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Just In Time to Save a Life
Just In Time is a deeply personal and powerful podcast hosted by Jessica G, founder of the nonprofit Just in Time to Save a Life. In each episode, Jessica and her guests explore mental health, suicide prevention, and the healing power of neuroplasticity through lived experience and compassionate conversation. This show is rooted in Jessica’s own journey through profound grief and survival, offering insight, encouragement, and real tools for those struggling in silence. Just In Time is more than a podcast — it’s a mission to make mental health education and transformative healing accessible to everyone. Join us as we share stories that speak life into the darkest places and offer hope to those who need it most.
Just In Time to Save a Life
Ep. 19 - Movement Is Medicine: Fighting Depression with Fitness
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Passive survival is a slow leak, but movement is the plug. When you’re trapped in a cycle of chronic pain, depression, or grief, the idea of "working out" feels like an impossible luxury. However, staying stagnant is often the most dangerous choice you can make for your mental health. In this episode, Jessica G sits down with globally recognized fitness expert and entrepreneur Whitney Johns to discuss how physical training serves as the ultimate anchor during life's darkest seasons.
We sit down to discuss the physiological bridge between the body and the mind, moving past the superficial "aesthetic" side of the industry. Whitney opens up about her history with chronic migraines and hormonal imbalances, explaining how she used movement to regain a sense of control. We get into the unglamorous reality of suicidal ideation, the tactical use of "inner child work" to rewrite negative self-talk, and how to harness neuroplasticity to literally change the way your brain processes pain. Whitney also shares her "Secret Sauce" for consistency: understanding that the universe responds to momentum, not just motivation.
The reality check is that fitness isn't a quick fix for a broken heart or a chemical imbalance. It is a discipline that requires you to show up when you feel like a "potato" or when pregnancy-brain makes you forget why you walked into the gym. It’s about keeping the small promises you make to yourself so that your self-trust becomes stronger than your symptoms. You’ll walk away from this conversation with a blueprint for using basic movement as a tool for emotional survival rather than just a way to change your physique.
If you are in a crisis or feel unsafe, call or text 988 or dial 911 for immediate support. There are people out there who will listen and can help.
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Safety Note And Show Purpose
SPEAKER_01Hi, I'm Jessica G, and this is the Justin Time Podcast. If you're struggling today, I want you to know this podcast is here for you, but it's not a substitute for professional help. If you're in a crisis or feel unsafe, please call or text 988 or dial 911 for immediate support. There are people out there who will listen and can help. On this show, I'll be sharing personal experiences, mindset shifts, talking with keith experts, and sharing real tools that help me go from barely surviving to thriving. This is not about quick fixes or one size fits all advice. It's raw, it's honest, it's what worked for me and what I believe can help others too. Let's walk together from darkness to hope.
SPEAKER_00It'll be just in time to save a light.
Meeting Whitney And Defining Strength
SPEAKER_01Today's guest is someone who literally helped me build my booty. But more importantly, she helped me build strength during one of the hardest seasons of my life. We met in LA when I started training with her. And I was like, teach me how to grow those glutes. And she said, say less. And somewhere between deadlifts and glam sessions, because I had the privilege and honor to do her hair and makeup for a few photo shoots, we became real life friends and talked about things that people weren't, you know, posting or talking about, you know, back then. Uh she knew me before grief hit my life. She knew me before I lost my dad, before I lost my brother, and she knew me after. She was one of the people who checked in on me, not not just publicly, but privately. She's a globally recognized fitness model, trainer, competitor, boxer, batty business owner. She has her own supplement line, her own fitness app, and she's built an empire in the fitness world. But what I love most about her is that she's just as real as she is strong. She once said, check on your strong friends. And today we're diving into what strength really means. This isn't just about abs and those amazing glutes that we all love, but mental resilience. We're gonna talk about depression, migraines, healing, and how fitness and movement can literally save your life. I am so honored to have you on the show. Thank you for joining. Welcome, Whitney Johns.
SPEAKER_00Oh my gosh, can I just get that informal like drawn up black, like laminated in my room? That was so beautiful. Thank you.
SPEAKER_01It was only proper. I mean, you are the queen of fitness, and I just I love you.
