10 Fitness Tips From MackFit, the Celeb Trainer Behind Ariel Winter, Hannah Stocking, Jordyn Woods, and More

1. Write Your Goals Down.

The fitness guru recommends actually jotting down your short term and long term goals. However, try to dig deeper than the general “lose weight” mantra. He explained that you should think through what you want “not just physically, but mentally [and] emotionally, as well. Because, sometimes, it’s not just a physical change.”

2. Don’t Obsess About Your Weight.

“It’s not always about the number on the scale,” Mack admitted. He said some clients will lose two or three pounds but see a big change in their physique. Instead, try to focus on that “overall” feeling.

3. Start In The Kitchen.

Don’t let what you eat undo hard work in the gym. “I don’t like using the word ‘diet.’ It’s just a healthy lifestyle, healthy eating,” he said. “I’m a trainer and, of course, I’m into the cardio, the weight lifting [and] the training, but it has to start in the kitchen. It has to start with your lifestyle change.”

4. Don’t Starve Yourself.

Just because you’re eating cleaner doesn’t mean you should be walking around hungry all the time. “I don’t want any of my clients, I don’t want anyone, period, starving themselves or going on these super hard diets that aren’t going to last,” the California-based guru advised. He suggests meal prepping twice a week to set yourself up for success.

5. Try Fasted Cardio.

Right now, Mack is loving fasted cardio (and so are his clients who dropped weight as a result). He has his clients do 10 to 15 minutes on the treadmill, elliptical, or another fast-paced cardio method first thing in the morning, before kicking off their day. “Early enough in the morning because you have to do it on an empty stomach. And then, I normally have them go eat breakfast after that,” he recommended.

P.S.: You should consult with a trainer or medical professional before starting any sort of new regime.

6. Confuse The Body.

The gym is like a cocktail — mix it up! “Whenever you’re doing just the treadmill, you lose weight for a little bit but then you’ll stop. You’ll plateau out. I try to switch it up and have my clients do Stairmaster, treadmill, elliptical, [or] jump rope,” he revealed. “So every other day they’re switching up their cardio and that keeps the body confused … That keeps you leaning out.”

7. Boost Your Calorie Burn By Upping Your Intensity.

Mack keeps his clients working hard and always moving. “We’re always throwing in our plyometric and calisthenics workouts, high-intensity workouts. I have them do high-knees in-between squats. I have them doing jump squats. I have them doing mountain climbers in-between lunges,” the trainer dished. “So they’re always going back and forth from low-intensity to high-intensity.” Why put yourself through the pain? The fitness pro says it will help you tone up.

8. You Don’t Need A Ton Of Equipment.

It’s all about setting his clients up for success. “You can do squats anywhere. You can do mountain climbers anywhere. I try to train my clients to the best of my ability [so] that they can do it anywhere,” Mack said. No excuses, right?

9. Maximize Your Time.

Although most of Mack’s clients train for 45 minutes to an hour per session, he suggests making the most of any time you have. If you only have 25 or 30 minutes, he suggests keeping the intensity high with less breaks.

10. It’s OK To Give Yourself A Cheat Day.

Mack describes most of his client’s diets as “well rounded.” He adds that they eat “strictly clean” during the week but can indulge a little more on weekends. Even celebs want to go out for pizza or tacos once in a while. For weight loss, he’ll have them eat things like fish or chicken but cut out red meat. He also has them try carb cycling, where they eat a lower or higher amount of carbohydrates depending on the day.

Train Like A Celeb!

Keep an eye out for the MackFit app launching soon.