Celebrity workouts
By Kathy Kaehler
Water workouts aren’t just for grannies in swim caps, anymore. Far from it. Even my long-time client Julia Roberts bought into my water fitness plan.
My training programs often include the pool because I like how the water allows you to run hard, stretch deep and develop long and lean muscles. So with the weather warming up, why not consider hitting the water for your workout? If you don’t have a pool in your backyard, there are other options: Gyms today often have pools, indoor or outdoor, or you could try community centers, YMCAs, hotels or local colleges.
Beginners may want to take a class to get started. From there, the possibilities are limitless. There are hundreds of exercises that can be done in the shallow and deep ends of a pool. I’m not just talking about doing laps up and down, or treading water. You can actually do many of the same exercises in the water than you can on land, including walking, marching, running, cross-country skiing, kicking, leaping – even crunches.
When I have Julia in the pool, we do a range of shallow- and deep-water activities. The cardio exercises include jumping jacks, water walking and water running in the deep end using flotation belts. For toning, we do scissors, heel lifts, leg lifts, leg circles and knee swivels.
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By Gregory Joujon-Roche
Want to “spice” up your workout? Borrow a note from the Spice Girls and try mixing things up!
That’s the approach I took when helping them get into tip-top shape for their reunion tour. Take, for instance, the workout I designed for Melanie Chisholm, aka Sporty Spice. With a nickname like that, you’ve got to look fit! So with training, we hit it hard – five days a week.
Each day focused on a different activity so as to offer a range of fitness benefits and keep things interesting:
*Spinning – to burn fat and build stamina.
*Yoga – to boost flexibility and restore inner peace.
*Strength training – to build definition.
*Pilates – to stabilize the core.
*Beach runs – to provide overall conditioning, work the glutes and offer a change of scenery and a breath of fresh air.
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By Gregory Joujon-Roche
With the writers strike over, the party’s back on in Hollywood! There’s going to be a red carpet at the Oscars this year after all. So the stars have hit the fast-forward button to look spectacular for their big night.
What makes them shine so brightly -- besides all that bling? It’s a combination of being fit and carrying themselves with a relaxed and graceful confidence from the moment they step out of that limo to face the cameras.
The training strategies I use to get my Hollywood clients ready for the red carpet can help you look radiant for a special event, too. Here is my plan for shaping up in the week before the big night – but it’s not easy. The intense program is intended for regular exercisers who want to really kick things into high gear just before a big reveal.
For the most part, I recommend keeping the training simple and consistent with one goal in mind: burning fat. Skip the Pilates – it’s time to sweat!
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By Jeanette Jenkins
Ever wonder how supermodels like Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum and Naomi Campbell keep their legs looking runway-ready? Of course, there is no denying they have great genes. But they also work at those gorgeous gams. When they have a runway show coming up, such as the ones this month in Milan and Rio, they call on a trainer to get their legs looking fierce and fabulous!
To help you get your own pair of runway legs, incorporate some of the following lower-body exercises and activities into your workout regimen. For the best results, try using two to three different methods of training each week so your muscles are constantly challenged.
*Ballet. Tone and strengthen your legs with arabesques, pliés and dégagés. To learn proper technique, take a class in your area or try a home workout DVD, such as those by the New York City Ballet.
*Call-me-the-'B'-word-today-but-love-me-tomorrow-lunges! Yes, even the hot models hate lunges but the truth is they work -- and they work well! Stationary lunges, walking lunges, reverse lunges and side lunges will all tone and define your legs. Just keep thinking how amazing your legs are going to look later on when you don that dress.
*Uphill hiking. Sure, it is great to be able to get out into the fresh air but walking on an incline on your treadmill will also do the trick. Working against gravity will help tone your legs as you burn additional calories at the same time.
*Yoga. Yoga sequences that include variations of warrior 1, warrior 2, crescent pose and chair pose will help define your legs. If you are new to yoga, take a beginner class or try Baron Baptiste’s Power Yoga Level 1 DVD to learn some of the basic poses.
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By Kathy Kaehler
Getting in shape for a big event like a class reunion or a wedding is one thing. But prepping for a Playboy cover definitely raises the bar a few notches.
