Victoria Johnson - 2000 Motivational Series

Welcome to MSN Live! We're counting down the days to Valentine's Day! Get that blush back! Tonight DietRiot.com and MSN Live present Optimum Human Performance Coach, Victoria Johnson. Victoria is best known for her outstanding video series, including, "Victoria's Step With Style." Learn how the mind, body and spirit work together. As Victoria herself says, "Decide today to dedicate your life to being a healthy content person. Let go of negativity, doubt fear and lack. Think in terms of possibility, abundance, prosperous and infinite. It’s the perfect time to live your dreams. Begin your journey down a new road by accepting my gift to you."

Hello! I'm Victoria, your millennium makeover queen. :)

Aerobics is first. If you lose the fat you'll shrink faster. If you lose the fat, you'll see results. I think just getting started with aerobics, and not doing everything at once. It increases your metabolism, balances blood sugar, relieves stress, and makes you look good in your jeans.

Gale says: Why do you call yourself a millennium makeover queen?

What I try to do is an audio about attitude. We need to de-program ourselves from the top. It's like software, and our body is hardware-- in order for our hardware to work, our software must be right. And we work on our spirit, from the heart-- inspirational, positive self-talks and affirmations. I always try to give you a goal, a starting place and a finishing place is needed or else you just hang out in the middle. And the program I teach and give really came because I went through it myself. It's real. For real people. And we work on our spirit, from the heart-- inspirational, positive self-talks and affirmations. I always try to give you a goal, a starting place and a finishing place is needed or else you just hang out in the middle.

Noelle says: Please ask her how she makes herself feel better on a day when she is really depressed.

First of all, I look for light. I open the door and go outside, open my drapes, put on inspirational music that I love that has good memories attached-- because your environment affects your physiology. So you have to change your environment in order to change. So many people do the same thing expecting a different result. My website has 65 different editorials, including motivational moments from people with the same issue. Look for success, and you'll find it through others who have suffered as well. Like you never ask a poor man how to get rich. That's why I have gone into so much research on what makes this work from the inside out. If we don't change the inside, we won't make any changes on the outside. We're past those days of just getting smaller thighs. We can get liposuction for that, but it's the same person inside, regardless of the size of the thighs. That's why this is the millennium makeover... we're forging ahead with the right materials, inspiration, workout for our body type. I have many videos, depending on body type. I have one woman who couldn't put her dishes away putting her arms over her head because of surgery, and now she can. That's phenomenal. That's why I do what I do. The little successes.

On the same note. . .soho says: What do you recommend for seasonal affective disorder? I don't do well in this awful weather here in Pennsylvania. Can you help me?

You have to have more natural light or candles or iridescent light bulbs in your home. Pictures will help, too, on the walls. Plan little trips like to the mall or outside or to the park, even if the weather isn't great. Find something to do to help someone else-- focusing on others helps you live where you're at.

Flopsy says: Hi Victoria. Were you ever heavy?

Yes! I was 68 pounds heavier! I was rolling through life. When I was in HS and college I was anorexic and bulimic, so I went from thin to obese and back.

How did you lose the weight?

This program. I re-programmed my mind. And that's why I promote Fit at any Size. Being at peace with myself. I can eat right, shop right. Once you find acceptance, you have a starting place towards the next level. When you just think, "I want to be this and that", that's just frustration. You need to accept where you are now, and then take steps to the next level. Leave those things that don't serve you and go and grow towards those things that can serve you. My editorial this week is Power & Pursuit. The pursuit of your goal is where the power is.

blaklab says: I've been working out for 6 yrs now. I weigh 165lbs and can put up twice my weight. I've been sick, should I chill out or keep going at it?

When it comes to lifting, don't life when you're sick. Do light cardio to flush out your system, but when you're sick your connective tissue is inflamed and you don't want to aggravate it or get injured.

glamourgirl says: What type of diet do you eat?

