Celebrity work out secrets you need to know
It's not easy as the mum of a 2-year-old, but Alicia Keys makes it a priority to "strive to be strong on the inside and out. I try my best to make working out just as much a priority as I do my craft. And I truly believe in taking "Me time" to strengthen my mind, body and soul." Get inspired by the singer and turn fitness into something enjoyable instead of it being a dreaded task. Whether it's a new belly-dancing class or an outdoor yoga session, do some digging and find some new and inspiring classes to try -- we're sure your girlfriends would love to join you. As the singer writes: "Give it your all and the confidence that comes from having inner and outer strength is something no doctor can fix with a prescription." Words to live by!
Ever since Gwen Stefani started as the frontwoman of No Doubt, she has not been shy about showing off her rock-solid abs. While she still knows how to rock out, the 42-year-old mum of two admits to Marie Claire that she can't quite train like she used to. "I was definitely swimming upstream," she says, "trying to balance everything that's been going on with having kids and a family. There's no way to do all these things." Now she has a less intense workout regime, cutting back her gym sessions and opting for Pilates to keep her core tight and toned. Take a cue from Stefani and don't hold yourself to the workout regimens that used to work for you before the days of tuckshop duty and carpool. Like everything else in life, let your exercise routine change and evolve with your needs and demands.
Emma Watson
Actress Emma Watson is a firm believer in the motto, "There's nothing to it, but to do it!" Working out, that is. Watson is a dedicated athlete, and her regimen involves five days per week of intense cardio -- such as Pilates and sprint running -- coupled with weight lifting three times per week, according to Glamour. Her intense regime may not be an easy one to follow, but you can modify her routine to fit your lifestyle. Carve out some time for fitness every day during the week -- whatever you choose to do, just try to keep consistent.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Turning 40 can usher in a host of physical and mental changes in a woman. But Gwyneth Paltrow isn't taking the change sitting down. The die-hard fitness guru trains with Tracy Anderson every week and says that the trick to staying engaged is to get active with her kids, Apple, 8, and Moses, 6. "Physical fitness is incredibly important for overall health and mental health, heart health and cholesterol," Paltrow told The Huffington Post. "My son likes to do soccer and kickboxing, and Apple’s very into dance and gymnastics." Paltrow added, "Every day after school, we have a little scrimmage together in the garden." This summer, get outside with the kids to play a game of tennis or shoot some hoops in the school playground. By keeping the whole family active, you'll be starting a great tradition with your kids, which they'll hopefully carry on to their kids.
Emily VanCamp
For a long time, the only way to achieve flat abs was through an endless number of crunches. But for Revenge actress Emily VanCamp, Pilates is her go-to workout for achieving and maintaining her feminine six-pack. "Pilates is my favourite core strengthener. I do it three or four times a week," she tells Self magazine. "With all the strengthening and lengthening, it's like ballet. Plus, you get to do it lying down!" Incorporate Pilates into your fitness regime for a low-impact, full-body workout that is extremely effective. Plus, it will transform your core and give you a midsection you'll just want to show off. Sounds good to us!
Mila Kunis
Ashton Kutcher's new ladylove is a hot number -- just ask the lads of Esquire magazine. The magazine recently named Mila Kunis the Sexiest Woman Alive, and for good reason! How does she maintain her sizzling body? A mix of early morning spinning classes and Pilates. "Your body can do everything and anything," she once told Glamour. "You just have to want to do it." Follow Mila's lead and get your workout out of the way in the wee hours because it then gives you the entire day to do what you enjoy.
Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek recently opened up to More magazine about her weight woes and how she stays on top of her health. "I’m not a skinny girl," she says. "I push it. I’m at the limit of chubbiness at all times, but I’m happy at all times." The 46-year-old actress admits to having an "alarm number" that when she hits that weight she knows she has to back off the rich foods and wine, and ramp up the exercise. Her go-to routine? Plain and simple cardio. Plus, regular juice cleanses to boost her metabolism. Set a limit for yourself with a weight that you absolutely don’t want to hit and along with regular exercise, it'll allow you to still eat what you like while staying within your comfort zone.
