5 Reasons Why You WILL Get Your Best Body Ever in 2012

Every year starts with a flurry or resolution making. Typically, getting in shape is at the top of the list.  Then stuff happens (kids get colds, you have to work late) and the slippery slope of the uncommitted begins.I believe this year will be different for you.

I’ve been getting emails and hearing on Facebook and Twitter how bad you want it.I have created programs for you that work and I’ve introduced you to others like my friend John Romaniello who have also shared their best stuff. You have an incredible free resource at Livestrong.com and you can find a supportive community in the Red Carpet Ready Club or over at Jason Ferruggia’s Inner Circle.

There really are no excuses left.

Remember that Tony Robbins says “our past doesn’t equal our future”.  We can change.  You can change and I believe
you will.

Here’s why:

1. You want it. You really really want it.

Last year, getting in shape was something you thought you “should” do. Maybe you worked out some, until you got too busy or maybe you were in a bit of funk and just couldn’t push it very hard in your workouts. Well that was then. 2012 is about getting your best body ever!

No matter what! You want it, you can have it but you will have to do the work.

Three moves for arms, investing zero dollars in your equipment or just doing pilates is not going to cut it. You will sweat but you will love it! Getting your best body is now a”must” not a “should”.

2. You follow the plan.

Lots of different plans work but they don’t work if you don’t actually do them.

You are not a vegetarian if you still eat bacon on Sundays.

You are not doing Intermittent Fasting if you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at conventional times.

And you’re not following my Bikini Body Express plan if you only workout 2 times per week. You may get some results but they will not be the spectacular results that others are getting.

 It was so lovely to meet you again- you are always so encouraging and positive. I remembered how I told you at the reunion 2 years ago, that I simply couldn’t do the clean eating thing. You just gently but firmly disagreed with me then. Fast forward 2 years and it turns out YOU were right. Following your BBX program finally transformed my eating habits- It seems very strange, but eating clean is not difficult for me any longer.

The best thing was the last…trying on all the glamorous dresses (AND FITTING INTO size 4 and 6!!!!

- Silke Sheppard

3. You finally ditch the process junk and eat real food.

Ok, maybe you aren’t doing drive through anymore (thank goodness) but those frozen diet foods, sugary cereals, supermarket sushi and chocolate bars masquerading as protein bars have got to go.

The easiest way to make the switch is to do a giant kitchen purge and then a restock. Make sure you have healthy stuff on hand so you can make dinner in the same amount of time as it takes for the pizza delivery to show up.

Think about when you eat processed food and why. Is it because you skipped breakfast and then couldn’t resist the muffin at Starbucks? Is it because you just got home, you’re tired and there’s no food in the house?

Remember what I’ve said before “strategy trumps willpower.”

Get your strategies in place.

It will make healthy eating more automatic.

4. You eat and drink green.

It is an indisputable fact that green foods, like spinach, kale, broccoli, asparagus and more are the cornerstone of every healthy diet yet many people still aren’t eating enough of them. I know you think you don’t like veggies but you’re not twelve.

It’s time for you to do what’s good for you.

In the beginning, really try to eat what’s in season. They’ll taste soooo much better.

You can also sneak them into everything have a green smoothie, my more veggie than egg scramble or loaded vegetable soup. Add super greens to your morning drink. I put them in my Valrise everyday and sometimes again in my smoothie.

Try having a green juice for your afternoon snack instead of coffee and a muffin. The benefits are enormous but what you’ll notice right away is not only how good you feel but how good you feel about yourself.

It is a very clear action that says you love and respect your body, it is your temple after all.  Think of these greens (veggies, powders and juices) as your temple food.

Do this and other good acts tend to fall into place.

I LOVE this stuff:

5. You stay with it.

All trainers will tell you the most important thing is consistency. The best plan in the world won’t work if you quit. Sometimes you get results immediately but most results come with consistent action over time.

I started lifting weights at 14 and have not taken more than 2 weeks off since.

Cindy Crawford had a standing appointment with me, Monday Wednesday, and Friday at 10am for 10 years!

I’m pretty sure she is equally consistent now.

