A Model’s Fitness Regime

The importance of leading a healthy lifestyle is something that needs no further elaboration. Everybody wants to look good and consequently feel good about themselves. Moreover, by sticking to a balanced diet and following a fitness regime, we give ourselves the best possible chance of living a long, healthy and enjoyable life. However, for the average person, a healthy lifestyle is a choice. But when it comes to a model, it is a necessity. This is an industry whereby your image is everything. You are essentially your product, and the camera is unforgiving! Therefore, you need to make sure you have a strict fitness regime in place to ensure you stay looking fit and fabulous. This post will present you with all of the information you need to know about devising the correct fitness regime for models in particular. Thus, keep on reading to discover some top tips and excellent exercises you should utilise…

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High intensity cardiovascular 

Before delving into specific exercises for certain areas of your body, it is imperative to engage in cardio several times a week. This is something any experienced PT, like Andy Griffiths, will tell you. This should be the starting point for your fitness regime. High-intensity cardiovascular exercise is imperative to ensure you burn calories and decrease body fat. The good thing about it is that there are plenty of cardio exercises for you to choose from and thus you are bound to find something you like. From kickboxing to swimming, to running – the options are endless. The average person is recommended to incorporate three cardio sessions into their weekly routine. However, in the world of modelling, most professionals tend to carry out a cardio exercise on most days – five days a week is advisable, especially before a big show or campaign. Nonetheless, rest periods are important, so don’t overdo it. How can you tell if your workout is intense enough? Your heart rate should be between 75 per cent and 90 per cent of your maximum. 

Archer’s Plank

When it comes to specific toning exercises, let’s begin with the Archer’s Plank. This exercise is highly recommended as it works several areas of your body – your shoulders, chest, arms, back and abs. So, how do you perform the Archer’s Plank? The best way to describe the starting position is as if you were doing a push-up and you are in the raised point of the exercise. Make sure your feet are more than shoulder-width apart from one and other. You need to keep your hips level and pull your belly button in towards your spine. Now, to begin the exercise you need to bend your elbow and take your left arm from the floor and move it straight towards the ceiling. As you are doing this your torso should be rotating left as well. Bring your arm back to the starting position and repeat this for fifteen reps. Don’t forget about the other side of your body either! 

Single-arm Superman

The superman is an exercise that most people have heard of, and thus hopefully this one won’t be too difficult to get to grips with. It is an excellent exercise because it works your shoulders, chest, arms, back and abs – similarly to the Archer’s Plank. The starting position for the Single-arm Superman is again a raised push up position. However, instead of lifting your left arm towards the ceiling, as you do with the Archer’s Plank, you are going to raise your arm and extend it forwards at shoulder height. You can now probably realise why this exercise is called the Single-arm Superman – you look exactly like Superman does as he flies through the sky. Lower the arm and then repeat the process, however, this time you should do it with your right arm. It’s best to alternate each arm with this exercise, rather than do fifteen reps on the left side and then fifteen reps on the right side. 

Butt Lifter

Now, let’s move on to getting the perfect butt. After all, bikini and lingerie shots are the norm for most models. Therefore, whilst you need to ensure you have a skinny frame, you also need to keep those curves intact as well. The Butt Lifter can help you to do so. Not only does it work your bottom, but it also works your back, abs, hips, thighs and calves as well. To perform this exercise you need to stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Make sure your knees are slightly bent and in order to achieve a good balance you should have your fists up by your shoulders. The next thing you need to do is bring your left leg behind you whilst shifting all of your weight onto your right foot. Now, slowly sweep your left leg out wide to the left side and lift it as high as you can. Return to the start and repeat fifteen times on both sides.

Hip and Thigh Blaster

As you may have gathered by the name of this exercise, it works your thighs and your hips, as well as you back and your abs. To begin with, you need to stand with your feet hip-width apart. Just like you did with the Butt Lifter, you should bring your fists up by your shoulders. Now, slightly bend your left knee only, and slowly left your right leg straight out to the side. You should then lower your leg but make sure it does not actually touch the floor. Repeat this fifteen times and then switch and do it on the other side. 

Ballet

Ballet is every model’s secret weapon when it comes to devising the perfect fitness regime. Many successful models have incorporated this into their weekly exercising plans, such as Candice Swanepoel, Erin Heatherton and Lily Aldridge. Why does ballet come highly recommended? There are many reasons why this is the case. It is an activity that promotes better posture. Moreover, it sculpts and tones the body, thus ensuring you end up with lean and long muscles rather than thick and bulky ones. It is also great for developing poise and body awareness, which is obviously essential in this industry. In addition to this, your abdominal muscles and back muscles will strengthen and you will become more flexible. Aside from ballet, another exercise that is popular for toning your body is Pilates, thus you may want to consider giving this a try as well. After all, variation is important in an exercise routine to ensure you do not become bored and lose motivation.

If you use this article as a starting point you will undoubtedly be able to develop the perfect fitness regime for you. It is all about finding the ideal balance between burning fat and toning your body. The cardiovascular exercises will help you to achieve the former. Whilst participating in ballet and Pilates will aid when toning your body, as will the four exercises that have been mentioned. You can use this six-point programme as your weekly routine. Nonetheless, it is all about finding exercises that you enjoy, thus you can adapt this to suit you. Just make sure you are sticking to a regime that deals with both toning and burning fat and you will be fine. On a final note, don’t forget to increase your number of workouts prior to any big modelling campaigns or catwalk shows. 

This is a collaborative post.