NEWSOK! BLOG: Loni Works It Out: Ready for My Close-up (Well, Almost!)
Feb. 4 2010, Published 1:00 p.m. ET
Here’s the latest installment of Loni Works It Out, where OK!’s Beauty and Health Editor Loni Albert chronicles her trials and travails as she attempts to slim down like a superstar. Follow her on OKmagazine.com every week and on Twitter!
Quick update: I started working with a new DavidBartonGym trainer! I will always have love for Bill and highly recommend his services to anyone looking to get powered up and slim down, but David Barton reminded me how different trainers have different styles and moving on to a new expert could challenge me physically and mentally.
Since I am always up for a challenge (and since David clearly knows what he’s talking about), I made the swap! And it’s going great!
My new guy, Derrick Smit, is super easygoing and has an endless wealth of knowledge about how the body works. Generally I’m not one to care about the logistics and technical side of things, but when he explains why it’s important to align the spine, or why it isn’t going to be efficient — or safe — to do reps without holding good form, it magically all makes the whole effort of my workout seem a lot more valuable and sensible.
LONI WORKS IT OUT: MEET MY FAMOUS NEW BOYFRIEND!
One thing Derrick always drills into my head is that the way your body gets stronger is by receiving signals that your muscles are stressed. So, when you are on your 10th rep and you feel fatigued and have to really push through, it means you are definitely going to see results! If you finish a workout without stressing any of your muscles, you will definitely have burned some calories, but you won’t be triggering your body to build muscle.
The other exciting thing about working with Derrick is that he reminded me of what this whole project is about: celeb-level fitness! When discussing the looming deadline to my ultimate goal of A-list hotness, Derrick pointed out that I needed to focus as an actress does when preparing for a big role. Would I be a whimsical, all-American Sweetheart like Amy Adams and Kate Hudson? Or a sultry temptress a la Eva Mendes and Scarlett Johansson? No! I would be a butt-kicking, action-hero goddess, like the ever-so-fierce Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
LONI WORKS IT OUT: NO PAIN, NO GAIN
Try out these two moves that are slowly, but surely, sculpting me towards Jolie-sexiness.
THE LUNGE AND TWIST: Derrick says that this move will prepare the action-film star (aka me) for the machine-gun scenes! Try 10 on each side.
• Hold a weighted medicine ball straight in front of you.
• Lunge forward with your right leg, lowering your left knee towards the floor.
•As you reach the full lunge, slowly rotate your torso to the right, twisting your arms (while holding the ball), waist, head, etc.
•Return to center and stand upright.
•Repeat with left leg, twisting to the left.
THE STABILITY BALL PASS: This takes some practice and lots of concentration. Don’t be discouraged if the first few times you end up chasing the ball across the gym – I definitely did. Try 10 total crunches.
•Lay flat on the ground, arms and legs extended and straight.
•Using a small stability ball, pass the ball over your head to your legs, and grab the ball between your feet. Lift your shoulders up in a crunch while you pass it.
•Lower the ball towards the floor, keeping legs straight until your legs are about 6 inches above the floor.
• Lift your legs to pass the ball back towards your arms, again crunching up.
• While you return to the starting position, be sure to keep your legs slightly off of the ground.
Tune in next week for more of my fitness tips and travails!
If you have any questions hit me up on Twitter @LoniWorksItOut and I’ll answer anything — promise!
