This month, I sat down for the second time with Jillian Michaels—former Biggest Loser fitness trainer, and current brand new co-host of The Doctors—for the cover of Redbook magazine. And she was as sassy and funny and smart and inspiring as ever.

It says a lot when someone you’re just sitting down for lunch with (on the Malibu pier, for iced teas and fish tacos, yum) makes you give a hard think to the big picture of your life. And who cracks you up along the way. Seriously can’t say enough great things about the woman. Though ask me when I’m in the middle of doing one of her workouts (which even she doesn’t do!) and I may, ahem, answer differently.

Here’s a small taste of the story on the October issue, but check out more I got from Jillian at Redbook.com. This life optimist sends nothing but big kudos to the life makeover master…

—Amy