david kirsch

Celebrity fitness guru David Kirsch has trained celebrities like Kerry Washington, Heidi Klum, and Kate Upton. When it comes to developing a fitness regimen for his clients, he recognizes there's not a one-size-fits-all rule. "Everyone's body responds very differently," he says. After chatting about how Kate Upton prepared for the Sports Illustrated cover shoot this year, David and I had the opportunity to discuss his biggest gripes with the way some women train.

With all his clients, David strives to "accentuate curves in a feminine, sexy way, and not bulk their flaws. That's probably the number-one mistake I've seen." He doesn't believe in heavy weight training, and depending on someone's body type, he doesn't hold back about his feeling toward Spin: "For someone like Kerry [Washington], for someone like Kate [Upton], Spinning to me — no matter how en vogue — is not appropriate for what they want. For anyone who has a predisposition for bulking muscle legs, you're not going to do it [Spin]. It's knowing what you need to do for your body type."

If you've hit a weight-loss plateau or have lost motivation at the gym, David suggests that you "reevaluate what you've done up until that point. I always say, [get] stark naked first thing in the morning, [and] go to the mirror. Do a full body assessment: What do you see? What do you like? What don't you like? Then come up with a plan."

Above all else, David wants everyone to "embrace the beauty you have. Not everyone is meant to be the perfect size four or two. Not everyone is going to be Kerry Washington or Kate Upton. It's really about loving yourself, making the changes you can make, and embracing them."

Curious how Kate Upton trained for her coveted cover shoot for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition? We chatted with celebrity fitness guru David Kirsch, who worked with Kate, about her new exercise plan, healthy diet, and motivation.

She sweat outside: "We started out in East Hampton and did very basic track and field work. We did wind sprints at the high school on the track, when the sun went down, we did bleacher drills up and down. And she wasn't very happy about that. That's where we started . . . When we were out at the beach or playground, we did hanging knee raises and the monkey bars. Whatever was around us, we did it."

She changed her diet: "I didn't know how she had been eating before, but I knew how I wanted her to eat going forward. She would come over, and we'd eat together. So she saw how I ate and how I fed my daughter, and she saw that it would be tasty and fun. It wasn't going to be an oppressive, tasteless experience . . . we dialed her into the fact that she could eat, get fit, and lose weight. Starving yourself is the furthest thing from my philosophy."

She made it fun: "Does she like running, sprinting? No, I'd probably say that's her least favorite thing to do. But she loves boxing and kickboxing, because she loves kicking my butt."

Keep reading to learn how Kate prepared one week before the cover shoot.

The following post was written by New York-based trainer David Kirsch.

I love wintertime in the city. In fact, as I write this blog, I'm watching yet another winter wonderland outside. The snow makes me yearn for the back bowls of Vail, Colorado, where I have spent many snowy, joyful hours perfecting my slalom turns among other things. Before I hit the slopes, I make sure that my legs, back and core have been conditioned, strengthened and stretched. I particularly like to do the following exercises:

1. Lateral lunges to a reverse lunge. Not only does this strengthen my quads and glutes, but also my adductors (aka inner thighs).
2. Stability ball push-ups/ knee tucks. Here I am not only working my core and upper body but also my lower back.
3. Walking lunges — grab a pair of dumbbells and find an area in your house, office or gym, where you can complete at least 20 walking lunges, turn around and repeat.
4. I would immediately follow those walking lunges with a set of dumbbell squats 15-20 repetitions. Doing these squats right after the lunges will definitely get your heart pumping, increase your cardio capacity, and build much needed endurance in your legs! The quad burn one feels if they are not well conditioned for skiing will no longer exist.

Enjoy, ski safely and remember to wear your helmet!

For more tips, recipes, and workouts, be sure to check out all of David's posts here on FitSugar.

The following post was written by New York-based trainer David Kirsch.

I don’t believe in excuses, as any of my clients will tell you. Believe me, I’ve heard my share over the years. The classic New York reasons for skipping a workout session include rush-hour traffic, gym clothes forgotten, early morning conference calls or last minute business trips, just to name a few.

Those who know me and/or have trained with me know that I always have an answer to these often-used excuses. The response is: "And your point is?"

No (or few) excuses are actually valid. You can get your sweat on anywhere, just as I do. No excuses. Your body is an amazing tool. Push-ups, knee bends, crunches, lunges, shadow boxing, jumping jacks — all can be done with no equipment at all and assuming you have privacy, wearing anything your heart desires.

That said, here are 10 things on my list for creating your own "Wellness Zone" at home or at the office:

1. Shoes — cross trainers that offer a good deal of arch and lateral support.
2. Workout wear — comfortable and loose fitting, but revealing enough that you can see what you are working on.
3. Motivational music.
4. Water to stay hydrated.
5. Towel.
6. Exercise mat for stretching, floor work and abdominal exercises.
7. Stability ball and medicine ball — ideal for abdominal and leg work.
8. Resistance tubing for stretching and strength training.
9. Dumbbells or even water bottles or milk jugs — start with 2-5 pounds.
10. Access to a mirror to check your form every once in a while.

Think you don’t have time for a workout? That’s not a good excuse either! Check out my blog for tips on finding time for fitness.

For more tips, recipes, and workouts, be sure to check out all of David's posts here on FitSugar. Be sure to share images from your fitness life in our Get Fit For 2011 group for a chance to win a $100 Nike gift card.

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