Meet Instagram's Favorite Trainer: In My Gym Bag With Kayla Itsines

Nope, the seemingly always-trending hashtag #BBG isn’t another piece of millennial slang. It’s not the new #YOLO, #FOMO, or #SMH. The tag, which has literally millions of posts across social media, stands for “Bikini Body Guide,” the exercise and lifestyle routine prescribed by a 24-year old Aussie who is completely reshaping the fitness industry and the way we work out.

Kayla Itsines (pronounced “It’s-seen-ess,” just in case you weren’t sure) is a certified fitness trainer from Adelaide, Australia who had an “a-ha!” moment back in 2008 when, as a newly certified personal trainer, she realized that the workouts she was seeing taught to women didn’t actually address the body parts they were most focused on shaping up. Determined not just to help women tone their “trouble spots” but help them feel great about themselves 24/7, Kayla began to devise a 12-week guide filled with the kinds of workouts you’d need to change your life around in a lasting way. She’s not about fads and she’s not about quick fixes. She’s about hard work, determination – and a positive attitude all the while.

What we love about Kayla most isn’t her kick-ass workouts or enviable abs (both of which we do love, to be sure). What makes Kayla special is her encouraging personality and her dedication her brand not being all about her. She’s a passionate champion of other women, celebrating the successes and shifts of her 3.6 million followers as well as giving motivational words of wisdom and positivity when they need it most. The coolest thing is that you don’t need a gym, a workout buddy, or even YouTube to follow Kayla’s program. She’s reshaping the fitness scene by putting everything entirely in your hands. Because of this, when her fans meet up IRL to sweat it out (like they just did in her World Bootcamp Tour, where Kayla herself met and trained girls in Amsterdam, London and NYC), they’ve already have been “working out with Kayla” together for months on end. She’s creating a community based on camaraderie, trust, and feel-good change, which is what we think fitness should always be about first and foremost.

From her killer workout playlist to her refreshing words on why she first fell in love with fitness, meet Instagram’s favorite personal trainer:

Name:

Kayla Itsines.

Favorite workout:

Currently loving week 6 arms and abs workout in my Bikini Body Training Guide 1.0.

Moment I fell in love with fitness:

When my body could not get enough of the amazing feeling I had from the positive energy it provided me. When I began to develop a habit of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle, my body thrived, and still does, off of how it makes me feel healthy, happy and confident on a day-to-day basis.

Favorite workout shoes:

Asics! Quality and support in not only shoes, but any of the clothing I wear whilst working out is vital to me. Supportive, appropriate footwear is so important when you’re exercising, so I always aim to workout in a shoe that provides my feet with adequate support and cushioning for maximum performance.

Best fitness wear staples:

Anything that’s comfortable and of high quality. I am loving the Sporteluxe look right now, and if you follow me on Instagram you’ll also know that I love anything white!

I stay inspired by...

My incredible BBG girls! Their hard work, dedication and amazing transformations keep me inspired to continue to strive to be the best version of myself every single day.

Favorite hair accessories:

Bobby pins! I think every girl would agree with me when I say, no matter how many bobby pins I purchase, I can never find any when I’m on my way to the gym!

Must-have gadgets:

My Polar FT60 watch! It’s a great way for me to track the intensity of my workouts to make sure I’m working out at the correct intensity for my body. It’s also a fantastic tool for me to compare my own personal progress – this is super motivating!

On my workout playlist...

Lean On (feat. MO & DJ Snake), Major Lazer MO DJ Snake; Do It Now, Mashd N Kutcher; What’s Up Suckaz, TJR; Freaks, Radio Edit, Timmy Trumpet Savage; Levels, Avicii; Loco, Joel Fletcher Seany B; Runaway (U & I), Galantis

 Most unexpected item in my gym bag:

Room spray!  

Favorite way to hydrate:

H20! For me, water is a go-to throughout the day to ensure I’m staying hydrated. Keeping on top of my water intake is vital to replenish any lost fluids after one of my 28-minute, high-intensity workouts.

Favorite post-workout fuel:

I may have a piece of fruit as a snack! However, I love having a nutritious fueling meal after my workout. If it’s around lunch time, a wholemeal chicken wrap with cucumber, lettuce, avocado, tomato and homemade tzatziki is a personal favorite of mine. I aim to incorporate a combination of foods from all five food groups in most meals.

Fave quickie workout:

One of my 28-minute full body workouts from my Bikini Body Training Guide! They’re fantastic as they use a combination of exercises that aim to target all areas of my body – which really makes my workout worth it! It’s the best feeling to be sore all over a day after a workout!

Personal fitness Tip:

Choose intensity over duration! The workouts in my Bikini Body Training Guide are designed to get the most out of your workout in a limited amount of time.