Join Me at OpenSky!

I’ve got some super exciting news that I’m thrilled to be sharing with you…

You’ve heard me say time and again that fitness depends on consistency. Keeping yourself motivated consistently means finding ways to keep your workouts exciting and fresh — it’s one of the reasons I’m always coming up with new workouts and other things to share with you, here on my blog.

Keeping it fresh means not being afraid to try something new; a new piece of equipment, a new workout outfit, a new tool to help you push yourself and fall in love with your workouts all over again! But as important as it is to try something new, I also know it can be overwhelming and expensive to find the things that are right for you. That’s why I’ve teamed up with OpenSky.

OpenSky is a members only site that allows me to hand-pick all of things I love, that I know work and share them with you at a VIP price. As I discover different products, tools and equipment while I’m traveling the world training my clients, OpenSky will help me get those amazing products for you at an insider price for a limited time.

All you have to do is go to OpenSky and sign-up to follow me there to get the inside track on things that will keep your workouts exciting and new. You can follow me on OpenSky just by clicking here.

By following me on OpenSky you’ll be registered to receive weekly emails from me with special limited-time offers on the things I love and my tips and advice on why they work. I’ll start sharing weekly emails with great offers on my favorites products in March so be sure to sign up as soon as possible so you don’t miss out!

You ask me all the time about what I eat, what equipment I use, what I wear to workout in and more. Now, you can get all the answers and the goods without breaking the bank!

Winter Blues Workout

“You’re one workout away from a good mood.” -Valerie Waters

When I am feeling blue, I know a workout will make me feel better – but sometimes, it’s hard to push myself. To fight the Winter Blues, I had to create a workout that would challenge me but one that I could still wrap my head around. Out are the plyo’s, balancing exercises and jump rope. What I wanted were basics, with enough weight for me to push or pull against, yet light enough that I could still do high reps. I want to feel this workout, but I’m more interested in a mood changer than the hardest workout ever. Remember, your fitness (and mine) depends on consistency. This is the workout that gets me to to do the work, even when I’d rather not. Try it out and let me know if you like it –  adjust the weight accordingly.

If you don’t already have Valslides, you can pick them up HERE

Valentine’s Day – What’s Love Got To Do With It?

KISSLOVESEXCHOCOLATEKISSLOVESEXCHOCOLATEKISSLOVESEXCHOCOLATEKISS

In my opinion, Valentine’s Day is the most commercialized, manufactured holiday we celebrate. It is designed to make you feel like you are not getting enough, giving enough or loving enough – whether you’re in a relationship, or not. Now, if you love Valentine’s Day, then please don’t let me rain on your parade, but if you are like me and would prefer to have a different perspective of the holiday, then keep reading…

Kiss Your Life – As it is Right Now.
(photo courtesy of Sugar Boo Designs)

Kiss your doggies or your kitties. Kiss your partners, children, parents and friends. But mostly – kiss your life. Now, just as it is.

Love. Of course we  all want love but sometimes you have to start with loving yourself, and then notice all the other things you love in your life. Make a list. You might surprise yourself.

Watch this video. Jessica will help you get started…

Here are a few of mine:
I love Cody and Lexi.

I love my home.
I love LA.
I love sunshine.
I love my family.
I love my clients.
I love my friends.
I love my Red Carpet Ready girls.

I love a good nights sleep.
I love Facebook.
I love surfing.
I love fresh veggies from the farmers market.
I love watching Glee.
I love comments! Which means I love you. Make sure you share what you love, in the comments below.

Sex. I can’t help you get more sex, but I can make sure you have a strong and sexy core – which is always a good thing!

The Valslide 1-Arm Slide is one of my very favorite ab exercises and for good reason. It’s simple and it works! It’s what Alwyn Cosgrove refers to in, “The New Rules of Lifting for Abs”, as a “dynamic stabilization” exercise.  Meaning you’re forced to hold plank position (stabilization) while further increasing the challenge on your core by dynamically moving your hands in and out of position.  The further you reach forward, the greater the demand on the core.

