FitSugar

Celebrity Trainer Gunnar Peterson Says Get More Sleep

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:30:00 -0800

Celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson is no stranger to pet projects. Not only did he help Jennifer Lopez train for her triathlon last Fall, he also teamed up with Molly Sims to help the canine set get some more exercise with the PetFit Challenge. These days he is teaming up with Gatorade to spread the fitness word, which he did at the G Gym during the Sundance Film Festival. Recently, I was able to do a brief interview with him - he is a busy man. More a man of action than words, I went right to the heart of the matter and asked about core work.

FitSugar: Let's get down to business - what is your favorite core exercise?
Gunnar Peterson: I’m a big fan of the wood chop, whether it’s standing with a medicine ball, kneeling with a cable, or on a stability ball with a dumbbell.

FS: If I only have time for one strength training move at the gym, what multitasking move should I do?
GP: Squat with bicep curl and overhead dumbbell press, all in one.

FS: What do you recommend for a post-workout snack, after a 60-minute training session of cardio and strength training?
GP: This is what I would consider perfect eating after a workout: salmon, a yam, broccoli and Gatorade.

FS: Speaking of Gatorade, what is your favorite flavor, and when do you think sports drinks come in handy?
GP: I am a lemon lime lover! The original G (Gatorade) for the original G (Gunnar)! You should drink Gatorade during a vigorous workout and post vigorous workout, sports drinks are best.

To hear what Gunnar has to say about training celebs, read more.

FS: Tell us one thing we don’t know about celeb fitness. What is your typical day like? When do you work out?
GP: My typical day starts at 4 a.m. I train before my clients, and I work with seven to nine people between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. While that may not sound like a great day to some, it’s a great day to me. Celebrities work out a lot harder and a lot more consistently than they’re given credit for. They do what they do as well as they do it in peak condition under a microscope. That’s a tall order to fill.

FS: If we could change one thing to live fitter/healthier lives, what would it be?
GP: Get more sleep.

FS: What do you think of reality weight loss TV shows, like the Biggest Loser? What about Jackie Warner’s Workout?
GP: Any show that motivates people to do more for health and fitness than they’re currently doing is a success in my book.

FS: Any advice for folks making New Year’s resolutions to lose weight?
GP: Don’t make a big deal out of the resolution. Of the three “D’s” involved - decide, discuss, and do - eliminate “discuss.”

Jennifer Lopez Training for a Tri

FitSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:30:00 -0700

New mother of twins, Jennifer Lopez has decided to do a triathlon this Fall. She is working with celebrity trainer, Gunnar Peterson to get ready for her bike, swim, and run against time. OK Magazine got the scoop from Gunnar - here are highlights:

“The workouts change daily, depending on the day, the time and the freedom,” he says. “She’s going to get it done because she wants to.”

But don't think the workout regime takes time away from her and Marc Anthony's new twins, Max and Emme, 5 months. Having juggled multiple careers and business ventures in her life, the actress has everything "in check," Gunnar says, and would never prioritize something else over her children.

"She may be the most efficient multitasker I know. She literally has every aspect of her life in check,” he says. “She doesn’t have a nanny, a chef or a nutritionist. She makes time for the kids. Family comes first.”

Having twins is an athletic event, not to mention a test of endurance, in its own right so I am thoroughly impressed that Jennifer has her sights on a tri. Go J Lo, go!

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Reality Check

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:00:00 -0800

I read quotes all the time where a startling fit celebrity claims to rarely exercise and to eat whatever she wants. I am often skeptical, but like to give the celeb the benefit of the doubt. Celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson (he's trained Angelina, Jennifer Lopez, and Penelope Cruz) trained offered up the little gem of a reality check on the seedy, underbelly of the LA fitness world:

I had one actress who trained with me and took six Spin classes a week. And all she ate was lettuce and Swedish Fish. When the press asked her how she’d "transformed" her body, she said, "Oh, I do yoga and hike with my puppy." That made me laugh. Don’t lie about how much you work out, because other women are going to think, I walk my dog, why don’t I look like that?

Thanks for the reality check, Gunnar! My Monday needed that boost!

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Get PetFit With Gunnar and Molly

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:30:00 -0800

Trainer to the stars, Gunnar Peterson along with the help of Molly Sims, is looking to get people active with their pets in the PetFit Challenge. This nationwide challenge aims to get pets and their owners on track for an active, healthy, and happy life together. I love the idea so I'll be signing up my dog and myself, as we can both always use the extra push to get moving - let's hope she likes lunges as much as I do.

