Healthy Living

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Slim Down, Tone Up: Quick Tips That Really Work

These tricks from celebrity trainers work the parts that really matter at the gym or anywhere.

SEXY BACK

J Fit Premium, $20 (8 lbs.) and $34 (15 lbs.); jfit.com

J Fit Premium, $20 (8 lbs.) and $34 (15 lbs.); jfit.com

At The Gym

The cable pulley system is one of the best ways to target the back, says Rebecca Kordecki, a trainer in N.Y.C. and L.A. who has worked with Raquel Welch. It's simple: Clip the rope attachment to the lower pulley and set the weight to 15 to 25 pounds. Stand about five feet away, facing the machine with your arms fully extended, and draw the rope handles to your waist, pulling your elbows close to your sides. Do three sets of 15, three days a week.

At Work
L.A.'s Gunnar Peterson, who has toned Kim Kardashian and Penélope Cruz, suggests this back-building move: Stand with a 1-liter water bottle in your right hand. Bend forward from the waist at a 45-degree angle. With one elbow bent 90 degrees and close to your side, pull your arm up and back, squeezing the back muscles. Aim for three sets of 15 reps, then switch arms.

Anywhere
Kacy Duke, a trainer at Equinox in N.Y.C., who has sculpted Julianne Moore and Mary J. Blige, says that whenever you're standing in line or sitting in traffic, contract your upper back, squeezing your shoulder blades together. Hold the contraction for one long count and release. Do 12 to keep your upper-back muscles firing.

At Home
Tie a 10-foot rope around the handle of a 15-pound kettlebell and place the weight on top of a towel to protect your floor. Holding the rope, walk straight back until the slack is nearly gone. Then pull the kettlebell toward you, grabbing the rope hand-over-hand like a tug-of-war. Repeat 10 to 12 times, every other day.

Fat-Burning Tip! "Exercising for 30 minutes in the morning and evening can have more impact than one hour-long session," says physical medicine specialist Ian K. Smith, author of The 4 Day Diet.

SCULPTED ARMS

Hampton Fitness Jelly Bell, $15/pair (2.5 lbs.) and $30/pair (5 lbs.); hamptonfit.com

Hampton Fitness Jelly Bell, $15/pair (2.5 lbs.) and $30/pair (5 lbs.); hamptonfit.com

At the Gym

"The rowing machine is made for building arms and shoulders," says N.Y.C. trainer Brett Hoebel, who has worked with Karolina Kurkova. Adjust the seat so your legs are bent slightly more than 90 degrees and your arms are stretched out straight, holding the handles. Push with your legs while pulling the handles to the bottom of your rib cage, keeping your elbows near your sides. Slowly straighten your arms and glide back to the starting position. Row 30 to 45 minutes, three days a week. For optimal results, add 90-second high-intensity bursts every 5 minutes.

At Work
L.A. diet and fitness expert Harley Pasternak, who has helped Eliza Dushku and Hilary Duff get buff, likes this office-friendly version of the push-up: Stand about three feet away from your desk and plant your palms shoulder-width apart. Lower down for four counts, pause for one count, then rise up for four counts. Start with 20 and increase as you become stronger. Challenge yourself by moving your hands closer together.

Anywhere
Do you lug around a giant bag all day? Put it to use, says Natasha Kufa, Fergie's trainer in L.A. "Most of us already carry around five pounds of junk," Kufa says. "Add a 1-liter water bottle to your bag and do biceps curls as you run errands."

At Home
To target the muscles in your arms, Michael Olajide Jr., co-owner of Aerospace Boxing Gym in N.Y.C., where Eva Mendes and Adriana Lima train, suggests holding 1- to 3-pound dumbbells as you shadowbox. Holding your fists up to your chin, shoot your left arm out and back. Jab as many times as you can, working up to 100 on each side.

Fat-Burning Tip! Get seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Studies say that women who stick to that range are less likely to gain weight.

WHITTLED WAIST

Bosu Ballast Ball Pro, $60; bosu.com

Bosu Ballast Ball Pro, $60; bosu.com

At the Gym

Exercises that include rotation work your obliques, says Shawn McCormack, director of N.Y.C.'s The Body, who has made Julia Roberts sweat. "The rotary torso machine is very safe -- you don't have to worry about stressing your neck," she says. Put your abs to work by setting the machine to 20 pounds. Take four counts to turn 90 degrees, four counts to return to start and four counts to turn 90 degrees in the opposite direction. Do three sets of 15 reps on each side, daily.

At Work
Tighten your middle while checking e-mail. Sit up tall in your chair, straighten your legs, and slowly lift them as you contract your stomach muscles. Once legs are parallel to the floor, hold for three counts and slowly lower. Repeat 12 times.

Anywhere
Brooke Siler, who has trained Madonna and Liv Tyler and owns N.Y.C. Pilates studiore: Ab, tells clients to visualize wearing an invisible corset. Inhale and pull the stomach muscles in toward your spine.

At Home
"A Bosu ball works your abs 100 percent -- and it's difficult to cheat," Kufa says. Place the ball on the ground. Get in push-up position with your hands on the floor and your shins balanced on the top of the Bosu. Pull the ball toward your chest until your chin and knees nearly touch. Push back to original position. Repeat 30 times every other day.

Fat-Burning Tip! Include bursts of high-intensity cardio, says Hoebel, such as treadmill sprints at 7 to 9 mph on an incline of 2 for 30 seconds, then a brisk walk for 90 seconds.

