‘Tis the season to indulge — but that doesn’t mean Teresa Giudice is going to let it show.
When the feisty star of The Real Housewives of New Jersey isn’t busy cooking her famous Italian meals for the holidays, she’s putting just as much energy into her workouts.
“It is so rewarding how I feel at the end of the workout, I can’t wait to come back for more,” said Giudice, who also stays busy with her four kids: Gia, 11, Gabriella, 7, Milania, 6, and Audriana, 3. “One of the lessons I learned is that this is a lifestyle change. I’m not just here for a couple of months. I’m in it for the long haul.”
She’s certainly in good company during her journey: the best-selling author and reality star has been working with personal trainer Nicole Greco-Peepas for the past year.
“Teresa is really positive and always ready to work hard when she gets to the gym,” said Greco-Peepas, who puts Guidice to the test with boxing, plyometrics, TRX, and heavy weight-training.
“We’ve been doing 30-minute workouts. Teresa has been so pressed for time filming the new season of the Real Housewives, that is all the time I have with her. But we make every minute count.”
And now you can too, even during the super-busy holidays. Greco-Peepas is sharing her very best secrets for staying fit with Celebuzz readers — ones she says “everyone should follow to keep themselves on track, be fit and feel fabulous.”
Read on for her top 10 tips:
1. Only drink when you’re at social occasions. It’s easy to enjoy a glass of wine (or two!) when you’re wrapping presents, cooking or even baking, but don’t drink by yourself.
2. Don’t mix it up. Mixed alcoholic drinks have too much sugar in them, and you’ll pay for it the next morning.
3. Have small meals throughout the day.The ideal number is six — and each meal should include protein and a complex carbohydrate.
4. Eat something before you go to a holiday party. Arriving on an empty stomach will cause you to overeat.
5. Watch your portions! Don’t load up on two or three helpings of stuffing or pie — your waistline won’t be forgiving.
6. Work it out! Try to get to the gym for at least 30 minutes, aiming for a mix of cardio and heavy weight training.
7. Vary your cardio. If you’re hitting the treadmill, mix up both the speed — try walking and running — and the incline. Stay away from the long, steady jog.
8. Don’t make excuses. If you can’t make it to the gym, you can still work out with home exercises. Try jumping jacks, lunges, squats, burpees, full body sit-ups and push-ups.
9. Take your act on the road. If the weather is nice, take the kids or the dog to the park. There may be stations set up for a circuit workout; if not, walk for an hour and enjoy the scenery.
10. Remember: staying fit isn’t just about the holidays. Says Greco-Peepas: “It’s not just what you do or eat from Christmas to New Year’s Eve that matters. It is what you do or eat from the New Year to Christmas.”
Click through the gallery, above, to see how Giudice gets in shape with step-by-step fitness moves.
