Workouts that Deliver the Best Results

Some people swear by ballet boot camp or sweaty yoga sessions, but which workout really delivers the best full-body results? Before you invest in the next fitness craze, see how five pros measure up.
By Maureen Choi


The RunnerTHE RUNNER
NAME: Kimberly Strother
WORKOUT ROUTINE: Runs between five and 12 miles every day and swims a mile at least once a week.
THE VERDICT: No gym? No problem! Strother's cross-country running regimen - which has produced a bod of lean muscle mass, good flexibility, and solid upper-body strength - is the perfect (and free!) workout for building cardio strength and burning calories. Supplement jogs with core-strengthening moves like crunches or planks to ensure total body conditioning.

Visit MaireClaire.com to see how the runner compares to the competition.


The YogiTHE YOGI
NAME: Lucie Basamanowicz
WORKOUT ROUTINE: In addition to teaching power vinyasa yoga, she takes two to three 90-minute classes daily and adds cardio workouts on the elliptical machine for at least 30 minutes five days a week.
THE VERDICT: Boosting flexibility (and mood), enhancing coordination, and increasing balance make for a workout that's good for your body and your soul. However, muscular strength suffers with a yoga-only routine, so incorporating a weight-training program to increase muscle mass will tone your body fast. It'll also help prevent injury if you, say, slip on a sidewalk. Also, cardio comes only through intensive vinyasa-flow yoga, not through meditative styles like hatha.

How strong is the yogi? Get the answer here.


THE BOXERThe Boxer
NAME: Keisher "Fire" McLeod-Wells
WORKOUT ROUTINE: Strength-trains for two to three hours a day, five days a week. Alternates between jumping rope, shadowboxing with 2-pound weights, and sparring in the ring for 45 minutes.
THE VERDICT: If mellow yoga classes aren't for you, try McLeod-Wells' circuit-style boxing routine with endurance- and muscle-building exercises like jumping rope and shadowboxing. Plus, arm-sculpting jabbing sessions result in stellar upper-body strength, making tasks like carrying groceries and carting heavy loads of laundry a breeze. Flexibility can be deficient here, so adding Pilates or some other stretch-oriented class would boost your workouts in the ring.

How many push-ups can the boxer do? Find out at MarieClaire.com.

BallerinaTHE BALLERINA
NAME: Stella Abrera
WORKOUT ROUTINE: Takes a 90-minute ballet class every day. Circuit-trains at the gym and swims for 30 minutes four days a week.
THE VERDICT: Your dream of becoming a ballerina may not have panned out, but don't let that stop you from getting a pair of killer legs - and abs. (Our dancer had the strongest core of the group.) Pliés on their own promise a longer, leaner version of yourself, but supplementing them with a Spin class three times a week will keep your heart strong, too.


Can ballerinas do crunches? Find out the answer here.


THE BIKE MESSENGERThe Bike Messenger
NAME: Sam Paul
WORKOUT ROUTINE: Bikes for six hours a day, four days a week. Does 200 sit-ups daily for added core strengthening.
THE VERDICT: For those of us with crazy-long office hours (or just a lot of excuses), here's a novel idea for an intense workout: Ride a bike. Paul's riding routine has resulted in lean muscle mass and an incredible aerobic capacity. (Watch out, Lance Armstrong!) The only catch? Tightness in the back of the legs requires extra stretching sessions off your wheels.

How does the bike messenger stack up to the competition? Visit MarieClaire.com for more info.



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