To get Kim Kardashian buff for the December cover shoot, I developed a no-fuss training program that doesn't require any special weight-training equipment yet still is very effective.
Kim wanted to focus on her arms, legs and famous backside. So in addition to her working out on the elliptical trainer and walking every day, she followed the toning program I devised to target her hot spots. You can do it too, right at home. Here’s how:
*Lunges. Start by standing up straight with your hands at your sides. Take a big step forward with your right leg, lowering the body until your right thigh is parallel to the floor. Straighten back up and repeat on the left side. Do three sets of 10 repetitions with each leg.
*Sit-down squats. Start by standing in front of a chair and then sit down on the seat and stand back up. Do three sets of 15 reps.
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By Kathy Kaehler
Awards season is in full swing, and Hollywood’s leading ladies have been getting themselves into tip-top shape for their gorgeous gowns. At the Academy Awards this Sunday, we’ll see actresses such as “Dreamgirls” diva Beyonce Knowles, “Volver” star Penelope Cruz and Oscar-winner and presenter Reese Witherspoon in designer dresses that show off shoulders and backs, legs and arms. Some may even go as far as peek-a-boo cut-outs that reveal sculpted six-pack abs.
But do celebs actually manage to get into such great shape in the short amount of time between when the nominations are announced and when the awards are presented?
No, not really. They work at keeping their bodies buff year-round, with some extra-special attention in the weeks leading up to these events.
If you’ve got a birthday bash, class reunion or other big night coming up, their tricks can help you get toned and lean for your special event, too.
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By Gregory Joujon-Roche
In the movie "The Departed," Leonardo DiCaprio plays the part of young undercover cop Billy Costigan, who is assigned to infiltrate the mob.
The look for DiCaprio's character is far from the perfectly chiseled body of a guy who trains daily at a fancy gym. It's more about the brute strength that comes from growing up on the tough streets of South Boston.
So my team at Holistic Fitness and I created a no-frills workout for him that is just as tough.
Want to pretend you're gearing up to fight the mob? Shake up your regular fitness routine by giving these moves a try. (Note: This workout is intended for people who regularly strength train. If you're a true couch potato, start slowly and work your way up to this challenge.)
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By Jeanette Jenkins
Do you want to get a tight tush like J Lo, a bootylicious back side like Beyonce or a bikini bottom like Cameron Diaz? Let it be known that these women have great assets because they work for them. I have watched many women transform their rear view by following a healthy meal plan and doing booty-specific exercises a few times a week. Here's what I recommend:
*Standing Exercises (do one to two sets of each)
1. Single Leg Squats. Start standing with your feet shoulder-width apart. Lift your left foot 1 inch off of the floor and put all of your body's weight onto your right leg. Push your hips back as if you were going to sit into a chair. Make sure your right knee does not push over your right toe. Drive through your right heel, carrying all of your weight on your right leg, and squeeze your buttocks. Return to the starting position and repeat up to 15 to 25 repetitions before switching legs.
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By Gregory Joujon-Roche
Want to become a Man of Steel? While not everyone has the genetics to be as big and buff as Superman, we all can become stronger, faster and fitter.
This intense gym workout is designed to test your strength and endurance, so it should only be done once a week and only by regular exercisers who want to kick things up (Superman is no couch potato! If you're a beginner, start slowly and work your way up to this challenge.).
Here we go:
Warm up with the cardio of your choice (such as walking, jogging or biking) at a medium pace for 15 minutes. During the warm-up, check in with yourself, your breathing, your body. Get ready for the work ahead by getting centered and focused.
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By Rob Parr
Before the stars hit the red carpet, they hit the gym. They all have their favorite workout regimens, from Pilates and yoga to spinning and kickboxing.
But some Hollywood A-listers, like Naomi Watts, like to take their workouts outdoors.
When Naomi and I train together, we hit the road running for four to six miles or take to the hills for an hour-and-a-half-long mountain bike ride.
During training for her most recent role in "King Kong," Naomi did an intense outdoor cardio workout about five days a week. The goal was to boost her stamina and overall fitness level so that she was up for the physical demands of filming, including some stunt work
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