Thursday, 30 January 2014

The secrets behind Hollywood's Oscar-winning bodies of Halle, Reese, Sandra and Julia

Reese Witherspoon's intense yoga and Julia Roberts' underwater workouts: The secrets behind Hollywood's Oscar-winning bodies

Halle Berry only worked out for five minutes a day to achieve toned abs
Reese Witherspoon was worried about going sleeveless at Oscars
Women's Health magazine quizzed personal trainers behind the stars

PUBLISHED: 18:40, 28 January 2014 | UPDATED: 19:12, 28 January 2014

As one of the biggest red carpet moments of an A-lister's career, getting it right at the Oscars is enough to make anyone break out in a sweat.

So it's no surprise those celestial, designer-dress-adorned bodies are the product of intense and gruelling workouts in the months running up to the star-studded event.

Ever wondered how they do it? Women's Health magazine quizzed the personal trainers behind previous Oscar winners' honed physiques.

REESE WITHERSPOON, 2006, BEST ACTRESS FOR WALK THE LINE

Reese found her 1955 vintage Dior dress in a Paris boutique, but even she worried about going sleeveless, so her trainer Matthew Reyes helped her target her shoulders, upper arms and obliques.

'The one body part women fear is a flabby underarm. A dress like Reese's required focus on the triceps, biceps, shoulders and waist,' her trainer Matthew Reyes told the magazine.

Reese got red carpet-ready with a 5km jog three times a week, and by heading to Matthew's YogaHop class.

'It's a 60-minute class that combines yoga moves with cardio and body-weight strength training,' he explains. 'It works all your major muscle groups.'

Her secret's out! Reese, pictured in 2006 with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, got red carpet-ready with a 5km jog three times a week, and by heading to Matthew's YogaHop class

SANDRA BULLOCK, 2010, BEST ACTRESS FOR THE BLIND SIDE

Sandra's dazzling lace and satin Marchesa number left no margin for error.

It was all about the side profile, so her trainer Simone De La Rue helped her work on her arms and hips.

'The best moves for achieving a sleek silhouette are a combination of strength training and cardio,' said Simone, who uses a fusion of Pilates, strength training and cardio dance moves to get her clients into shape.

'The strength training tones and sculpts the muscles, while cardio strips the outer layer of fat.

'Just 10 minutes of interval training elevates your metabolism. To maximise muscle gain, eat some carbs and protein an hour before you work out,' she advises.

Dazzling: It was all about the side profile with Sandra Bullock's dress so her trainer Simone De La Rue helped her work on her arms and hips

JULIA ROBERTS, 2001 BEST ACTRESS FOR ERIN BROCKOVICH

Smouldering in her Valentino gown, Julia had to work hard to ensure she was honed for the smaller vintage sizes.

She called on Kathy Kaehler - who she's trained with for 20 years - to help her work on her shoulders, arms and hips.

'In the lead-up to that day, we did a lot of push-ups and planks,' reveals Kaehler, working her shoulders, chest and upper arms.

'They're the best moves for upper body conditioning if you don't want to bulk up. We also worked out in her pool to mix it up a bit,' says Kathy.

Water baby: Smouldering in her Valentino gown, Julia had to work hard to ensure she was honed for the smaller vintage sizes by doing water work-outs

HALLE BERRY, 2002 BEST ACTRESS FOR MONSTER'S BALL

Halle's Burgundy Elie Saab gown with sheer bodice was a daring move, one which required focus on abs, back and shoulders.

But, of course, she pulled it off with aplomb - and it only took five minutes a day, according to her long-time trainer, Harley Pasternak.

'She was my inspiration for the five-factor training method. We worked out five times a week for 25 minutes, each day working a different part of the core.

'At home, spend one day working the upper abs, then the lower abs the next day, then the obliques, then the lower back.

'Stability exercises strengthen the major parts of our core and improve the way we look by creating a longer, leaner silhouette.'

Daring: It only took Halle Berry five minutes a day to get in shape, according to her long-time trainer, Harley Pasternak

Read the full secrets behind the most covetable Oscar physiques of all time in the March issue of Women's Health, on sale Wednesday 29 January. Also available as a digital edition.

Women's Health

Halle Berry