We asked Gregg for a sneak peek into the hot fitness trend of 2008. While he’s always looking for new techniques to pass on to his trainers (after first passing the test of his own training, of course), Gregg says that when it comes to getting into shape, taking your time and being faithful to the basics will outperform the new “It” exercise every time. “Most new ‘hot things’ are just repeats with a cool name,” he says. “For as complex as one’s body is, it still responds to basic training. The key is to know that it is a lifelong process to change a body, so stick to what works, give it time, and don’t expect to wake up the next morning and hit the runway!”

A Formula 1 racecar without the right fuel might as well be up on blocks. The same holds true for the human body, and Gregg says buying into the quick-fix fad-diet culture is the biggest misconception in fitness today. “They should all be ashamed,” he says. “It is the wrong message because their programs are not designed for individual. You will never get long-lasting results from something you try in Shape or Cosmopolitan magazine. Until someone educates the consumer from a physiological perspective first, the consumer will never reach his ultimate goal. You must know first what you can eat for who you are, and until you know that, throw all other information out the window. It will not work.”

A balance of non-impact cardiovascular work and weight lifting is the best way to build a better body, and Gregg points to spinning — high-energy stationary-bicycle group training — as the most effective calorie burner that most people know nothing about. “In 40 minutes, you could burn up to 800 calories while building lean muscle,” he says. “Look around your gym and check out the cardio-maniacs living for hours on the treadmills. They never change.”

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Cardio or weights? Most novices looking to lose some pounds shun the heavy lifting for a long, slow jog, figuring getting bigger would be counterproductive to their goal. But pro trainers like Gregg know that building lean muscle is akin to supercharging your body’s engine: it boosts your metabolism and, in turn, the amount of fat you’re burning, both during your workout and long after you’re done. “With weights, of any size, your metabolic rate has a greater opportunity to stay higher longer, building lean muscle, and thus burning more fat than [with] cardio,” Gregg says. “Furthermore, you will never have a shapely body with just aerobics. It actually burns muscle, making you a ‘fat skinny’ person. What all the cardio junkies, especially the runners, need to know is that not only are you burning muscle, but you are overtaxing the major organs. It’s something no one will talk about.”

It’s the start of a new year: time for toasts, midnight smooches, and the dreaded resolution to get back in shape. Making a resolution isn’t the problem, though, as we all know — it’s sticking to a new workout routine long enough for the results to show. Gregg says the best way to turn your resolution into reality is to treat it like business. “I suggest making it part of your work-week schedule,” he says. “Put the gym time down in your calendar. That makes you more accountable to keeping your training on track when you have to look at it daily.”