Sculpting the bodies of celebrities is a serious business—after all, they usually need to see results fast. Because of this, celebrity trainers are clearly some of the best in the industry, which is why we turned to Ngo Okafor, trainer to the stars and owner of Iconoclast Fitness, to answer some of our most pressing fitness questions. As someone who has trained Hollywood icons like Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell and Brooke Shields, Okafor certainly knows a thing or two about getting people into the best shape of their life. Below, check out his top tips for meeting your own fitness goals.
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NewBeauty: What is the one workout move you recommend to all of your celebrity clients who are looking to lose weight?
Ngo Okafor: Cardio is king! I would have them do at least 30 minutes of cardio, every day. The most effective form of cardio for losing weight is running. If they have an injury and can’t run, they can either walk on a steep incline, use the elliptical machine or use the spin bike.
NB: A lot of your clients have washboard abs. What is the one tip you recommend for people looking to get stronger abdominals?
NO: We’ve all heard the saying that abs are made in the kitchen—well that is true. You cannot outwork a bad diet. We all have abs, unfortunately for a lot of people, their abs are hidden under a layer of fat caused by poor diet. A workout tip that I would recommend for my celebrity clients looking to lose weight is cut the sugar in their diet.
NB: Are there any foods you tell your clients to avoid while they’re participating in your training program?
NO: Foods that I tell my clients to absolutely avoid while they are participating in my training program are foods that contain processed sugars. Processed foods are usually extremely high in empty calories. When consumed, studies have shown that foods that contain processed sugars cause a spike in insulin levels, thereby causing the body to store fat. The fat is usually stored in abdominal region, hamstrings (the back of the legs) and/or triceps (the back of the arms).
NB: What do you believe is the most important thing people need to change within their lifestyle in order to lose weight?
NO: The most important thing that needs to change in order to lose weight is diet.
