Hi Victoria, I am 32 years old, 5' 5", 160lbs., and have 29% body fat. I would like to get down to 20% body fat; be healthy, fit and then maintain it. What do you think is a good way for me to have fun while doing this?

Which do you think is more important, diet or exercise?

Do I really have to reduce carbs and eat more protein? And what about cardio? I am noticing most of the stars that look hot regardless of their age are doing cardio all the time, how much do I need to do?
~ Anna


Hi Anna, Slow down girlfriend and take a breath! I appreciate your enthusiasm. Just remember to keep this same fire a week into your journey of losing body fat.

It seems to me that you want to drop a few dress sizes and keep your shape.

I can tell you first hand as a trainer and from personal experience, this is going to require a great deal of dedication and persistence.

As a dancer and fitness athlete, it takes cardio to drop ugly dimply fat and to get in shape Yes you have to let go of those simple carbs if you want to tighten up your body. I am not going to lie to you and say you can even anything you want and that you don’t have to exercise like some of those money-sucking commercials on TV. You know the ones you see where the results look to good to be true…they are! The equipment you order usually ends up under you bed or at Goodwill in your next garage sale.

Okay for my big shocker!
Dancing, which is a big part of my cardio, has helped me change my body shape so that I have a perfectly symmetrical physique. You use a variety of muscles in a functional way that really shapes your body. Your legs get leaner, the muscles take on a beautiful shape and your abs are active the entire time you are dancing.

Surprise Dress Size
I was taping a series of my television show, Victoria’s Body Shoppe, and I almost couldn’t believe what happened. I started rehearsals four weeks before I filmed. When I started rehearsals I was about ten pounds heavier than when I taped the shows. To my surprise I was about to drop some dress sizes. I was not even working on it or planned for it.

Here’s what happened..

Cardio Dancing Destroys Fat
I would rehearse at night after the last class in the studio was over at 7:00 PM. I would rehearse for an hour or so. Then I would have a large salad with some lean protein like fish, turkey or egg whites. I didn’t want to sleep with heavy food in my stomach because I know that causes you to store abdominal fat and increases cellulite.

Plus..when you are doing good cardio your appetite is reduced so you don’t want to eat as much. Where as with bodybuilding they purposefully don’t do heavy cardio and choose to do more weight training because it can actually stimulate your appetite. So because of the cardio at night, I wasn’t very hungry at dinner.

That’s why many body builders like to lift at night and then eat before they go to bed. It helps them gain weight!!!! Get it?

Lost Ten Pounds Without Trying!
After four weeks of dance rehearsals at night, I lost ten pounds without even really trying. My stylist was freaking out because she had to keep changing my clothing sizes. And taking in other ones she couldn’t replace.

This did not stop after I started filming my show either. She ended up taking in my wardrobe even more because I would lose more inches as I danced and filmed!!
It was pretty crazy. I lost body fat and my muscles stayed long and lean.

Make It Fun and Dress For Success
I LOVE DANCING!! If you don’t have the ability to go to a dance cardio class, then treadmill it, elliptical, power walk, go to a step class but use a lower step if you have a tendency to build muscle easily like me. Classes are fun and it helps the time go b quicker. If that’s not an option, then create your own fun. Use hot high-energy music when you train.

Break it up and use different pieces of equipment and wear workout clothes that make you feel good. If you experiment, you will find that some colors make you feel good and others make you feel lazy or fat. Stick with what brightens you and enlightens you!

Good Carbs and Protein
Not only did the dancing help me improve my shape, but the diet I was eating made fat melt off my body.

I was totally shocked that I lost so much weight, dropped dress sizes and my energy was out of this world. I still use my Quick Start Energy Program that I followed when I lost that weight.

You know how medical reports always say that you naturally gain so much weight each year! Bull! If you don’t do something to counteract the standard garbage diet we have been conditioned to eat, you WILL gain weight every year. BUT, if you follow a good plan, eat the perfect combinations of food and train the way your body was designed, you will NOT gain weight every year.

I eat one serving of protein (4-6 oz) with each of my six meals a day. With my first three to four meals, I pair one serving of low to moderate glycemic complex carbs with each protein.

Eating this way allows me to have energy throughout the day so I can be strong to train my clients, rehearse for my new series, plus write, media and train myself.

The lower glycemic fibrous carbs in my late afternoon mini meal and evening fill me up but contain fewer calories for my body to store overnight while at rest.

Anna, both cardio and diet are crucial to reaching your goal.

You either burn or store what you eat based on their composition. You can get more detailed information from my Quick Start Energy Program.

Combining them both is the key for maintaining your new body once you reach your goal of 20% body fat.

Cardio AM & PM
Anna, I recommend you do some cardio first thing in the morning to burn fat, eat a good glycemic breakfast to keep your fat burning going. This will help you lose the body fat and keep your energy up all day.

If that is not possible, then do some cardio at night like I did for my rehearsals and end it with stretching and mediation or prayer to calm your body down so that you can get your 7-8 hours of restorative sleep. Make sure you follow my eating plan at night too. You can train like an athlete, but if you eat one thing unknowingly that will shut down your fat burning, you’re sunk.

It’s not hard when you have the process and the desire to follow a program. Set yourself up to win! Set small incremental goals, write them down and then celebrate your success. Continually reset even greater more inspiring goals as you win!

There you go my friend! You can do this. You are fired up and have definite goal, that is half the battle right there.

Go for it and don’t stop until you reach your goal. Faith is believing in the possibility. Check out my Divine Prosperity blog for a greater teaching on faith. In these turbulent times, we all could use more.

Victoria


Your Celebrity Personal Trainer!

Bye-Bye Thunder Thighs!