Blake Lively’s Sustainable Fitness Secrets: Trainer Don Saladino Reveals How She Stays Fit Without Dieting
In the demanding world of Hollywood, where pressures to maintain a flawless physique are constant, actress Blake Lively stands out for her refreshingly balanced and sustainable approach to health and fitness. Having recently welcomed her fourth child, Lively’s return to the public eye has once again captivated audiences, showcasing a fit figure that many aspire to achieve. However, contrary to common assumptions of extreme diets or grueling, hours-long gym sessions, her long-time personal trainer, Don Saladino, has unveiled the true philosophy behind her impressive physique. Saladino, renowned for his work with a roster of A-list celebrities including Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Cindy Crawford, emphasizes a holistic strategy focused on building strength, nourishing the body with well-balanced meals, and fostering a healthy mindset, rather than resorting to restrictive or unhealthy practices.
Saladino unequivocally states that his clients, including Blake Lively, are “never doing anything unhealthy.” This commitment to well-being over fleeting trends is a cornerstone of his training philosophy. He highlighted in a recent interview with E! News on May 8, “These women understand the importance of being strong and they understand the importance of getting in enough energy. They don’t starve themselves.” This statement directly challenges the pervasive myth that calorie restriction is the sole path to a fit body. Instead, Saladino champions the concept of muscle development. “If every woman came to me and they said, ‘I want to put on muscle,’ that would probably allow me to get everyone to their goal,” he explained. He elaborated on this often-misunderstood benefit, adding, “That’s what I’ve been doing with thousands of people now, teaching them: ‘Let’s try and put on muscle, you won’t look muscular, but you’ll have that lean, athletic body that you want.'” This insight is crucial for many women who fear becoming “bulky” from strength training, reassuring them that muscle gain is key to a toned and strong physique.
For those inspired by Blake Lively’s enduring fitness, Saladino has made her approach accessible. He designed a comprehensive six-week “Train Like Blake Lively” program, aiming to help individuals achieve their personal fitness aspirations. This program doesn’t promise quick fixes but offers a pathway to sustainable results through mindful exercise and nutrition. The core of the workout regimen centers on strength training complemented by consistent walking. Significantly, the program’s emphasis is not on intense, sweat-drenched sessions solely aimed at burning every last calorie, but rather on fostering a sense of well-being and building functional strength. This shift in focus from mere calorie expenditure to holistic health is a defining characteristic of Saladino’s successful methodology, encouraging a positive relationship with exercise.
According to Don, for the beloved Gossip Girl alum, movement itself is her favorite aspect of the fitness journey. He highlights the practical demands on a busy mother of four, noting, “She’s a great mom, she’s got four kids jumping on her and that’s hard on the body, right?” This perspective underscores that fitness for Blake Lively isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about maintaining the physical resilience needed for her daily life. He elaborated on the functional benefits of her routine: “Coming into this workout and having a series of movements that are going to restore the way she feels and allow her to develop a high level of energy is really important.” This approach ensures that her exercise routine contributes to her overall vitality and ability to manage the rigors of motherhood, making her a relatable figure for many women balancing family responsibilities with personal well-being.
Beyond the physical movements, a positive and realistic attitude is paramount to Don Saladino’s philosophy. He consistently encourages his clients to discern when to push their limits and when to grant themselves necessary breaks. Blake Lively, he notes, excels in this self-awareness. “Blake’s really done a great job in coming into the gym with a great attitude and moving and having fun,” Saladino shared. He also touched upon the universal human experience of fluctuating motivation: “Like any other human being, sometimes you want to be there and sometimes you don’t. I think accepting that makes it very real and that’s something that people like to hear because they understand that someone isn’t always perfect and always nailing it.” This honesty demystifies celebrity fitness, making it clear that even Hollywood stars face the same challenges as anyone else. It promotes self-compassion and realistic expectations, fostering a healthier, more sustainable approach to long-term fitness where consistency triumphs over perfection.