SPEAKER_00It's such an honor to be here, and I just love what you're doing. And it was interesting because we were in each other's lives. We were in the trenches in LA at that time when all of this stuff was hitting you in your life, and I just felt I felt so awful for you, but I also could tell that it was lighting a fire under you of purpose and that like it was sparking in you a mission, which it's so cool to see come to fruition years later. So I'm really proud of you.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Well, thank you. I mean, I remember you inviting me out when I was like, there's no way I could leave the house, but you were probably the only person in the world that could have gotten me out of my house.
SPEAKER_00Come on, I can we can numb our pain. I'm an expert.
SPEAKER_01Yes, I remember those nights that are fun. Um let's get into when you first found fitness, what was going on um in your life and what was that like for you? I know that you had said that you struggled a little bit with migraines and some depression. Um, would you mind like telling a little bit of your story about how you kind of started in in with fitness?
Migraines Depression And Fitness Saving Her
SPEAKER_00Fitness, honestly, and I say this all the time, fitness really did save my life. I I really I grew up like in chronic pain. I had really bad migraines. I had even just issues with like anxiety, depression, even from a really young age. Um, and then it got into like hormonal imbalance and just so many things with my system going wonky. And once I really learned how to train my body and strengthen my body, but not only physically, but then I started to really emotionally strengthen those muscles of you know, confidence and courage. And it was, it gave me this sense of control that even though all these other things were going on in my life and I was having all these other symptoms, well, this is the one thing that I knew I could do that would make a difference and I could really like anchor my day around it, even if everything else went to crap that day. It's like, well, if I got my movement in and I and I released those endorphins, then I was gonna be okay. And that was one thing I could control. And so it was sort of like training wills to getting back into a better place mentally. Um, and then the physical benefits are kind of a mood boost too. When you start seeing the booty growing, you're like, okay.
SPEAKER_01I mean, yeah. I didn't know boots could look like that. And I was like, um, I want her to be my trainer. I'm like, I want to look like that. No, it's great that you say that because somebody had reached out to me the other day and they were just like, man, you know, you're you're running a business, you're doing this, you're doing that. And it's like, how do you show up on the days where you just feel mentally exhausted? And you said it right there. You were like, stick to your routine. Stick to your routine. And that's what that sounds like exactly like what you did. And it was like, that is kind of a big deal. Whenever you are feeling mentally down and or you've got a lot going on, or you have, you know, all these different elements, it's really sticking to the routine. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, and even just once and being and being consistent, even once you start seeing the mood shift happen, it was it becomes so much more than just about your physique and your aesthetics. It's like, okay, I'm starting to realize and clock, okay, the days, if I go multiple days in a row skipping my workout, my mood crashes. So once I started to really like correlate how my mental health was just totally reliant on physical movement and taking care of myself because physiologically, like the physiological response to the physical, right? And so you are physically doing all the things and and laying the bricks physically, your physical physiologically, it will change. My migraine started going away, my chronic pain started going away. I started to be able to naturally like balance my hormones. Um, and I just, it's just the physiological followed the physical. So once I realized the connection, it was like, oh, I don't have a choice. I have to keep doing this.
SPEAKER_01I think for some of us, that's like so important. I mean, for me, it was like, you know, after I'd lost my dad and brother, I mean, I had blankets on the windows. I was like, you know, being a hermit crab, I wasn't going out. And that's when you were like, come on, just like get out of the house. Like, let's go. I'm like, I hated my outfit that night, by the way. Do you remember that? I thought we could we could probably take up pictures.
SPEAKER_00Do we have photos from that night?
SPEAKER_01So bad. I was like, I wore the wrong thing. Um, but no, just getting out of the house, taking that first step. Um, what would you say to somebody that is like dealing with tragedy or dealing with depression or um what would you say to them um for like first step kind of situations, like just to kind of help them get started so they're not so overwhelmed?
