Red Carpet Workout: 2 weeks to Fabulous

Ahhhh...the Academy Awards have hit Hollywood. That explains why I sat in 3 hours of traffic yesterday.

Having spent the day in Hollywood, attending several meetings, it was exciting to see all of the preparation for the Oscars.  There were dozens of workers setting up the scaffolding and elaborate entrance area. Preparation is key for an event of this magnitude...

The Red Carpet Workout is a system I developed and personally use whenever I have a major event to attend, such as the Oscars, wedding, television shoot, filming, class reunion, photo shoot, vacation, or any where a swimsuit is involved.

As with any important project, you must prepare.  Knowing that you did your best to prepare will give you more confidence, empowerment and a stronger, leaner body that runs like a Bugatti Veyron sports car, price tag: $1,700,000.00.

Here is what you do. Assuming you have at least 2 weeks to prepare: 

1. Cut out all white carbohydrates: white breads, white rice, potatoes (mashed, baked, home fries: yep, those are all forms of potatoes), sugary desserts, sugar in your coffee, sugar in your ice tea; cut out sugar, sugar, sugar.  If you are still committed at this point, read on my lovely fit moms.

2. Cut out all processed foods. Avoid any foods that come in a bag such as chips, pretzels, crackers. Tip: Avoid the "center" of the supermarket where all the prepackaged foods are that can last on shelves indefinitely. Instead, shop the "perimeter" of the market where the fresh fruits, veggies, milk and meats are located.

3. Cut out all alcohol.  Easy for most - unless you are martini-at-lunch-exec-working-mom or "glass-of-wine-unwind-after-kids-drove-me-crazy-all-day-mom." lol.

4. Cut out all salt in the form of table salt, salted foods such as chips, etc.

5. Drink of choice: bottled water. Period. No soda, no juice. 1-2 cups coffee in a.m., let's be civil about this.

6. Eat 5 small meals per day that consist of lean proteins in the form of grilled, skinless chicken breasts, steamed veggies and a small portion of brown rice.  Eat for energy and to achieve your Red Carpet goal.

7.  Exercise for 15-30 minutes every single morning. No if ands or big butts. Yep, every morning. Do something. Brisk walking with the dogs (mulit tasking your chores and body work), weight lifting (follow along to Kiana' Fit Mom TV or buy my Kiana Fitness DVD or Fitness Band and DVD Kit, both available in the Fit Mom TV Store-shameless plug I know, but they can only help you if you have one), do push ups, crunches, leg lifts, squats, run up your stairs 10 times, jump rope, jumping jacks.....Point being: be active for extended period of time at the same time everyday.

8. Do anything to increase your daily activity throughout the day: Park further away instead of waiting 10 minutes for that front spot at the grocery store, take the stairs not the elevator.  Actually get out of the car and play with your kids at the park instead of blogging, working or texting from the car. (ooops my bad, that was me yesterday.)

9.  If you've been weight training for awhile. Lift heavier weights with strict form. Focus on the areas that will show: Strapless dress? Do shoulder raises, presses, triceps kickbacks, dips, overhead extensions. (For instructions on how to do these exercises, refer to Kiana's Fit Mom TV episodes for instruction and exercise demonstration.) Wearing a short dress? Do lunges, calf raises, leg presses. You get the point. If you haven't weight trained before, watch Episode 1 of "Kiana's Fit Mom TV" and do basic exercises to strengthen the body.

10. Starting 1 week before the Event, self tan every night. Being tan makes you look healthier, leaner, firmer.  For many photo shoots and television appearances, make up artists will "sculpt" in better abs or shoulders using various shades of body makeup. If it works on your face, it will work on your bod.

Tip: After years of self tanning this is the best method I've found: Before bed, exfoliate in the shower. Dry off. You must be completely dry and not sweaty.  100% dry.  Slather on self tanner-I like the Neutrogena Dark Self Tanning lotion. I have tried every single one $5-$100. This works for me and costs less than $10.00.

Spread it on evenly, all over. Wash your hands to prevent the palms from darkening paying attn. to in between your fingers as well. Do the rest of your pre-night time ritual NAKED, while the self tanner dries. (I don't know why, my hubby always seems to magically appear in the bathroom at this time?) You cannot put clothes on if the self tanner is damp or it rubs off. After it's dry appx. 10 min. put on your baggiest, light weight, dark toned clothes. Go to bed, you wake up super tan. Seriously.

Tip: Make sure the lotion is spread evenly so you don't have streaks. Repeat this nightly until you are as dark as you want. Besure and adjust your makeup to match your body so you don't have a white face and neck / dark chest. (oh and no, that picture is not me.)

Tip: Put a second application on the areas of your body you want "reduced" to make the area appear to recede: sides of waist, inner thighs, etc. Like an artist, you can sculpt your body with cosmetics.

11. Increase cardio. If you already run, jog or walk, do it faster and longer. If you don't already do cardio., start. Walk, brisk walk, go up and down your stairs. Get your heart pumping faster and your skin glowy and sweaty. Feels good.

12. A few days prior to your Red Carpet Event, get your hair highlighted, colored, cut. It always looks best a few days later. Get it styled the day of your event. Or if you have to travel, get it blown out the evening or late afternoon prior to your departure and sleep on a satin pillowcase to keep the style.

13.  Layout your wardrobe and all accessories, shoes, purse, jewelry a few days before. Buy what is needed.

Tip: I learned this tip from a Hollywood stylist who helped style the wardrobe for my television appearances and Kiana's Flex Appeal: put all earrings, necklaces, bracelets in a baggy and hang on the hanger with each outfit. I put the jewelry in one of those drawstring satin bags you can buy at a craft store near you. They come in all colors. When you are rushed the night of the event, it's all ready to go.

My Tip: I will often put all accessories into my evening bag: Then put it all on in the car or limo. as I am going to the event. With kids, I often prefer to put on the jewelry after I've done all my Mommy duties to keep the jewelry clean and prevent possible breaking. (Long necklaces are a particular attraction for my 3 year old who thinks she can pull me closer with it - "like I do with the doggies mommy!?" Ummmm, my precious angel, please don't pull on my $15,000 Tiffany necklace that was a gift before I met Daddy that I would never buy for myself.)

The day of your big event. Do a light workout in the morning. Breathe deeply. Walk at the beach. Clear your mind. Get your makeup done at the mall or professionally, buy a new lipstick. Have your hair blown out. Put on bronzer on your sculpted shoulders.

Get dressed. Put on your bling. You are prepared. You did your workouts. You feel accomplished. You earned your flute of sparkling Champagne. Celebrate YOU and your Event.

You're Fabulous.