Anna Kaiser Workout and Diet

Fitness Professional
Born: 1980

Canadian-born Anna Kaiser attended UC Irvine and had the intention of pursuing a career in dance. She appeared in Carnegie Hall in 2007 and as a lead dancer in the 2007 Disney film Enchanted. In 2013, Kaiser founded the AKT InMotion fitness studio in New York City, and the expanded to Los Angeles. In 2018, she partnered with Xponential Fitness to franchise AKT. Kaiser has trained celebrities including Kelly Ripa, Shakira, Sarah Jessica Parker and Hilary Duff. Her online streaming program called AKT on Demand was picked for best online workout in 2016 and Kaiser was named as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Health & Fitness by Greatist. She has a clothing line at Target, regularly writes articles for women’s magazines and appears on TV shows including Live With Kelly and Ryan. Kaiser married plastic surgeon Dr. Carlos Wesly in 2015 and they have 2 children. She has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Kaiser is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 125 lbs.

Known For:

Anna Kaiser’s Diet

Summary

Kaiser takes her diet very seriously. She eats superfoods all day long and makes a point of drinking at least 3 liters of alkaline water each day. Her morning starts with water, followed by supplements, and then a nutrient-packed smoothie made with greens, maca, bee pollen and other superfoods. While she says she enjoys cooking, she doesn’t often find the time, and so she is grateful to be able to take advantage of all that New York City has to offer in the way of fresh, wholesome food. She takes a number of supplements, including probiotics, magnesium, calcium, folate and a multivitamin.

Estimated Macros

  • Low Carbs 20% 20%
  • Medium Fat  40% 40%
  • Medium-High Protein 60% 60%

Diet Details

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Power Up

Kaiser admits that she is not a morning person and may be prone to hitting the snooze button more than once. To get herself started, she drinks some alkaline water, then has her supplements along with a superfood-packed smoothie, including ingredients like chia, maca, almond butter, and greens powder.

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Freshen Up

As far as solid food in the AM goes, Kaiser likes Ezekiel bread with avocado, fresh tomato, coconut oil, and Himalayan sea salt.

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Coffee or Tea

Depending on her mood, Kaiser might have coffee or yerba mate tea with a touch of mint and honey as an accompaniment to her morning meal.

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Earn That Treat

Kaiser says that if she and hubs have worked out hard that day, they’ll treat themselves to a glass of wine or scotch whiskey with their evening meal. She’s not big on sweets, but will enjoy a piece of 70% dark chocolate now and again.

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Smart Snacking

A typical snack for Kaiser is 2 hard-boiled eggs and some fresh radishes, a roasted sweet potato, tamari almonds, or whey protein blended into coconut water.

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Hydration Matters

Kaiser makes it her goal to drink 3 liters of alkaline water each day, and says staying hydrated is one of her toughest challenges when she gets busy.

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Eat the Rainbow

Kaiser says she always strives to get as many colors, meaning nutrient-rich foods, onto her plate as possible. One of her favorite meals is salmon and cauliflower rice with fresh tomato sauce, or paleo vegan chili.

What to Eat

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Alkaline Water

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Eggs

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Plant Protein

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Salmon

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Cauliflower Rice

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Salad

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Avocado

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Maca

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Chia

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Goji

R

Bee Pollen

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Spinach

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Kale

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Banana

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Almond Milk

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Almond Butter

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Berries

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Ezekiel Bread

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Coconut Oil

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Tomatoes

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Sweet Potatoes

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Almonds

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Himalayan Sea Salt

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Coffee

R

Yerba Mate Tea

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Herbs

R

Spices

R

Honey

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Dark Chocolate (Treat)

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Wine (in moderation)

What to Avoid

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Empty-Calorie Foods

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Processed Foods

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Refined Sugar

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Junk Food

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Fast Food

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Chemical Ingredients

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Artificial Additives

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Kaiser on Her Health Goals

‘I am always striving to stay centered and find balance in my day, my fitness, my food, and my energy.’

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Kaiser on Her Diet

‘By eating all throughout the day — really healthy, clean food — your body will be receiving a constant stream of nutrients.’

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Kaiser on Protein

‘I will make a ton of meat and fish and poultry on Sunday, and then again on Wednesday. It’s not always easy to get protein if you don’t prepare in advance.’

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Kaiser on Drinking Enough Water

‘Staying hydrated while running around the city is a constant struggle, but getting my 3 liters in every day helps me keep on track.’

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Kaiser on Home-Cooking

My husband and I love to cook, but rarely get a chance to because our schedules are so busy.’

Anna Kaiser’s Workout Routine

Weekly Routine

Slow Burn

Although people sometimes refer to Kaiser as an ‘instant hit,’ she says her AKT Studios were actually the result of 20 years’ worth of work.

Patience Is a Virtue

Kaiser tells clients not to expect drastic results for at least 3 months after starting a new routine.

Create a Habit

Kaiser recommends developing a routine as the best way to make exercise happen in your busy day.

No Pressure

Kaiser says that while it’s important to schedule exercise into your week, you should take it easy on yourself if you don’t always make it.

Daily Dose

Kaiser works out first thing most days, but if you can only make it 3 times a week, she says that’s still good. What matters is that you create a routine and do your best to stick to it.

Have Fun

Kaiser says it’s really important to keep fitness fun so you stay motivated to continue, especially with so many other claims on your time.

Remove the Guesswork

Kaiser’s AKT program contains every component of fitness: cardio, strength, and flexibility so busy people don’t have try to figure it out for themselves.

Exercise Style

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An Anna Kaiser Full Body Routine

Step kick step lunge: 15 reps/side
Standing with arms at side, step forward with left foot and kick with right. Step back with right foot and lunge back with left, twisting torso to right.

