The Healthy Bride: Easy Exercises from Celebrity Fitness Trainer Valerie Orsoni

Looking your best on your big day is likely on your wedding to-do list. However, if you’re like most busy brides, you might not have the time to make yourself the priority. Don’t fret--we’ve got you covered!

Valerie Orsoni, celebrity fitness coach and founder of of LeBootCamp.com, is no stranger to helping clients with tricky schedules. In her new book due out April 2015, LeBootcamp Diet: The Scientifically-Proven French Method to Eat Well, Lose Weight, and Keep it Off For Good (pre-order your copy here!), she offers all kinds of ways to achieving the body of your dreams. To tide you over until your copy arrives, Orsoni provides the perfect workout routine for brides with little time. 

From Valerie Orsoni: Getting married is a major life adventure, for which we are ready to spend hours choosing the right dress, the perfect venue, the best food, the most dedicated bridesmaids, and selecting the ideal date. We often end up putting ourselves on the back burner and realize when we try on our dress again that we don’t look the way we would love to. Well, it is not too late if you follow this short but efficient fitness program. 

You will not need any special equipment or even outfit, a simply comfortable pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt will do. Carve out ten minutes of your time every day for four easy exercises and in no time you will have toned arms and shoulders, a flat tummy and gazelle thighs.

Reverse Triceps

You can this exercise using a sturdy chair, a well anchored bathtub, a bench in the park, or even your bed. This exercise works the triceps--those upper arm muscles which have an annoying tendency to become flabby quite easily.


1. Stand with your back straight, legs bent at the knees, and place your hands behind you on a rock/bench, or any object which is a comfortable height for you.  


2. Lower yourself using your triceps to control the movement. Don't let your body drop; flex your muscles and maintain full control throughout.


3. When you ascend, contract your triceps as well.


Repeat for one minute, rest for 15 seconds, and  then repeat for one more minute. If you cannot go for one minute, do your best and add ten seconds tomorrow, and ten more seconds the following day until you reach the full minute.

Butterfly Abs

This is an ab exercise which allows you to work your deep abs and get a flat and sexy tummy.

1. Sit comfortably on a gym mat or carpet with your legs crossed.


2. Don't worry if you aren't very flexible at the start. As you progress in your ab sessions your knees will eventually reach the ground so that you create the perfect butterfly.  

3. Place your hands under the nape of your neck. Inhale through your nose. 


4. Raise your bust a few inches (approximately 4 inches) while exhaling through your mouth (not forcefully).


Repeat for one minute, rest for 15 seconds, and  then repeat for one more minute. Yes, you can do it! Note: Do not push your head with your hands as this puts you at risk of injuring your neck. The purpose of your hands is only to keep your head in alignment with your back and shoulders. You don't want to curve your back like a turtle!

Inclined Planks

I prefer doing inclined planks than regular planks to engage my muscles in a different angle, hence getting more results, more rapidly. Use a bosu®, or if you don’t have one, use a pile of towels, a pillow, or opt for regular planks on the floor. Do this exercise during commercial breaks of your favorite TV show, on a gym mat or carpet so as not to hurt your arms on a surface which is too hard.

1. Hold your body up parallel to the ground, keeping a straight back thanks to well-contracted abs. Be mindful not to arch your back too much; this is the most common error that people make when they feel the need to give up.

2. Hold the position for 15 seconds. Rest, and then hold again for another 15 seconds.

Beginners: Do plank and rest motions set in Step 2 for one minute. Rest for 30 seconds, then complete another one-minute round. (Total time: two-and-a-half minutes)

Intermediate: Do plank and rest motions for one minute. Rest for 30 seconds, then complete another one-minute round. Complete three complete sets. (Total time: four minutes)

Advanced: Do plank and rest motions for one minute. Rest for 30 seconds, then complete another one-minute round. Complete four complete sets. (Total time: five-and-a-half minutes)

If this exercise becomes too easy after a few weeks, add in side plank. This exercise works your deep abs, lower back, triceps, and adductor muscles. Note: This is an advanced level exercise and requires a strong core. Only perform this exercise if you can do 150 crunches in succession.

1. Lie on your right side on a gym mat or towel, using your forearm for support.

2. With your abs contracted, lift yourself off the mat, using your right forearm and right foot to hold up your body.

3. Raise and lower your left leg in a controlled movement. Do a set of ten.

4. Rest and repeat on the other side.

Straight Lunges

1. Stand straight, feet slightly apart, hands on hips. Engage your core abdominal muscles to stabilize your spine.

2. Step forward with your right foot, lifting only your left heel to allow you to advance as much as possible.

3. As you move into the lunge position, creating a 90-degree angle with your right knee, focus on a downward movement of your hips making sure you keep your knee right above your ankle, pointing the same direction as your toes to avoid injury (toward the floor).

4. During the movement, just slightly bend forward at your hips, but keep your back straight.

5. To return to starting position, firmly push off with the front leg, activating both your thighs and glutes to return to initial standing position.

Beginners: Three sets of ten reps on each side.

Intermediate: Four sets of 20 reps on each side.

Advanced: Five sets of 30 reps on each side.

Optional: Add some difficulty to this exercise and get better results by holding a weighted bar or dumbbells in your hands.