Fitness inspiration: Blake Lively

Today's inspiration is one of actress, Blake Lively's, go-to workouts.  I appreciate that Blake isn't your typical size-zero model; rather, a tall, curvy, relatively normal-looking woman who maintains a healthy weight (granted, yes, she does get payed to stay looking so fabulous with the help of a trainer...).

1. Trim Your Core
Start with this core workout, follow with exercises for legs and arms, then repeat the entire circuit twice.

• Sit on a Swiss ball with the small of your back supporting your weight on the ball and legs bent at a 90 degree angle in front of you. Then, holding a five-pound weight with both hands, place it behind your head and perform 15-20 crunches.

• Lie on your back and place feet shoulder-width apart on the swiss ball. Keep your back flat and arms at your sides. Slowly lift your hips, making a straight line from your chest to your knees and return. Repeat 15-20 times.

• On your stomach, keeping your core muscles tight and engaged, hold plank for 60 seconds, relax and repeat 10 times.


2. Get Sexy Legs
• Perform 20 squats with eight-pound dumbbells in each hand. Make sure your back is straight and knees don't reach out past your toes (like you're sitting in a chair).

• With the same dumbbells, perform 10 reverse lunges on each leg. Make sure to maintain good posture and keep your core muscles engaged.

• Keep your arms at your sides with five-pounds dumbbells in each hand. Perform 20 squat jumps.

Tip: If the weight is too challenging, complete the first week with just body weight. Then, add a few pounds each week until you reach the recommended amount.


3. Rock Your Arms
• Perform 15 bicep curls on each arm with an eight-pound dumbbell. When you're used to the weight, try standing on one leg, do 15 right arm curls on the opposite arm and switch. This extra challenge will engage your core and leg muscles while you tone your arms.

• Using five-pound dumbbells, bend at the waist until your upper body is parallel to the floor and perform 15 tricep kickbacks on each arm.

• Hold five-pound dumbbells in each hand, palms facing in, arms at your side. Slowly lift the weights with straight to shoulder level and return. To also engage your core and leg muscles, stand on one leg with your knee slightly bent for eight repetitions, switch legs and repeat.

Rest as needed and repeat entire core, legs and arms circuit two more times.

If you'd prefer to follow a video, check out this Blake workout:

(Blake looking very svelt at the recent premiere of The Town)

Hope you've enjoyed today's workout!