Isolated glute/adductor pulse: 30-40 reps/side
Standing, stabilize with barre, table, etc. Lift right leg parallel out to side, 6-12” off floor. Try to balance while releasing barre. Flex foot and pulse it up and down.

Abs: 15 reps/side x 2 sets
Start in 2nd position (wide squat), knees over toes, hands behind head. Engaging glutes, open inner thighs to engage abductors. Holding squat, bring same side elbow to knee. Return to starting position.

Leg/booty burnout: 15 reps x 2 sets
Begin in 2nd position (wide squat), knees over toes, hands behind head. Engage glutes and open inner thighs 1 inch to engage abductors.

Pulsing cat: 30 reps
On all fours, round back up toward ceiling, pulling belly in. Quickly pulse belly button to spine, keeping back rounded.

Moving half-plank pushup: 15 reps
Begin in half-plank position, bend elbows into pushup, then push back into child’s pose. Return to starting position.

The Sphinx: 30 reps
Lie face down, forearms on ground in front of you. Press hands into floor, straightening arms.

Thera-band burn & chest opener: 20 reps/side x 2 sets
Hold thera-band out between both hands straight in front of you. Keeping left arm steady, open right to side as you twist to right. Return to starting position.

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Kaiser on Fitness

‘I have always been involved in fitness since 1996 as a complement to my work as a dancer.’

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Kaiser on Early Morning Exercise

‘I love getting my sweat on first thing in the morning. It gets me focused, energized and ready to take on the day.’

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Kaiser on How She aha Moment Pivoting From Dance to Fitness

‘When I was on stage with Shakira after 12 hours of rehearsal, I realized I wanted to build something on my own instead of running from gig to gig as a dancer.’

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Kaiser on Why AKT is Good For Mothers

‘It is perfect for busy moms because you get everything you need in 1 hour.’

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Kaiser on Finding Exercise You Enjoy

It’s really important to have something on a fitness level that you love to do, because then you’ll actually show up and do it…Because 80% of working out is just showing up.’

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Kaiser on Exercise During Pregnancy

‘Listen to your body!’

Anna Kaiser’s Supplements

Folate

Folate

Kaiser takes folate first thing in the morning. Folate aka vitamin B9 promotes brain health and function, boost mood and reduce the risk of depression, has anti-aging properties, and is also essential for fetal development.

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probiotics

Raw Probiotics

Another supplement Kaiser takes in the AM is raw probiotics. Pro-biotics help with digestion and strengthen the immune system.

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Magnesium

Magnesium

Also on Kaiser’s list of morning supplements is magnesium. This essential mineral helps prevent cramping, asthma, and anxiety attacks. It also helps regulate blood sugar and promotes healthy sleep.

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Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha

Kaiser also includes the adaptogen ashwagandha in her morning smoothie to help manage her stress level during her busy day.

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Maca Root

Kaiser uses a lot of superfoods in her morning smoothie, including maca which is rich in antioxidants, enhances energy, mood and memory, and also helps balance hormone levels.

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Vitamin C

Vitamin C

If Kaiser is feeling rundown, she’ll take an extra shot of vitamin C, well-known for its antioxidant properties.

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Chia Seeds

Chia Seeds

Also part of Kaiser’s smoothie is superfood chia, packed with vegan protein and anti-inflammatory omega-3s. They support your heart, digestion, balanced blood sugar and boost energy.

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Goji

Goji

Goji berries also make it into Kaiser’s smoothie. Chock-full of healthful properties including antioxidants that support immunity and reduce the risk of cancer, they also improve sleep and com-bat anxiety and depression.

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Bee Pollen

Bee Pollen

Kaiser mixes bee pollen into her morning smoothie for its remark-able benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, detoxifying and immune-boosting properties.

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Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil

Kaiser also includes coconut oil in her diet. It has been shown in studies to prevent heart disease and high blood pressure, protect the liver, treat UTIs and kidney infections, and reduce inflamma-tion.

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turmeric

Tart Cherry + Turmeric

Before bed, Kaiser takes a shot of a 1-oz. tart cherry + turmeric. Both are anti-inflammatory, and can help provide better quality sleep.

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Anna Kaiser’s Lifestyle

Devices Off

Kaiser makes a point of turning off her phone an hour before bedtime, which is 10:30. She also believes that if you have to choose between exercise and sleep, she would pick sleep. She aims for 8 hours a day.

Luxury Experience

AKT Studios has a lot more than just dance classes. Other offerings include nutrition advice and cryotherapy.

Make It Work

Kaiser says that rather than scaling back, she has incorporated her kids into her life and schedule, and she offers ideas for moms to work out with babies and toddlers.

Be Kind

When her client Kelly Ripa was body-shamed and called ‘boyish’ for posting pictures of herself in a bikini, Kaiser stepped in and said everyone has different fitness goals, and that it’s wrong to judge others for being different.

Going Pear-Shaped

Kaiser sold franchise rights to Xponential Fitness for her AKT dance studios. In the fall of 2020, she sued them for $700,000. Xponential has filed a counter-suit for violating a non-compete clause.

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Kaiser on Sleep

‘The goal is 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Working on it!’

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Kaiser’s Advice To New Moms

‘Don’t allow yourself to feel guilty about anything. You are doing the best you can.’

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Kaiser on Aging

‘As I get older, I think about the quality of my life and a balanced way to enjoy that. That is true wellness: being well from inside out.’

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Kaiser on The Night

‘I LOVE my evenings. I’ve always been a night owl and really come alive in the evenings.’

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Kaiser on Taking a Moment

‘Sometimes, when my day starts to get hectic, I sit down, take a breath and reconnect to my mind and body before moving on.’

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Kaiser on Suing Xponential

‘They left me no choice.’

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