Celebrity Trainers' Top 15 Workout Secrets

Models and actresses have the best bodies going. They have to—they could be called on to wear a latex catsuit at a moment's notice. Us, not so much. But we still want to get quick, dramatic results. We asked six top celebrity trainers to share their best tips as inspiration for meeting our own goals.



WORKOUT IN THE MORNING
"You'll boost your metabolism for the day. If you wait, something else will come up." —Teddy Bass

Celebrity clients: Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, Lucy Liu


DO CARDIO FOR AT LEAST 40 MINUTES
"Yes, a 15-minute burst is better than nothing, but it takes 35 minutes to burn off blood sugar before your body can start metabolizing fat." —Andie Hecker

Celebrity clients: Ginnifer Goodwin, Natalie Portman, Kristen Bell


DON'T OBSESS ABOUT THE SCALE
"You need a way to monitor your body, but clothes are a better indicator. Every week, try on the same pair of jeans." —Ramona Braganza

Celebrity clients: Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway, Kate Beckinsale


DON'T WATCH TV ON THE TREADMILL OR ELLIPTICAL
"You don't work out as intensely, which means you burn far fewer calories than if you go hard for that same amount of time." —Tracy Anderson

Celebrity clients: Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Richie


MAKE TIME FOR FITNESS EVERY DAY
"Doing a little bit all the time is so much better than doing a lot once in a while." —Gunnar Peterson

Celebrity clients: Halle Berry, Kim Kardashian, Sofia Vergara


INDULGE—A LITTLE
"I don't like banning a food completely, because then you'll crave it the most." —Teddy Bass


MOVE YOUR (ENTIRE) BODY
"You burn more calories when you work your upper and lower body at the same time. Jumping on a mini trampoline while doing different ballet arms, using a weighted jump rope, or swimming for 20 minutes are all good options." —Andie Hecker


SNACK SMART
"Fuel yourself 20 minutes before a workout with a protein bar. But don't down a sports drink or coconut water after—you'll be drinking calories when water would be fine." —Tracy Anderson


UP YOUR INTENSITY
"You can't keep doing the same Spinning class or 20-minute jog and expect a different result." —Teddy Bass


LOSE THE LIQUID DIET
"Don't do juice fasts or cleanses—they're not effective, sustainable, or healthy." —Harley Pasternak

Celebrity clients: Jennifer Hudson, Lady Gaga, Megan Fox, Katy Perry


RETHINK YOUR GOALS
"Instead of jumping rope for ten minutes, do it for 100 jumps. If you measure accomplishment by time, there's no incentive to go harder." —Gunnar Peterson


GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK
"Working out five days a week is great; six or seven isn't better. Your muscles actually react better when they have downtime to recuperate." —Ramona Braganza


WALK WHILE YOU TALK
"You're more likely to eat when you're sitting than when you're moving around." —Harley Pasternak


SWITCH UP YOUR WORKOUT
"Muscles get smart and strong fast, so change your routine every ten days. It takes that long to make a change in your body, but over time a workout gets static and less effective." —Tracy Anderson


BE ACTIVE ALL DAY
"It's not only what you do in the gym, but also what you do the other 23 hours a day. Take the stairs, park far away, or get out of the cab and walk." —Harley Pasternak

Via Allure

9 "diet" foods that make you hungrier

1. Light yogurt

The blast of sweet (often artificial) flavor causes the stomach to start producing gastric juices. With only four to six ounces of yogurt and no fat in a typical container, the body doesn’t have enough food to digest leaving the tummy rumbling for more.

Better choice: Nolan likes the creaminess and high protein content of plain, low-fat Greek yogurt. Add fruit and a sprinkle of cinnamon for flavor. If you choose the non-fat variety, add a tablespoon of sunflower seeds for crunch and satisfaction—the fat in nuts and seeds is slow to digest so a small serving keeps you feeling full.

2. Puffed cereal with skim milk

The combo of skim milk and puffed cereal has too few calories to keep you energized for long. Many dieters reach for puffed cereal because it looks filling in a big bowl. However, the low fiber content leaves you wanting more soon after breakfast. Puffed cereal also has a high glycemic index, which causes blood sugar to drop after an initial boost of energy.

Better choice: Rolled or steel cut oats. Oatmeal is high in fiber, which makes it a satisfying breakfast. Add a spoonful of maple brown sugar if you need something sweet. Cooking your own plain oatmeal and adding a small amount of sweetener is much more nutritious than using pre-sweetened packets. Nolan likes to cook oats with low fat milk or stir in a tablespoon of peanut butter for even more stick-to-your-ribs goodness.

3. Big green salad with low fat or fat free dressing

The typical dieters’ lunch of a salad with low fat dressing can have a boomerang effect on the appetite. It’s full of fiber and visually filling but the low protein and fat content won’t satisfy for long. Stay away from fat-free dressings, which are loaded with sugar.

Better choice. Add three to six ounces of lean protein such as lean beef, chicken, or beans (the leaner the choice, the more you should eat) to your salad bowl.

