leg work

You know how much I love multi tasking and when I can combine two things I love, all the better. So I have taken to doing a classic squat while filling my water bottle. Squats and hydration combined, what more could a girl want out of a trip to the office kitchen.

You should try it too, especially if your water cooler is in an inconspicuous spot. Also it helps to not be afraid to look a little un-cool by the cooler. So, instead of bending over with straight knees and rounding your back, stick your booty out and bend your knees and squat. In this situation having a bigger water bottle is a bonus because you will need to hold the squat longer while your big bottle fills up. If you are tall, then you will have to squat a little deeper, but don’t let your pelvis go below your knees.

Do you want more specifics on how to perform a squat? Check out this post: You Don't Know Squat. It should answer any of your questions on technique. If you aren't sure how much water you should be drinking daily, you need to enter your stats in the Fit Calculator and find out.

A little impromptu thigh work and getting some thirst quenching water simultaneously – now that is what I call doubling up.

Spring is coming, which means so are shorts and bikinis! Get killer legs with these stationary reverse lunges.

Here is how to do stationary reverse lunges, step by step:

1. To begin, your feet should be shoulder width apart, torso erect with arms hanging straight at your sides, palms facing in.
2. Take a slow, controlled lunge (or large step) backwards with your left foot.
3. Lower your hips so that your right thigh (front leg) becomes parallel to the floor. At this point your right knee should be positioned directly over your ankle and your right foot should be pointing straight ahead.
4. Your left knee should be bent at a 90-degree angle and pointing toward the floor. Your left heel should be lifted.
5. After reaching the bottom of the movement (when your left knee is almost touching the floor), pause for a moment, or a breath, then push with your left, or back foot to move almost straighten both legs (photo on the left). Keep both feet on the ground - you are not returning to the starting position, just raising your pelvis up a bit and almost straightening your knees.
6. This completes one, now bend your knees and lower your pelvis down to complete another. Do 10.
7. Return to the starting position (standing with both feet underneath your pelvis), now repeat the movement on the other side, stepping back with the right foot. Do ten up and downs (or reps) on this side now too.

Do 2 sets of 10 reps on each leg.
I have some pointers, so read more

Ever wonder how women in the entertainment industry (on Broadway, off Broadway and way off Broadway) are able to move so well in those high heels?

LEGWORK ($19.95) is a new DVD that teaches the daily routines and exercises of top Broadway dancers. What's more? The workout is specifically designed to be done by women in high heels. The Legwork workout was created and designed by high heel designers, top Broadway dancers and ballerinas with the advice from fitness experts and podiatrists. Sounds torturous? Kylin Brady's (the amazing Broadway dancer who helped create the DVD) killer legs are motivation enough.

And here's why, the DVD claims that:

• You will increase sexiness, grace and confidence in heels, leg tone and strength, heal wearing endurance and stamina as well as core strength and control.
• You will learn proper heel walking and control, perfect posture, poise and pose as well as everyday walking exercises and relief techniques.
• You will decrease pain in feet, ankles, legs and lower back, your risk for injury as well as your daily heel wearing discomfort.

Buy the DVD on LEGWORK.com. One thing is for sure, this DVD will definitely make you feel like you're ready for A Chorus Line.

I would say that the names of Pilates exercises and equipment are not really known for their poetry. Joe Pilates was German after all, so there's really a no nonsense approach to much of Pilates. My favorite factoid was that he referred to his work as Contrology. You know, like the study of control.

The first piece of equipment Pilates designed was the Reformer and it is my favorite piece to workout on because it is so dang versatile. You can work out every muscle of your body with this one machine.

Many different companies make Reformers, but my favorite is by Balanced Body - the wood frame makes it look almost homey. If you have enough room in your place to house this machine that is the size of a single bed, than you can hopefully afford the cost. It retails at $3195.

Basically, the carriage moves against spring resistance - there are five springs with different tensions creating an infinite amount of possible weights to work with.

For Footwork, the most basic exercise on the Reformer, you lie with your back on the carriage, put your feet on the foot bar and just push yourself out and control yourself back in.

You can put your feet in the loops (at the end of the ropes) to work your legs. Or attach handles to the ends of the ropes to work your arms. Standing on the machine and moving the carriage really challenges your sense of balance and your core. Ahhh...so many variations, so little time.

To see some of my favorite moves you can do on the Reformer read more