For more pics of Molly exercising with her Yorkies and for some fun exercises you can do with your dog just read more.

Power Dog Walks With Intervals: Take your dog for a walk on a leash. Throughout the walk, mix in some intervals of jogging, running, or high stepping to help increase your heart rate and burn calories for both you and your dog.
Fetch Races: A twist on an old favorite. Grab your dog’s favorite toy and toss it at your local dog park or in your backyard . . . except this time, race your dog to retrieve it! For owners who don’t have access to a dog park or backyard, this can be done in the hallway of your home with a soft toy.
Fetch Tease For Abs: Another twist on classic fetch. Grab your dog’s favorite toy and pretend to toss it as you reach the top of your sit-up. Try to get in as many reps as you can until your dog becomes wise that you still have his toy. This is perfect for your backyard, your local dog park or even inside your home.
Dog Squat Tease: Stand with your legs spread shoulder width in preparation to do a leg squat. As you descend, tap your dog with his favorite toy. As you rise, lift the toy above your head to encourage your dog to jump after it. This can be done in your home and outside as well.

If you are a cat owner, you are not out of luck. Check out the Curious Cat Curls on PetSugar.

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Bauer-Griffin

Tips From Celebrity Trainers

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:00:00 -0700

One way that celebrities get to look the way they do is with personal trainers who have earned a bit of a celebrity title themselves. The back of their heads (i.e. Harley Pasternak training Sophia Bush pictured below) are always seen on PopSugar, so it's no wonder they are making a name for themselves based on the big names they work with.

CNN recently spoke with five celebrity trainers and they gave their own insights along with tips for us non-celebrity folk. So here are highlights I thought you would enjoy:

Valerie Waters
Worked With: Kate Beckinsale and Cindy Crawford
Tip: "Don't be afraid of weights. They're the quickest way to change your body"

Gunnar Peterson
Worked With: Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie and Matthew McConaughey
Tip: "Get on a regular routine. Exercise should be a cornerstone of your life, like brushing your teeth. It's not even an option to blow it off."

For tips from trainers who've worked with Christina Aguilera and Reese Witherspoon just read more

Ashley Borden
Worked With: Mandy Moore and Christina Aguilera
Tip: Take care of the arches in your feet. "When your arches collapse, your knees rotate inward, and your hips rotate outward giving you a saddlebag appearance. It then pulls your sternum down, it pulls your neck forward, and everything collapses." She suggests orthotics and mio-fascial release to combat chronic pain and posture problems.

Michael George
Worked With: Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire
Tip: Don't wait too long to integrate a healthy diet and consistent exercise into your days. "I've seen a lot of people come to me when it's a little bit too late," he said, "I've had [clients] pass away due to illnesses, cancer, heart disease, whatever it may be. The time is now. If you don't put your health first you're never really going to truly be happy."

Bob Greene
Worked With: Oprah
Tip: "First thing is, know what you want," Greene said. He said a lot of people want to work out because it's "in" or they know they should be doing it, but don't have a specific goal. "Know the reason you are making these changes in your habits, what is it you really want to achieve." He also said most people need to do both weight training and cardio.

Bauer-Griffin

Jumping Rope For Fitness Fun!

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Remember the summers of your youth, jumping rope on the sidewalk with your friends? Good fun mixed with good exercise that didn't even feel like exercise. I am here to say, it might just be time to put jumping rope back into your fitness routine. It is a major cardio workout with minor costs. Yep, jumping rope will definitely give you bang for your buck.

Here are a few tips from personal trainer to the stars Gunnar Peterson that I just found in his book The Workout.

Rope length: Standing in the middle of the rope, the handles should reach just below your shoulders. If not, adjust accordingly by winding around your hands or finding a longer rope.
Jump small: There is no need to jump more than 2 inches off the floor. Jumping higher puts more stress on your knees and actually burns fewer calories (talk about a lose/lose situation).
Variations: Mix up your jumping pattern to really keep you on your toes! Add jumping side to side in pattern like this will also work your inner and outer thighs:
- Jump center for 5 passes of the rope
- Jump to the left keeping your legs together, and then back to center on the next rope pass
- Stay in the center for a 5 jumps, then jump to the right.