Poppy Montgomery works out a minimum of 3 times per week (usually 5 times) even while shooting her television show 15 hours a day and taking a red-eye to Los Angeles.

That’s commitment.

What are you committing to? How bad to you want it?

Leave me a comment below.

The Puff Report

Are you feeling puffy? Is the travel, late nights, parties, alcohol and sweets giving you the dreaded carb face? Does your stomach feel swollen and your digestion off? You may need to de-puff. I know I do.

Fortunately it’s rather painless and in 4 days or less, you will be feeling remarkably slimmer.

I used a similar plan with my client Rachel Nichols, who had just 4 days between a vacation in Brazil (including the long flight back) and her Maxim magazine cover shoot. She totally rocked her shoot and you can rock your next event if you follow my de-puff routine. You will need a few supplies outside of your normal Red Carpet Ready food.

They are:

- 1 bag frozen peas
- A couple lemons
- Dandelion Root
- Chia Seeds
- Coconut Water

Purge & Prepare

Start with a kitchen purge. You absolutely must get the cookies, candy, crackers and other puff inducing foods out of the house. The first day is the toughest because you may be detoxing a bit which leaves you a little vulnerable. Make it easier on yourself by removing the temptation and replacing them with flat belly foods. Also now is the time to stock up on your de-puff rescue items.

Hot Lemon Water & Frozen Peas

Start your de-puff routine with a cup of hot lemon water. This will act as a mild diuretic. Have a few sips and then find a comfortable place to recline for 5 minutes with the frozen peas on your face. I usually wrap them in a thin t-shirt or a paper towel will work too. This really helps reduce eye puffiness. Continue drinking your lemon water as you relax.

The Valrise

I’ve written about this in a previous blog post. It is something I use regularly but find it particularly helpful when I need to de-puff. The chia seeds are a great source of fiber, so helpful in getting your elimination back on track. The coconut water will help balance electrolytes (particularly helpful if you also have a hangover) and the supergreens add a bunch of important nutrients but even more important is that they bring you back to a more balanced, alkaline state which is what we are going for. So drink your Valrise.

- 4 oz. of coconut water

- 2 tablespoons of chia seeds

- 1 teaspoon of supergreens

- optional 1/2 teaspoon probiotics

Stir vigorously and then drink it down quickly. The chia seeds will start to gel quickly.

The Hangover Workout

Gratuitous shirtless picture of former client and Hangover star, Bradley Cooper.

You have many options here but the goal is to sweat. Since you may have a hangover either alcohol or food related, I do not recommend the super intense 4 minute tabata workouts or wind sprints. Instead, I like big circuits and high reps with a combination body weight and moderate weight exercises. Again, this is just an example. You may prefer a different circuit, a run outside or a hot yoga class.

Hangover Workout

1. Valband Side to sides – 20 reps
2. Overhead Squat  - 15 reps (I just use a stick or dowel)
3. Lunge Kick – 20 each
4. Push Ups – 15
5. TRX Row – 15
6. Valslide Bodysaw – 20
7. Valslide 1 arm slide – 10 each arm

Repeat this circuit 3 times.

1. Half-Jack – 20
2. Valslide Side Lunge with reach – 20 each
3. Bruce Lee Kicks – 20 each
4. Standing Y’s, T’s W’s – 10/10/10
5. Valslide Mini Pike – 15
6. Valslide Upside Down Snow Angel – 20

The Depuff Diet.

You are going to follow the Rachel Nichols’ 4 day Maxim diet for best de-puffing results.

Rachel ROCKED this shoot – with only 4 days to prepare.

