With the emergence of online fitness trainers, these top personal trainers for celebrities in the U.S. have become some of the most influential people on the web, and for good reason.
Like our top nutritionists, these fitness gurus have gained notoriety for their unique approach to physical fitness. Many programs focus on movement, stretching, and strength training, as well as proper nutrition and lifestyle changes.
One thing is for sure, celebrities have a plethora of resources at their fingertips so if they’re vouching for someone in the fitness arena, you know their skillset has been vetted. A-listers are a tough audience so we know these top personal trainers for celebrities are the real deal.
There are a couple of takeaways here. Just because these workout kings and queens may be crazy expensive or hard to book a private session, they have plenty of online fitness training for us average folks.
Also, whoever your trainer may be, they are most likely just as good as any of these top personal trainers for celebrities. If you’re happy with the results you see, be sure to high-five your trainer for helping you stay the course. Or maybe buy them one of these nice gift baskets.
Melissa Alcantara – Kim Kardashian, The Rock
Melissa started her journey as a fitness trainer by overcoming her own health and fitness challenges. Weighing in at 200 pounds, Melissa wanted to make a change so she started working out with a personal trainer.
Melissa decided to pursue a career as a trainer, launching her own online fitness program called “Melissa Alcantara Fitness”. It quickly became one of the most successful online fitness programs, with thousands of people signing up every month. Now one of the most sought-after trainers in the world, Melissa helps celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, and The Rock, all feel the burn.
In addition to her personal training business, Melissa has collaborated with various brands and organizations to create fitness programs that are accessible to everyone. Her goal is to empower people to reach their goals and lead a healthier lifestyle. Melissa is an inspiration to many, showing that anything is possible if you work hard and stay consistent.
Fun fact: Aside from dedicating 3 hours a day to her own workout, she’ll spend 25 minutes making her morning pour-over coffee. Patience is a virtue with this fitness super-star!
Duffy Gaver – Brad Pitt, Tobey Maguire, and Chris Hemsworth
Duffy Gaver is synonymous with Superheroes in the Hollywood realm. This ex-Navy SEAL personal trainer has worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Brad Pitt in Troy, Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man, and Chris Hemsworth in Thor and The Avengers. If you’re a Marvel Superhero, Duffy most likely helped you experience the pain of achieving perfect abs.
Duffy has gained a reputation for helping his clients achieve their fitness goals, and his no-nonsense candor is something that can only be found in someone who has served in the military.
When asked about his approach to fitness and lifestyle, Gaver has a very straightforward answer. According to him, it’s not enough to just buy into the latest trends – whether they’re diets, supplements, or workout plans – in order to succeed. Instead, he encourages people to focus on making lifestyle changes that will help them reach their goals in a sustainable manner.
Being old-school, Duffy doesn’t like promoting fads like special types of shoes or top fitness gadgets like these. He’s no-frills and feels these are deterrents to keep you away from the gym. We’re all masters of excuses when it comes to that.
Fun Fact: In the Marines, he was a sniper on his SEAL team and veteran of Operation Desert Storm, who now also finds time being a Hollywood stuntman when not buffing out a celeb.
Gunner Peterson – Hugh Jackman, Matthew McConaughey, and Sylvester Stallone
Gunnar Peterson is one of the most popular and influential fitness trainers and has been in the business for over two decades. His clientele includes some of the biggest names in Hollywood, sports, and entertainment.
Gunnar Peterson’s training program has become the gold standard for personal fitness training. He is known for his unique approach, which combines functional movements, mobility work, and core-strength exercises. His program is tailored to each individual’s needs, and he emphasizes proper technique and form to achieve maximum results.
Gunnar Peterson does not come cheap – his six-week personal training program costs up to $15,000. But his success speaks for itself – many of his clients have achieved stunning transformations and improved their overall health and wellness thanks to his expertise and guidance.
Aside from being the former Los Angeles Lakers Director of Strength and Endurance, He has worked with athletes from the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, USTA, professional boxing (male AND female) as well as various NCAA sports.
Gunner’s roll-call of A-list athletes and those he has tutored (or tortured) reads like a who’s-who of sporting stars. Among them, is the illustrious trio of Super Bowl MVPs Tom Brady, Mike Tyson, and NBA All-Star Kevin Love. We’ll assume Gunner took Mike off the diet of eating opponent’s ears and opted for something more healthy like broccoli.
Kevin Mejia – The Beibs, Adam Levine, and Taylor Swift
Columbian-born celebrity fitness trainer Kevin Mejia started his career as a maintenance boy at the Gold’s Gym and has since risen to fame after providing fitness services to Hollywood celebrities such as Justin and Hailey Bieber, Adam Levine, Drew Taggart, and Lori Harvey.
Kevin also runs multiple branches of his own gym called Dog Pound and sells merchandise related to it on its official website. Dog Pound started as a result of Kevin’s frustration over the lack of quality gyms in California. Kevin found that most gyms were overcrowded and did not have enough equipment for all their members to use.
So he decided to open his own gym, where he could provide a high-quality service at an affordable price. He now owns and operates Dog Pound locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, and Miami.
Fun Fact: Alongside his career successes, Kevin has recently been applauded for his high-profile union with TikTok luminary Madison Lewis, even though nearly 10 years older than her. Isn’t that the Hollywood way? Regardless. Let’s shut down the rumor mill, the man is spoken for.
Shout-out- Jen Widerstrom
For the last decade, Jen Widerstrom has been one of the most influential and popular fitness trainers in the world without the celebrity hook, carving out her own place in the sun. But still, she’s recognized coast to coast.
From her early days of lifting weights with her father to becoming a Division I hammer thrower at the University of Kansas and later a personal trainer and fitness model in Los Angeles, Widerstrom has made a name for herself in the industry.
But it was her role as a Gladiator on American Gladiators that truly propelled her career, allowing her to connect with an audience that could relate to her as a “regular gal from Chicago”. It was on this show that Jen found her true passion: helping others take responsibility for their own health and well-being.
Her approach to training is all about consistency and progression. She encourages her clients to move dynamically with intention, a process she calls “brain training”. Her own favorite workouts include a mix of interval training, plyometrics, and isometrics.
Jen Widerstrom is currently the trainer for NBC’s weight loss reality show The Biggest Loser. She is also the author of the book Diet Right For Your Personality Type, which was published in 2016 by St. Martin’s Press.
She trains clients three to four days a week in LA, and she also has an online program that keeps her busy during the rest of the week. She makes time for herself too, though, by taking classes or going for a run outside.
“When I’m not training people, I’m creating new workouts or coming up with new exercises,” she said. “I work out in the morning and then again at night because I love it so much.” If you find yourself out of breath just reading that, then her training program might be just what the doctor ordered.
Conclusion
With the rise of social media, celebrity personal trainers have become one of the trendiest and most successful professions to take up. For many people, training with a celebrity can make all the difference in their physical and mental health journey.
Not only do they learn from someone who understands the industry and works hard to get the best out of them, but the added bonus of celebrity status can be motivating.
So, who is the best celebrity personal trainer? It’s hard to say definitively, as each one brings something unique and valuable to the table. However, each of the above-mentioned trainers has established themselves as some of the best in the business and has achieved great success in their respective fields.
