FitSugar

Take it From Jennifer Garner: Use the Weight Machines

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:30:00 -0700

I am a big Jennifer Garner fan. Not only does she seem to be totally down to earth as a mom, she also has been slowly toning up (rather than the usual celeb disappearing act) after having that adorable baby of hers.

Looks like one way Jen gets those lovely arms, other than toting Violet around in her arms all day, is by using the weight machines at the gym. Weight machines, along with any other strength training methods, are a great way to tone up those arms. However, be sure you are getting the most out of it with these tips:

On machines that have multiple handles-such as the shoulder-press and row machines-alternate your grip between palms facing forward and palms facing each other.
Be sure you are using enough resistance. The machines tend to allow us to cheat due to their ease of down-shifting the resistance and the conspicuousness of it. Just like with free weights, you want to exhaust the muscles you are working in 10-12 reps.
Slow it down both ways. People tend to go too fast when bringing the machine to the return position and miss a good portion of their workout. So go slow during the entire movement to work opposing muscles as well as primary muscles.
Pay attention to proper form to avoid injury. Technique can usually be learned by simply reading the instructions on the machine or by having a trainer tell you how it works. Keep in mind that most of the time you want your knees, elbows, hips at 90 degree angles.
Been waiting a long time to use that Lat Pull-Down Machine? Ask the person hogging it if you can work in with her. This means that while she is resting in between sets, you do a set and then when you're resting in between sets, she does hers.

For more pics of Jen toning up with weight machines at the gym, read more

View 7 Photos ›

Flynet

How Jennifer Garner Maximizes 20-Minute Workouts

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:30:00 -0700

There never seems to be enough time in 24 hours to accomplish everything and still get a good night's sleep, and the feeling is only accentuated when kids are in the picture. Mom-of-two Jennifer Garner is all too familiar with time constraints and has recently started working out again after giving birth to her baby, Seraphina Rose, a few months ago.

Jennifer works out under the guidance of her trainer Valerie Waters, who offers advice to new moms that could work for anyone without much time in their schedule for fitness. She says to focus primarily on building strength if you're squeezing in workouts and explained, "If you can only exercise 20 minutes three times a week, you should be strength training - squats, push-ups, lunges, planks. You'll burn the same amount of calories [as cardio] but you'll also add lean muscle, which speeds up your metabolism."

A great thing about her advice is that it leaves little room for excuses - all of the exercises she mentioned can be done anywhere, anytime, with no equipment necessary.

Source

Celeb Trainer Valerie Waters on Biel's Booty and Burning Fat

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:50:54 -0700

There's no hiding bellies or behinds when all you're wearing is a bikini. Shape recruited celebrity trainer Valerie Waters for a few tips on getting ready to bare it all - who better than a woman who has worked with clients like Jennifer Garner and Jessica Biel?

Valerie insists that eating clean (and eating breakfast) are big parts of the equation for achieving the body you want, and making your workouts count is the other factor in getting your figure bikini-ready. Her plan: Strength train three days a week, focusing on the big muscles (legs, chest, back, and arms). Increase the amount of fat you burn by doing interval training the other three days.

To learn what Valerie recommends for getting a shapely booty like Jessica's, read more.

Valerie plugged her product when she told Shape, "The Valslide is the secret weapon for a lot of celebrities because it will change your butt faster than anything you've seen. It's like using a slide board except that's it's smaller." She added, "You can do so much to work your butt with no equipment: squats, lunges, step-ups." If you're not in the market for her $30 fitness tool, print out my nine-exercise glutes and hamstrings workout. Take it to the gym with you, and start working that booty.

Jessica Biel Is a Fit Winner!

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:30:00 -0800

While we saw many of our favorite fit female celebrities working to get even fitter in 2007, none more so than Jessica Biel. When she is not walking her dogs, she can be seen hitting the track for a tough session of plyometrics, hitting the beach for a fun workout in the sand, practicing her golf swing, and bumming around post workout with her slightly less fit, but really cute boyfriend Justin Timberlake. So it's no surprise that you guys picked Jessica as your favorite fit female celebrity of 2007!

A close second was superfit "Alias" alum and mommy Jennifer Garner, though many of you decided that Reese Witherspoon should have been on the list. Who's the one to watch for in 2008? Definitely Hayden Panettiere, since she's been hitting the gym more than usual lately. Me, I'm just excited that fit is in, so I can't wait to see who is fit in 2008.
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Flynet

Valslide: A Must for Your Home Gym

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:00:00 -0700

If you ever used a slide board in the 90s, then you know what a great workout it was for your hips, booty, and quads. It only works your lower body though, and celebrity trainer, Valerie Waters (she trained Jennifer Garner in her Alias days) wanted something that would work her total body the same way. That was the inspiration behind her invention of Valslide ($29.99) - cute how it's named after her. It's a pretty simple piece of equipment: two oval shaped pads that are slippery smooth on one side with foam on the other side. You place your hands or feet on the foamy part, and when you're on carpet you can slide in every direction. It makes regular exercises like push-ups and lunges much more challenging. At first I thought these seemed a little dopey, but after seeing them in action I think they are cool. Check out the video to see what I mean after you read more

If you're interested, you can buy Valslide directly from the website, and it comes with two slides and an instruction booklet.

Get The Bod: Hollywood Momma's Baby Weights

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Time and time again I get requests from you guys on wanting to know how to get the bodies of Hollywood's hottest mommies like Heidi Klum, Denise Richards and Gwen Stefani, among others.

Lately I have been seeing a trend among these hands on moms and that is: Using their kids as weights. Hollywood's moms have been ditching their strollers and opting for holding their kids instead, which is why I am not shocked that most of these ladies have some fab post pregnancy arms! Think about it, carrying around two 20 pound children (at the least) in either arm is a phenomenal way to get those guns smokin' hot. If you only have one toddler to lug around, like Gwen Stefani or Jennifer Garner, then switch arms every 5 minutes to give each arm an even workout.

Don't have a pair of toddlers? Check out my starter arms workout to get your arms toned for tank top season the old fashioned way.

There are more pics of hot Hollywood mommas toting their kids around, so read more

View 7 Photos ›

Flynet and Pacific Coast News

A Week of the Happy Healthy You

FitSugar — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 09:30:00 -0800

Soon it will be spring, bringing warmer weather and capped sleeves. So check out the Starter Arms workout video. You can also print out this sheet to take with you to the gym.

If you get cramps when you are running, you should read this post on how to get rid of the stitch in your side.

Happy mom, Jennifer Garner loves cheese more than exercise.

While checking out iTunes this weekend, look for The Fitness Rocks pod cast by Dr. Monte. It is one of my favorites.

Here is a great yoga pose for you to try: 4 limbed staff pose. It is the weekend right? So you have some time to experiment with yoga.

Here are 5 things about caffeine for you to read before you vote on whether or not you consider caffeine a drug.

Interested in finding a new exercise class to take? Well Capoeira will kick your butt.

Do you know how much fiber you are supposed to eat in a day? Test your knowledge with this fiber quiz.