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on Apr 20th, 2014 and filed under Be Your Healthiest Self: The Secrets to Cameron Diaz’s Fitness Plan – Wall St. Cheat Sheet
We all know Cameron Diaz for her talent on the big screen. She also has a stellar body, which she attributes to healthy eating and a focus on fitness. She delves into living a healthy lifestyle in her book, The Body Book: The Law of Hunger, the Science of Strength, and Other Ways to Love Your Amazing Body.
Living a healthy lifestyle isn’t just about looking good for Diaz (she admits to being born with a great metabolism) — it’s about feeling good. She also has the expertise of trainer Teddy Bass, who has helped Diaz achieve great abs, toned legs, and well-defined arms. Lucky for us, both Bass and Diaz are willing to spill their secrets on how to get a great-looking and great-feeling body. Keep reading for some secrets of Diaz’s fitness plans.
Source: Thinkstock
Rock-solid abs
Bass revealed to InStyle two surefire ab moves that Diaz incorporates into her workouts. The first is plank push-ups. Start in a plank position on a matted floor, and with your elbows on the mat, extend your body to its full length. Move one arm at a time to lift yourself into a standard push-up position. Keep your back straight and move back into a plank position. Repeat three sets of eight repetitions.
Now, it’s time to increase the intensity. Begin in a shoulder-width stance, holding a medicine ball at navel level. Rotate the trunk, shoulders, arms and head to one side as far as you can, and then twist back into the opposite direction. You can do this by exercising with a friend, or if you’re going solo for the day, be sure to twist and aim toward the upper corner of the room, while contracting down. Make sure to focus on rotating your feet, hips and shoulders.
And don’t forget cardio. “You need to burn fat with cardio (at least 30 minutes, three to five times per week) to see ab definition,” Bass told Fitness. “Elliptical machines are great, because you have to contract your abs in order to stay upright.” You can also try Pilates, cycling, or kayaking.
Toned legs
Ready to rock cute dresses and skirts with your newly toned legs? Here’s what Bass has Diaz do to achieve carpet-ready legs, according to InStyle.
Start by placing your hands on the floor so they’re slightly wider than shoulder width. Position one leg forward, bent under your body, then extend your other leg back. While holding your upper body in place, alternate leg positions by pushing your hips up as you extend your forward leg back and pull your rear leg forward.
Defined arms
Want shapely arms that resemble Diaz’s? Try the following workout from InStyle. The original exercise requires using an Olympic bar, but if that is too heavy, use dumbbells instead. Stand in a shoulder-width stance with your shin to the bar. Bend at the waist and knees at the same time, and grasp the bar securely in an overgrip.
Keep your spine in a powerful flat position, and breathe in deeply and steadily. Pull the bar to a full military position, keeping it close to the body. Exhale as you exert full force. Pause for a second to allow your muscles to contract, and then return to the starting position by slowly bending your knees and lower back.
Diet
In Diaz’s book, she talks a lot about the importance of eating right in order to fuel your body. To be on your way toward a Diaz-like body, stick with whole foods that are close to their natural form. Diaz cooks for herself daily, and likes to start the day off with a good breakfast. Often, she’ll have oatmeal made from steel-cut oats, egg whites, sautéed greens (collard greens, kale, zucchini), and caramelized shallots with a splash of ponzu sauce, writes USA Today.
If you’re ready to switch up your eating habits, start slowly. “If you drink five sodas a day, just drink two and see the difference. Cut them out completely, and you’ll see a difference. Replace them with water, and you’ll really see a difference,” Diaz writes in her book.
And remember, it’s still OK to occasionally indulge. Even Diaz splurges on a cheeseburger or a bean burrito once in a while.
Health tips from Diaz
- Eat breakfast. It’ll help you think straight and brighten your skin.
- Fill a giant bottle of water before bed. Diaz believes that staying hydrated is extremely important. Have a bottle of water next to your bed and drink it as soon as you wake up in the morning. It’ll instantly hydrate you and replenish your organs.
- Avoid processed foods. In her book, Diaz writes that the additives contained in processed foods kill the healthy bacteria in our gut. Stay away from boxed foods whenever possible.
- Work out when you want to snack. Diaz points out that a lot of people mistake having the munchies for just needing some exercise. The feeling of being hungry can sometimes be your body’s need to gain oxygen.
- Sometimes, pain is a good thing. In her book, Diaz talks about the transformation she went through on the set of Charlie’s Angels: She had a martial arts master who taught her to appreciate her body and work it hard. So take pride in the burn you feel in your abs and quads after an intense workout.
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