10 Celebrity Trainers Dish Their Best Fitness Tips

When it comes to women’s fitness, no expert can understand our bodies’ condition better than the fitness gurus who are also women. Here are ten of the most famous female trainer’s best tips:

RAMONA BRAGANZA

Clients include Jessica Alba, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale

“One of the biggest fitness mistakes women make is just doing cardio. That leads to being ‘skinny fat’: looking thin but lacking definition. Doing strength workouts like Pilates and moves like squats and lunges twice a week help create sexy, lean muscles and give you a slight metabolism boost.

Alternating one or two minutes of cardio — whether that’s biking, running, whatever — at your usual pace with one or two minutes at a quicker pace burns fat faster than a regular workout.

For an even bigger boost, do interval workouts that combine strength and cardio, do 10 minutes cardio, then three or four strength moves such as lunges or biceps curls. Repeat two more times and you’ll get a full-body workout in less than an hour.”

HILARIA THOMAS

Yoga Vida fitness instructor and wife of Alec Baldwin

“Every single day do a little bit of yoga. Sun salutations, boat pose, forward bend, back bend, twists to each side to stretch out your belly, then finish in savasana.

You’ll be more in touch with your body and your senses so that when you put something in your mouth you’ll have less of a chance of overeating because you’re listening to your body and respecting your body. Your body does not want to be stuffed. It’s traumatizing. The connection will help you avoid ‘mindless eating’ while you’re sitting with people who emotionally stress you out.” 

NICHELLE HINE

Clients include Alexa Chung, Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron

“I tell clients, put post-its on your bathroom mirror or on your front door or on the mirror on the visor in the car, that say, ‘If you’re not hungry don’t eat’ and ‘respect your temple.’ It’s a constant reminder to breathe and make a conscious decision about what you put in your mouth. So many of these things happen without even thinking. Also, so often you think you’re hungry but you’re not—you’re just thirsty. It’s incredibly important to hydrate.” 

JACKIE WARNER

Host of Bravo’s “Work Out”

“No equipment? No problem. You can get the same toning results using your own body weight as resistance. Unless you’re injured, it’s time to give up the girly ones with your knees on the floor. Real push-ups are truly the perfect upper body and core workout. They tone your chest, back, shoulders, arms and abs all at once. To do this, place your hands on the floor directly under your shoulders and stretch your legs out behind you. Pulling abs in and keeping your body in a line from head to heel, slowly lower yourself, then push back up. Even if you can’t manage more than three at a time, you’ll benefit.

Your body is very smart; it’ll adjust to any workout routine in six weeks, so you’ve got to switch things up. You don’t have to get a whole new routine to keep getting results — even making tiny tweaks like changing the order of your strength exercises will help.”

ANDREA ORBECK

Clients include Heidi Klum and other Victoria’s Secret models

“Not being fan of the term diet, I prefer nutritional choices. You can exercise correctly, stay hydrated and get rest, but if you don’t complement that with good eating, you’ll stay soft and doughy with strong muscles underneath. Learn about nutrition and modify menus. Replace unhealthy ingredients with healthy, plant-based options.”

Multi-task. While you’re standing at the sink doing dishes, use the counter to do a set of squats. Do 50 crunches every morning before you start your crazy day.

TRACY ANDERSON

Clients include Madonna, Shakira, and Jennifer Lopez

“Of all of the holidays throughout a given year, the one that seems to give people the most anxiety about missing their workout (and packing on pounds) is always Thanksgiving. I am here to tell you to not worry, to enjoy yourselves tomorrow, and to eat all the stuffing and pumpkin pie that you need. It’s only one meal out of the year and our social and emotional connection to food is so strong and it is important to not deprive yourself of the family table. Don’t make 100 calorie stuffing, reduced fat gravy, or gluten free pie (trust me; you will go to bed wishing you had had the real stuff). Enjoy yourself, and on Friday, when you are ready for a little break, put on your workout clothes, and follow along to a post-Thanksgiving workout.”

SUE MOLNAR

Clients include Kelly Ripa, Jessica Alba, Chelsea Clinton

“Think preventatively. Instead of chowing down and then trying to go to the gym to work it off, go to the gym before you eat so you’ve already raised your metabolism. If you exercise for an hour it’s not just about that hour, you’re still burning more calories throughout the day. If you can get to the point where you’re doing a really vigorous hour of exercise in the morning during the holidays, your reward is that you just get to eat what you want and not feel guilty.”

MANDY INGBER

Clients include Jennifer Aniston, Brooke Shields, Helen Hunt

“My indulgence trick is to eat treats that are only homemade. That eliminates a lot of the holiday sweets that are packaged. Also, speak to yourself in a positive way and reinforce what you are doing well. Don’t focus on the cookie you ate last night. Focus on the fact that you did 30 minutes of cardio today. Write a list of what you are doing well like visiting relatives or leaving the party early so you could wake up and meditate.”

JILLIAN MICHAELS

Host of “The Biggest Loser” and “Losing it with Jillian”

“If you want to lose weight, you have to do it the right way. I’ll tell you right now: Skipping meals or following an extremely low-calorie diet is not in any way, shape, or form the answer for losing any amount of weight. Extreme calorie deprivation only sets you up for yo-yo dieting, or ‘weight cycling’. Your weight will continue to go up and down for the rest of your life…

The way to be healthy and lose weight is not to ‘diet’ but rather to make a lifestyle change. Shift your thinking from merely ‘cutting back’ to simply eating proper portions of the right foods. Whole, nutritious foods will repair, nourish, and support every cell so that your body will work for you and not against you. Be good to your body and it will be good to you!”

VALERIE WALTERS

Clients include Jennifer Garner, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel

“Train early and you may just feel a little bit virtuous the rest of the day. It doesn’t have to be long but you do need to bring some heat to it if you want it to count. Focus on the protein and veggies and go easy on the mashed potatoes, stuffing and pie. I’m not saying you can’t have a little of everything, just start with the protein and veggies. You will fell less bloated later.”

“Publically pre-commit. Write out your day-after plan and post it somewhere. The act of writing down what you are going to do tomorrow means you don’t have to think about it. Just get up, put on your workout clothes and follow the plan…

When you are writing your pre-commitment, be sure to include the ‘why’. Why are you going to workout? Why are you going to ditch the leftover mashed potatoes and get back on the plan? Is it so you can rock your skinny jeans? Is it so you can look hot on New Year’s Eve? Maybe you just want to feel healthy & strong or be a good example for your kids. The bigger your ‘why’ the more power it has.”