Baby Steps That Beat Overwhelm
SPEAKER_00No, I think the biggest thing is not overcomplicating it when you're first starting back into something. It doesn't mean you have to have a crazy workout program. It doesn't mean you have to be going seven days a week. You need to just literally move your body. Movement itself is medicine. So even if that's taking a walk outside, walking your dogs, uh, you know, dancing in the kitchen, having a little dance party in your underwear, like start with that. Start with just moving your body. Maybe you're just gonna stretch for a little bit because you're tight and it's gonna help you sleep better. You know, moving your body and getting that circulation and that blood flow is the first place to start, even if it's it's five minutes, right? So I think building up to okay, now I feel like I can actually get an hour-long workout. Maybe it's a home workout because I don't feel like I wanna, I'm not confident enough to go to the gym yet, but I'm gonna build up to that place. So I'm gonna kind of strengthen my confidence muscles and my muscles at home on my own with lightweights. And then eventually I'm gonna build more and more confidence to where now I feel comfortable going to the gym. So it's just really like baby steps, honestly.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I and you know, it's funny you say that. I hear that all the time. People, especially women, um, we felt overwhelmed to go to the gym. I mean, that's why I hired somebody like you, you know, and yeah, I just got lucky that we ended up becoming four.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, the gym can be really intimidating, and it's funny because I especially Equinox in West Hollywood. Right. And you're like, you're like, girl, I was so nervous. You know, Equinox West Hollywood was where we met, right? Isn't that where we met? Yes.
SPEAKER_01So yes, literally, I was like, I want to train with you, and you were like, okay, say less. You literally said, say less, and then we were training.
SPEAKER_00Well, and it's so interesting because, like, just to give people context, the Equinox West Hollywood Equinox is like the runway of LA and celebrities and models, and everybody you see is just like, oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_01So little Miss Arkansas shows up.
SPEAKER_00That was like everybody to shame, and it's like, but I recently, because I'm six and a half months pregnant
Gym Anxiety And Pregnancy Body Changes
SPEAKER_00now, right? So we're you and I are going on our pregnancy journeys, which is so funny how parallels our lives have been and our journeys have been.
SPEAKER_01I know we're literally three weeks apart. It's gonna, I mean, I'm just I'm excited for this journey. And yeah, almost said it.
SPEAKER_00I'm sure, I'm not sure if you've experienced this with pregnancy, but I had I haven't had that feeling of gym anxiety for a long time. And recently I was like, because I really started showing. And I was like, I've been hiding in my basement workouts. Like I have a home gym and I've just kind of been doing that and Pilates and things like that. But I'm like, I have to get back into the gym and actually lift weights because I it feels so good. And I am just nervous. The only thing I felt like was holding me back was just other people looking at me. And I I so I felt like a beginner again because I feel like that's how everybody feels at the beginning of their journey. And, you know, everybody in their fitness journey, you kind of have that subconscious like, are they are they watching me? Are they critiquing me? And whatever. So I had to kind of like build myself back up, and it reminded me just where a lot of my beginner clients kind of start out. Um, and I was able to relate to them better. And I I got out there in my workout outfit and I felt like Winnie the Pooh, but I was lifting. I just did it.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. Well, and that's what that's why, you know, a while back you were like, you know, check on your strong friends, and like you're like this strong, amazing businesswoman, you know, you've reached fitness levels that some people will never even get close to, and you're still, you know, coming on the show, being vulnerable and saying, hey, I'm having anxiety about showing up at the gym and like normalizing that conversation. And that just like opens up the door. It's like, okay, like it's okay to feel this way, but also you're pushing through that. And it's like you have to be, you have to get uncomfortable to grow, you know.
SPEAKER_00Well, and even going back to the West Hollywood Equinox, just for anybody who feels that nervousness and that self-consciousness, my my clients that I was training at that West Hollywood Equinox, celebrities, clients, uh, you know, athletes, models, even they feel that way. They even feel like, oh, I don't know, I kind of feel silly doing that, or you know, they'll kind of be a little self-conscious, or you'll can you can tell someone's feeling uncomfortable, even though you think there's no reason for them to feel uncomfortable or unconfident at all. They're this super model. What could they possibly be self-conscious about? And I think it's a really important reminder, everybody has these moments. We're all human. Everybody has that.
SPEAKER_01So, you know, usually and usually people Do you feel like we're added pressure because you are such a globally recognized model? Like when you do go out in public or you do go to the public gyms, like, do you feel like more pressure? Is it harder for you, or is it something that you've kind of gotten used to? How do you how do you manage that?
