Princess of Soul

Work Out & Stay Gorgeous, Whatever Your Budget

It’s well-known that the fountain of youth is exercise. Sure, you can always frost the cake with injections, extractions, and full-on plastic surgery, but the key is to build on a solid foundation. While there’s always some fun workout du jour to try, the best results come simply from focusing consistently on what works. “Through tried-and-true methods, it is possible to reach your fitness goals without jumping on the bandwagon,” notes celeb trainer and Mixed Martial Arts fighter Jeff Halevy, a certified National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM) trainer and life coach who specializes in motivational, non-trendy workouts that concentrate on strength and endurance. “I teach my clients to chase performance numbers, not numbers on a scale.” (Happily, for the aesthetically-obsessed, the main side effect of his tried-and-true approach is a hot bod.) And if hiring a personal trainer is too much of a financial stretch right now, then lace up your shoes and DIY because Jeff has this effective workout to get you back in fighting shape at home:

(If you’re unsure about some of the exercises, it might be worthwhile to hire a trainer for one or two sessions to make sure your form is correct and that you’re using the right weights. But in the long run, all it will really cost you is hard work and commitment…and remember: never underestimate the power of your intentions.)

CARDIO:

Forget long boring sessions on the treadmill! Jeff focuses on intense sprints - which are proven to ramp up endurance, increase cardiovascular health, and burn tons of calories.

1. Warm-up: 10 minutes walking on treadmill.

2. Hill Sprints: change the incline to 3 and do 6?12 rounds of sprints. Each sprint should be at close to your maximum speed for 40 seconds. Follow with a 20 second mini rest. (To stay in your most effective zone, try wearing a heart rate monitor watch

.)

3. Cool Down: 3-5 minutes easy walking.

STRENGTH:

You already knew this, but provided you’re not dabbling in steroids for whatever reason, lifting weights won’t bulk you up like a bodybuilder. The fact is, the more muscle you build in large areas (like legs), the more calories you burn when you’re not working out. Instead of heavy weights, Jeff advocates moderately-heavy lifting because it’s the quickest route to muscle growth & strength, which translates to gorgeously toned legs, arms, and abs.

1. Leg Workout: Back Squats

4 sets of 8 reps using a weight that’s just shy of failure. Between each of the four sets, take a strict 1 minute rest.

2. Abs Abdominal Circuit:

30 leg raises 30 full-range sit-ups 30 upper abdominal crunches

3. Bulgarian Split Squ