Princess In Training - Malin, Kate, Anne and Julia

Written by Penna Thursday, May 07, 2009

No more excuses, Princess. You've stopped dancing on tables at bars to Britney Spears' "Circus". Your charities and balls are out of the way, you've celebrated yours and all of your friends' Perfect Princess Birthday Parties, you've visited all of your relatives for the past holidays, and you've played hookey from the gym waaaayy too long. No more excuses for why you shouldn't be working out. And, besides, since you just broke up with your boyfriend, you want to make sure you get back at him for his dirty deeds by looking extra extra delicious.

As you know, getting regular exercise is as important as eating a healthy and well-balanced meal, and getting the proper amount of sleep. You must quickly get ready for your next new project, which is an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. You then have to co-host a TV appearance with Sharon Carpenter in two weeks. Yikes, Princess, you'd better get to working out! Fast!

I know I've hunted down some hot sirens in the past who've shared their star-studded workout secrets with us. But, now I've found 4 more sizzling hot chicas that are willing to share with us what they did to prepare for their number 1 movies of the season. Malin Akerman, Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway and Julia Roberts, all share their best kept workout secrets!

Malin Akerman

ROLE Superheroine Silk Spectre II (Laurie Jupiter) in Watchmen

WORKOUT ROUTINE To prep for her first action movie, Malin Akerman paired up with former Navy Seal Logan Hood. The already slender actress "didn't need to make any drastic changes," Hood says. "She did a lot of her own action scenes so we focused on movement, strength and general stamina." Hood helped Akerman increase her endurance and strength with rowing, running and weight lifting.

TRY IT Get your whole body working with one of Hood's circuits: Pace off a distance of 25 feet. Perform 10 squats, then do a walking lunge for 25 feet. Follow up with nine push-ups and lunge back. Then do eight squats, lunge, and follow with seven push-ups. Continue until you reach one push-up.

HER EQUIPMENT 4-7 pound D-ball, D-Ball, $55; d-ball.com.
"To make the circuit more of a challenge you can carry a d-ball with you or overhead," says Hood.

Kate Hudson

ROLE Liv in Bride Wars

WORKOUT ROUTINE Kate Hudson and her long-time trainer Nicole Stuart (who plays a receptionist in Bride Wars) work together throughout the year doing a mix of cardio, yoga and pilates. Hudson's training is constantly changing to target the dynamics of all her muscles with different exercises. "If we run one day for 20 minutes, the next day is a 30 minute run with Pilates. Or if we do stairs one day for 30 minutes, the next day we do an hour and a half Pilates class and then a high pace 15-20 minute run," says Stuart. Pilates and yoga are Hudson's specialties (she has a dancing background), but Stuart keeps her challenged by consistently introducing new moves and being a stickler for perfect form. With a little extra toning and strengthening, the actress was in excellent shape when she started shooting the film. "Kate has an incredible body that keeps looking better and better over time," says Stuart.

Hudson's Workout

TRY IT To tone and tighten your arms like Hudson, do arm circles with light weights. Hold your arms in front of your body in a V-shape with two-pound weights in each hand. Do ten small circles in each direction. Focus on keeping your arms long and stretched out. Keep a little bend in your elbow to avoid joint pain. For a complete arm workout do more than one set. Continue to open your arms wider and repeat until you're at the edge of your peripheral vision then work your way back in. It should be a total of no more than 60 circles out and 60 circles in.

HER EQUIPMENT Two-pound hand weights, $8.92, amazon.com
"Little two-pound hand weights are always great to have around the house, even one-pound weights if you travel," says Stuart.

Anne Hathaway

ROLE Emma in Bride Wars

HER WORKOUT Anne Hathaway and her New York City trainer David Kirsch started to tone her up for the role three months before she starting filming. With an already long and lean physique, Anne's goals were to tone and shape her arms, thighs and abs. "She was comfortable with the way she looked, but she knew she would be sharing the screen with Kate Hudson and wanted to dial it up," says Kirsch. She spent an hour to an hour and a half a day doing weight training (no machines) mixed with rowing hard on the rowing machine and running on the elliptical. The weight training was with heavier weight than she'd used before and included new balance exercises like one-legged dead lifts that challenged her strength and flexibility in both her leg and core muscles. "Anne loved the intensity we put into her workouts for this film—she's very competitive," Kirsch says. "Overall her confidence has improved. Her body is leaner, sexier and more toned."

Hathaway's Workout

TRY IT Intensify your own workout routine like Hathaway by adding weights to your usual squats. With arms at your sides, take a dumbbell in each hand. Stand with legs hip-width apart and toes pointed forward. Bend knees while curling dumbbells into your chest keeping your elbows close to your sides. Once you reach the squat position (try to have your legs at a 90-degree angle) press dumbbells up, stopping just before arms are straight. Then bring your arms back down, reverse the bicep curl and stand up. Repeat 20 to 30 times for a quick full-body workout.

HER EQUIPMENT Ultimate New York Body Plan DVD, $29.99, davidkirschwellness.com
Gym in a Bag, $77.99, davidkirschwellness.com.
"Anne travels everywhere with it and took it with her on the movie set," Kirsch says.

Julia Roberts

ROLE Corporate spy Claire Stenwick in Duplicity

WORKOUT ROUTINE "We change her workouts depending on the role," says celebrity trainer Kathy Kaehler, who has worked with Roberts for over a decade. "I try to keep it very creative so she doesn't get bored." Kaehler used the pool at Roberts' Malibu home for Duplicity workouts so she could spend more time with her three children. They did a mix of running, cross-country ski movements and arm exercises in deep water. "She needs to look good on-screen, but she also needs the strength and energy to run around after her kids offscreen," says Kaehler. "Swimming and water exercises are great ways to build up endurance and stay fit."

TRY IT After a few easy laps to warm up, put on a flotation belt. Run at an easy pace for one minute, at a moderate pace for one and a half minutes, and then at a fast pace for one minute. Repeat five times.

HER EQUIPMENT Julia uses a flotation belt for the deep water running exercises: Hydro Tone Belt, Hydro-Tone Fitness Systems, $50; buy online now at hydrotone.com.

(PPI would like to thank Kate Hudson, Julia Roberts, Malin Akerman and Anne Hathaway)

Tags: Beauty Perfect Princess School workout Princess In Training Malin Akerman Julia Roberts Anne Hathaway Kate Hudson lunges walking push-ups cardio yoga pilates fitness running

< Prev		Next >