Here’s a sample day:

**Coconut water, Chia Seeds + Super Green – 1st thing! (The Valrise)

Breakfast (choose one)

Cherry Berry Cacao Kapow Smoothie OR
Green Goddess Smoothie OR
More Veggie than Egg Scramble

Lunch

4 oz. protein (chicken, fish, steak or eggs) + Veggies or Salad
*Can add 1/3 avocado OR 1/3 cup black beans OR 1/2 sweet potato

 

Snack

Smoothie OR
1/2 apple + 1-2 oz. of cheese OR
Piece of Turkey and some Grapes

(Basically a little piece of protein + 1/2 cup low gylcemic carbs)

 

Dinner
3-4 oz. Protein and 2 cups of Veggies

 

**Dandelion Root – 2caps – 2 times per day

The Soak

I love a good steam when I want to detox but that’s not always an option. My next favorite is just a good soak in the tub filled with hot water and a half of carton of Epsom salt. This also helps me relax and prep for an early bedtime which curbs late night munchies.

Bonus – We’ve all heard the saying “fake it until you make it.” Well, I believe a good fake tan helps your appearance (especially if you are looking ragged from stress or too many late nights) and feeling better with the lift that self tanner gives you should be enough for you to stick with your de-puff protocol.

If you follow my routine you should be puff free in about 4 days. If you need more than just a quick de-puffing, then consider getting a jump start on your New Year’s fitness program with either my Valslide Essentials or my Action Hero Babe Plan. You will have time to de-puff before New Year’s Eve but you need to start now.

What’s Your Word?

I am a bit of a word junkie. This may imply that I fancy myself myself a writer, but alas that’s not the case. I am however fascinated with the way others are able to create with words.

I love the 6 word bio’s. It is just incredible to me how some people can convey so much with so few words. I’m still working on mine but I have managed to come up with my 6 word fitness philosophy: Lift, sweat, stretch, hydrate, smile, repeat.

Recently, the always inspirational Leigh Peele asked the though provoking question, “What’s your sentence?”, she had me pondering this for a week.

What I want right now is not quite as deep. I am looking for some straight up motivation.  I want a word or phrase to grab on to. My mantra. I want to get it locked in and have it steer my course.  Normally, I would mine my vast collection of quotes but then I stumbled on a Nike campaign and I found my inspiration! I love sportswear company campaigns in general and Nike in particular! In my opinion, “Just Do It” was the best slogan ever invented. But it is a new campaign that has my attention now and was just what I was looking for. Check it out…

My word is “Epic”. I’m making myself EPIC.

What’s your word?
Let me know by leaving a comment in the “comments” section below.

Have You Fallen And Can’t Get Up?

It’s not how many times you fall down, fall off, fall over, or fall from…

It’s whether you get back up that matters.

As Tony Robbins likes to remind us, “Your past doesn’t equal your future.”

Watch this super inspirational video and tell me you are ready to get up and start again or go to the next level.

If your New Years resolutions have fallen by the wayside, if your body is feeling soft and you haven’t really committed to the diet you started 6 weeks ago, I’m here to remind you that today is a new day! Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get on with it.

1. Choose your goal.

If you have been stuck lately or not super motivated then maybe you need a bigger goal. There are times when baby steps are appropriate and there are times when you should just dive head first into the deep end. Do something that scares you. Something big enough to get you out of bed in the morning when you’d rather stay under the covers. Circle the date on your calendar and march towards it.

2. Make it public.

I’ll make this easy for you. Declare your goal in the comments section below. I will choose 2 random entries to win a GymBoss timer – my fave new fitness tool.

3. Get a friend.

It definitely helps to have someone to be accountable to. Get your friend to commit to the race, training, program, whatever. The girls in my Red Carpet Ready Club have been tremendously supportive of each other. I know it helps to have someone to count on and to also lovingly hold your feet to the fire. You won’t want to stand up your 6 AM running partner.

Here are some ideas for you (but feel free to come up with your own):

Get your best body ever by REALLY committing to either I Want My Bikini Body or Action Hero Babe. Schedule now, either a beach vacation or a photo shoot for when you complete the program you decide to go with.

Sign up for a race. Even if you’ve never run before, you could run a race 6 weeks from now. Races happen nearly every weekend, so there’s no excuse. Want a bigger challenge? Sign up for the Warrior Dash or Tough Mudder. Check out their websites and videos – that will throw your training into gear!

Are you ready? Declare your goal and get started. You will thank me later, I promise.

“There are only two options regarding commitment: you’re either in or you’re out. There’s no such thing as life in-between.” -Pat Riley