How Jessica Simpson buffs up
By Mike Alexander
For the role of Daisy Duke in the upcoming film "The Dukes of Hazzard," we wanted Jessica Simpson to have a lean, toned look in those short shorts. So we focused a lot on resistance training, particularly with lower body exercises like lunges and squats to shape up the buttocks, hamstrings and thighs. The training schedule was intense. Jessica worked out four to six days a week prior to the shoot and three to four days a week during filming. Workouts generally consisted of 45 minutes of strength training followed by 30 to 45 minutes of cardio (such as jogging on a treadmill or using an elliptical trainer).
If you're hoping to firm up your backside like Jessica did, try starting with a three-day-a-week workout that consists of cardiovascular exercise plus the following strength activities:
*Squats: Stand with your feet apart, slightly wider than your hips, and your arms out in front of you, parallel to the ground with one hand on top of the other. Keeping your heels flat on the ground and your torso leaning slightly forward, squat down as though you are sitting, then straighten up again. Repeat 25 times.
*Lunges: From a standing position, lunge forward with your right foot until your thighs are parallel to the floor, then straighten back up. Repeat 15 times and then switch legs.
*Leg extensions: Start with your hands and knees on the floor. Next, straighten your right leg behind you until it is fully extended and parallel to the floor. Bring the leg back to the starting position. Repeat 15 times and then switch legs.
*Step-ups: Stand facing a step that is about a foot higher than the ground. Step up on the step with the right leg and then back down. Repeat 15 times and then switch legs.
