Updated Wed. Jul. 4 2007 11:04 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff



Harley Pasternak, a former University of Toronto student, has made it big by making the stars smaller.

He is the man behind the bodies of Halle Berry, Jessica Simpson, Eva Mendes and Jane Fonda and he wants to tell the world his secret.

Pasternak's new book, "5-Factor Diet" delivers the diet and workout regime that have toned the bodies of Hollywood's biggest celebrities.

"5-Factor diet is a lifestyle that is five simple meals a day -- each meal has to fulfill five simple criteria," he told CTV News. "There is not calorie-counting, carb-cutting, food measuring or portion control."

A plan that doesn't ask for counting and cutting seems unlikely to work but Pasternak says it comes from a very practical inspiration. He was expected to make meals on film sets with five-minute warnings and few ingredients.

"If I can do this on a film set in a trailer with very few ingredients, in five minutes, then people at home can do it too," he said.

Pasternak improvised and made meals that were appealing and healthy. Some dishes included in his diet plan are French Toast on a Ricotta Pillow, Sweet Potato Melt and Chicken Chow Mein.

Grazing vs. Gouging

Pasternak has an honours degree in kinesiology, a masters degree in exercise physiology and nutrition, worked for the Department of National Defence on soldier fitness, and ran a personal training business along the way. He still continues to study literature and research in the field, up to two hours every day.

Through his work, Pasternak stumbled on diabetes research that showed eating five to six small portions more often, was better for the body than eating three large portions. As Pasternak states, "grazing is better than gouging."

Pasternak was introduced to his first celebrity client, Halle Berry, through a doctor she had on the Montreal set of her film "Gothika." The doctor trusted Pasternak to train her because of his educational background and experience. Three days into the program, Berry invited him to become her trainer in Los Angeles.

Berry was also the one who told Pasternak to write a book about his diet. She got the suggestion from Oprah Winfrey, who couldn't believe a simple diet had changed Berry's body.

"(I) cancelled the next two days of everything I had planned," he said of his reaction to Berry's suggestion. "Sat down wrote a treatment of just what I currently do with all my clients, submitted it and published my first book."

With the new book, a recently-launched website and a packed appointment schedule, Pasternak's career has taken off. He has become one of the biggest names behind Hollywood's celebrity stage but Pasternak says it has taken a lot of time, dedication and drive.

"It took me 20 years to become an overnight success, and I think everything along the way that happens, contributes to where you are today," he said. "I failed at a lot of things and I think those are really important to getting me where I am today."

www.ctv.ca

http://www.5factordiet.co...index.aspx

Interesting. I find it funny that most of these personal trainers ( like this guy, and Heidi Klum´s trainer Kirsh, and that other guy who used to train with Cameron Diaz) don´t exactly look that athletic themselves....I mean, they´re slim and everything but they don´t look that spectacular, considering they´re making a living by telling people how to stay in shape.


PS: I hope one day the org will listen to orger BinaryJustin and create a "Health and Wellbeing" forum..

That would be sooooo my forum !

KoolEaze said:

When these dudes take off their shirts, they are ripped.

Big and undefined has long been out. It's the "six-pack" and other lean muscle that celebrities (and "civilians") want.

Ace said:

has anyone proven yet that you can get ripped JUST from dieting?

But if they met on Gothika, what, a few years ago, & Halle's body was always killer... wtf did this guy really DO? Maybe she has to work out less or something now, but the bitch has never had a problem & always looked great. I'm being all "poo poo" but I'm just not impressed w/ his client list BUT Halle was obviously impressed if she gave the dude a job after just 3 days - I'm curious to hear more specifics about the "program" but I won't be buying the damn book


I don't think


.
[Edited 7/5/07 7:29am]

WHO THE FUCK names their kid


HARLEY PASTERNAK?????







A Canadian.

TotalANXiousNESS said:

The media is so cruel. I mean, why does his being Canadian come into play? Why must it even be mentioned?

I hate it when we feel the need to label everybody before ever really getting to know them on the INSIDE. It's not HIS fault he's from Canada.

INSATIABLE said:

Maybe it's a Canadian newspaper/site & they're saying it out of pride?? I get the sense it's "local" b/c they mention what school he went to, & who the fuck cares about that but locals



.
[Edited 7/5/07 7:39am]

CalhounSq said:

It should be illegal for them to rub it in his face like this. He was born this way and we shouldn't be pointing the finger at him for it. Don't ask, don't tell, you know what I mean?

CalhounSq said:

That's exactly what it is. Canadian press always mentions when they are Canadian. I bet they even have to fill a Canadian content quota in their news reporting - even the celeb news.

Lame.

CalhounSq said:

As with anything else, chemistry is a major factor. You'll know right off the bat if this is a person you can tolerate spending up to nine hours a week with. And, if you've had experience with other trainers, you'll know pretty quickly whether they'll get you the results you're looking for.

INSATIABLE said:

Yeah. We always know when someone is Canadian.

They have to say it like umpteen times.

The Canadian Actor....Jason Priestly.....

The Canadian Rocker.....Alanis Morrisette.....

It's always out there....kinda like when people talk about MJ


Alleged Child Molester....Michael Jackson....

Its fuckin WEIRD.

Jeremy Irons trained at my gym when he was making M. Butterfly. Within a matter of weeks, he'd hired his trainer to accompany him to Europe for his next flick (and to act as his stand-in, as well).