Fitness Celebrity Ryan Reynolds' Trainer Shares The Secret To Losing Weight

It doesn't involve dieting or exercise, either. - by Gavin Evans

Getty Images

If you’re a longtime Men's Health reader, you know the importance of catching some much-needed Z’s every night. But, just in case you haven’t been convinced by the past literature, the Hollywood trainer for stars like Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively talked to the Daily Mail to stress the importance of getting your ass to bed at a reasonable hour.

Don Saladino, the trainer, told the Mail that he tells all his clients to get at least seven hours of sleep every night. If that’s just something you need some convincing to do (who wants to sleep their life away, after all?), Saladino explained why you should consider it.

“Sleep is how we repair our hormones so that we're functioning optimally during our workouts,” he said. “You burn calories at rest and when you get proper sleep, your energy levels are better. So you're more active during the day. I make sure I'm in bed by 9 p.m. every night.”

He says that one client who began getting an extra hour-and-a-half of sleep every day dropped 10 pounds without making any other alterations to their routine. In fact, he says that sleep is the first thing he speaks to every client about, before then delving into stress, nutrition and (finally) actual exercise.

In case you wish to attain a Reynolds or Lively body, and understand that sleep alone won’t do the trick, Saladino also had pretty simple dietary suggestions for those of you aspiring to look like an A-lister.

“I suggest avoiding white sugar, so no added sugars, avoid white flour, white bread,” he advised. “I prefer people not to have wheat but, if it's not realistic, wheat is kept in. Same thing with dairy, I prefer people not to be on dairy. But if someone says they like having Greek yogurt, I let them keep that in there.”

He also said that when he talks about working out, he stresses loaded carries and sledding, saying that those are two moves he uses with his movie star customers.

“Ryan Reynolds, for example, he weight trains and resistance trains, you never see that guy on the treadmill,” he said.

Finally, he gives hope to the accountants, teachers, college students, and the rest of us out there who wish to look like Hollywood stars. “Many of these celebrities don’t have personal chefs or personal trainers,” he said. “If you get enough sleep, eliminate stress, follow a few simple moves and eat healthy, you can get a celebrity body, too.”

Sounds like as good a reason as any to get some extra shuteye (besides, you know, not passing out at school or work).

Best of luck.

This article originally appeared on Menshealth.com.