FitSugar

How Celeb Trainer Gunnar Peterson Keeps Sofia Looking Hot

Leta Shy — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:48:31 PDT

Whether she's hamming it up in front of Saturday Night Live cameras or going glam on the red carpet, Modern Family star Sofia Vergara always looks the part. But the self-described gym hater also works hard to keep fit. We spoke to her trainer Gunnar Peterson (whose clients have also included Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Angelina Jolie), to learn more about how Sofia stays fit. Read his tips below.

Make it fun: How does Gunnar keep his celebrity clients sticking to their routine? "I try to keep it fun. I try and put a little bit of levity in it, but at the same time, I don’t sacrifice the work. We may goof around and stuff, but we’re definitely going to goof around while we’re working." A boring workout is one you won't want to stick to, so read our tips on how to keep a workout fun.

Whole-body workout: Gunnar doesn't like to waste time with isolated moves. Burn more calories and work more of your body at the same time instead. "I don’t do that many isolation movements, like single joint stuff," Gunnar says. "I do bigger movements. If we’re going to do a lunge, we’re probably going to add an upper body component to it, like a lunge with a wood chop, a side lunge with a wood chop, or a rear lunge with a lateral raise, or a forward lunge with a front raise." Try it yourself: incorporate this medicine ball wood chop the next time you do lunges, and check out Gunnar's cutting-edge double-duty gym equipment here.

Read on for more tips from celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson.

Get the Bod: Minka Kelly's Abs

FitSugar — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 07:34:40 PDT

Voted one of the sexiest women in the world by Esquire, Minka Kelly works hard to keep her physique in tip top shape. Her Trainer Gunnar Peterson shared one of the actress's fitness secrets with us: standing ab work! Grab a dumbbell and learn some great moves for toning your middle - no crunches required.

Take a Tour of Gunnar Peterson's Beverly Hills Gym

Susi May — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:36:59 PDT

Walking into celeb trainer Gunnar Peterson's private gym in Beverly Hills, I could tell the man likes his machines. The walls and center aisle of the large room are lined with every piece of cardio and strength training machine imaginable. It's a fitness fanatic's version of heaven. When Gatorade invited me to work out with one of its top trainers who trains pro athletes (like Tom Brady) and the Hollywood elite, I jumped at the chance - luckily the sweat session didn't actually involve jumping or plyometrics.

I may not be J Lo or Sofia Vergara, but Gunnar gave me the celebrity treatment. That's not to say he was easy on me - I was pleasantly sore the day following the session. But he carried a towel around for me and subtly placed it on the equipment before I hopped on.

"Paparazzi can't get in here," he told me, making his gym a safe place for his celeb clients to come sans makeup and curse if they need to. And we all know the f-bomb can easily slip out when faced with a challenging exercise.

Come take a tour of Gunnar's gym and check out five cool pieces of equipment in his fitness arsenal.

Gunnar Peterson: The Trainer Behind All Those Curves

Michele Foley — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:15:23 PDT

Trainer Gunnar Peterson's clients (both past and present) are some of the most beautiful women in the business. And I do mean to stress the word women. Gunnar's clients are known as much for their talent and beauty as they are for their curves. Think: Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, and Sofia Vergara. Keep reading to see who else Gunnar is training and how he keeps them in the best shape of their lives.

How Vanessa Minnillo Is Getting Fit For Her Big Day With Nick Lachey

Michele Foley — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:54:24 PST

Like many brides-to-be, Vanessa Minnillo is stepping up her fitness game before the big day. The star, who became engaged to Nick Lachey in November, has been working out three times a week with celeb trainer Gunnar Peterson. At a recent Under Armour event for its new Charged Cotton activewear, Vanessa told InTouch Weekly that she and Gunnar have been working out hard and that he trains her "like an athlete." She's still eating the kinds of food she wants, like pizza, but practicing portion control. Most of all it seems like Vanessa has a healthy attitude: "I am happy with where my body is now. I am happy in general, and I think it's all connected."

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How Well Do You Know Your Celebrity Personal Trainers?

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 08:00:24 PST

We challenged you on how well you know the ladies, and now it's the men's turn. How well do you know personal trainers to the stars (from left) FitSugar guest blogger David Kirsch, Gunnar Peterson, Harley Pasternak, and Jarett Del Bene? Take this quiz to find out!

Take the Quiz

La La Vazquez Slims Down For Her Big Day

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:30:17 PDT

With the wedding less than two weeks away, TV celebrity La La Vazquez has been working out with trainer Gunnar Peterson to slim down for the big day. La La, 30, recently told Us Weekly that she's already lost a total of 13 pounds!

To get in shape, La La hits the gym with Gunnar five days a week and hikes in Runyon Canyon to "get the cardio up." Gunnar - who also trains Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian - focuses on circuit training, mixing strength training moves with cardio intervals. La La changed up her diet, too, and says she's been watching what she eats without starving herself.

"No soda. After a certain time I cut it out. I love chocolate. Nestle Crunch, Kit Kat, chocolate cookies, I love them. I've completely cut that out."

With a fitness regimen like this, La La will be looking her best come the big day!

New brides, pay attention! We'll be bringing you tips on how to prepare your body for the big day, but we want to hear what you've been doing to stay in shape, too. Head over to the FitSugar Community and post your wedding workout tips, or, if you're already hitched, how did you get healthy for your big day?

Kim Kardashian Covers Shape: "I'll Never Be One of Those Skinny Girls"

FitSugar — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:00:06 PDT

Most people I know react very strongly - read: absolute adoration or total disgust - to the Kardashians. And even though I sit somewhere in the middle, I was surprised to see Kim on the latest cover of Shape, since I, like most people, am used to seeing her in more celebrity-driven publications or on her hit reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

Besides talking to Kim about her love for working out and eating right, the magazine relays Kim's message of embracing your body, regardless of size. There's also a great slideshow of the cardio sculpting workout Kim does with her trainer Gunnar Peterson. And while the reality star comes across as being positive, I wished they would have asked her why she continues to promote QuickTrim diet products with such vigor, and whether or not she thinks it sends a mixed message to her audience.

Find out what Kim said in the interview when you

Here are the highlights:

On the dedication it takes to stay fit: "There's nothing easy about being fit and healthy. I'd never say, 'Take this and eat whatever you want or don't work out.' That's not realistic. To look and feel my best, I watch my calories and exercise. And right now, I can honestly say I'm in the best shape of my life!"
On having cellulite: "I have cellulite, just like almost every other woman on the planet. And just because I feel secure with my body doesn't mean I think cellulite is cute! It will always be an issue for me. So let's just say it's a work in progress!"
On eating healthy: "I finally said enough with the junk food . . . These days I prefer salads with grilled chicken or turkey burgers without the bun."
On learning to embrace her curves: "I was only 10 when I started developing breasts . . . I remember crying in the bathtub. I took a washcloth, made it really hot, put it over my chest, and prayed, 'Please don't let them grow any bigger! They're embarrassing me' . . . But I watched my mom, who was always comfortable with herself, and she helped me with my outlook."

Celebrity Trainer Gunnar Peterson Says Get More Sleep

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:30:00 PST

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,

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 PDT

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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