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Understanding that a full-scale workout isn’t always feasible with a busy schedule, Don Saladino has long advocated for the effectiveness of shorter, more consistent exercise sessions. He previously shared with HollywoodLife that even a 20-minute workout can yield significant benefits. “If someone’s having a really difficult time getting into doing exercise, 20 minutes a day-plus [is good],” he told HL EXCLUSIVELY. Specifically, he advises a “combination of resistance training and cardiovascular” exercise. This pragmatic approach removes the “all or nothing” mentality that often deters people from starting or continuing a fitness routine. Even brief, focused efforts can contribute to improved strength, endurance, and overall health, proving that consistency and intensity, not just duration, are key to a successful workout program.
When it comes to nutrition, Don Saladino’s philosophy diverges sharply from conventional diet culture. He explicitly refrains from instructing Blake Lively or any of his clients to adhere to tedious, restrictive diets. In fact, he actively discourages creating a calorie deficit. “Calories are energy,” he stressed, highlighting a fundamental principle often overlooked in the pursuit of weight loss. He explains the counterproductive nature of extreme restriction: “And that’s why you see people who are eating too little calories, they can’t lose weight. Their blood sugar level is low and their energy level is low, so they are not moving as frequently anymore.” This insightful perspective reveals that insufficient caloric intake can hinder the body’s ability to perform, leading to reduced activity and a stalled metabolism, making sustainable fat loss virtually impossible. Saladino’s approach focuses on nourishing the body adequately to support active living.
Instead of strict calorie counting, Don asks his clients to concentrate on their TDEE, or Total Daily Energy Expenditure. This metric represents the total number of calories the body burns in a 24-hour period, accounting for both resting metabolic rate and physical activity. “This means there’s a certain amount of calories that they burn in a day when they’re sitting and then there’s a certain amount of calories they burn in a day when they’re moving,” Don explained during his chat with E!. “And when you bring those numbers together you have your TDEE. How many calories do you need to consume to break even?” His ultimate goal is to help individuals meet their TDEE requirements through “high-quality food.” This emphasizes the importance of nutrient density and satiety, ensuring the body receives adequate fuel for optimal function without unnecessary hunger or cravings. It’s about providing the body with the right kind of energy to support an active lifestyle and maintain metabolic health, rather than simply cutting calories.
To summarize Don and Blake Lively’s empowering fitness program: prioritize consistent movement and fuel your body effectively with nourishing foods. This seemingly simple advice underpins a deeply effective and sustainable health strategy. In addition to tailored workouts, Saladino offers several foundational lifestyle recommendations that complement the active and well-fed approach. He consistently advises walking 10,000 steps a day, a straightforward yet powerful way to boost daily activity and cardiovascular health. Hydration is another critical component, with a strong emphasis on drinking more water throughout the day. Conversely, he suggests cutting back on alcohol, which can interfere with sleep, recovery, and overall metabolic function. Finally, Saladino stresses the often-underestimated importance of getting ample rest. Adequate sleep is vital for muscle repair, hormonal balance, and maintaining high energy levels, ensuring the body can recover and perform optimally. These integrated habits form the backbone of a truly healthy and vibrant lifestyle, going beyond just diet and exercise to encompass total well-being.
If you’re still questioning the efficacy of Don Saladino’s holistic methodology, Blake Lively’s personal testimony offers compelling proof. Reflecting on her post-pregnancy journey, she candidly shared on his website, “Turns out you can’t lose the 61 pounds you gained during pregnancy by scrolling through Instagram & wondering why you don’t look like all the bikini models.” This honest admission resonates with many, highlighting the unrealistic comparisons often found on social media. She then credited Saladino for her transformation, stating, “Thanks, Don Saladino, for kicking my A double S into shape. Feeling very proud.” Her success underscores the effectiveness of a program that prioritizes strength, health, and a realistic mindset over fleeting fads, ultimately leading to genuine, lasting results and a profound sense of accomplishment.