The Healthy Bride

This was posted on a twitter account yesterday, and I clicked the link to see what “celebrity trainers” had to say these days. I have to say, that I was pretty underwhelmed by this workout and I am willing to share why this is true and what I would instruct a client to do instead. The bold ink are my comments.

“You’ve found your dream dress, so naturally you want to make sure you look great walking down the aisle in it. But adding exercise to your long list of things to do might seem like a recipe for stress, especially if you haven’t been hitting the gym on a regular basis. Don’t panic, says Tracy Anderson, creator of the “Tracy Anderson Method” workout (tracyandersonmethod.com) and trainer to such celebrities as Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox and Shakira. “It’s never too late to start exercising. If you have four to six weeks you’ll still be able to lose weight and increase muscle definition.”

“Here, Anderson shares some moves you can do in the comfort of your own home. Her tip for staying motivated without a trainer? “Changing up your workout is key!” (Agreed!) she says. “Your muscles are so intelligent and once they get used to a routine they get bored and your results stagnate. (True!) These signature moves have helped countless women achieve toned and defined bodies.”

HIPS AND THIGHS

1. Grab a chair and holding onto it for balance (why not use your own abs for stability? Using a chair gives you a rest rather than work, so let go of the chair and pull your abs in tight), extend one leg to the side, foot flexed. Then point your toe and lift your leg as high as you can; flex your foot on the way down. (Be sure you don’t turn your knee to the ceiling, keep it forward). Do 50 reps then switch legs.

2. Continue to hold the back of the chair (NO! Use your abs) for balance, extend one leg straight behind you. Point your toe and pulse the leg up. Do 50 reps then switch legs.

3. Sit on a mat or towel with your right leg extended and left leg bent, left foot on the floor with toes forward. Flex right foot and turn it out, away from the body. First lift right leg so it’s parallel to angle of left and point toes. Then return to starting position. Do 50 reps then switch legs. (I would rather have you work your adductors standing, with a light resistance band around your ankle, pull the leg over the center line of your body, crossing your supporing leg.  You will work your stabilizing leg, your core AND your adductors)

ABS

1. Lie on your back, legs flat and arms overhead, hands holding a 3lb or lighter hand-weight. As you lift your upper body, raise your legs 90 degrees touching the weight to your shins. Lower slowly; do 50 reps. (good exercise, but make sure your back is strong enough.  You might want to start with no weight.

2. Continue to lie on your back with your legs out in front of you, crossed at the ankles. Do a crunch and lift one of your legs at the same time to a 90-degree angle. Slowly release the crunch while lowering legs. Do 50 reps. (Good exercise)

ARMS

1. Stand with feet at shoulder width and extend arms to the sides at shoulder height. Keeping shoulders down, do 50 small arm circles going forward, then 50 circling backwards. (You can also do this for time, start at 1 minute and work up)

2. Continue to stand with feet at shoulder width, a 3lb hand-weight in each hand. Take straight arms up to a high “V,” then lower. Do 50 reps. (Good one!)

3. Hold a 1 to 3-pound weight above your head with elbow bent at a 90-degree angle. Then lift weight straight over head. Do 50 reps on each side. (or 25 reps arms moving together, if you are looking for shoulder definition, I would use heavier weights than 1-3 pounts.  Start at 5 pounds and work up.  Do 30 reps instead of 50)

Tags: bridal workout review, healthy bride review of tracy anderson bridal fitness workout, review of celebrity trainer tracy anderson, tracy anderson workout review

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 5:35 pm and is filed under bridal fitness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.