying her.
I just stepped in front and was like, go ahead, hit her. Like you'll have to get through me first, which shut it all down.
So there's the obvious bully, but I think even more dangerous is that kind of bully who is emotionally bullying or bullying by telling you the way it's going to be.
When my son was the victim of a hit and run, our first doctor at the first hospital was a bully. He was the head of the trauma center there. Now this was in palm springs, so they're used to having seventy and eighty year old people come in.
And if my son was 80 years old and came in, in that condition, there's no way he would've made it. But my son was 16 and he stopped and literally looked at us and said, your son is not going to make it through the night. He needs to have another surgery. But he'd never survive the airlift. Even if he did, he wouldn't survive the surgery. And even if he did, he'd be so brain damaged, it wouldn't be worth it .You have to let him go. I call that a bully.
My 15 year old son stood right up to this guy and said, yeah, so point two five percent chance he'd make it. And that's when the doctor said that sounds about right. And my son said, so we'll take those odds. And I looked at that doctor. I go, you're overruled. You need to get the paperwork going.