A Red Carpet Ready Workout – Just In Time for The Oscars!

I woke up this morning feeling inspired to share with you some of my favorite new things. I wanted to make a favorite things Friday video, but then I thought, this Sunday is the Oscars … I must share a Red Carpet Ready® workout! So, lucky for you, some of my Red Carpet Ready® workouts include my new favorite things.

If your motivation needs a boost, a little shopping could be just the ticket.

I am loving my Splits59 workout gear. I haven’t yet purchased anything from their new Spring collection, but that’s coming soon. In this video I am wearing:
Ashby Tank
Venus Fitted Jacket

I also love my new ASICS! By far, the best workout shoe. And guys, they have have great gear for you too!!

Of course, you already know how fabulous the Valslides, Valband and Valband Deluxe’s are, so I’m going to skip directly to my Gymboss Timer. I love this thing! It is like my own personal trainer, pushing me, challenging me, keeping me going until it beeps. I am doing a lot more time based circuits lately, and the Gymboss gives me a chance to try and beat my score each time. For this workout, I set the timer for 10 seconds rest, 20 seconds work period. You can get your own Gymboss timer HERE.

My very latest favorite thing is my dip station. I have always loved rows of every kind, but body weight rows are my current favorite and my dip station makes it easy for me to do them at home. I am also doing hanging knee raises and working to get stronger at the chest dips. I had a couple of my celebrity clients purchase this favorite thing of mine and we are having so much fun with it – much more fun than all the expensive machines in their gyms. To learn more about the dip station, go HERE.

And now for the workout … this is what a Red Carpet Ready® workout looks like. Big circuits, hitting all the major muscles. Do this circuit 3 times, and don’t forget to do your Movement Prep before beginning the workout.

Valband Side To Side Step – 20 seconds

Valslide Reverse Lunge with Kettlebell – 20 seconds (each leg)

Body Weight Row – 20 seconds

Valslide Side Lunge with Chest Press – 20 seconds (each leg)

Valband Deluxe Lunging Chest Press – 20 seconds

Valslide Body Saw – 20 seconds

Valslide Alligator Walk – 20 seconds

For fun, you could then do this circuit, 3 times:

Single Leg Step Ups – 20 seconds (each leg)

Dumbbell Shoulder Press – 20 seconds

Biceps Curl – 20 seconds

Triceps Extension – 20 seconds

Hanging Knee raise OR Hip Lift – 20 seconds

Check out my favorite things, enjoy the workout and live your life Red Carpet Ready®- because your life is an event!!

Please be sure to leave me a comment below because that is my MOST favorite thing of all!

Love,

Val

What’s In Your Bag?

Have you ever been curious to know what some of your favorite celebs are carrying around in their oversized bag?

Well, Marie Claire wasn’t afraid to ask. In the June 2009 issue of Marie Claire (Beyonce on the cover), their Beauty Snoop features a look into what Jennifer Garner  carries in her Pashmy Mummy bag. 

Of course, I was curious to see what Marie Claire had discovered…

In addition to the sunblock that Jen makes sure to carry at all times, both for herself and her daughters, as well as the other goodies she keeps in her bag, she also always has her Valslides!

Since the Valslides are virtually weightless, yet make for an awesome workout even when you’re on the go, it makes sense to have them with you at all times.

Check out what I’m carrying around in my bag …

• Water – because you should always hydrate!
• iPhone – to stay connected. I don’t ever leave home without it!
• Color Science brush on sunscreen & Solar Protect SPF 58 – because skin expert to the stars, Nerida Joy, tells me to wear my sunscreen at all times.
• Valslides – Do you even need to ask? Simply the most effective and most portable exercise equipment on the market. Get yours at www.Valslide.com
• A long sleeve t-shirt – since I always get a bit cold.
• Primal Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss – I don’t wear much make up, but even at the gym, your lips gotta shine!
• Hawaii inspired pen – this is to write up workouts, record thoughts, and jot down notes to myself.
• iPod Shuffle –  I gotta have my music with me, just incase I get to sneak in a lil’ workout!
• Valband – every workout begins with a Valband.
• Snacks: Think Thin Bar, Almonds & California Raisins – a girl’s gotta eat!
• Altoids – for minty fresh breath.
• Flip Camera – just incase I want to film some exercises on the spot.

