SNI: What is the most idiotic thing you’ve ever heard from a client or trainer regarding personal training?
Gina Lombardi: Where do I begin…there are so many gems. One that particularly sticks out is (and sorry guys, it’s always you) “I don’t need to train my legs (with weights) they get enough exercise during the day just walking around.” We need to train our entire body and that means all the major muscle groups. Period. About 20 years ago a study proved (ref?) that training the legs (quads, hams, calves) and glutes alone actually created growth in the upper body. But this did not work in reverse. Training only the upper body did not show any significant lower extremity muscle growth or strength gains.
Now right up there high on the moron scale is the female equivalent of that statement which is…you guessed it…”I don’t want to weight train because I don’t want to bulk up”. Do I really need to explain this again? Unless you’re a freak of nature, the odds are NOT in your hormonal favor on this one.
SNI: What is the most common dietary mistake your clients make (have made) in their quest to attain the picture perfect body?
Gina Lombardi: Hands down, the winner in this category is starvation. Especially among the Hollywood crowd. For some reason this age old myth for weight loss keeps rearing its ugly head. Countless actresses (and yes it’s always the women, never the men. I guess men don’t have a problem eating) have come to me wondering why they have no energy, can’t get through a decent workout without petering out and why they still can’t really lose weight or plateau shortly after an initial weight loss. My answer is always the same….why don’t you try EATING? Once their blank faces come back to life, I get them on a 3 to 5 meal a day plan that gives them consistency, the right amount of calories and just enough balanced nutrition to sustain good energy throughout the day. With the caloric restriction and the exercise plan in place, great results are inevitable.
SNI: What are your top 10 super foods that you think we should all eat?
Gina Lombardi: What? Only 10? Fish or fish oils, green tea (matcha to be exact), Berries (all of them), non-denatured whey (as in my new superfood product called Hawaiimana – go to www.coachlombardi.com), vegetables -especially green ones like broccoli, low-glycemic fruits, eggs, nuts, quinoa, Sweet potatoes. Amen.
SNI: If your client’s goal is to create the postcard perfect perky butt, what exercises would you recommend?
Gina Lombardi: Surgery. JUST KIDDING!!! I use a lot of compound exercises to work the glutes because it’s just not about the glutes. It’s about developing the muscles that live in the same neighborhood like the hamstrings, etc. Here are a few of my fives…. Kettlebell Walking Lunges w/ an under-the-leg pass 17 reps each leg, immediately followed by 17 reps of KB Deadlifts. Hip lift Progression totaling 12 sets of 8 reps followed by Split Jumps 17 reps. Then repeat all of the above up to 3-4 times.
SNI: Bonus question: If you could be a superhero, which superhero would it be and why?
Gina Lombardi: That’s an easy one! If you know me, you know I am a HUGE Hugh Jackman, eh em, I mean Wolverine fan. He has the ability to heal his own body within seconds every time it’s traumatized or injured. Who wouldn’t want that? For the record, I think Dr Kalman really just liked Batman’s tights.
THANKS!
Gina Lombardi, NSCA-CPT 60,000 hours of one-on-one personal coaching and fifteen years of extensive media experience has made Gina Lombardi one of the most sought after Fitness Experts around the globe.
Gina is HOST of FIT NATION on the Discovery Channel’s FitTV, their only investigative reporting show and AUTHOR of the newly released book, DEADLINE FITNESS, which reveals her signature fitness and diet programs used with celebrity clients when time is of the essence. Contributing Editor for MSNBC.COM which features her celebrity fitness tips on their FIT LIST as well as HEALTH Magazine. Her TELEVISION SPOKESPERSON credits include HEALTH Magazine & SHAPE Magazine. Gina is a MEDIA Spokesperson for SCHICK, NASONEX, HawaiiMana ManaWhey SuperFood, Dunkin Brand’s Yogurt Smoothie, Purple, FUZE Beverage, SKINS athletic clothing line, THE Healthy Pantry… as well as THE fitness expert forWEIGHT WATCHERS Start Getting Healthy DVD series. Gina also Co-Hosts the popular Weekend Workout Radio Show with Dr. Jose Antonio; http://www.ginalombardi.com/Biography.htm
