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    The pleasures of the holiday season are many but the pain can be equally powerful come January when we realize the damage we’ve done. This year wouldn’t it be nice to not have regrets for a change? We asked celebrity fitness and nutrition experts-- the pros who keep Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Jennifer Aniston in line--to give us their tips for getting through the holidays without those extra 10 pounds. Are you in?


    BOBBY STROM, celebrity trainer who has worked with Jessica Biel and Britney Spears and whipped Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively into shape for “Green Lantern”

    "Give yourself one meal a week. Christmas dinner is only one meal, not a three day long event. For that one meal, say, 'I’m going to have some candied yams and pumpkin pie and potatoes.' That’s it. Doesn’t mean you eat like crap for the whole day. Before you eat something think, 'If it’s not worth it, don’t waste it.' If someone says, 'You have to try this cake it’s awesome!' Ok, maybe it’s worth the calories. But picking at a bowl of pretzels—that’s not worth the work you’ll have to do to take it off."




    GUNNAR PETERSON, celebrity trainer who keeps Kim Kardashian and Sofia Vergara in good form, and helped Jennifer Lopez train for a triathlon after having twins

    "Get a training partner for these six weeks who will help motivate you to get up and out of bed. And get it done early. Set your alarm for an hour earlier—or even 30 minutes. You’ll make better choices for the rest of the day. And at night, you’ll be less likely to stay out too late because you’ll have to get up early. Mindset is also incredibly important. You have to mentally set the table. You will not gain weight. You’ve got to know it to make better choices. Draw a line in the sand."




    HARLEY PASTERNAK, host of ABC’s “The Revolution” who has trained Lady Gaga, Megan Fox, Katy Perry and Rihanna


    "When you go to a holiday party, I want you to park your car three blocks away. And walk those three blocks each direction. If you end up at a buffet, don’t make one trip and pile everything on your plate. Go up and take one thing. I always start with vegetables. Then go back for meats. Satiety lags behind ingestion so if you eat slower, you’ll feel fuller and then by the time you go back, you’ll choose less. After the meal, go on what the Italians call a passeggiata--  a walk around the neighborhood."

     



    MANDY INGBER, LA-based yoga instructor who leads Jennifer Aniston and Helen Hunt through their poses

    "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."



    BERNARDO COPPOLA, LA-based trainer and former pro rugby player who works with Matthew Morrison and the cast of “Glee”

    "Enjoy yourself, but the next day get back on track with your nutrition. It’s all psychological. You’ve got to put boundaries in your head. You can’t do leftovers. You can’t say, 'It’s been four days and I’m still eating it' if you want to not add pounds. Add more cardio than usual to your workout so you burn more calories. When you’re weight lifting, after you do three sets of an exercise, before you move on to the next one, add 30 seconds to a minute of jumping jacks or mountain climbers."



    ANDREA ORBECK, fitness and wellness guru who works with Heidi Klum and many Victoria’s Secret angels

    "Learn to modify menus. Instead of cream cheese or sour cream, use plain yogurt and Stevia instead of sugar because it doesn’t create the same insulin response. When a recipe calls for butter, cut 1/3 of butter with applesauce instead. Stay away from canned options and instead of white flour use whole wheat sources so at least you’re getting fiber. 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."

     


    DAVID KIRSCH, NYC-based wellness guru who works Anne Hathaway and Liv Tyler out

    "During this time people often start to starve themselves, which is actually the worst thing you can do. Make sure to eat five small meals a day. One can be a protein shake. Leave a few hard-boiled eggs on your kitchen counter to snack on. You want to keep the engine going. You don’t want your metabolism to slow down so you store calories. Also, you’re not going to be as smart about your choices when you’re ravenously hungry. Staying optimally fueled through out the day is key. If you overindulge, make sure you hydrate the next day and hit the gym regardless of how you feel."


     


    NICHELLE HINES, the CRO “chief ride officer” at LA spinning gym Cycle House where Alexa Chung, Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron like to break a sweat

    "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."




    SUE MOLNAR, Soul Cycle Master Instructor where Kelly Ripa, Jessica Alba, and Chelsea Clinton ride

    "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."