SPEAKER_00Now, I definitely when Chris and I started trying because I knew we knew we wanted to have a baby, but I knew that I was going to preemptively have to do a bunch of therapy and mental health exercises with myself before I got to that place, just so that it wouldn't bombard me once I was in it, because I knew it was going to be a lot for me to process and wrap my head around the fact that, you know, most of my career and identity has been around what my physique looks like and how fit I am and how, you know, strong I am. And when you're pregnant, it's this huge act of surrender and like it humbles the hell out of you, right? So I knew that okay, I'm gonna feel really weak and powerless and not super confident in my body. It's gonna change. I'm gonna have no control over these changes. So I really need to wrap my head around it and process it now before I get there. And I'm really grateful that I did that work. I still have some days where I'm like, what the hell is going on with my body? And you know, and going out in public.
SPEAKER_01I cried last week at work for the first time because I just felt so big and I was like running into things. And I was like, oh my goodness.
SPEAKER_00When did I become this person? I don't even recognize myself. And it's like, it's such a beautiful process, but it's also a huge challenge when you know, so much of your identity is wrapped up in like, you know, you're this hot, hot little blonde Barbie doll. And I'm sure that was part for you too, where you're just like, I feel like a potato right now, you know.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I have tree stumps for legs. Like they're already short.
SPEAKER_00Oh my god, I just no, I know it's it's definitely close are hard right now. It's good, it's character building, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I think that's why it's good to reach out and let someone know, hey, like I'm so glad, like, I'm like, oh my gosh, Whitney, I had hiccups the other night. Like, wait till you get this. It was so rhythmic, but you like freak out, and there's like such a mental load and anxiety that being pregnant and experiencing all these new changes comes with as well. So it can definitely get overwhelming. So I think like reaching out to your friends, your family, your doctor, whoever it is. I mean, I showed up at my doctor's office because I thought something was seriously wrong and it's hiccups. Okay, great. Wonderful.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. No, it does help so much to have your, you know, your people you can rely on. And it's been kind of nice having a bunch of other people pregnant at the same time because we can commiserate. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Right. Commiserate. That's true.
SPEAKER_00Is your hips hurting today? Mine are.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. The migraines have finally kind of dissipated, which is great. That was really rough.
SPEAKER_00So rough. I don't like to.
SPEAKER_01Um, at what point did you did your own healing turn into a mission to help other women?
When Fitness Became A Mission
SPEAKER_00You know, once I I built my online programs and I started hearing from people like, wow, I feel so strong, and I'm getting through, you know, I heard so many stories of like I am getting through a divorce, or I've been in a really low time in my life. And suddenly with this program, I've been able to like get my confidence back and I finally feel good again. And that means more to me than any transformation photo. Like, that's when I started realizing that it was so much bigger than just like, hey, let me help you get hot glutes or like a body, you know, it was like these it was transforming people's lives, and that was really important to me because that's the entire reason why I went into that field is because of the emotional and mental health transformation that it really brought. So that's been really cool. That's been like the most rewarding part of my work.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I love that. Um, on days where you feel um maybe not so motivated, how to like what would you what would you say to somebody that like wants to build and like an amazing physique and work on their mental health and do all that on the days that they just like feel really, really low but need to push through, what's something that you tell
Momentum Discipline And Showing Up
SPEAKER_01yourself?
SPEAKER_00I think one reminder for me is that the universe responds to momentum, right? And it's like if you can put yourself into a a place of just starting on the right path, right? Versus just staying stuck and like discouraged and blah, and I don't feel like it today. It's like we don't all wake up motivated. We cannot. We have to at that point rely on discipline, but also intuition of like knowing that if I just put my freaking leggings on and get out the door and just get in the car on the way to the gym, okay, I'm gonna start feeling like a little better about the fact that okay, I'm doing something for myself, I'm showing up for myself, I'm gonna feel better after this workout. Even if it's I'm gonna do 20 minutes, I'm gonna do a 20-minute movement. Usually, once you get in motion, the universe is rewarding that momentum and also like gassing you up and giving you a second win, and then you want to go through for an hour, and all of a sudden you're like, cool, like, but you can't experience the momentum and that kind of that universal push without taking some steps yourself. So I think like, and then just remembering like anchoring yourself to the fact that I know my mood is gonna be so much better, I know I'm gonna feel so much better, I know my butt's gonna look so much better if I just get this one right.