4. Rice cakes

One rice cake=good, four rice cakes=overindulgence. And that’s about how many it will take to feel truly satisfied. Low in fiber with a high glycemic index, these classic diet snacks won’t leave your tank full for long.

Better choice: Spread a tablespoon of peanut butter or cream cheese onto a rice cake for a more balanced nosh. Or choose whole grain crackers with a spread or small portion of cheese for fiber and carbs plus protein.

5. Chewing gum

A little stick of gum is a stealth saboteur. While some chewing gum advocates say that it can stave off snacking, Nolan disagrees. She explains that the burst of flavor gets the gastric juices flowing. The act of chewing revs the digestive system even more, preparing it for a meal. If you want an express ticket to the all-you-can-eat buffet, chomp on some gum.

Better choice: We all have our munchy days, so if you are just looking for something to keep your mouth busy, air-popped corn or raw veggies are a safer bet.

6. Diet soda

Like gum, the sweet flavor wakes up the digestive process with no nutritional pay off which stimulates the appetite. Caffeine and carbonation may dampen your hunger pangs for a short time only to have them come roaring back along with an energy slump. If that’s not enough to make you rethink your daily fix, a study carried out by the University of Texas Health Center in San Antonio showed that people who consumed diet soda had a 70-500% increase of abdominal fat over ten years compared to those who didn’t drink diet soda.

Better choice: Drinking a hot beverage can slow down the appetite and allow you to think through your craving. Also, sometimes thirst signals are confused with hunger, so you may just need hydration. Non-caffeinated herbal teas won’t cause an energy crash.

7. Apple

Yes, apples are great for you—they contain lots of vitamins and fiber, but a single apple is not a balanced snack. If you don’t eat anything else with your afternoon apple, you may overeat at dinner.

Better choice: Apple with 5-10 almonds or a cheese stick. Spend a few more calories on your snack so you won’t be ravenous later

8. Low-calorie frozen entrees

Light frozen entrees contain little fiber and only about half the calories you will need to feel satiated. They are also loaded with salt. If you don’t have another option, look for a frozen dinner that contains 400-500 calories, 20-30 grams of protein, around 5 grams of fat, and 5-10 grams of fiber.

Better choice: If you are too busy to cook, Nolan suggests an “assembly based meal.” Roast chicken from the deli, a slice of whole grain bread, some salad bar vegetables, and a piece of fruit add up to a quick, healthy dinner.

9. Fat-free graham crackers or other baked goods

Nolan says people who are watching their weight tend to automatically reach for food labeled “fat free” on the package assuming it is more diet-friendly than the regular version. However, when manufacturers make fat-free foods, they often up the sugar content. Check the nutritional information on the back--the light versions sometimes contain more calories.

Better choice: Regular graham cracker. A small indulgence such as a graham cracker or square of quality chocolate keeps things interesting and won’t break the bank calorie-wise. Nolan points out that boredom is the enemy of dieters and causes people to fall of the wagon. “You are better off eating real food and more calories and feeling physically and emotionally satisfied than eating ‘diet food’ and being hungry in an hour.”

Via Shine

8 Ways to Stay Full Longer

Eight surprising ways to stave off hunger and, ultimately, unwanted inches.


1. Eat fatty foods. It sounds strange, but zapping all the fat from your diet will actually make you fatter. Your body needs unsaturated (a.k.a. “good”) fats to function properly and stay energized as well as absorb certain vitamins. Need some incentive? A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, showed that the unsaturated fat found in avocados and olive oil is converted into a compound that curbs your hunger. Just be careful not to overdo it. Make sure that only 30 percent of your daily calories come from fat, says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a nutritionist in private practice in San Francisco and Portland. If you’re operating on a 1,500-calorie diet, your meals should contain a maximum of 10 percent saturated fat, Batayneh says.


2. Chew gum. Even though you don’t technically consume gum, you can still feel fuller from it. A study found that if you chew gum for 60 minutes in the morning, you’ll consume 67 fewer calories at lunch. “There is some evidence that chewing gum can help with feelings of satiety and reduced appetite,” says Elaine Rush, PhD, professor at Auckland University of Technology. “The possible mechanism is not clear, but is [thought to be] associated with the chewing action as well as the taste, smell and flow of saliva.” To keep your choppers in good health, make sure the gum is sugarless; the sugar in gum wreaks havoc on your teeth. Plus, sugarless gum improves the flow of saliva, which further suppresses your appetite, Dr. Rush adds.


3. Snack on almonds. These all-natural treats contain fiber and unsaturated fat, which combine to create a superpower that makes you feel full. Not only that, a recent study found that you can shrink your waist by a whopping 14 percent if you eat a handful of almonds daily for just half a year. However, almonds are high in calories, so stick to no more than 3 ounces daily for the best weight-loss results.


