{"id":59683,"date":"2017-06-22T07:15:51","date_gmt":"2017-06-22T11:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=59683"},"modified":"2021-05-19T07:12:28","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T11:12:28","slug":"gunnar-peterson-gym-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/gunnar-peterson-gym-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Gym Tips from Gunnar Peterson to Maximize Your Total-Body Workout"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Twenty20<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Trainer Gunnar Peterson knows a lot about A-list workouts<\/a>. With clients like Jennifer Lopez, Sylvester Stallone and the Kardashians (to name a few), he’s helped sculpt some of Hollywood\u2019s most coveted physiques.<\/p>\n

Beyond the red carpet, though, Peterson has more than 20 years of experience working in all areas of fitness. Ask him a question about functional training<\/a> and exercise techniques and he can rattle off a slew of valuable gym tips that’ll make your workout more efficient and effective. So that’s exactly what we did.<\/p>\n

We talked shop with Peterson at an event for his partnership with Now Foods<\/a> and their #LiveHealthyNOW<\/a> initiative. Here are just a few of his secrets for how to better your workout, so you get better results<\/a>.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>7 Easy Ways to Get Fit in Half the Time<\/a><\/p>\n

7 Gym Tips from Celeb Trainer Gunnar Peterson<\/h2>\n

1. Don\u2019t skip the warm-up. (Seriously.)<\/h3>\n

For almost every workout Peterson leads, he suggests starting with five to 15 minutes of light cardio exercise<\/a>. \u201cThe benefits are that you elevate the temperature of the body and lubricate the joints, so you are less likely to get injured,\u201d he says. \u201cIt also gives your mind a chance to lock into your workout.\u201d Start strong; finish even stronger.<\/p>\n

2. Go heavy \u2014 because you can.<\/h3>\n

You\u2019ve heard it before, but we\u2019ll say it again: Don\u2019t be scared of heavy weights<\/a>. Once you\u2019ve mastered a movement, like a bodyweight squat<\/a> or reverse lunge<\/a>, Peterson says more resistance is the key to more gains. \u201cYour body needs an external load \u2014 women especially for bone density, lean tissue and maintenance,\u201d he says. \u201cYou need that so your body composition is working in your favor.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>Ladies, Here\u2019s Why You Should Lift Heavy Weights<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Better your bicep curl.<\/h3>\n

When using dumbbells for a bicep curl, make sure to grip them tight. Don\u2019t get lazy and let them flop to a diagonal. You want to hold them in one straight line, palms fully facing you, Peterson says, as if you were holding a barbell. This better targets the bicep. When you tilt the weights forward or on a diagonal, it can take away some of the muscle-building<\/a> benefits of the exercise.<\/p>\n

4. Correct your kettlebell form.<\/h3>\n

When you\u2019re doing a kettlebell swing<\/a>, keep your chest up and shoulders rolled down and back. \u201cA lot of times people pitch way forward so their body comes to almost a 90-degree fold,\u201d Peterson says. \u201cYou want to keep your chest up and think defensive stance in a sport.\u201d This will protect your back and better work your glutes<\/a>, helping you magnify the payoffs of the explosive exercise<\/a> \u2014 without aches or injuries.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>50 Butt Exercises to Sculpt Stronger Glutes<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Drop it low with ropes.<\/h3>\n

Crushing calories with battle ropes<\/a>? In a rope slam (when both hands bring the rope up and down), the biggest mistake Peterson sees is leaning forward \u2014 instead of getting low. \u201cYou want to engage your glutes; you want them to fire in that eccentric action<\/a>,\u201d he says. Think deep squat, dropping your hips and butt down and back.<\/p>\n

6. Power your push-up.<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re a little unsteady in your push-up<\/a> or if you\u2019re adding a T raise to it, Peterson suggests positioning your feet wider than your hips or even a mat. This broadens your base of support so you have better balance and can execute the movement efficiently. (Plus, because it\u2019ll help you keep your hips stable, it\u2019ll fire up your core even more.) If you can\u2019t get your chest all the way to the ground, don\u2019t fret. Just go as low as you can, then work your way up to the full range of motion<\/a>.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>8 Push-Up Variations for Every Fitness Level<\/a><\/p>\n

7. Turn on your core.<\/h3>\n

Crunches<\/a>, bicycles, ab twists \u2014 they all work your core muscles, as long as you\u2019re using correct form. While doing all of these moves, Peterson suggests keeping your chin up high enough that you\u2019d be able to put a baseball under it. This will stop you from pulling on your neck. Also, take a brief pause in the contracted (or crunched) position and inhale and exhale steadily as you go. Consider your core, carved.<\/p>\n

For a glimpse at what Peterson\u2019s full sweat sessions look like, check out his 30-minute routine in the video below, created in partnership with Now Foods<\/a>. All it takes is five moves for a total-body workout.<\/p>\n