AFAA's Personal Trainer Online Library
The
following article for personal trainers and fitness professionals appears courtesy
of American Fitness magazine, which is published by the Aerobics and Fitness Association
of America (AFAA).
AFAA offers personal trainer certification and other fitness certifications. If
you are interested in becoming a personal trainer, please click on our personal
trainer certification link at
http://www.afaa.com/Personal_Fitness_Trainer_Certification.htm
Daisy Fuentes
This sizzling supermodel speaks candidly about her body, the power of Pilates and her passion for fashion.
BY BONNIE SIEGLER
It's hard to imagine that bronze-skinned beauty Daisy Fuentes could have considered anything other than a cover girl career. The Cuban-born MTV veejay-turned-actress, TV host and now clothing designer boasts one of the most coveted looks in print and on-screen.
But she is the first to admit that she has given up on trying to achieve the perfect figure. "My ideal weight is whatever I am at the moment— give or take five pounds," says the 5-foot-10-inch, 39-year-old Fuentes. "I've come to terms with who I am and how my body works."
Fuentes does have some guilty pleasures such as McDonalds, pizza and, her specialty, mashed potatoes. "OK, I'm not a particularly healthy eater, but the key for me is to control my portions. I try not to overeat. As soon as I feel satisfied, I stop eating. I don't feel guilty about leaving half of my meal on my plate because usually half is all I need. America is such a super-sized society."
Over the years, Fuentes has created her own fitness regimen to keep her body fit and trim. She has tried several tricks that her friends have suggested but says "the things that work for other people didn't necessarily work for me. I tried those natural herbal remedies to rev up my metabolism, but they didn't do anything for my body." And weight lifting was another method she tried—but to no avail. "All it did was make me bulky and thick," she continues. "My pants were fitting tight. So, I figured that's just how I was built—a big girl who gained muscle easily. I got very discouraged."
That all changed 10 years ago when Fuentes picked up a magazine and read an article written by Pilates Guru Mari Winsor. "I thought it was a gimmick," admits Fuentes. "I had never heard of Pilates. I thought it was too good to be true, but two weeks into Winsor's program, people started asking me what I had done because I looked like I had lost weight. And to be honest, after five sessions—one full week—I felt it myself. I felt slimmer and really good about my body. And my clothes were fitting better."
Fuentes says she owes her slimmer figure, increased selfconfidence and sensual grace to regular Pilates sessions. "Pilates reshaped my thighs and belly," she adds. "In all my years of weight training and cardiovascular exercise, I never thought I could get rid of my hips— but Pilates did it."
And Pilates isn't just physical for Fuentes. "Pilates really does have that great mind/body/spirit connection because when you're doing it, you have to concentrate on the movements," she attests. "It's very much about coordination, so your mind is focused." According to Fuentes, when she works out her mind is free of all her troubles since she's concentrating on doing something good for her body.
Fuentes tries to do something good for her body at least three to four times a week, either by going to Winsor's Melrose studio in Los Angeles, Calif., or performing stretches and Mat exercises at her home in the Hollywood Hills—with whom she shares with fianc¿, British musician Matt Goss and their two dogs, Alfie and Rita. "I feel really good if I do Pilates every other day religiously," says Fuentes. "When I have a project coming up, I'll do it almost every day for a couple of weeks, but when I get busy or tired I don't. I'll do my own Mat Pilates, which is very easy and convenient. I know Mari's Pilates DVDs by heart, so I'll do some of it at home or in my hotel room when I'm traveling. Doing a little Pilates is better than doing none at all."
In addition to practicing Pilates, Fuentes is busy helping to create her namesake clothing line for Kohl's Department Stores. Inspired by clean lines and feminine detail, the Daisy Fuentes Collection offers a touch of her own style. "I'm not a kid anymore," she says. "I work, I'm busy and I still want to look good. I still like to dress young and fashionable, but I have to be comfortable too." She insists that each design gets her personal Seal of Approval. "I've become accustomed to hearing 'Daisy Fuentes' and it's not me, the person, it's something for sale. It's funny to hear "Daisy Fuentes, 30 percent off!'"