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Tips From LA Trainers On How To Stay Fit

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Long workweeks, mounting family obligations, drive-through dining and countless hours in traffic -- this kind of lifestyle carries the baggage of stress, fatigue, weight gain and other health issues if exercise is low on the list of priorities. There is no remedy more effective than a well-rounded fitness program to feel, look and live better than ever before. While circumstances are uncontrollable, making an effort to be healthy and happy is. Here, the best of the best in the local fitness industry offer advice to help get you there in the 364 days that follow the first day of the year.

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(credit: Dan Norell)

Tanja Djelevic
www.tanjadjelevic.com

Tanja has the unrivaled ability to bring out the inner warrior that lies dormant inside of each and every individual fortunate enough to train with her. Tanja's infectious energy will inspire and motivate you to places your body has never been with her dynamic, superhuman workouts. She teaches classes throughout Los Angeles at Equinox, Crunch and Easton Gym Co. and recently worked on Sweden's Biggest Loser. She also provides expert advice for magazines such as Shape, Women's Health and Fitness.
 
"As you know there is no quick fix to getting in great shape, but one tip is to cross train properly: Some yoga, recovery, stretch style sessions and some hardcore CrossFit high intensity work, layered properly every week! This keeps the body guessing, and you will actually see a difference in form after the HIIT (High intensity interval training) sessions!"

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(credit: Reilly Smith)

Reilly Smith
reillysmith.tumblr.com

Reilly is a USA Triathlon All-American and two-time Ironman World Championship Finisher. In the past, he has taught spinning at Revolution Fitness and at Equinox in Santa Monica.
 
"Nothing is built or destroyed in a day, so be wary of momentary inspiration. Staying in shape, or getting in shape is all about consistency over the long haul. Find challenging, enjoyable activities and stick to them. If you stop enjoying something, find something new. Accept that, like anything rewarding, not all of this will come easy; rewarding things are not meant to. Make a commitment for a few months and see what happens. Diving into a "scary" or "difficult" new program and remaining patient, while focused on steady improvement, is a damn heroic thing to do! But, we can be heroes."

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(credit: Molly Hawkey)

Kit Rich
www.kitrich.com

Kit is an expert Pilates and fitness trainer who offers a relatable and honest approach that keeps clients coming back for more. Her experience includes being a fitness/health expert for the popular online magazine Beautylish, as well as being the brand ambassador for Lorna Jane and a trainer for FITiST in Los Angeles. She infuses her hardcore training sessions with a nice dose of fun and humor that helps clients push through.
 
"To keep from plateauing, switch up your routine. You will get better results and you won't get bored. If you keep the intensity up, you don't have to work out as long and you can really scorch the calories, as well as burn more calories when you're not working out.
 
In terms of nutrition, never eat to 100 percent fullness. Stop at 80 percent. Additionally, your plate should be made up of 80 percent greens and 20 percent protein or starches."

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(credit: Colin Kim)

Colin Kim
www.facebook.com

Colin Kim is an L.A.-based spiritual teacher. His encyclopedic and intuitive knowledge in matters of the spirit, health and music draws hundreds of clients a week to well-attended group and private formats.
 
"Conscious deep breathing is the extraordinary gateway to health of mind, body and spirit. Take slow, deep breaths. This will immediately slow you down through deeper focus, concentration and soulful power. To elevate your mood, inhale through your nose until your lungs itch. Hold that breath for a moment, and then exhale through your mouth like you are fogging a mirror. With practice and self-mastery, your slow, deep breath will match the physical timing of every event you encounter in life. Practice on small items and make it a fun game for yourself to tackle the very natural and larger issues of your lifetime. Conscious breathing offers refuge and repair from stress, injury, trauma and ailment. It will teach you where this loving and kind place is within you so you can learn to be happy now."

Kirsten P & Cristina P
(credit: Pound Fitness)

Kirsten Potenza and Cristina Peerenboom
www.poundfit.com

Pilates fell in love with a drum set and Pound was born. Kirsten and Cristina are the down-to-earth dynamic duo behind this innovative workout, conceived in Los Angeles. Since then, Pound has literally rocked the nation. Locally, Pound classes are held at Crunch in Burbank and West Hollywood.
 
"It's the simple combination of tiny coping tools that make all the difference. Relish the tiny steps. Each extra glass of water, 20 minutes of cardio or hike with your dogs is a celebration and should be treated as such. Our bodies are just vessels to help us have fun and scoot through life in all its glory. We take care of them in tiny increments that all create a big difference. Noticing this helps us maintain a moderate balance that lasts. Celebrate your daily successes."

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(credit: Ben Hopkins)

Ben Hopkins

In addition to a tenure with Equinox in Palos Verdes, his fitness expertise is derived from a culmination of four years in the Army as a Master Fitness Instructor and as a competitor in multiple road/trail/mud runs ranging 5k up to marathon distance.
 
"Efficiency and consistency is always key in any fitness routine. During the holidays, most people drop their consistency but still need efficiency of movement to achieve the greatest return for time spent. If you only have 45 minutes and a choice between resistance (weight) training and cardio, you will get more bang for your buck and burn more calories with resistance training. Why weights? The more lean muscle mass you have, the more calories your body uses to survive, even at rest! Effectively, you are transforming your body into a fat burning machine."

Joy Bitonio has the phrase "Joie de Vivre" tattooed on her shoulder, a reminder to enjoy life every single day. She has a voracious appetite for fun, adventure, food, good cocktails and works out like a madwoman to keep it all together. Her fitness articles can be found on examiner.com. Follow her on Twitter.
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