Monday, February 28, 2011

Coleen McLoughlin's personal trainer gives us six of the best exercises to transform you

Coleen McLoughlin's fitness regime takes in aerobic work, pilates, stretching and more, with her personal trainer Elise Lindsay putting her through a host of specially tailored exercises.Here are the basics for six of the best.


FOR THE WEDDING DAY
We’ve been doing a lot of shoulder, back and arm work because, as with most bridal dresses, Coleen’s shoulders will be on display and when she’s dancing at the reception she’ll have her arms up and nobody wants bingo wings.



Coleen shows the results of her fitness regime

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With Coleen now, it’s really about muscle definition, so for the past few weeks I’ve had her doing a super tough set of Reverse Flies and Lateral Lifts straight into Shoulder Presses without a break.


Reverse Fly
Lean forward from the hips, arms lengthening down towards the floor and palms facing inwards. Hold a weight in each hand, lift the arms out to the sides to shoulder height, nip the shoulder blades together, then return arms to the side.


Lateral Lift
Feet hip-distance apart. Hold a weight in each hand, arms by your sides. Keep the arms straight, lift them out to the sides to shoulder height – do NOT lock the elbow. Lower the arms with control.


Shoulder Press
Start with a weight in each hand, arms at shoulder height. Keep the elbows underneath the wrists. Push the weights up above the head, slightly in front (so you can see your hands at all times), don’t unlock the elbows.Return to the starting position.


FOR THE HONEYMOON
Nobody will see her legs on the wedding day but Coleen wants to look good in her bikini, so we’ve been doing leg and abdominal exercises as well as a LOT of bum work – really toning those gluts. These are three key moves.


Squats
Hold a weight in each hand and stand feet slightly wider than hips: feet parallel, toes pointing forward. Keep the weight in your heels and think of the chest lifting as you bend the knees. Send the tailbone backwards while maintaining a flat back. Breathe out as you return to standing, slightly squeezing the abdominals and gluteals as you lift the body.


Leg Extension
This works the abs. Lie on the back, knees bent at right angles above the hips. Breathe in to prepare. Breathe out, draw your navel to your spine, extend one leg away from you – but do NOT allow the back to arch or abdominals to dome. Breathe in as you return the foot to its starting position. Repeat on the opposite side.


Glut Push
Get on all fours in a table-top position (back flat, hands underneath your shoulders, knees under hips) and engage abdominals. Lower the forearms to rest on the floor. Extend one leg behind you, bend the knee and flex the foot. Squeeze the gluts and push up towards the ceiling, focusing on the bottom – do NOT let the back arch, keep hips level. Lower the leg back to its starting position.

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