So now that you’ve seen mine  … What’s in YOUR bag?

Kicking Off Motivational Mondays

This past weekend in LA was truly spectacular – it was a little taste of Summer! Many people were enjoying their time on the beach, soaking up the sun. If the thought of being in a bikini has you in a bit of a panic, don’t worry, my “I Want My Bikini Body”, the ultimate beach beach body workout, is coming soon. These workouts will help you burn excess body fat, flatten and tighten your belly, lift and shape your butt, and tone your arms. Some of the girls in my Red Carpet Ready Club have been sampling these workouts for the past couple weeks, and loving them. Here is what one of them had to say:

“Oh, my gosh. What an incredible workout! In my opinion, this workout was one of the most intense workouts, but incredibly enjoyable … I loved this workout. I liked the combination of valslide/valband cardio, traditional strength and then the sculpting exercises. Val, I cannot tell you how excited I am to get this ebook. I think my body will really respond well to these workouts.”
-Jennifer Hardy

Since my beach body workouts aren’t quite ready for release, I wanted to provide another form of motivation to get everyone fired up for Summer – it’s just 5 weeks away!! I’ve found that we often respond very well to a visual stimulus of what we hope to achieve in terms of goals having to do with how we look. Taking that into consideration, here are what I believe to be bikini worthy bodies:

All of three of these women have made diet & exercise a priority in their life, and it shows!

Val’s Top 5 Bikini Body Shortcuts

Spring has sprung, and bikini season will be here before we know it. Can you imagine yourself on the beach in a bikini? If that thought has you mortified then read on for my “Top 5 Bikini Body Shortcuts”.

1. Start Now!
Don’t wait for Monday or until you’re less busy, stressed, tired, etc. You can make simple changes right now that will have you feeling bikini ready by June.

2. Kitchen Purge.
This is a great place to start. If you’ve decided that you’re ready to get a bikini body, then it helps to take immediate action. Get a large trash bag and throw out all the junk. This includes cookies, crackers, white rice, bread and pasta, sodas, peanut butter that isn’t all natural, and any other overly processes food. The reason for this is to eliminate temptation. I believe that if you have to rely on willpower, your program will ultimately fail. If your trigger food is not in the house when a craving hits, you are far less likely to eat it. If you want to be bikini ready, you will need to learn how to eat “clean”. In my book, Red Carpet Ready, I share with you the best foods to have on hand, but to get you going, choose foods with few ingredients, ie. chicken breast, spinach, eggs, oats, apples … you get the idea.

3. Strength Train.
The best shortcut to a bikini body is to use resistance. It can be body weight, stretchy bands, machines, or free weights. My specially designed circuits will blast fat and create sexy curves in record time. You can do them at home or at the gym, so there is no excuse!

Val’s Sample Circuit:

Valband side to side hops (20 reps)
Single leg reach across (15 reps)
Valslide reverse lunge with 2 arm row (12 reps, each side)
Dumbbell chest press with twist (15 reps x 10lbs)
Stability ball roll-aways (15 reps)
Crunches on stability ball (20 reps)
**do circuit 3 times**

4. Be Accountable.
One of the reasons I am so successful with getting clients in shape is that I hold them accountable. I have my clients write down the foods they are eating and I review this with them. While not everyone has a trainer to be held accountable to, the Red Carpet Ready Club (members’ forum) does an amazing job. As one Red Carpet Ready member said, “The forum is one of the first things I think of when I might get off track with my eating or exercise. To know that everyone is supporting me and cheering me on towards success keeps me motivated to stay on track, be accountable for my workouts and think twice before I eat something I know I shouldn’t” -Nikki
Get 2 months free access to the Red Carpet Ready Club when you purchase the e-book at www.RedCarpetReady.com

5. Get Valslides.
The Valslide was voted “Best Stability Trainer” by Men’s Health magazine for good reason. The Valslide will accelerate the results of any fitness program and will add dozens of new exercises to your repertoire. You will be amazed at how fun yet challenging using the Valslides can be. Get yours at www.Valslide.com