Brunette Ambition (13 page)

The reason I love working out in my backyard with Devon is that I can keep it extremely focused—and she makes it so much fun for me, which is the real trick of it all. If you find classes, a routine, or workout buddies that make this a time you can actually look forward to, it’s so much easier to push through a challenging hour. I can accomplish everything there that I would in a gym (without the gym fees or the travel time). I know trainers are really expensive, so that’s why Devon and I have included my favorite exercises in this chapter, which you can do in your own home with just a few tools. (I often do them on my own, though Devon pushes me harder than I can push myself!) In a good week, I try to work out three times: Devon and I will do one session in my backyard, and then we schedule in one hike and one yoga session. Finding local hiking trails and exploring your city by foot is a great way to experience your area and get your heart rate up—all without spending a dime.

Finding local hiking trails and exploring your city by foot is a great way to experience your area and get your heart rate up—all without spending a dime.

When it comes to fitness, it’s most important to take your own internal temperature and see how you feel: Feeling listless? As counterintuitive as it may be, a vigorous walk will inject so much energy into the rest of your day. It doesn’t really matter how often you work out or how many reps you get in; what matters most is that you’re listening to your body and giving it what it needs. It can be so hard to motivate to get up and moving—so hard!—but you’ll always feel better afterward. Now, of course, I always feel better after sitting on my couch and watching an episode of
Don’t Be Tardy
on Bravo. Some days, that
is
what your body needs—and if I’ve been diligent about getting my exercise in, I’ll always cut myself some slack and couch potato it out. But if it’s been a few days, I try to do something small: A quick walk on the treadmill is enough to get me restarted and reenergized, and ultimately back on track.

SWEAT ESSENTIALS

Devon’s Five Quick Ways To Add More Movement To Your Life

1. Always take the stairs instead of the elevator.

2. When you go to the mall or the grocery store, aim for the parking spot as far from the entrance as possible——then do biceps curls with your groceries or shopping bags as you walk back.

3. Do squats or sit-ups during commercial breaks.

4. If you have a pet or a child, get down on the floor and play.

5. Instead of using a traditional desk chair, swap it for a stability ball——this forces you to work on your posture and your abs during computer time.

I bought a bike so that I could ride it around the Paramount lot between takes!

I tried snowboarding and it was a crazy-good workout—I incorporate activities into as much of my free time as possible.

Motivation Mix/Sweat Mix

1. “Sexy Back”——Justin Timberlake

2. “Locked Out of Heaven”——Bruno Mars

3. “I Love It”——Icona Pop

4. “Womanizer”——Britney Spears

5. “Run the World (Girls)”——Beyoncé

6. “Starships”——Nicki Minaj

7. “Americano/Dance Again”——Glee

8. “Firework”——Katy Perry

9. “Dancing on My Own” ——Robyn

10. “Only Girl (in the World)” ——Rihanna

WORKING OUT THE KINKS

There’s nothing worse than a big, painful knot in your back—it can make it hard to work, to relax, and even to sleep. When stretching isn’t enough, you often need immediate relief—without necessarily breaking the bank on an expensive spa massage. Big knots require intense pressure (more than a helpful friend can provide), so I use my own body weight and a tennis ball to really work out the kinks. You lie on a tennis ball and position it under your knot. You can move around a bit until the knot is gone!

WORKING OUT IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

This is how Devon keeps me red-carpet ready—you can do these exercises with minimal equipment in your own backyard!

Beautiful baby Juliette was born in 2013!

Dynamic Stretch Warm-Up

It is important to warm up with dynamic stretches, which involve moving through the muscles in the stretched position. Static stretching (think old-school gym-class stretches) should be done at the end of the workout, as it forces the muscles to relax and ultimately turns them off. While this is perfect as a cool-down, it’s not the right tactic at the beginning of a workout—in contrast, dynamic stretches prepare the muscles for weight-bearing activity.

1
DYNAMIC LEG SWINGS — 15 EACH SIDE

This is a dynamic stretch to get the entire system warmed up. Straighten your leg and swing it forward, and then bend it as you swing it back. Increase your range of motion as your muscles stretch and warm up. This stretches the quad, hamstring, and psoas (hip flexor).