SPEAKER_01It was the gloops for me. I mean, hello. I was like, that's possible. I'm still working on them, girl. I'm I'm still gonna buy like every like I saw your video the other night with your ankle weights.
SPEAKER_00You're looking good. You got some gains coming in.
SPEAKER_01I didn't know those ankle weights existed until until you know I saw you using them. I was like, oh, Whitney's Whitney's doing this. I'm buying this, I'm buying that, and buying this too.
SPEAKER_00They're the best.
SPEAKER_01Hey, those are like the big heavy duty ones too.
SPEAKER_00You didn't you didn't take any uh of that weight out, too. I could tell they were like the full the full version of those ankle weights. Yeah, so I was I'm impressed.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yep. I did actually in honor of you today, I did a booty workout this morning with those ankle weights. I love it. Yeah, I love that. Um I love what you said about momentum because I think it's really true, because it's really hard to get going again. Like it's harder to get going than it is to just keep going. And so I think that's something that's really important for our listeners too. I mean, like just don't give up, like keep going. If you do get stuck, knowing that it's going to take like so much more effort and like mental effort first to like get moving. So I love that you said that. Um and then also I just lost my train of thought. I just lost my train of thought. It's all good. Pregnancy brain. We'll blame it on that. Pregnancy brain. I don't know where I was going with that, but yeah.
SPEAKER_00I'll just have like a brain part.
SPEAKER_01I'm like, oh, what were they saying? I have two assistants at work. One's uh Riley and Mayanna. And I was like, hey, Ryanna. I mean, I mean, we have a nickname here, yeah. So um, let's see here.
Suicidal Thoughts And The Wake Up Call
SPEAKER_01So I wanted to ask a couple personal questions, and we kind of talked about this before to make sure it was okay. Um, you know, because we do run a non-profit for suicide education and prevention, and really it's all about mental health. Really, mental health is um suicide prevention, mental health prevention. Um, I've thought about rebranding it because suicide has such a stigma to it, but then I just feel like we're I'm kind of like a part of it, um, being a part of that astigma, like even though it hasn't been broken. Um, so I'm really grateful that you know you were um, you know, open to talking about your personal struggles. Uh so the one question I wanted to ask you is have you ever struggled with suicide ideation or suicide attempt or just having those thoughts in general?
SPEAKER_00Yes. So, you know, when I first I really had a moment of real darkness um where I was super low. I was not taking care of my body physically. I was, you know, I was abusing substances here and there. I wasn't being like kind to my body. And my self-talk was so harsh. And it was, you know, I was making decisions that I wasn't proud of. And I was just kind of in this downward spiral. And this was really before I got very diligent about my routines and my health and my um and my, you know, gut health and my hormone health. Like that's another huge component too. But I found myself so depressed and I went down a rabbit hole. And I I kind of, you know, those moments where you sort of like wake up in the middle of what it is you're doing, and you sort of have a realization and you really get present with what's going on. And I realized that I was Googling ways to end my life. But then I took it even one step further, researched all these methods, and oh, you might not, it might not stick, you know, might not finish the job with this way. You might just end up a vegetable that way. So how do I make it stick? And once I was like Googling, how do I make sure I finish the job? It was like I had this massive wake-up call. I was literally on my bathroom floor in LA. And it was just like how did I get to this point where I'm literally like considering ending my life and really wanting to like make it stick? How did I end up here? And it was a really big wake-up call. And I also think that, you know, it was a big wake-up call to fix a lot of like just internal systems in my life as well. I realized, okay, I have to start loving myself. I have to like start treating myself like that little girl that didn't get the love that she needed or didn't get enough. I, you know, my inner child is wounded here. And it was like this massive makeup call of like, okay, it's like reprogramming your brain.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Like if I were a parent and this is my little, my little five-year-old version of me, how would I talk to her? How would I treat her? How would I help her take care of herself? How would I help her do the things that I know would make her feel better? Right. And so it was a really um crazy wake-up call. And it was um, you know, I I feel like it is a shame that suicide and suicidal ideation have such a stigma because I think it's so much more common than people would would realize. And a lot of people would look at Yeah, a lot of people would look at me from the outside looking in and think, how did she end up there? You know, she there's no way she would end up like getting to that low of a place. And I I definitely did. And I think it's really important to remember like we are all capable of getting that way, and we are we are all capable of having those weak moments. So that's why it is really important to check on your strong friends and help everybody feel loved and supported and make sure you're kind of checking in on your peeps.