Madonna
The undeniable queen of toning and honing has to be her Madge-esty.
She bought the house next door so she could turn it into her own private gym and was even seen paying it a visit the morning after her 50th birthday bash. She is a big fan of exercising on a powerplate.
Heidi Klum
A supermodel and supermum, Heidi Klum is nothing if not dedicated. This is the workout she does in the lead up to Victoria's Secret and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue photo shoots:
Run through this routine once with very light weights or no weight at all. Take a 2-to-3 minute rest and hydration break and run through the routine again. Then repeat the whole sequence two to four times more with ankle weights and dumbbells if you have them with you. The entire program should last 45 minutes to an hour and a half.
2 minutes: Light stretching, including Good Mornings and Good Mornings with Knee Bends
1 minute: Jumping Jacks
30 seconds: Platypus Walks
1 minute: Shadowboxing with Crossovers, Uppercuts and Knee Bends
1 minute: Plié Squats with Calf Raises
2 minutes: Reverse Lunges
1 minute: Squat Thrusts 1 minute: Scissors Reverse Crunches
2 minutes: Deluxe
1 minute: Bench Stepups (if possible, combine with Triceps Kickbacks)
1 minute: Pushups
Jessica Biel
Jess likes to stay in shape and isn't afraid to sweat to get the look she wants.
Jason Walsh, her personal trainer, recently revealed to People Magazine that he makes her do plyometrics (things like stair jumping to you and me).
'These hurt,' says Walsh. 'Even athletes hate them. After Jessica did these the first time, she would've punched me if she had the energy.'
Ouch!
Tina Fey
The 30 Rock actress goes for yoga to tone and sculpt her arms.
"She isn't a fitness junkie but she knows the importance of being fit and healthy for her roles and job," says celebrity trainer Kristin McGee, who began working with Fey on the set of Date Night. "We focused on her arms and doing chaturangas and vinyasa flow-style yoga, but she also loves balancing exercises like tree pose."
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker has a very strong look to her body thanks to an exercise regime that includes running, climbing stairs and yoga.
She also lifts weights, dabbles in karate, swims lengths, cycles, and occasionally does a spot of horse-riding.
Sarah Jessica makes fitness a priority she told Good Housekeeping, "I do like feeling fit and healthy. When you're young, you can run around and not really care about what shape you're in because you wake up every day feeling OK. But now that I'm older, I need to do more for myself."
We're exhausted just reading about it!
Cindy Crawford
The ever-youthful Cindy C revealed to The Guardian: 'I've worked out since I started modelling. I always had to workout to stay in shape so for me it's just part of my lifestyle and who I am.
'Nowadays I'm into hiking and I workout in the gym and running around after two kids also helps.
'The important thing is to keep changing it up so you don't get bored so that you'll actually do it, because in the end it's just about finding something you'll do.'
Gisele Bunchen
After moving to Boston, Gisele immersed herself in martial arts, most notably kung fu and tai chi. Gisele told Vogue that she did kung fu "up until two weeks before Benjamin was born." Of her dedication, her teacher Yao Li, of the Boston Kung Fu Tai Chi Institute, told Vanity Fair, "She wants it every day; we actually trained Thanksgiving Day and New Year's Day. There's no day off."
Elle Macpherson
'The Body' describes herself as 'a physical being' who does sport pretty much every day.
“Elle is a busy lady. She has two boys and a job, lots of businesses to run so she does what she can, when she can,” her trainer James Duigan said.
If she's travelling, this might include an ocean swim or a run in the park. At home in London she trains with Duigan two to four times a week for hour-long sessions.
Lucy Liu
The Charlie's Angels star has revealed she isn't a big fan of gyms, because she has to share the air.
Liu says: 'I prefer to do everything outdoors. I don't belong to a gym, because I don't like the recycled air. I love LA, it's awesome. You can go rock climbing, you can go hiking, you can go to the beach...'
Next Up: 10 easy ways to make your life healthier
Rhian Allen, Founder of The Healthy Mummy shares her top 10 (easy) tips for healthy living.
See also:
- Vogue.com,
