Val's Top 5 Bikini Body Shortcuts

Spring has sprung, and bikini season will be here before we know it. Can you imagine yourself on the beach in a bikini? If that thought has you mortified then read on for my "Top 5 Bikini Body Shortcuts".

1. Start Now!
Don't wait for Monday or until you're less busy, stressed, tired, etc. You can make simple changes right now that will have you feeling bikini ready by June.

2. Kitchen Purge.
This is a great place to start. If you've decided that you're ready to get a bikini body, then it helps to take immediate action. Get a large trash bag and throw out all the junk. This includes cookies, crackers, white rice, bread and pasta, sodas, peanut butter that isn't all natural, and any other overly processes food. The reason for this is to eliminate temptation. I believe that if you have to rely on willpower, your program will ultimately fail. If your trigger food is not in the house when a craving hits, you are far less likely to eat it. If you want to be bikini ready, you will need to learn how to eat "clean". In my book, Red Carpet Ready, I share with you the best foods to have on hand, but to get you going, choose foods with few ingredients, ie. chicken breast, spinach, eggs, oats, apples ... you get the idea.

3. Strength Train.
The best shortcut to a bikini body is to use resistance. It can be body weight, stretchy bands, machines, or free weights. My specially designed circuits will blast fat and create sexy curves in record time. You can do them at home or at the gym, so there is no excuse!

Val's Sample Circuit:

Valband side to side hops (20 reps)
Single leg reach across (15 reps)
Valslide reverse lunge with 2 arm row (12 reps, each side)
Dumbbell chest press with twist (15 reps x 10lbs)
Stability ball roll-aways (15 reps)
Crunches on stability ball (20 reps)
**do circuit 3 times**

4. Be Accountable.
One of the reasons I am so successful with getting clients in shape is that I hold them accountable. I have my clients write down the foods they are eating and I review this with them. While not everyone has a trainer to be held accountable to, the Red Carpet Ready Club (members' forum) does an amazing job. As one Red Carpet Ready member said, "The forum is one of the first things I think of when I might get off track with my eating or exercise. To know that everyone is supporting me and cheering me on towards success keeps me motivated to stay on track, be accountable for my workouts and think twice before I eat something I know I shouldn't" -Nikki
Get 2 months free access to the Red Carpet Ready Club when you purchase the e-book at www.RedCarpetReady.com

5. Get Valslides.
The Valslide was voted "Best Stability Trainer" by Men's Health magazine for good reason. The Valslide will accelerate the results of any fitness program and will add dozens of new exercises to your repertoire. You will be amazed at how fun yet challenging using the Valslides can be. Get yours at www.Valslide.com

Happy St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland observed to commemorate one of their patron Saints. Here in the US we've taken it upon ourselves to use the day as an excuse to turn things green.

To show my holiday spirit on St. Patrick's Day, here are a few of my favorite and not so favorite green things:


Cody & Lexi wearing GREEN bandanas to show their holiday spirit! (a favorite)


GREEN Bagels, NOT a favorite. Bagels are not on the Red Carpet Ready plan when they are NOT green, so adding the food coloring just doesn't help!


Show your St. Patrick's Day spirit by taking your Valslides (they're GREEN and a total favorite) to the gym with you!


GREEN Eggs & No Ham - delicious and Red Carpet Ready. How could this not be a favorite?


GREEN Beer, NOT a favorite and NOT great if you want to look Red Carpet Ready


The Luck of The Irish Tropical GREEN Smoothie. Nutritious, delicious, GREEN & a favorite!

I've listed below the recipes for the Green Eggs and the Green Smoothie, enjoy!

Green Eggs & No Ham (serves 1)
Ingredients:
1-3 egg whites OR 1/2 cup Eggology liquid egg whites
1 green onion (chopped) including the green part but reserve the green part for topping
3 cooked asparagus spears (I used grilled asparagus from a left over dinner, but you could easily microwave 3 spears in about 30 seconds)
A bit of cheese (I used about 2 tsps of goat cheese but any or none will do)

Directions:
Spray skillet with Pam cooking spray and heat to med-high.
Add green onions and cook until it begins to wild (1-2 minutes).
Meanwhile, whisk egg whites with a teaspoon of water and salt & pepper.
Add the chopped asparagus spears and give a bit of a stir.
Add the egg whites and turn heat to low.
Gently stir your mixture and add the cheese.
Cook for about 2 minutes.
Top with green part of the green onion.
*Serve with fruit or 1 piece of Ezekial toast


Luck of The Irish Tropical Green Smoothie (serves 2)
Ingredients:
2 big handfuls of raw spinach
1 mango
1 banana
1 cup of water
Some ice cubes

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Valslides In The Media

Valslides' popularity is growing!!

In the past month alone, Valslides have been featured in Men's Health magazine (pg.92), on an E! News segment, and on a television show in the UK called "Superzise Super Skinny", which swamped us with international orders.

In celebration of Valslides success, I made you a video with two new exercises:
Valslide Reverse Lunge to Overhead Lift
Valslide Tricep Push-Up