4. Return carbohydrates to your diet. We know carbs and starches were practically banned a few years ago, but now they’re back and we’re learning that they’re way better for you than previously thought. Just like there are good and bad fats, not all carbohydrates are created equal. Opt for complex carbs, found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which take longer to digest and therefore help keep you feeling full. Potatoes also take a long time to break down due to a type of starch that resists digestive enzymes. Batayneh says, “Potatoes can actually work in your favor,” and often recommends that her clients eat half of a large potato every day with lunch. For even more nutritional value, go for a sweet potato, which is high in fiber and vitamins A and C.


5. Chow down on grapefruit. A study found that people who ate half of a grapefruit with breakfast, lunch and dinner lost nearly 4 pounds in just three months. That’s because grapefruit lowers your insulin, which regulates your fat metabolism, suppressing your appetite and burning calories faster. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for citrus juices, which typically contain a lot of sugar. If you want to have the grapefruit in juice form, squeeze it yourself and don’t add any sweetener.


6. Hit the gym. Going to the gym doesn’t just help you burn calories; a study in the American Journal of Physiology found that doing an hour of cardio will reduce your appetite for up to two hours after you’re done. The cardio reduces your levels of ghrelin (a hormone which increases your appetite) and increases levels of the hormone which suppresses your appetite. However, doing the same cardio day after day can eventually cause any positive effects it has on your metabolism to plateau. Be sure to mix it up at least twice a month with a variety of exercises, like biking, rowing, running and the elliptical machine.


7. Try aromatherapy. It may sound new-agey, but a study found that people who smelled peppermint every two hours ate 2,700 fewer calories weekly, which caused them to lose a pound every week. The smell works on your brain, tricking you into thinking you’ve eaten and are therefore fuller than you actually are. Sniffing the peppermint more frequently works even better, so light a candle and you’ll be golden.


8. Grab some blueberries. Blueberries affect the genes in charge of fat-burning and storage, so eating them not only makes you feel full, but also helps get rid of extra belly fat, says Mitchell Seymour, PhD, research scientist. In Dr. Seymour’s study, the participants ate a cup of blueberries every day for three months, and lost 3 percent of their body fat. If fresh blueberries are out of season, eat frozen ones to get the same benefits.

Via Women's Day

Pushup That Really Pump You Up

The Classic

Good for: General upper-body conditioning

Balance your weight on your toes and palms, with your hands a comfortable distance apart, probably just beyond shoulder-width. Your body should form a straight line from your ankles to your head. Squeeze your glutes and brace your abdominals, and keep them that way for the duration of the exercise. Slowly lower yourself to the floor, pause, and push yourself back up. Repeat a few hundred times.

Variations: Three-point pushup (place one foot on top of the other to make the exercise a little more challenging); decline pushup (set your feet on a bench or chair to strengthen your shoulders); and triceps pushup (place your hands close together, directly under your shoulders, and keep your elbows tucked close to your sides as you lower your body—an adjustment that shifts the work from your chest to your arms).

Rotational Pushup


Good for: Athletic performance in sports involving torso rotation, such as tennis, hockey, and baseball

Assume the classic pushup position, but as you come up, rotate your body so your right arm lifts up and extends overhead. Your arms and torso should form a T. Return to the starting position, lower yourself, then push up and rotate till your left hand points toward the ceiling.

Variations: One-dumbbell (grip a dumbbell in one hand, rotate to the dumbbell side for half your repetitions, then switch the dumbbell to the other hand); two-dumbbell (grip dumbbells in both hands, and alternate sides when you come up).

Plank



Good for: Posture; midsection endurance and stability

Lie facedown, rest your weight on your forearms and toes, tuck your hips, and hold your body in a straight line from ankles to shoulders for 5 seconds. Do a total of 10 5-second holds.

Variations: When 5-second holds are easy, progress to longer holds, until you can stay in the position for 30 seconds. Next, try a regular push up position with your hips tucked. When you can hold that for 30 seconds, try it on your knuckles.

Suspended Pushup


Good for: Upper-body strength and stability

Wrap a pair of straps (or chains) around a chinup bar or the crossbar of a power rack. At the bottom, the straps should be about 12 inches off the floor. Attach gymnastics-type rings (or a straight bar) to the ends of the straps. Grab the rings and do pushups, being careful to protect your lower back by keeping your core and glutes tight—as you should when you do any variation of the pushup.

Plyometric Pushup


Good for: Developing upper-body power

Set up in the classic position on a well-padded carpet or exercise mat. Push up hard enough for your hands to come off the floor and catch some air. When you hit the floor, go immediately into the next repetition, pushing up again as hard as you can and catching more air.

Walking Pushup



Good for: Abdominal development; shoulder stability

Set up in the classic pushup position on a smooth floor, and place your feet on a towel. Walk with your hands across the room, turn, and walk back. Keep your back flat throughout the movement.

Barbell Pushup



Good for: Stability of midsection, shoulder; grip strengthGet into the classic pushup position with your hands on a barbell (the kind that can roll away if you don't keep it steady). Knock out the pushups, but not yourself—keep in mind that one slip can send you crashing teeth-first into the floor.

Read more at:
http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/pushup-variations/