Sure, celebs are blessed with great genes, often in the form of enviably flat abs, naturally skinny arms and a tiny tush (not to mention shampoo commercial-worthy hair). But make no mistake—they also have to work hard at keeping their toned bods, whether they’re hourglass, ruler or triangle, in stellar shape. And they do that by enlisting the help of top celebrity trainers who whip their bodies into lean machines.
Rip a page out of their playbook by trying these sculpting moves, brought to you by the fitness gurus behind Hollywood’s hottest bods.
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This celeb with the beaming Cheshire cat-like smile and contagious laugh stays in shape for her movie roles and to keep up with her three kids. Who is she?
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Julia Roberts
The “Eat, Pray, Love” star is committed to her workouts with celebrity trainer Kathy Kaehler. Get in touch with your inner (and outer) Pretty Woman with this move that tones your abs and arms.
The move: Up-and-down planks. Start in plank position with your palms and toes on the floor, legs together. Make sure your neck is in line with your spine and your shoulders are in line with your wrists. Then go down to your forearms while staying in plank position. Hold for five seconds. Get back up into full plank position and repeat. Try to do 10 each or for one minute.
“I love going from a full plank to a forearm plank—it’s great for arms and core at the same time,” notes Kaehler.
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Kim Kardashian
The most famous (or should we say infamous?) member of the Kardashian clan has worked with the trainer to the stars Gunnar Peterson, to keep her rear and thighs toned and firm.
The move: Skater’s lunge. Stand with your feet together. Leaning forward slightly, sweep your right arm across and past your left leg, and then lunge back with your right leg and sweep it behind your left leg. “It will look like you’re skating on ice,” explains Peterson. Place your right leg back to starting position and switch arms and legs. Repeat.
Start with six to 10 reps per side and perform two to four sets. “Your glutes will be on fire,” says Peterson.
This star of ABC’s “Pan Am” keeps her petite frame tight and toned. Can you guess who?
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Christina Ricci
Elizabeth Burwell, co-owner of High Performance Gym in New York City, is responsible for keeping Ricci’s ruler body in flight-ready shape.
The move: Squats. “Squats are a basic exercise that help strengthen the glutes,” notes Burwell. “They will also add shape and lift to your derriere.”
Stick out your rear end, bend the knees and lower your butt until thighs are parallel to the floor. In most cases, your torso should be parallel to your shins.
Make sure your knees do not extend past your toes. If you can’t get your behind low enough, hold onto something to perform the squats. On the way back up, push outward with your feet as if you are trying to split the floor in two.
Do as many squats as you can for 20 seconds and rest for 10 seconds. Repeat for a total of four minutes.
This actress/singer recently slimmed down by using Weight Watchers and looks better than ever. Who is she?
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Jennifer Hudson
The triangle-shaped star transformed her body thanks to Weight Watchers and working out. Hudson has trained with celeb fitness guru Peterson, who puts his clients through this shoulder-sculpting move, which moves the focus away from curvy hips and onto sexy shoulders instead.
The move: Y press. Hold dumbbells (or water bottles)—one in each hand—at your earlobes, palms facing forward, and press up and out. “So if you’re on a clock and 12 is straight ahead, press towards 10 and 2,” explains Peterson. “Try to not see the weights—they should be out of your peripheral vision.” Bring the weights back in line with your earlobes and then repeat.
Perform two sets of 10 to 15 reps.
This goofy-sweet actress, who also possesses singing and dancing skills, is naturally slim, but that doesn’t mean she rests on her laurels when it comes to fitness. So who is she?
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Anne Hathaway
The Devil Wears Prada…workout clothes, that is. Hathaway relies on celeb trainer David Kirsch to get her trim, ruler-shaped frame toned and ready for her next role.
The move: Platypus walk with a medicine ball. Grasp a medicine ball with both hands and extend your arms overhead. Squat in a sitting position with your knees aligned with your toes and your butt sticking back as far as you can get it.
Keep your abs tight as you walk forward, pushing off through each heel. If you perform the move correctly, your butt and inner thighs will be on fire, according to Kirsch. Walk across the room in one direction and then reverse and walk backward.
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Jennifer Lopez
The triangle-shaped star stays shapely and firm with the help of trainer Peterson, who works his clients’ abs with this core-toning move.
The move: Hinge crunch. Lay on your back with your hands behind your head, with knees and feet together and elevated. “Pull everything in like you’re doing the tightest cannon ball possible,” explains Peterson. “The thought should be, ‘How little of my body can stay on the floor right now?”
Perform two to four sets of 20 to 25 reps.
The newly separated model and host has four kids and yet looks hotter than most 20-year-olds. Who is she?
Heidi Klum
Klum may have been blessed by the genetic gods, but she’s the first to admit that she works hard for her jealousy-inducing hourglass figure. Kirsch, who has trained several Victoria’s Secret models including Klum, puts celebs through his signature tummy-toning move.
The move: Stability ball handoffs. Lie flat on your back, gripping a stability ball on both sides. Reach your arms and legs straight up simultaneously, keeping your back flat on the floor. Pass the ball from your hands to your legs. Lower your legs and arms simultaneously. Now reverse it. Repeat.
“These will tighten and strengthen your abs,” says Kirsch. “It’s great for my celeb clients who are always on-the-go because you can be creative in what you use to handoff, like a pillow if you are in a hotel room.”
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Lauren Conrad
FITiST trainer Jarett Del Bene has worked with skinny triangle-shaped Lauren Conrad, using this multi-tasking toning move for the busy designer. “It’s a full body move that works your legs, shoulders, arms and most importantly your core,” he says. “It’s a great move to maximize your time in the gym.”
The move: Squat and press. Stand with your feet hip-width apart while holding a dumbbell in each hand. Go down into a squat, making sure your knees don’t go past your toes. As you come up from the squat, straighten your arms and raise the weights above your head. Bring the weights back down. Repeat.
Perform three sets of 15 reps.
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Anna Paquin
Burwell has put the skinny triangle-shaped Paquin through her paces with this arms-and-abs toning exercise.
The move: Negative push-ups. From plank position, lower your body slowly down to the floor. Aim to have your head, chest and pelvis reach the floor at the same time.
Perform two sets of 10 very slowly, then increase the set amount as you get stronger.
This age-defying Tony-award-winning actress strutted her toned, inverted triangle body in “Ocean’s Thirteen.” Can you guess who?
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Ellen Barkin
At 57, Barkin can give “20 somethings” a real run for their money. She stays in stellar shape by working out with Kirsch, who swears by this butt-toning move. “It will lift and tone while also shaping your thighs,” says Kirsch. “It is also great for a cardio burn.”
The move: Sumo lunge. Stand with your legs shoulder length apart. Lift your right leg from the knee and move it in a circular roundhouse. Land out to the side, wider than you started and immediately squat down, channeling a real sumo wrestler. As you come out of the squat, lift your right leg and kick out, leading with your heel. Each move should flow smoothly into the next. Repeat.
