"ALWAYS USE YOUR CORE"

That is the title of an article in the March 2009 issue of ESSENCE magazine which featured Chris Robinson.

"With Pilates, you have to active and maintain the powerhouse of the core to do movenments," explains Chris Robinson, trainer and author of The Core Connection: Go From Fat to Flat by Using Your Abs for a Total Body Workout (Simon Spotlight Entertainment).

Your want to keep your stomach engaged, your spine erect and stable. "I make sure my clients also keep their core activated during cardio and strength training exercise for added benefit." So whether you're pedaling the bike at spinning class, doing an overhead press, or just walking down the street, be conscious of your core and keep those muscles tight.

FIGHT FAT BY AVOIDING THREE THINGS

Sugar, alcohol and, well, fat. You don't have to entirely eliminate them from your diet. But here's why you ought to restrict them: "Fat doesn't get broken down for energy, it goes straight to the fat cells," says Robinson. "With alcohol and sugar, your body will break down a little for fuel, but with a slice of chocolate cake, for example, so much gets stored as fat." Robinson's low-cal alcoholic beverage of choice? A vodka with soda water.

TRY THE 20-MINUTE TRICK

If you're not used to exercising on a regular basis, get your body in the habit by just working out for 20 minutes at first. "Make it easy for yourself in the beginning, and you'll want to do it more later," says Robinson.

GET REAL RE: BULK

Muscle actually take up less space than fat in your body, and even when you're not working out, muscle burns calories for you. So focus on building lean muscle through Pilates workout along with strength training (go for lighter weights with more reps) and cardio (which uses your body fat as fuel).

Author Contact Info: JR
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