Healthy Hollywood: Get Movin’ Monday – Leg Up On Angelina’s Award-Winning Asset!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, we’ve all seen or heard about Angelina Jolie’s scene-stealing pose at the Oscars.

The attention-seeking Jolie (with her hands on hips) boldly jutted her right leg out in a slit to the thigh Versace dress on both the red carpet and onstage.

The actress’ legscapade had the media in a tailspin and buzzing more about this pose than Meryl Streep’s Oscar win. Angelina’s leg even fueled its own twitter account with tens of thousands of followers. Ah, such is the sensational nature of our world.

Regardless of whether you thought Angelina’s stance was a bit much, you couldn’t help but notice her sculpted legs. Not bad!
Healthy Hollywood recruited celebrity fitness expert and brand ambassador Zobha fitness gear, Michelle Lovitt, to share a few pointers. “To build strength, lift a weight that will cause your muscles to fatigue after 10 to 15 reps. Cardio exercises like hill running, hiking, walking, skating and bike riding will also sculpt the quads, hamstrings, calves and glutes by aiding in body fat loss,” Michelle, who trains Courteney Cox and Julianne Moore.

Michelle shares with Healthy Hollywood two of her favorite strength moves for long lean legs.

Twisting Squat (works total body):
This exercise helps sculpt your entire body like Angelina Jolie. To begin, stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a 5 to 10 pound dumbbell in each hand, elbows bent 90-degrees with palms facing forward. Keeping chest up, squat down. As you lift back up through glutes, twist body to the left, allowing feet to pivot so that right heel lifts off the floor. At the same time, press dumbbells overhead. Return to start. Switch sides and repeat. Begin with 12 to 15 reps, each side. Begin with one set and work your way up to 3 sets.

Step-Ups With A Kick Back:
Stand facing a set of stairs or an elevated platform, then step onto platform with your right foot. Keep your right foot on the stair and lift your other foot to touch the step quickly, extend your left back squeezing your butt before returning to starting position with both feet on the ground. Repeat until you have performed 25 reps with each leg.

Besides sculpting exercises, Michelle has a few tips to mastering the red carpet pose. “To pose like Angelina, move your arms away from your body to make them thinner. Watch your posture when walking the red carpet (or at a family photo fest). If you watch most A-listers, you will notice they pull their shoulder back and extend their spine, pulling in their stomach slightly for perfect posture, a leaner look.” Plus, be sure to partially turn sideways to the camera, planting one foot in front of the other.

Always point your toe to the camera and place your weight on your back foot. Be sure to pull head forward to minimize any appearance of a double chin. So there you have it – the celebrity secret to looking fabulous in any photograph.

For more information on Michelle and all her fabulous tips, head to www.michellelovitt.com.