I eat a 50-30-20 split. It’s my quick start program, and I've eaten that way for 7 years. It's designed on a bunch of programs, but it's more in balance for women. 50% complex carb, 30% protein, 20% fat. I have a complete food chart on my web and a do's and don't list with a glycemic list. Foods to avoid in the morning, foods to avoid at night, foods to always avoid. A lot of men are on it, too, their mood stays similar during the day. If you crave or have PMS or have fatigue in the afternoon, this 50-30-20 split keeps your energy up all day. Because most of us have chores and things when we get home from work. You can lose a lot of body fat without changing your metabolism. This won't slow down your metabolism, you have to eat every 2 to 3 hours. And you have food lists, so you don't have to figure that out. I tested it on 10,000 of my personal training clients. I have one lady on, who couldn't even fit in her bathtub. Her goal was to lose enough to fit in there, and now she can fit (and takes a bath twice a week!). People use my program to enjoy their lives, not just to get in shape to see an old boyfriend or attend a reunion, but to enjoy each day of the rest of your life. To have the energy to enjoy each day.

 

cara says: What are food you should never eat?

Here's one example: bacon. The rest are in the guide. Mostly because of the preservatives in bacon. We used bacon when we didn't have refrigeration, so we could have foods back then that didn't need a cold environment, but it was all that they had in the wagon train days. We've come a long way since then and we don't have to eat that way. Bacon raises cholesterol, retains water, constricts blood vessels (headache), hard to digest, and it's just not a really good food.

Is turkey bacon bad too?

No, some of the ones that have real food substance in them now.

eleanorrigby says: Hi! What do you think of The Zone?

Personally, I don't like eating that much fat and I don't put any of my clients on that much fat. Because my main fear is that you use the program and lose weight and then slowly slip back towards more carbs and your weight and BP goes back up and your taste buds are adapted to high fat--cake, ice cream slip back into your diet and then you weigh MORE than you did before. On my diet, if you slip up, you won't have that problem.

danMcK says: Does it matter when I work out during the day?

Depends on your goal. Working out in the morning stimulates metabolism. Men can build weight faster in the morning due to higher testosterone levels. Women who work out at night tend to elevate their metabolism and burn more calories at night than if they didn't, which is great for weight loss-- as long as you don't eat extra calories because you worked out!!

bellylaugh says: What do you think of supplements?

I use supplements and recommend them on a supervised program, with the dosage on the bottle. They get a lot of negative press, but I know more people die of OD on aspirin than supplements each year. Like anything, excess is not good in anything-- supplements, cough medicine, etc. Have a goal. Have a plan. If you want to lose weight quick and take 2 or 3 times the recommended dose is NOT SAFE. Use it within reason and be smart. Taking more does not help you lose faster. You need to understand that. I used to take all the diet stuff growing up, one week I took an entire pack. I'm surprised I'm still living. I thought if I took more, I'd lose more. But all I got was fatigued and exhausted. I take a multivitamin, antioxidants. Because I'm hypoglycemic-- I need to regulate my blood sugar every 2 hours. Many women have it, and don't even know it. They think they have to have antidepressants but it's really hypoglycemia. I live in Oregon, where we have the Chinese herbal college, so I learn about all kinds of things like that. We're taking their info and bringing it to the western way of thinking now.

 

Mimi says: What do you think of fish oil, flaxseed and DHEA?

I think that depends on your age, your goals. They recommend flax seed as a good source of fat for your body, it digests well, good for your skin and hair and hair follicles. DHEA, I've read a lot about it, 50mg a day max, I think it's a good thing. I've never seen a study that recommends more, so be smart. That slows down the aging process when you take up to 50mg a day. I don't recommend DHEA if you aren't exercising, eating right, and in a good frame of mind. It has to be part of a complete fitness program to see the best results.

belle says: any thoughts on green tea?

Wow. I was just starting to read about it, and there are phenomenal results. If you have a great diet, you can't just isolate these components and expect results unless you take the salt, sugar, white flours out of your diet. Over the long term, you have to have the right diet, and you cannot just take green tea and sausage and eggs and expect results. With the right diet and exercise, though, you can expect good results.

beebee says: Do you have formal training?