Whether you’re a man or a woman, the sex appeal of the abdominals can’t be denied…  And there aren’t many direct core exercises that are more effective than the the Valslide 1-Arm Slide.

Greater core strength and endurance will carry over into all activities… including the most fun of  all.

Chocolate. There’s a reason why chocolate is associated with Valentine’s day. Chocolate contains a chemical that seems to help create the feelings of love, attraction, excitement and euphoria – It’s called phenylethylamine (PEA) and it has been dubbed the “love chemical”. But, not all chocolate exhibits this lovely property. In fact, the candy bar and heart shaped chocolates we so often see (and sometimes consume) are processed. Sugars, fats and a bunch of other junk is added and the natural power of the chocolate is, essentially, cooked out – leaving you without the love chemical. This Valentine’s Day treat yourself, or your honey, to a delicious, good-for-you, dark chocolate covered strawberry. Be sure to use chocolate that is labeled at least 70% Cacao.

DIRECTIONS
Melt the chocolate either in the microwave or by using a double boiler.

Wash the strawberries and make sure they have dried.
Dip each strawberry in the melted chocolate and then place on a cookie sheet that’s been lined with parchment paper.

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and enjoy!

Whether you’re celebrating this Valentine’s Day by yourself or with someone special, don’t forget to stop and KISS your life – as it is right now.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love & Lunges,
Val

Get Red Carpet Ready – Like The Stars!!

Here in Hollywood, Red Carpet Ready season is under way. For the next two months, there are a dizzying array of Red Carpet events, from the Golden Globes in January, to the Oscars in February – and at least a dozen others in between. The stars know that everyone will be watching, and that their pictures will live on in magazines, so it’s worth the effort to tone up, slim down and look their very best. But isn’t that what we all want? To look out best? To feel our best? To do our best?

If you want to get Red Carpet Ready, first you have to decide that it is a MUST – not a “should” or “wish”.

“To decide is to make up one’s mind to what shall be done and the way to do it.” – Dictionary.com
If you decide to get in shape but take no action, then you’re just  hoping it will happen and haven’t actually decided anything. Once you’ve decided, I want you to take immediate action. Do not hesitate. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Get that ball rolling. Do a kitchen purge or join a gym.  Clean out the spare room to create an exercise space or order your Red Carpet Ready Starter Kit, or a pair of Valslides. The important part is that you do something towards your goal today!

“To become different from what we are, we must have some awareness of what we are.” – Zen saying

The purpose of this is to get a clear understanding of where you are, NOT to beat yourself up over it. When I heard Tony Robbins speak at the recent Women’s Conference, he said, “To make a change, first you must see things how they really are – not worse than they really are and not better than they really are.” I love this! I think we often judge ourselves too critically or we simply don’t want to face the facts. I want you to weigh yourself, take your measurements and your “before” pictures. I promise, you will thank me later.

Sometimes it’s hard to assess ourselves. Maybe you’re not sure what you’re doing wrong. Or, maybe you feel like you need some direction to get started towards your Red Carpet Ready goals. I offer personal body assessments specifically for these reasons. Taking all aspects of your life into consideration, along with your current diet and workout plan, and current photos (soon to become your “before” photos), I’m able to guide you in the right direction. I’ll be able to tell you what’s standing in the way of you becoming Red Carpet Ready. I can offer diet and exercise modifications, and answer any questions you have about what you’re currently doing and the changes you need to make. Your personal body assessment will be captured on DVD and mailed to you.  I am offering this popular service for 20% off for 4 days only – you can get your assessment HERE.

Be Consistent. This, probably more than anything, will determine if you live Red Carpet Ready. A mediocre plan, done consistenly, will trump the greatest workout in the world done sporadically. So choose a plan that fits in your life now, not how it might be when your kids are in school, you finish college or your boss stops asking you to stay late. You don’t need 2 hour workouts to get results.  Start with 30 minutes 3 times per week. You will be amazed at how quickly this pays off.

So come on, DECIDE today to live Red Carpet Ready, because your LIFE is an EVENT!