We can all agree that Victoria’s Secret Angels have amazing, if not near-perfect bodies. It’s their job to look like that, after all. Though your legs might never look like Alessandra Ambrosio‘s (sadly, we weren’t all blessed with impossibly long gams), you can still tone up like the VS girls do. Lucky for us, they rarely hesitate to dish on the workout secrets behind their frames.
If you’re looking to do some last-minute tightening before summer’s in full swing, try some of these fitness pointers we learned from Victoria’s Secret Angels.
Victoria's Secret Workout Tips
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Do a lot of cardio-focused workouts
Cardio's the way you're going to lose weight. It works out your whole body and the benefits are enormous. According to VS model trainer Michael Olajide, Jr., "This is arguably the most important tip of them all. Good cardio is the cornerstone of a healthy body!" Boxing is a great workout to get the blood flowing–just ask Karlie Kloss, pictured left, with her trainer.
Image: Instagram
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Take ballet
Lily Aldridge, Erin Heatherton and Lindsay Ellingson swear by Ballet Beautiful classes, which they take to get their bodies ready before the Victoria's Secret fashion show. Candice Swanepoel's got her form down.
Image: Instagram
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Drink coconut water
Packed with potassium and electrolytes, coconut water is nature's sports drink. It's hydrating and ridiculously thirst quenching–basically, exactly what you need after a challenging workout. It's what Angels like Lais Ribeiro, Lily Aldridge and Behati Prinsloo drink when they hit the gym.
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Work out that booty
If you wanna look like a VS Angel, a great butt is key. Alessandra Ambrosio loves Leandro Carvalho's Brazil Butt Lift workout. Izabel Goulart (left) tones her tushie with a little balancing act. Candice Swanepoel also does lots of booty-focused exercises: “It’s more about resistance work for me–it’s more about the bum. We do a lot of squats, but you have to do it really slowly so you feel it.”
Image: Instagram
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Pick a workout you have to learn
Running and doing sit-ups is great, but if your workout requires you to learn a skill, like dancing or kickboxing, it makes the experience more enjoyable. Plus, it'll help distract you from the fact that you're actually working out. Michael Olajide recommends this method, noting that Adriana Lima (left) loves bootcamp and boxing classes. “I discovered boxing...It’s great for the body, it’s wonderful for the mind and I think it’s the best thing ever. It’s one of those things you step up, every day you learn something new. It’s a challenge–I love a challenge."
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Switch up your routine
Don't do just cardio or lifting–diversify your workout. Mix kickboxing and pilates with ab workouts and Zumba. You want to make sure your body is getting a range of activities to optimize results. I mean, who wouldn't want to have the core strength to balance on your trainer's tiptoes like Izabel Goulart? Most VS models do a few activities to get their bodies in shape. For example, Lindsay Ellingson does a combination of yoga, hip-hop dancing and strength training to maintain her figure. Alessandra Ambrosio also stays fit with a variety of activities: "I love doing pilates, mix it up with yoga, and just go to the beach, maybe bike ride. Just do something on the beach. I love the weather here in LA…and I love surfing. So when the water gets warmer I’m going to start surfing too.”
Image: Instagram
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Get plenty of protein
Candice Swanepoel isn't nibbling on salads to get her body. She's packing on the protein, drinking extra shakes. "I actually focus on eating more protein and carbs to build a stronger body. I have a protein shake every day," she told Vogue. Doutzen Kroes filled up on shrimp and quinoa right before hitting the VS catwalk last season.
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Jump rope
Many VS Angels, like Doutzen Kroes and Adriana Lima, say jumping rope is one of their go-to workouts in the weeks leading up to the annual runway show.
Image: Instagram