SPEAKER_01Well, thank you for sharing and thank you for being vulnerable. Um, I hope that people that are listening today kind of realize like that they're not alone. And you're looking at two strong women that have overcame, have overcome that. You know, that was something that I had struggled with with for 20 years. And then after losing, you know, family members, I thought there's no way. Um, and when you lose hope, that's a scary place to be. But I'm like, I'm so grateful like that you're here today. Um, a couple of weeks ago, I um I've been trying to like limit the the depth of a lot of the suicide stuff while I've been pregnant. And that's why I was like really intentional about kind of like what we talk about because like emotions are like a hundred times stronger, you know, and um something can just like hit you a little bit too strong, and you got to take a moment away from it to like kind of work through that grief sometimes. Um, because it's like as resolved as we probably both are, grief still hits us. We still deal with those moments, we still have those things. And so, um, but a couple of weeks ago, it's gonna be released, I think next week, is I just kind of wrote this thing out and I just read it. Um, because I'm also trying to get ahead of like the podcast as I go into like my maternity leave, because I want to really to enjoy like time, you know, with baby and not be focusing so much on that for a couple of months. So I'm doing some like extra episodes and looking for guests. If anyone's got a story to tell, please reach out, DM me. Um, we love to have you on the show. Um but I Googled, like you, um, well, I Googled this a long time ago when I was struggling, uh, why do people kill themselves? And the name of my podcast is going to be um why I'm so grateful I didn't kill myself is like super like heavy and it's a little edgy, it's a little strong. But I'm I'm glad that you brought that up because like that just kind of speaks to my heart. And I'm like, okay, that was the right thing to name it too. Cause it's like this search engine optimization can work for the greater good. And so, and that's what we're here. We're here to help save lives. That's why Whitney joined us today, um, to help break the stigma and to normalize the conversation. Um, and to know, like, hey, you're not alone, no matter if you're a super fitness model or you're sitting on the couch eating potato chips every day. Like, like every single person's life matters, you know. Now, the value you bring to the world may be a little bit different, but everybody is worthy and everyone matters. Um, what would you say to someone that's listening right now and struggling with depression? Um, maybe they're having self-image issues, what would you want them to
Inner Child Work And Neuroplasticity
SPEAKER_01know?
SPEAKER_00You know, I think like just I, for me, what really helped me is like with my own issues, my own harshness towards myself, like I mentioned, was the inner child work. I really learned that in therapy. And it's like, if you can have compassion for that little person in you that is hurting, and you can treat you like you would look out for an innocent little child that is hurting, or somebody that you just love and adore, like your niece or your nephew, and like really correcting your self-talk and the thoughts in your mind, and really reparenting that little child, I think was a huge key for me because it was like, oh, okay. Sometimes we think that it's we have to be hard on ourselves, or you know, we have to beat ourselves up because we don't look the way we want to, or we're not, you know, acting in the way that we want to. And it's like that can be corrected with love, but you really have to figure out self-love. And it sounds so cliche. I can't tell you how many like therapists I worked with that would talk about this self-love. And I'm like, yeah, I love myself. I yeah, I got it. But I didn't really, I didn't really get it until I started looking at it in the way of the self-love, or excuse me, as uh I didn't really understand self-love until I got the inner child concept. Once I got the inner child concept, it clicked for me. It was like, oh yeah. Like I wouldn't, I wouldn't treat a poor little innocent child that's having a hard time with harshness over love. And so I just kept using that as sort of like my anchor back to, you know, every time my thoughts would veer into a place of negativity or harshness on myself, or you know, I would really use that imagery and that visualization of that little child to just keep correcting course. And it sometimes it would take a hundred times a day, right? Like you just have to keep doing it over and over and over again until it becomes a habit.