SHAPELY BOTTOM

Pilates brand, $20/3; overstock.com

Pilates brand, $20/3; overstock.com

At the Gym

Rebecca Kordecki designed this treadmill drill to boost her clients' rears: Set the treadmill on a slow setting (less than 3.5 mph). Turn right, bend your knees and shuffle your feet for 30 seconds; turn again and walk backward for 30 seconds; turn left and shuffle for 30 seconds. Recover and repeat three to five times, three times per week.

At Work
Mark Blanchard, founder of True Power Yoga in L.A., who has trained Jennifer Lopez, suggests leaning your back flat against a wall and stepping your feet out, hip distance apart, so most of your weight is supported by the wall. Slide down until your knees form a 90-degree angle and hold the position as long as you can, working up to two minutes.

Anywhere
Work your backside by walking uphill or taking the stairs, Shawn McCormack says. Too easy? Take two at a time.

At Home
Stand with your feet approximately six inches apart, with a medium resistance band around your ankles (it helps if you're wearing socks). With your knees slightly bent, step two or three feet to the side with your right foot, keeping your left foot in place. Bring your feet together. Walk 20 steps in one direction and 20 in the other. Repeat three times to each side, every other day.

Fat-Burning Tip! Work your thighs when you exercise. "They contain the biggest muscles in the body. The more muscle mass you work, the more calories you'll burn at rest," says Fred DeVito, co-founder of Core Fusion at Exhale Spa in N.Y.C.

-- Liesa Goins

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 43
  • Katie B's Avatar
    Posted by Katie B Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:05pm PDT

    Awesome... I like that they give ideas for what we can do at work... :D

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  • Eddieslilangel's Avatar
    Posted by Eddieslilangel Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:14pm PDT

    sweet. i can climb my stairs all morning (to give me something to do)and then do yoga in the afternoon

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  • kw's Avatar
    Posted by kw Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:57pm PDT

    I hope nobody pays those prices for that equipment shown in the article. Go to a normal store like Target, WalMart, Dick's sporting goods, modell's... anywhere normal, and you'll pay half or even 1/6. It says that Bosu ball is $60, mine (different brand) was like $10.

    And all the name dropping - I don't know who most of those people are but I guess they're famous or something? I hope the writer got paid from them, or some kind of fringe benefits... these exercises are nothing new... though the thing about walking in all different ways on the treadmill is good. Some athletes do that side shuffle thing as part of their training, and people walk backwards in China... it's a clever thing to do to put them all together on a treadmill, but start slow and be careful!

    :)

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  • Sunshineluvr's Avatar
    Posted by Sunshineluvr Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:27pm PDT

    Ooo... I like the suggestions for the work place. Some pictures would help though!

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  • Megan's Avatar
    Posted by Megan Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:35pm PDT

    Walking backwards on an inclined treadmill will help strengthen quads by lengthening them. I'm a physical therapist assistant and we use that one a LOT when rehabbing athletes after knee surgeries. Pulling yourself around on a stool with one leg is a great leg strengthener.Also, stop by a PT clinic for cheaper resistance bands. Most clinics buy them in a huge roll and will sell them cheaper to clients or whoever.

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  • Sig's Avatar
    Posted by Sig Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:40pm PDT

    All pure crap.

    Those people are nobodies and that is what they deserve.

    Heavy free weights are the tools needed to change the body, barbells, dumbbells etc, and correctly executed lifts like squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses. Away from the weights it is pull-ups, one arm push-ups and box jumps. Stop the lameness.

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  • Christine .'s Avatar
    Posted by Christine . Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:41pm PDT

    Yeah... there really is no such thing as targeting body parts to tone and sculpt. Loose the fat on top of the muscle all over your body and you'll start to tone up. And what's up with the little tiny baby weights? Obviously this article was geared towards females and it's a myth that we bulk up like men. Unless you're using steroids or something, it's just not gonna happen. The 1-3 lb weights are a waste of money. It's not 1984. Lift heavy and do cardio to help loose weight and tone up faster.

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  • ss's Avatar
    Posted by ss Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:51pm PDT

    Correct breathing is the key to body building success and good health. Every living cell of every living creature needs oxygen to survive and to remain in a healthy state. The deeper you breathe, the more of this living substance is forced into your blood as it passes thru your lungs, and goes on its way to every cell of every organ and tissue in your body. Deep and proper breathing works like this:

    for example, in bench pressing, you breathe in as you lower the bar to your chest and as you push it up you breathe out. In squatting,you breathe in just before you go into the squat and breathe out as you rise up to stand. In curls you breathe out just as you raise the bar up, and breathe in on the way down.

    The other necessary thing for strength and health to shine is good diet. Eat good protein sources other than meat - e.g. soybean products, and stay away from fatty foods, such as fried meat, french fries and the fast food garbage like that is.

    Keep a strong mental attitude towards everything you do. Follow the 34th psalm, and Jesus' teachings.

    I am 71 years old, and am active in body building and weight lifting. I won the senior olympics in my home state in power lifting the last two years.

    skip schapiro

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  • John's Avatar
    Posted by John Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:18pm PDT

    Worthless.

    Report Abuse
  • Connor's Avatar
    Posted by Connor Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:48pm PDT

    If you're using the erg, otherwise known as the rowing machine, in order to build arm muscles, then you are using the machine incorrectly. I am a long-time rower who knows all about ergs. The erg is meant to not only train rowers, but to build leg muscles and the core. It is not about the arms. Arm strength is only 10% of the force necessary to perform a stroke. Shoulder strength is built with using the erg, but not the arms. Pulling to the bottom of the rib cage is too low (aim for the zyphoid process) and the elbows should be raised. If you are going to use an erg, use it like a rower.

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