     



    FRED DEVITO, executive vice president of mind body fitness programs at Exhale, a favorite spot of Cameron Diaz and Brooke Burke

    "Never arrive to the holiday meal famished. Nobody can make good choices when they are starved. Have a small protein-rich snack before you go, such as an apple with nut butter or hummus and crudité. During the meal, pick one or two of your favorite splurge items and enjoy them in moderation. Fill up the rest of your plate with lean protein and veggies. Skip liquid calories. Liquids don't fill us up the way solid foods do so the calories add up, but don't offer satiety. Stick to water, herbal tea or make a holiday spritzer, adding a splash of cranberry juice to seltzer." 




     


    HILARIA THOMAS, instructor at NYC studio Yoga Vida (and girlfriend 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 shavasana. 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 over-eating 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."





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    The Thread Poll

    During the holiday season, which activity do you amp up to avoid unwanted pounds?

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    Poll Choice Options
    • Cardio
    • Weights
    • Yoga
    • Sports
     

    345 comments

    • older than dirt  •  5 months ago
      Uncle Hester used to tell us kids that if we didn't want to gain weight for Christmas, we should go over to Auntie M's cause she can't cook worth a #$%$
      • Crazy Cajun 5 months ago
        Love this
      • Tweetybird 5 months ago
        We had an Aunt like that!! That awful pistachio pudding dessert every Thanksgiving.
      • B 5 months ago
        Unfortunately I never had a relative that couldn't cook but this brought a grin to my face! :)
    • FoxInSocks  •  5 months ago
      Why can't I be as happy eating broccoli as I am when I'm eating brownies? :o /
      • Kim S 5 months ago
        Because the sugar in brownies causes your brain to release endorphins : )
      • Ole Roger 5 months ago
        Just throw the broccoli florets in your brownie batter. A little green never hurt brownies.
      • Susan 5 months ago
        It's not the "While" you're doing the eating...it's how do you feel "after" you've eaten it.
    • Gerry  •  5 months ago
      Eat a balanced diet, get rid of prepared foods & start making your meals at home. Eat smaller portion (use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate), when you want to eat something loaded with calories, do it, but in a smaller portion. You don't need to go to a gym or workout half the day or while you're doing the dishes. Take a walk or do some housework. When the weather is nice ride a bike & get to know your neighborhood. Enjoy life & use common sense. I did & have lost 50 lbs.
      • Cassandra Glenn 5 months ago
        You have good advice,but I ride a bike every day,several times a day,and I think I'm
        gaining weight.I eat somewhat healthy,so I should have good metabolism.I don't
        get it....
      • Pimchanok 5 months ago
        That's a good idea, every morning I eat more foods than other meals, do some housework and go to yoga class four times a week. I normally have a small dish for my dinner, Although I don't enjoy that much, I always did and fortunately have lost 15 lbs!
      • Denise 5 months ago
        Cassandra, the weight you have gained may be new muscle.
    • russ  •  5 months ago
      How to lose weight.
      Step 1 - Turn your head right.
      Step 2 - Turn your head left.
      Repeat this process anytime someone offers you any food.
      • Gina 5 months ago
        That's awesome!
      • TCHVZ 5 months ago
        lol good one!!
      • LL 5 months ago
        Funny!
    • goodthinkin  •  5 months ago
      Kelly Ripa needs to start missing the gym workouts. You cant lose bone, and she has no meat! She looks sickly and has no body
      • K 5 months ago
        Uh, yes you can lose bone. It's called osteoporosis, and you lose it by eating too much garbage and not exercising enough. But I agree with you about Kelly Ripa. My guess is she subscribes to the old adage, "You can never be too rich or too thin."
      • M 5 months ago
        That was funny....she is just bone and hair. LOL
      • Michelle 5 months ago
        she would be so much prettier if she gained a little
    • David  •  5 months ago
      Best weight loss plan ever...Place both hands firmly on the edge of the table. Then push.
    • Im a Paulbot  •  5 months ago
      Everyones body is different. What works for someone may not work for you. Listen to your own body. If you feel great,,, then your on the right path. Make your choices and decisions based off of high energy feelings instead of lifeless thinking. I used to have a bodyfat % of 32. Now its 11% I was deluded into listening to EVERYONE but my own body and spend 1,000 of dollars working with trainers. Finally I hit a low and just listened to myself and thats when I got the best results.
