By Whitney Baker
You may have heard the saying, “The couple that exercises together, stays together.” But is it really true? We turned to celebrity trainer, nutritionist and NutriFit co-founder Jackie Keller to find out how to exercise with your honey, what’s it’s really like to work with the stars and how to avoid that dreaded holiday weight gain.
When it comes to working out with your sweetheart, Keller believes that success varies from couple to couple. There are numerous ways to approach your joint workout routine. “Some strength training requires that couples work together: one lifts, while the other spots,” she says. “Additionally, many runners prefer to run with company to make the time pass more easily. There are also a lot of stretches that are better done with assistance.”
She adds, “One thing we know for sure is that those who exercise with support and encouragement from significant others — friends, family or lovers — do better overall in achieving their goals.”
Of course, if you exercise with your boyfriend or girlfriend, it’s important to remember that men and women should train differently. Even if you have the same objectives, your bodies will respond to cardio work and toning moves in unique ways. Of this dissimilarity, Keller shares, “With women, I will usually work on the process as much as the result. With men, it’s usually the result that overrides any concerns about the process.”
Related Link: QuickieChick’s Video Dating Tips: Why Hating Your Body is Destroying Your Love Life
Keller, a licensed and certified wellness coach, nutrition educator and Le Cordon-Bleu-trained culinary expert, has worked with celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron and Penelope Cruz. She has also trained celebrity couples including Zach Braff and Taylor Bagley, Eric Winter and Roselyn Sanchez, and Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon (before they split). Speaking about her experiences working with these famous twosomes, she says, “I have no complaints about our couples. They have been uniformly delightful. I think that having the support and participation from their significant other helps both of them with the process.”
Given that celebrities need to look good for their job, they can tap into a deep level of determination that everyday people have a harder time grasping. “The public does not cut celebrities any slack, and they knew it when they chose that professional path,” Keller explains. ‘They don’t fight the need to look good — they accept it and embrace it as part of the package.”
Lately, we’ve all taken note of Matthew McConaughney’s extreme weight loss for the upcoming film ‘The Dallas Buyer’s Club.’ According to a recent news spot on ‘Good Morning America,’ he has lost nearly 25 percent of his total body weight. Despite the medical risks that come with this drastic weight loss, Keller believes that there is a healthy way to make these changes. She cites Anne Hathaway, who trimmed up for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ by eating NutriFit meals three times a day for nearly a year, as an example. “She looked fantastic!,” Keller says. “It can be done without compromising health or delicious meals.”
Perhaps we can avoid any unwanted holiday weight gain by taking a cue from the stars. Keller recommends that you look to exercise as one of your must-do daily tasks, like brushing your teeth and showering. As far as diet is concerned, she says to eat a good breakfast, no matter what your dinner plans entail. “There is no such thing as ‘saving’ calories to enjoy later,” she says.
Related Link: How to Find Love Admist Holiday Craziness
Keller also suggests that you wear snug-fitting clothes, especially at events with a buffet meal, because you’ll eat less if your waistband is tight. And, of course, Keller says you should be aware of how much alcohol you consume, as “drinking uses up calories in a non-nutritive way and loosens up your inhibitions so that you’re far more likely to eat badly.”
When asked what food she does enjoy during the holidays, Keller says that she is a fan of “seasonal favorites,” like persimmons, tangerines, oranges, spinach, swiss chard, collard greens and grapefruit. For specific ideas, you can check out the recipe section of Keller’s blog at www.Nutrifit.wordpress.com/recipes/.
For more information on Jackie, go to www.JackieKeller.com. You can also keep up with her on Facebook and Twitter.
