Jennifer Garner, made famous for her work on Alias, is both stunning and committed to living an incredibly healthy lifestyle.
Dieting, however, isn’t her favorite activity.
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“I dieted for so long in the middle of doing Alias and being a superhero, that there’s something in me that can’t do anything that extreme,” Garner told Yahoo Beauty. “I’ve found out that I cannot pass up pizza without having some. I just can’t! My kids have a lot of pizza. I can’t go to a kids’ birthday party without having a slice.”
Her long-time trainer and “sunrise sister” Valerie Waters works out with Garner four to five days a week, and has ever since the Alias days, which started in 2001.
“Her work ethic is just incredible,” Waters said in an interview with In Style. “Consistency is what yields results in the long run. Even if you only have a half hour, maximize the time.”
Powerful words followed up by a powerful workout. When Garner and Waters are together, they don’t mess around, and they have the workout to prove it.
Of course, it all starts with a warm up.
“Prepare your body for movement,” Waters said. “Do some dynamic stretching, like leg swings, plié squats, lunges and downward dogs. Notice where your sticky points are and breathe into those areas. This is your chance to check in with yourself: what am I feeling? What hurts? What should I be aware of?”
Now it’s time to get to work. The following two circuit workouts are courtesy of celebrity trainer Valerie Waters and originally seen on In Style.
Circuit 1:
1. Band side-step. Securely loop a stretch band around your ankles, and feel the burn as you step side-to-side 20 times in each direction.
2. Bodyweight squats. Keep your weight in your heels so that you can wiggle your toes as you lower down into 20 bodyweight squats.
3. Reverse lunge with forward kicks. Step one leg back into a reverse lunge so that your back knee is nearly touching the ground, and then shift your leg and momentum forward into a front kick. Continue on this side for 20 reps before switching to the other side for 20 reps.
4. Row. Using dumbbells, stand with feet shoulder-width apart and lean forward. Extend the dumbbells straight down from your shoulders. Focus on the middle of your back and pinch your shoulder blades together as you bring the weights up, grazing your sides with elbows back. Repeat 20 times.
5. Pushups. Complete 10-12 reps with weight distributed on the hands and feet. Keep body straight and strong while lowering your body until your chest nears the ground.
Circuit 2:
1. Single leg step-ups. Step up onto a chair or bench with one leg and step back down. Repeat with other leg and perform 20 reps on each side. The higher the step, the harder the move.
2. Fire hydrants. Start on all fours in tabletop position with hips square. Keeping your knee bent, raise your right leg out to the side until your thigh is parallel to the floor. Lower your leg back to starting position and complete 20 reps before switching to the other leg for 20 reps.
3. Donkey kick. Start on all fours in tabletop position with hips square. While activating your glutes, keep your right leg bent as you raise it behind you until your thigh is parallel with the floor. Lower back to starting position and repeat for 20 reps before switching to the other leg for 20 reps.
4. Single leg bridge. On your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor, lift your pelvis and push one leg out while flexing foot. While that leg stays in the air, raise and lower your pelvis for 20 reps. Switch legs and repeat for 20 reps.
5. Side plank. Stack your feet to get into side plank position. Lower your hip to the floor for a two-second hold and then back up for another two-second hold. Repeat for 10 reps on each side.
6. Mountain climber. In plank position, bring one knee toward your chest and then return to original position. Repeat with other leg and increase your momentum as if you’re running in place while in plank position. Repeat for 20 reps on each leg.
7. Bicep curls. Garner does 20 reps with eight to 10 pound weights.
8. Bodyweight dips. Sit on a bench and place both hands on either side of your body with fingers facing forward to work your triceps. Lower and raise your body off the edge of the bench for 20 reps.