    • Just can't shut up  •  5 months ago
      Lot of trainer bashing. Its a job. So whats that about? Believe me I work my a^% off and I ain't getting rich at ALL. And pretense is not required. Some of us actually care about making people feel healthy. In the case of training seniors or people with illnesses, clients are always suprised and often elated to find out how much ability they regain by simply using the body as it can be used. Whether its enabling someone to do something simple again like turning their head so they can view traffic before backing up or lowering the chances for heart desease, it feels good to help people this way. Ditto training someone into their own body's untapped strength. I bet I make less than most of the folks reading the article(not to start a reverse #$%$ contest here). I do it because I really imporve people's lives. They feel better. I feel good about what I do at the end of the day.
    • mitzilm  •  5 months ago
      best exercise is SEX!
    • HairFairy  •  5 months ago
      Alot of advice these days is to eat 5 small meals each day....I'd really like some input on what everybody's eating! I'd like to try to do this. I'm a busy stylist in a hair salon , with appointments ALL day long...many days I either don't have time to eat, or i have the time and FORGET to! I know i'm not eating enough, and i believe this is wrecking my metabolism. Any help will be appreciated!
    • Crickett  •  5 months ago
      Just because it is a holiday doesn't mean I HAVE to eat a ton more. For over 30 years I have allowed myself to eat whatever I want 1-2 days per week. The rest of the week I really watch what I eat. That has helped me greatly to maintain a steady weight over the years.
    • Craps Fanatic  •  5 months ago
      Tip No 1: Don't eat so much. Tip No 2: Exercise.
    • Queenie Meanie  •  5 months ago
      My advice, ENJOY it! Hanging out with family, great conversation, and good food are what the holidays are about in my family. Enjoy the togetherness, and, if weather permits, have a snowball fight after dinner!
    • fortunate  •  5 months ago
      Personal trainers do serve a purpose if you can afford them. Most of our country is overweight and unhealthy, including me. If you have arthritis or other problems that make exercise painful, good advice is always welcome. Wish I could afford a good personal trainer.
    • W  •  5 months ago
      If people keep active, you don't have to watch anything you eat (at least not for weight reasons). When I was a kid I ate everything, but I also never stopped moving. Weight gain enters when you keep eating a lot and stop moving. So there's basically 2 solutions, eat less or do more. Not sure why people make it more complicated than it is. Everyone is looking for an excuse. The sooner people realize that and take responsibility for their own actions, the sooner they can start doing something about it. The first step is to acknowledge the problem.
    • Alan  •  5 months ago
      Wait...you can actually get a job training people to be "Celebrities"? That must be how the Kardashians got themselves into the spotlight, despite most people not having any idea who they are. They certainly aren't "stars" by any means.
    • debjani  •  5 months ago
      Green Tea after every meal helps (so altogether 4 cups of green tea a day ought to benefit anyone...take it for truth). Plus it is full of antioxidants which helps metabolism and is good for digestion. Fish oil is another necessary ingredient for weight loss and improving the health of the heart. This is not to say that these are substitutes for regular exercise and controlled eating but these are good supplements. Also, make sure you do quarterly blood check - the blood report will indicate exactly where ur ok and where ur not, e.g. if you have iron deficiency or loss of protein in urine, you can make that up by supplemental pills or modifying your diet. So, some suggestions for people who want to be on the right track and get going with weight loss or even maintaining a healthy weight with a healthy lifestyle. DC
    • PaulaG  •  5 months ago
      Just shot yourself and get it over with. Its the eating season- enjoy. January is the fitness season.
    • rasputin  •  5 months ago
      do the hollywood diet - put your finger down your throat. vomit. repeat, then swallow a handful of amphetamines washed down with coffee, follow with an enema ;-)
    • Ramsey  •  5 months ago
      Download The Dirty Mason's new album Pocket Kama Sutra from itunes and run your fat off either on the street or on the treadmill! Get fired up!

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