SPEAKER_01And that's neuroplasticity, what she's talking about, you guys, like continually doing something and reprogramming your brain. Because a lot of us are wired, and that's what the nonprofit is based on. It's harnessing neuroplasticity to fight mental health, harnessing neuroplasticity to fight suicide. So because you end up in a place on the floor in your bathroom in LA because of that negative self-talk, because how we think is how we feel. And if we're feeling a certain way, it's because we're thinking a certain way. So what she just said was harnessing the power of neuroplasticity. And she said she had to do it over and over and over and over again. And that's exactly what I did. Like, I wouldn't let my feet touch the ground till I told myself I was gonna have a good day. I was like, gonna have a good day. My dad just died, but I'm gonna have a good day. Great. I didn't believe it, but I faked it until I felt it and then went off the emotion and then went into the momentum that you were talking about and just continued to keep going down that road. You're gonna be a great mom. You are going to be such a great mom because you have all of this awareness. And I mean, I'm so excited to be on this journey with you too.
SPEAKER_00I know we gotta get we gotta get our babies together.
SPEAKER_01Oh, we are. We are. We're we're lake life, like life. You're coming out, girl.
SPEAKER_00We're coming out.
SPEAKER_01Um my gosh, they're gonna be such debugs. One other thing I wanna talk about, and then I'll do, I'll kind of close it up
Keeping Promises To Yourself While Pregnant
SPEAKER_01here. Um is something I kind of want to uh talk about just because it's like coming up right now for me, is defeat. So last week I was like talking to the girls at the salon about because they're like, oh, you're still working out and you're pregnant, and da-da-da-da. And I was like, yeah. And they're like, is it getting harder? I'm like, oh yeah. I'm in like, I literally don't want to work out right now. I'm so tired, but I'm like forcing myself to because hey, I don't want to get mum butt. And I like worked so hard. I don't want to lose like what I gained. Um and also it's about mental health. I think when you tell yourself you're going to do something and you don't do it, you're defeating your own self. And that can really affect your mental health, you know? And so that's kind of one of the things that um I recently just been like stuck in my mind. It's like, if I say I'm gonna do that workout, I'm going to do it. Oh, and the other thing too is when I was in such a dark spot, because you actually met me when I was going through a really difficult breakup. And then, and then my dad and brother died. But like I needed, I reached out, I hired a trainer, I reached out to Whitney because I could not motivate myself. And I knew if I made a commitment to somebody else, like a trainer, that I would show up. And then just happened to fall in love with Whitney and became friends, luckily. But like, not everyone gets to be as lucky as me, I guess. But um, yeah, every time I think about you, I'm just like, I freaking love her. I'm like, look at my friend, look at my friend, like my husband. I'm like every all the girls at the salon, like everybody I know. I'm like, do you know who she is? You know who she is? She's a main.
SPEAKER_00Do you know the best? Um no, it's so true. Yeah, I think like my whole time is obviously with the pregnancy workouts. It I think that it's super humbling. You do not feel as capable, and exercise becomes more about like the reward is not there. The you you're not like you don't get the same reward of like looking better. You don't some always you can't even see.
SPEAKER_01I can't, I'm like, where are my shoulder cuts?
SPEAKER_00It's kind of like it feels a little bit like a thankless job aesthetically. However, I think it's such a good exercise for just anybody with their training wheels of training. It's like sometimes you don't see the results come in right away. It's not about instant gratification, it becomes more about okay, circulation, the neurotransmitters that you're creating, you're shifting your chemistry, which then shifts your mood. But then also just emotionally, I think it's really big, a really big identity shift to come from a place of like, I showed up today for myself because I'm worth taking care of today. I am worth prior.
SPEAKER_01And that's what makes your mental health stronger.
SPEAKER_00And it's like because you followed through exactly like you keep these commitments to yourself, and the more you keep your commitments to yourself, no matter what the reward is, you're strengthening this confidence and this belief that you are that you matter, and that like, you know, so there's something really emotionally that you have to tap into when it comes to like working out while you're pregnant or injured, or you know, just getting that movement in because you love yourself, turning it into that is really important.
SPEAKER_01I think that's such a good point, too, because I have felt like that. And I just keep what I keep telling myself is I'm eating what protein, I'm gonna get booty gains. I can't miss my booty workout.
