Jackie Warner’s SKYLAB project is designed to help people overcome their struggle with obesity. On Bravo’s Workout reality show we catch glimpses of the SKYLAB workouts and process.

But does / will SKYLAB really work? What follows is a quick pro/con assessment from what’s been revealed so far on the show:
SKYLAB PROS
- Includes mental, physical and emotional elements – frank, emotional discussions take place to uncover self-esteem and insecurity issues that cause clients to over eat for comfort. Clients are challenged mentally and educated to make smarter decisions. Physically they are pushed to get more from their bodies.
- Includes both personal and group support – SKYLAB clients meet in groups and with trainers.
- Consideration is given to selecting a trainer that can best work with the client – Getting the right trainer with the right client is both art and science but can make or break the outcome. In the show Jackie places photos of clients and trainers on the floor. I can’t think of a better way to facilitate the process of aligning client and trainer.
- Food is provided – This is a powerful way to simultaneously help clients make immediate progress, leapfrog their weak decision making abilities and provide experiential learning. With each meal these clients learn and experience what a proper food choice looks like, tastes like and feels like. Plus, they are eating the same food and supplements Jackie Warner does.
SKYLAB CONS
- Workout intensity – Jackie Warner’s approach to fitness is all about intensity. Exercise intensity certainly gets results, however it also increases risk of minor and serious injury to the client.
Is Proper Progression at SKYLAB?
Fitness professionals manage risk of injury to clients by applying the proper “progression” of frequency, time, type and intensity of workouts. Proper progression allows the client to gradually increase their fitness and tolerate greater exercise stress with reduced risk of injury. It appears the workouts being delivered to the SKYLAB clients may be too intense…
A Viewer Opinion
A comment from one of the readers of this blog illustrates a number of concerns about the intensity of the SKYLAB workouts:
Horrible show! As a personal trainer i cringe when i see the horrible training that goes on in this tv show. It’s bad, really bad. It’s the reason personal trainers have no credibility in the professional world.
No trainer in their right mind would have unfit, overweight clients do jumping jacks on a hard surface. Or inch worm push ups when they can’t keep the form not even remotely right. Or have unfit clients run suicides.
For anyone trying to pick up tips from this show, please don’t. And anyone thinking about paying $400.00 a session with her, you’ve got to be out of your mind.
So Does / Will SKYLAB Be Successful?
Factoring the pros / cons above – the answer seems to be it’s got great potential if the client exercise injury does not become an issue. What do you think?
Want To Try SKYLAB?
On the SkySport & Spa Website, there is a public “retreat” version of SKYLAB project. It’s promoted as follows:
SkyLab is the ultimate, life-changing opportunity. During this all-inclusive, intense retreat in Northern California, you’ll live, eat with, and workout with Jackie Warner, celebrity trainer and star of the hit Bravo TV show Workout. She will teach you, train you, tone you, inspire you, and give you the discipline and motivation to lose weight for good.
In addition to breaking your sugar addiction, you’ll sweat and work like never before, all under the ever-present and constant watch of Jackie and her team of trainers. Not only will you learn to live healthy and hot in the real world, but you’ll lose substantial weight, reshift your energy, and change the way you relate to the world around you.
This is an experience that will be like no other. Jackie’s effect on people’s lives is unparalleled…and she’s ready to change yours today.
Also from the website a sample schedule of what to expect from SKYLAB:
A Typical Day at SkyLab (*schedule subject to change)
- 6:30 am – Jackie’s personal energy shake, delivered right to your door
- 7:00 am to 9:00 am – two-hour intensity workout
- 9:15 am to 10:15 am – snack and free time
- 10:30 am to 12:00 pm – life goals and healthy eating seminars
- 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm – lunch
- 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm – free time
- 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm – two-hour intensity workout
- 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm – yoga/stretching
- 5:15 pm to 6:45 pm – snack and free time
- 6:45 pm to 7:45 pm – dinner
- 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm – group therapy (conquer your emotional relationship with food!)
Too Much?
Wow – 4 hours of intensity exercise. For people with an already high level of fitness this could work, but for obese, deconditioned or those new to exercise this sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
Fortunately – the SKYLAB program requires a signed permission form from your physician for acceptance. It pulls no punches either – again from the SKYLAB info on the website:
Permission form must clear participant to engage in strenuous activity and a reduced calorie diet. Form must also indicate any physical limitations the participant may have, including but not limited to knee, back, or shoulder injuries.
What Do You Think?
So for those of you interested – the cost is $7,000.00 and you can get $1000.00 off the May 31st session here.
Meantime – for those of you who have read this far…Â Would you try SKYLAB?