Anna Paquin’s Longtime Trainer Talks Wedding Fitness

The star of True Blood and other celebrities count on Clay Burwell’s dedication to change their lives through fitness. Here’s his advice for brides who are trying to lose weight for the big day.

We’re guessing engaged True Blood star Anna Paquin will be a true Bombshell Bride when she walks down the aisle on her wedding day. Sure she’s blessed with good genes, but she works hard for that fantastic figure, says celebrity trainer and co-owner of NYC gym High Performance, Clay Burwell, who has also guided stars like Matt Damon and elite athletes to their physical best. Bombshell Bride checked in with Burwell for workout tips and more.

Bombshell Bride: According to research more than 70 percent of brides-to-be are trying to lose weight. Articles like the recent one in Time—”Why Exercise Won’t Make You Thin”—may lead them to think they don’t need to exercise as part of their bridal weight loss effort. Should a wedding diet include exercise?

Clay Burwell: When I read that article I had to stop from laughing out loud, it was absurd. Fact:  Having a higher lean body mass-to-fat ratio enables one to eat more freely. The additional muscle mass consumes calories, even when you sleep. Fact: Exercise elevates your metabolism. What you do in between is on you. Yes, working out makes you hungry but it also keeps you focused on the goal of weight loss and improved health. You cannot achieve any real success healthwise without working out and especially without strength training. But success in diet and exercise is not for the meek. It does require discipline.
We have all known that it is diet and exercise that works. Nothing else.

Bombshell Bride: Assuming someone is on a healthy weight loss diet, what do you recommend in terms of exercise, and what kind? For example, how many hours of cardio versus strength training?

Clay Burwell: It’s not my nature to make a cookie-cutter answer for this one. It is entirely up to the individual and what their goals are, how old they are, their injury history and how hard they can be pushed. Most people who are just getting into working out need to do less rather than more. Their bodies need to adjust to the new demands. Usually that calls for two or three workouts the first three to four weeks.

I always make each workout progressively harder and more challenging than the last. Identify the areas you need the most work on and get to it.

An example of this kind of workout might be:

• 10-minutes warmup: active stretching/movement prep
• Calisthenics, five sets of:
  • 10 squats
  • 10 pushups
  • 10 forward rows or seated cable rows
  • 10 pelvic bridges
• 20 minute slow jog
• 10 to 15 minutes static stretches

Bombshell Bride: Do you recommend certain kinds of exercises over others?

Clay Burwell: The absolute best form of exercise is the one you enjoy the most! Find an activity that kicks your butt while you don’t even notice. For me that has always been martial arts like Jiujitsu and Boxing. Others love spin class or step class. Whatever it is you need to have fun first and foremost then just stick to it, and eat right. You may need to supplement with things like strength training or yoga but I suggest you make the primary form of exercise you do one that is fun and rewarding. The rest is gravy.