Michelle Lovitt

If your goal this month is to lose body fat invest in a Heart rate monitor, my choice is the Polar F6.

Using your heart at the correct intensity in the activity that you are participating in is the essence to sparing muscle and losing body fat. Training between 60-80% of your maximum rate (220-age=maximum heart rate) is key. Remember every 3500 calorie burned in this zone equals 1 pound of body fat lost.

If primary goal this month is body fat loss be sure to abstain from eating any carbohydrates 60 minutes prior to cardiovascular exercise.

If a carbohydrate is consumed your body releases insulin. Once insulin is released into your system the enzyme, lipase, is suppressed and body fat is not used to fuel the activity. Glycogen, which is essentially a form of stored carbohydrate in your muscles and liver, takes over so that you are sparing body fat while using your (sugar) glycogen stores. So put down that bagel and opt for that hard boiled egg instead.

"I love training with michelle because she has so much energy and enthusiasm and her knowledge of the body is incredible..." - Courteney Cox

A graduate of Fresno State University, Michelle earned a BS in Sports Nutrition and a Master's in Exercise Physiology before becoming a strength and conditioning coach at the Fresno State. Eventually, she designed and implemented both nutrition and exercise programs for varsity athletics at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California.

Michelle’s signature training methods give her clients educational tools that help them understand their bodies, lose weight, get stronger, stay motivated and enjoy a better quality of life. She was named 2008 Ambassador for Lululemon athletic wear and is one of Allure Magazine’s (Jan. 2008) top trainers in the United States.

Michelle has appeared on the”x”show (the FX network), Body by Jake, Access Hollywood and E! Additionally, she has appeared in and written for such publications as People, Allure, Self, Lucky, Health and Volleyball Magazine. The author of Exercise For Your Muscle Type: the Smart Way to Get Fit, currently runs, Lovitfitness, a Los Angeles based training company. She has a loyal following and a reputation for getting her clients in remarkable shape.

Fitness expert Michelle Lovitt has trained Hollywood celebrities such as Courteney Cox, Julianne Moore, Julia Luis-Dreyfus, Amber Valletta, Eve Jeffers, David Arquette, Jason Statham, Yvonne Strahovski, David Duchovny,Gabriel Aubry, Sean "Puffy" Combs, and Keifer Sutherland, in addition to professional and Olympic athletes.

Q & A
Q: Are raisins really a good snack? –Karen; Austin, TX
A: Raisins are a great source of iron. However, if eaten alone they can severely effect your blood sugar levels. A better idea is to eat raisins with a protein such as nuts or string cheese.