Go to my website, it's all listed. I do a complete online training program, one of the largest on the web. It's one on one, and with a FREE fitness profile/analysis. What's your heart rate, what do you eat, how often you work out... it asks a bunch of questions and then gives you a complete analysis, free. Download it and take it home to design your own program, even. It's fun, you have to know where you are! Even when everything now is "Don’t weigh yourself", my question is, "Why NOT?" I think you have to get a true evaluation of where you are. My clients get on the scale, just like if you went to a doctor. If you don't get on the scale, you don't have to face where you are. Don't be afraid of the numbers, the truth can help you get a program that works. 365 days a year you can get recipes, a quote, motivation on my site. Read the success quote. MOVE AHEAD. Let go of yesterday and move ahead! I have Victoria's Secrets, too, complete fitness and nutritional programs that are free. How to take your heart rate. Formulas for eating at night. What to do if you don’t have time to work out. If you have flabby grandma arms. I give you my Victoria's Secrets so that you can fit into the OTHER Victoria Secret's lingerie.

 

Queen says: Do you ever slack off and eat the wrong foods?

janiceinparis says: I have a very high stress job. What is a good exercise to help me relax?

Stretching. Stretching and yoga-type movements are good because they move the energy field in the body, and I'm sure you're holding stress in your body. I have a video that might help to move the stress. Especially if you're pressed for time, this is a method to stretch one area while you strengthen another area. Because you have a high-stress life, you probably shouldn't do a high-stress workout. Get to a place of comfort and relaxation and then work up to the other after. The stretching, strengthening will help you sleep soundly. It's better to have 6 hours of sound sleep than 8 hours of broken sleep.

belle says: can a masseuse help me get rid of cellulite? It's so ugly.

Only if she jogs with you. (laughs) Come on. Let's look at this. Take a whole chicken and there's fat on it. Rub on it. What does it do? Nothing. Well, that's exactly what you're doing! NOTHING.

Sherri says: What do you think of Pilates?

I love it. My ab lab video has that method in it for the ab work. After losing all my weight I had this pooch, I almost named it and put it on a leash. But I started doing Pilates, and the first time as a runner and dancer, I had a hollow stomach! I use a lot of the same breathing and methodology on my video. I'd definitely recommend it. My videos are a great place to start before you go into a studio and pay big money. It's hard to manage quality control in finding a properly trained Pilates instructor. It's very advanced and you don't want to get to a class and not be able to walk after-- if you get into something too advanced for you. So try my video first for great results first.

Do you need a Pilates machine to do Pilates?

There are two types. methods. The machine is one way and you need a coach to guide you. Pilates mat exercises don't need a machine, and you use a video or a class. The machine requires a well-trained coach with you, and can be up to $150/hour depending on where you live. The machines are very expensive, and the private coach can only do one person at a time. That's why its' called the Hollywood Celebrity Workout. You need that kind of money to do it!!

Some of the new ones are high in sugar. If sugar is in the first three ingredients, they're just marketing, not a good protein bar. A good protein bar has protein powder, whey, or casein as the first ingredients.

That's just what I like.

Bambi_19 says: Do you endorse or recommend any exercise equipment?

No. On my website I have a pro shop with weight equipment and stuff, but I don't endorse anything specifically, just quality stuff. I was sick, I've experienced life at the bottom and now I just want people to understand that YOU have the power to enjoy your life and that my purpose is to inspire and motivate you so that you can help and motivate someone else. If we each teach one other person, we can all get there together.

Angel_Spirit says: I saw on the web site that you speak for the NBA, What do you tell the players when you speak to them?

I talk to them about peak performance and optimum human performance and that gets into mind-body-spirit. Look at our biochemistry, physiology, and spirituality. You have to have all three to perform. Elite athletes have to eat the right things, work out, be able to deal with life outside the basketball court-- mind-spirit training. We talk about purpose as a player, their position and as a team player. And I work with the rookies on the same components on how do they stay injury-free, motivated, excited, and how do they become role models for the rest of the world as we watch.

valleygirl says: Do you tour?

Yes, I do. My travel schedule is on my website, also.

huggy says: Do you have a favorite quote or word?

Yes. "If it is to be, it is up to thee."