SPEAKER_00Oh my god.
SPEAKER_01I'm like, okay, summer comes, I'm gonna do a 12-week fit with fit with wit shred and everything will be.
SPEAKER_00And then watch out world, postpartum, coming for all of you.
SPEAKER_01I feel like I feel like I'm like gonna really like go for it after this, you know, because it's like you just want to feel like yourself or like feel good again. Um, well, Winnie, thank you so much for um joining this podcast. It really means a lot to me and all of our listeners. You are such a bright light in this world, and so many women look up to you, and you've impacted our world in such a great way and ways that you'll never know. Just by, you know, sometimes like the work that we do here, it's like we never know how many lives that we actually touch. But if one life was saved or if one if we made an impact on somebody, then it was all worth it. Um, strength isn't just what you lift, it's what you carry. I love that. That was I had like hands. I know I'm a little cheesy. I'm still cheesy.
SPEAKER_00I love it. I'm so proud of you, and I
Coaching Supplements Where To Find Whitney
SPEAKER_00love the work that you're doing. And I couldn't, I it's such an honor to be on. And you know, feel free for people to reach out, you know, especially I do a lot of coaching. Um, a lot of it's obviously the diet training aspect, but a lot of it's also the bigger pieces of your mental health, your hormone health, and your and your um gut health, which all work so simultaneously together for this healthy ecosystem for you to actually have that clarity and the energy and the vitality. Um, it's such a bigger picture than just the physical aspect. So I would love to, you know, I'm definitely taking more coaching clients. So don't hesitate to reach out if, you know, you feel like that's so.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so what is your I actually started to, you did some recommendations the other day um as far as supplements go. And I think it was choline and DHA. I was I wasn't taking that. And then after you posted that, I was like, honey, Winnie's taking this. She knows all the things I need to be taking it too. And I swear, I haven't told you this yet, but like I've been taking it now for about three or four weeks. Um, it's the DHA, like the fish oil, whatever. I got it at Whole Foods. But your supplement line, does your supplement line have one?
SPEAKER_00So I don't do DHA, but we have our gut health straw, which is like an amazing way to just get, you know, this is my my this is my new formulation that I'm sampling actually with the new straw that's coming out, but getting that daily fiber, you know, getting that inflammation control, like when you're pregnant, that choline is so important, the magnesium, the DHA. There's so many things that you can take that are just gonna help manage like your inflammation levels and um you know your well-being in general. There's so many tools now, right? Like there's just so many tools now that I have in my life that I didn't back when I was in that really low place that I it's such a night and day difference because I implement the tools and I have to stay in these rituals and like I kind of don't really have a choice. And it's okay to like we we can't just be raw dog in life and expect to thrive, right? There's too many tools out there to help with, you know, living your best life and really improving your quality of life. So like seek them out, you know, seek them out.
SPEAKER_01Get a get and now I see like you're getting into the peptides, which is like amazing. Um, for our listeners, can you tell them uh your Instagram handle, your um supplement line, and your fit with wit, like where they can find you to go and follow you?
SPEAKER_00Okay, so Instagram is at Whitney Johns. You can go to my website, whitneyjohns.com. That has my supplements on there where you can purchase those. We're also on Amazon under the Whitney Johns Nutrition store. So it's the line is called Whitney Johns Nutrition, it's focused on hormone, brain health, and gut health. Um, and then for the coaching programs, it's findyourfitwithwit.com. But everything's on my website, whitneyjohns.com. So just find me there or reach to me, shoot me a DM. I love hearing you. Awesome.
SPEAKER_01Yes. I love it. I love it.
Closing Message And Share Subscribe
SPEAKER_01Well, thank you so much for joining the show. Um, again, if you have a story to tell or you want to come on the show, please DM me. Um, and let's help save one life at a time. Thank you for joining Justin Time. Thanks, darling. If you're struggling, remember how you think is how you feel. If your feelings feel heavy, start by shifting the thought. You're not stuck, your brain can change, so can your story. I'm Jessica G. This is the Justin Time Podcast, and I'll see you next time. Until then, keep going. Never give up. And remember, the world is better with you in it, whether you believe it or not. To help reach others, please share this with your friends, family, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and donate.