I’m Blake Lively’s personal trainer – my number one tip for the holidays sounds counter-intuitive, but it works
A HOLLYWOOD fitness trainer has revealed his best-kept secret to battling the bulge through the holiday season.
Don Saladino, who has honed Blake Lively’s body, claimed a warm-up bite before heading to Thanksgiving dinner will keep over-indulging in check.
Saladino has trained some of the biggest stars in the business, including Anne Hathaway, Scarlett Johansson, and Blake's husband Ryan Reynolds.
After a decade of training Blake, 36, and Saladino devised a fat-burning program for the mom of four.
Train Like Blake Lively 2.0 Program promises ultimate fitness and strength with optimized time.
For the Gossip Girl alum, this means support through the food-focused holidays.
Saladino said those who don't want Thanksgiving to derail them could consider “overeating healthy food” while taking care with “timing.”
In an exclusive interview, Saladino told The U.S. Sun: “Eat before you go.
“It is good to have a real meal 90 minutes to two hours before you are going to a holiday dinner.
“Most people go to Thanksgiving dinner and will not eat all morning.
“This is the worst thing I could ever recommend.
“They are going to be starving and filling up on hor d’oeuvres.”
Saladino detailed the impact of food restriction during the morning.
“In the evening when people start relaxing and getting in front of the TV, their body would not have enough energy," he said.
"This means craving fuel.
“They would start overeating at a time when they are not using that fuel.
“I would urge people to try and increase their calories, but earlier in the day.
“This means a bigger breakfast and a bigger lunch, two healthy snacks, and then going to dinner not famished.
“Maintaining blood sugar level is one of the most overlooked areas.
"Just as is increasing fiber such as vegetables.”
Saladino advised choosing healthy, fiber-heavy foods at the Thanksgiving table.
“I have never seen anyone suffer from eating a lot of healthy foods,” he advised.
“You can overeat your protein and vegetables and your sweet potato.
“I have had people who have increased calories, increased fiber, and they have lost weight.
“This is about healthy calories and fuel for the body that will keep us from wanting to dive into those chips or ice cream in the evening.
"There is also a non-negotiable in hydration.
"Just by increasing that in itself, that is going to help the metabolism."
As for the rest of the year, Saladino says keeping active during the working week is key.
“I would go and do a power walk for 10 minutes," he said.
“Do something to keep yourself moving and set an alarm for every 30 minutes.
“If you are at your desk, it goes off, and the next thing you know, you are standing up, taking phone calls.
"Your metabolism is going to be boosted.
“Steps are also amazing, such as not taking the subway in the morning.
"Or wake up a half hour earlier to walk to work if you are in the city."
Saladino's Train Like Blake Lively 2.0 Program promotes lean muscle. And of course, burning fat.
The actress used the carefully curated method for movies, The Shallows, and Savages.
Blake has stayed well through motherhood. Saladino said consistency was always key.
“Blake's routine is more metabolic where we are going to be running around a little bit more, " he revealed.
“We are focusing a little bit more on work capacity.
“She is not someone who loves pounding the cardio machines.
"Blake she likes to stay busy when she is training so does not like to do exercise and then rest.
“We do a lot of super sets and I break her program up into bilateral work and unilateral work.
“As a mom of four, I consider every day how she wakes up and how she feels.
“If moms are lacking in sleep, then you have to make adjustments to that."
Blake, who parents her daughters with Reynolds: James, 8, Inez, 8, and Betty, 4, and a baby born in February, "works out around five days a week."
Saladino, who hosts fitness retreats said: “Ryan has also done Blake's routine.
"But he and I always focus more on strength."
The trainer also formulated another method for Ryan called the Deadpool 2 Program.
This fitness preparation included 6-day training split workouts.
These are to boost muscle growth and focus on performance physique.
“Ryan also focuses on specific movements and improving specific qualities," added Saladino.
"But I always need him to rest in between sets and to recover.”
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