Abs-olutely Fabulous: Jackie Warner Wants to Whip You Into Shape for the Holidays

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IT'S HARD NOT TO keep staring at Jackie Warner's abs. But a few minutes into the fitness guru/reality star's new DVD, "Power Circuit Training" ($14.98, Anchor Bay), you'll be breathing too hard to even notice them. And your muscles — which she exhausts with sets of three exercises targeting the same body part followed by a "power burn" — will require as much attention as possible. While you were eating turkey with the family, we talked turkey with Warner about the workout.

» EXPRESS: What's the deal with these "power burns" for each body part?
» WARNER: They're a good way to get your heart rate up and go to muscle failure. I wipe out each muscle group to failure. It's the best way to reach muscle growth, and that'll help you reach the best body. When you go into power burn, it's a combination of aerobic and anaerobic, which is best for weight loss. It's how I train my clients. We'll do chest presses with weight then push-ups, then leg presses and jumping squats. We go back and forth until we've done three sets.

» EXPRESS: How else do you think your DVD mimics personal training with you?
» WARNER: I'm a perfectionist when it comes to form. This isn't taught in a class structure. You're learning how to really lift properly. The body plateaus, so you have to change programs once a month — either increase weights, increase reps or change the exercises. With this, they can take what they learn to the gym.

» EXPRESS: Probably your goal is for most viewers to do the 40-minute total-body workout. Why have the 15-minute options?
» WARNER: That's for people who don't have enough time. If you only have 15 minutes, even if you only have 10 minutes, that's better than nothing. I own a gym, so I know gym memberships, and consistency goes down a third this time of year. It starts in October and goes to January. It's the perfect resolution to have this DVD. You can fit it in between parties.

» EXPRESS: Is this season harder for you, too?
» WARNER: No, because I have a lifestyle. Monday to Friday I eat a very clean diet. No sugar, low bread, high in protein, vegetables and fruit. Then on Saturday and Sunday I get a treat meal — drinks or brunch. That works for me and my clients. I train six days a week. If I don't, I miss it. It helps relax me, and it helps me sleep.

» EXPRESS: Speaking of your training, you mention your love of one muscle — and your issues with another one.
» WARNER: Everybody makes fun of me for overworking my chest and triceps. And the one thing I have a problem with is my butt. So, I hire a trainer for an hour two times a week to work my butt. It's working. That's the big secret: that trainers hire trainers. I love working with a trainer who has a different specialty, like Muay Thai.

» EXPRESS: Can you tell us about your upcoming show, "Thintervention"?
» WARNER: It's really about life-coaching people. These are people that maybe you'd look at them and be envious, but you'll see the struggles they go through. Exercise is about life changing. It's so much more than six-pack abs. It releases tremendous chemicals in the brain that make you feel good. It completely changes your energy, and it decreases negative feelings. So many people hate their bodies, but they're perfect machines. You just need to give them the right fuel to help balance it and cleanse it. I would not be in this industry if it's just about looking good. That bores me.

» EXPRESS: So, you're eating lunch now. What's on your plate?
» WARNER: Some eggs with mushroom and spinach and low-fat cheese.

» EXPRESS: Sounds yummy. The DVD comes with recipes for "non-cookers" — does that term describe you?
» WARNER: I am a non-cooker. But it's not hard at all to still eat well if you've got a Whole Foods or another organic grocery store. The easiest way is to go to the frozen food section and look for anything under 400 calories and 9 grams of sugar. There are so many choices. My go-to at home is a chicken breast with a yam and a little creamed spinach.

» EXPRESS: And I have to ask about the silver shorts [pictured at left]. Do you ever actually work out in those?
» WARNER: No way. You could not catch me dead in those. In the gym, I wear baggy shorts and wifebeaters. I look like a bum off the street.

Photos courtesy Jackie Warner