You can purchase The Workout for $12.71 from Amazon.

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Words That Move You...

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:15:00 -0700

"It should be as unthinkable to skip your workout as it is to skip brushing your teeth."
Gunnar Peterson, Celebrity Personal Trainer

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Celebrity Trainer Gives Tips for The Dogs

FitSugar — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Gunnar Peterson, personal trainer to stars like Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani and Penelope Cruz, has probably dealt with some real characters. Lately, though, he is taking on a whole new breed. Literally.

Hill's Pet Nutrition has teamed up with multiple dog owner Gunnar Peterson to kick-off the 2007 Hill's PetFit Challenge, a weight loss program developed for cats and dogs. Gunnar says, "Many pet owners think that food equals love, but this is not the case. My dog Lennox would much rather wrestle with me than have a treat and it's a workout for both of us. The bottom line is to stop lovingly overfeeding and get out and exercise with your pets." Feeling your dog may fall on the overweight side? Then take these tips on getting him (and yourself for that matter) fit:

Regular walk -- Take your dog to the local park or just along the street.
Resistance walk -- Try to walk your dog on different surfaces like sand, shallow water, fallen leaves, snow or on a rough surface.
Enhanced walk -- Use obstacles when you're out walking like benches, trees, ditches and logs for your dog to jump over, crawl under or balance on.
Fetch -- Throwing a ball or toy is great exercise for your dog, and you can make him work harder by doing it on a hillside or stairs. Don't throw sticks, though, as they can splinter and cause injury.
Hide and Seek -- Hide a toy or some kibbles and let your dog find it.
Swimming or hydrotherapy -- Ideal for dogs with arthritis or back problems. Ask your veterinarian about hydrotherapy.
Obstacle courses -- Set up low hurdles (use a broom stick across two objects), tunnels (available from pet shops or use cardboard boxes) and a slalom course (objects set one yard apart) to exercise your dog.

Cats are more of a challenge, but there are tips for keeping cats trim too, so read more

Toys -- Homemade or pet shop toys help to encourage your cat to get moving.
“Catch the Light” -- Shine a flashlight on the floor and walls and let your cat play.
Boxing -- Let your cat play in a box or paper bag.
“Hunting” -- Put your cat's food in different places each day (including on top of tall furniture) and bring out the hunter in your cat!

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Celeb Mom Slim Down Secrets: Debra Messing

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Debra Messing was definitely very thin during her Will & Grace days but, like almost every woman on the planet, Debra gained a bit of weight during her pregnancy. This then turned her very slim frame into the frame of a pregnant woman. No shocker there, the real secret is how she lost all the weight.

According to AOL, Debra credits losing her baby weight to breastfeeding as well as hitting the gym with trainer Gunnar Peterson.

Debra Messing's weakness for sugary breakfast cereals and fast-food burgers during her pregnancy contributed to a weight gain of 60 pounds. Breastfeeding her son Roman helped the typically slender star shed some weight. To take off the rest, she hired Hollywood fitness trainer Gunnar Peterson who designed an exercise routine incorporating resistance training.

Maybe you don't have the cash to hire a celebrity trainer but I've got a cardio workout from Gunnar himself, maybe even one that Debra had to do. So check it out here.

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4-5-6-6-5-4: Cardio Plan

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 04:00:00 -0700

In the fitness world, they say if the mind is bored, the body must be too. Really...they say that - I have heard it and lived it. If you suffer from boredom or have a body that easily adjusts to however you challenge it, I have a workout plan that might just be for you.

Gunnar Peterson, trainer to the stars (like Jennifer Lopez, Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck), likes to mix it up for his clients cardio-wise. This keeps the body guessing and the mind occupied. Instead of spending 30 minutes on just one piece of cardio equipment, spend your cardio time on different machines for different amounts of time.

The cardio plan looks like this:
4:00 minutes on treadmill
5:00 minutes on elliptical
6:00 minutes on stair stepper
6:00 minutes on treadmill
5:00 minutes on elliptical
4:00 minutes on stair stepper

This totals 30 minutes, 10 on each machine. Each workout you should try to use different machines, so add rowing machine, StepMill, and stationary bike into the mix as well. You know really mix it up. this way you might fel compelled to use your least favorite piece of equipment since you won't be on it the entire workout - just 10 minutes broken up into doable chunks.