If you have a nagging injury or disability, find a way to work around your limitations. When training a celebrity client who has bad knees and sciatica, Amanda Russell chooses a low-impact workout. “To improvise, we do some incredible water workouts,” says Russell, who was recently voted one of Google’s next top fitness personalities. “I'm talking sprint intervals, water running, high knees—basically I mimic track workouts, but we do them in the pool. It's one heck of a workout!”

“My favorite gym tip is to do three exercises in a row and then repeat that sequence twice rather than resting and repeating the same exercise for three sets,” says Andrea Metcalf, author of Naked Fitness. “It's called vertical loading and it keeps your heart rate up and the boredom factor down.”

“When it comes to cardio machines, I love using the Helix Lateral Trainer,” says Reebok Global Instructor Sara Haley. “Most equipment, like treadmills, ellipticals and bikes, all work in the sagittal plane of motion (front to back) and target the quads, hamstrings and glutes. The Helix not only targets your cardiovascular system and burns fat, but because it moves in a horizontal figure-eight motion, it also targets your inner thighs, outer thighs and glutes. It’s an incredible way to mix up your workout and achieve new results.”

“Our natural inclination is to move faster to get more out of our workout,” says Amanda Freeman, who recently brought SLT: Strengthen, Lengthen, Tone—a new workout that combines Pilates, cardio, strength training and endurance exercises—to NYC. “However, in order to activate the slow-twitch muscle fibers (responsible for fat burning and muscle lengthening) we need to perform strength training moves slower."

If you want to see fitness results, you have to dial in your nutrition, says Warner. “I suggest my clients keep a food journal and write down what they eat seven days of the week. Find a program you like online or can access through your smartphone, such as FitOrbit.com. In one study, researchers found that those that wrote down what they ate lost nearly double the amount of weight as those who didn’t track their daily diet. Journaling also clues you in on eating patterns that may be causing weight gain.”

"My favorite yoga practice is pranayama (yoga breathing),” says Greg Barringer, director of yoga at Scarsdale Yoga Studios. It bridges the gap between our conscious and subconscious mind and can be used to invigorate the body, nervous system and energy channels or to calm the mind and body for relaxation and meditation. It can also be used as a meditation practice. To try it, consciously control the pace of your breath and at the same time watch the breath come in and out: into the belly and out, in through the nostrils and out. It's truly a great and transformative yoga practice."

For more information on pranayama and other caffeine-free energy boosters, click here.

“I recommend taking a bath before bed,” says DeBoom. “We work hard all day, so we need to allow our bodies to wind down at night. Taking a bath with salts can relax muscles and allow you to fall asleep faster. Sleep is the key to staying healthy!”

"Other than living in a lab, wearing a body monitor is the best way to know what’s going on with your personal metabolism, sleep patterns and caloric burn," says Johnson. "When I started wearing one just a few years ago I was shocked by how much I was overestimating my calorie burn in certain exercises and underestimating my daily activity rate. The information allowed me to restructure my workout schedule to get the most bang for my buck! Although there are less expensive and less technical options out there, the Bodybugg, which is worn by contestants on The Biggest Loser, is my current pick. I fell in love with its technology and the level of customer support.”

Click here to read our review of 5 health trackers that really work.

“My favorite ab exercise is the corner sit-up,” says Metcalf. Here’s how you do it: Sit on the floor with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle and your left arm out to the side and resting on the floor. Pressing into that forearm, roll your entire body to the left until your legs just touch the floor and then return to center. Do 20 reps and then switch sides. Aim for three sets. 

If you want to lose body fat, you have to stay hydrated, says Lovitt. “My celebrity clients love Activate drinks. They provide essential vitamins and electrolytes without adding calories—brilliant!”

The best equipment for indoor and outdoor activity? BBS, which stands for Brain, Body, Sneakers, says Mickey Harpaz, PhD, nutritionist, exercise physiologist and author of Menopause Reset!. “All you need to start, perform and succeed is your brain for decision making and motivation, your body to use against gravity instead of weights and a good pair of sneakers to protect your feet. BBS allows you to start an exercise program inexpensively, stick to it and get results."
 

For a BBS routine you can do anywhere, click here.

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