THEYíVE GOT A LEG TO STAND ON!

 

Celebrity secrets for great looking gams.

 

by Bonnie Siegler

 

Perhaps it started with Betty Grable, the World War II pin-up queen, but legs have been the staple of sexiness in Hollywood ever since.  Great gams might be genetic but most often, those hamstrings and glutes have to be perfected by exercise.  Incredible legs are shown off to perfection in the newest of fashion trends – think Cameron Diaz in her micro mini skirts or sky-high stilettos a la Jessica Simpson.  Find out how you, too, can get a flawless lower half.  Here, the scoop on how some sexy stars keep their legs in tip-top shape.

 

Eva Longoria:  The Desperate Housewives diva is not so in real life, yet both her on-screen look and offscreen petite figure both reveal toned, trim and proportionate legs.  In fact, at 32, the recent bride says her legs are her favorite body parts. The former aerobics instructor sculpts her stems with walking lunges, squats and leg presses and by jumping rope with her personal trainer.  Eva also is known to join in at a beach volleyball game, “though I’m not that good at volleyball,” admits the 5 foot 2 inch star. 

 

Squats:   Stand tall, with feet a little more than shoulder-width apart.  Back should be straight, and abs tight.  Place hands on hips.  Tuck pelvis slightly up and forward.  Raise arms to shoulder level and sit back as if touching a chair with your buttocks.  Press heels into the floor lift toes slightly and keep abs taut.  Your knees should line up over your toes.  Don’t drop hips below knees.  Squeeze buttocks as you lift up to starting position.  Do two sets of 8-12 reps, resting 15 second between sets.

 

Melanie Griffith:  One of this “Working Girl’s” favourite workouts is the Lotte Berk Method, which she says is a great way to get in shape and relieve stress.  “It’s a very intense stretching and strengthening workout that seems to do great things for the body,” explains the 5 foot 9 inch actress.  “Your muscles get lean and strong but you don’t bulk up and you use every muscle in your body.”  Much like Pilates where your core is the centre of the workout, and the focus is total body fitness, Melanie compliments Lotte Berk with regular gym routines and Pilates workouts.

 

Thighs Strengthener: 
Start on knees, feet together, hands on thighs, abs in.  Keeping back straight, tighten buttocks and use thigh muscles to slowly lean back as far as you can (don’t overdo it).  Then hold the position and slowly raise arms, keeping abs in, buttocks tight, back straight.  Hold for five seconds.  Slowly lower arms.  Return to start, using thigh muscles to pull up.  Repeat six times.

 

Michelle Pfeiffer:  You would never think this sexy mom and current Hairspray star ever thought about keeping her legs toned.  At a fit 5 feet 7 inches, Michelle says “I don’t want to look like I’m 21 years old, but I do like to keep fit.  I had to do some dance routines for Hairspray and found out I was out of shape for that, so I worked out three days a week to get my legs and foundation stronger.”  Michelle, who now lives in Northern California, hasn’t made a movie in five years to concentrate on raising her family, but she previously trained with personal trainer Kathy Kaehler, and now does some of her former routine.

 

Inner Thigh Leg Lifts: 
Lie on your right side, with head on right hand and left hand in front of you for support.  Bend your left leg in front of you and place a rolled-up towel underneath it; keep your right leg in line with torso.  Point your right foot and lift leg toward the ceiling as high as you can, then lower it.  Do 15 reps, three sets.

 

Lisa Rinna: Now starring on Broadway alongside hubby Harry Hamlin in “Chicago”, Rinna is very disciplined when it comes to her exercise routine.  The 5 foot 7 inch former Melrose Place star has to take her exercise seriously in order to fit into those revealing outfits.   Besides regular yoga and Pilates, her other secret may surprise you.  “I love to do the strip tease workout using a lot of the pole work,” says the mom of two
daughters.  “It gets your lower half in tiptop shape and it’s a great total body workout, too.  There are so many squat positions that your upper thighs and calves get a real workout.  It’s very gymnastic in nature and Harry loves the way I look.”

 

Bent over Tight Squats:  Stand with legs together.  Feet are parallel and pointed forward.  Knees are slightly bent as you touch the floor with  fingertips. If you’re sitting, squat down approximately 6-12 inches.  Squeeze inner and outer thighs.  Keep the feet straight and flat on floor.  Straighten legs and come back up.  Repeat 12 times.

 

Cindy Crawford:  This supermodel’s sexy fitness has gotten her multimillion-dollar contracts over the years.  “I do have curves and boobs,” admits the 5 foot nine inch beauty and mother of two.  “I’m not interested in being super thin; I like feeling athletic and having a body.  I wish maybe I didn’t have to work out so much, but if I don’t, I can get big thighs.”  Crawford says.  “I love shaping my body and controlling it, defining your muscles.” she says.  Biking or rollerblading along the beach with her family with or hiking it in the nearby canyons helps keep her legs in shape, but Cindy also does a gym routine. 

 

Lunges:  Standing with legs shoulder-width apart, place left foot in front of right.  Bend left knee and rest hands on left thigh.  Keeping right heel flat on  floor, lower right knee toward the ground. Go down and up, keeping  left knee aligned with left ankle.  Do 10 reps, and then switch sides.  “I do about three sets of 10,” says Crawford.

 

Kate Hudson:   Whether on the beaches of Australia or Malibu, Kate Hudson mixes up her outdoor routine to keep her legs in shape.  So you think a day at the beach is all fun and game?  From riding the waves on a surfboard to brisk walking on the beach, Hudson at age 28, has never looked better.  “I’ve never been more active in my life,” says the 5 foot 6 inch mom of youngster, Ryder.