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Because some of Hollywood's greatest performances happen at the gym, we're honoring the year's
most incredible body transformations in television and film. See which celebs made our list — then
vote for your favorites online!
Click here for more
Health.com lists foods that can help get you what you want: a good night's
sleep, a big raise, a long-awaited pregnancy and more.
Click here for more
You don't need to get on the psychologist's couch to improve your relationship; you need to get
off it — and into the nearest Gold's Gym.
Whether you're on your second date or celebrating your 22nd anniversary, one thing is true:
Relationships require work. But not necessarily the kind you might expect. As it turns out,
couples that exercise together strengthen more than their muscles; they also strengthen their
romantic connection.
"Your endorphin and pheromone levels are at their highest after a session at the gym," says
Belisa Vranich, a clinical psychologist at the Gold's Gym Fitness Institute and author of
Get a Grip: Your Two-Week Mental Makeover. These are the feel-good hormones linked to
arousal and attraction — and they can have a powerful effect on you and your partner:
"They automatically make you like the person you're with even more, regardless of whether you're
a happy new couple or on the brink of a breakup," she says.
Last year, we showed you how to tap into your body's natural love potion to improve specific
elements your relationship: trust, intensity, intimacy and communication.
This year, we've got four more love-enhancing workouts designed for each chapter of your
relationship. Whether you're a new couple just beginning to get to know each other or a pair
of Valentine's veterans looking to reignite the flame, we've got the solution for you.
To start, click the workout that best describes your relationship.
The Getting-to-Know-You Workout
Early in relationships, "too much face-to-face time or forced
communication can be a bit awkward," Vranich says. So she encourages new couples
to stretch and cool down together, and to spend the bulk of the time in group-exercise
classes.
"Class is something that you can experience together — and talk about
afterward — without too much eye-to-eye contact or having to deal with
potentially awkward spotting scenarios," she explains.
Stretching
Do these pre-workout stretches alongside your partner.
Cat and cow
Do five reps
Get down on all fours, arms directly under your shoulders and fingertips pointing
away from you. Pull abs in and slowly arch your back up toward the ceiling —
pause. Now reverse the motion, arching chest and hips upward so your belly sinks
toward the ground — pause.
Pigeon
Stay down on all fours and place your forearms on the floor, fingertips pointing
away from you; cross right leg under your torso so the side of it rests on the floor.
Extend your left leg behind you, knee on the ground; hold for 30 seconds, then switch
legs and repeat.
Quad
Kneel on the floor with your knees hip-width apart. Place your right foot several
feet in front of you, and rest your hands on your right knee for balance. Lean your
upper body forward slightly and press your hips forward (you should feel a stretch
down the front of your right thigh). Hold for 30 seconds, then switch legs and repeat.
Class
Check your local Gold's Gym
schedule and decide on a class that is new to you both. Want to impress your date with
your strength? Try cardio kickboxing. For flirty competition, sit next to one another in
a cycling class. Yoga can help you connect spiritually. Cardio dance will give you a sneak
preview of the kind of chemistry you share.
Cooldown
Partner-assisted stretch
Lie on your back, and lift one leg as far as you comfortably can on your own. Your partner
then places his or her hand against your calf and applies gentle pressure, as if to push
your leg back a bit farther. You resist the pressure by pressing your leg against your
partner's hand. Hold for 30 seconds.
The Just-Said-I-Love-You Workout
For couples who can't seem to keep their hands off each other, "endurance workouts
that get the sweat running and blood pumping usually turn up the heat in more ways than
one," says Corry Matthews, a certified personal trainer at the Gold's Gym Fitness
Institute. Trainer Adam Friedman notes that competitive activities provide that
friendly-flirty spark. To rev up the heat in your relationship, turn the following moves
into a sexy game. The winner is the one who can go the longest.
Cardio sprints
Choose side-by-side cardio machines — bike, treadmill or elliptical —
and playfully race to the finish for 10 to 15 minutes.
Dumbbell bicep curls
Do three sets of 15 reps
Hold free weights with palms facing out and elbows next to the body. Bend your elbows
and curl the weights toward your shoulders without moving your elbows. Return to the
starting position.
Pull-up and bent-arm hang
For him: Hang on the pull-up bar with hands shoulder-width apart, palms
facing away from you, elbows straight but not locked. Slowly pull yourself up until
your chin passes the bar, then lower to the starting position. Do three sets of 10–12 reps.
For her: Have your date lift you so that your chin is level with the
pull-up bar. Grip the bar with hands shoulder-width apart, palms facing away from you,
elbows bent. When your date releases you, hold yourself in this position for as long as
possible, keeping your chin level with the bar.
Weighted walking lunges
Do three sets of 15–20 lunges, with a 30-second burst of cardio between
sets
Stand holding dumbbells at your sides. Step forward with the first leg. Land on your
heel, then forefoot. Lower the body until the knee of your rear leg is almost in contact
with the floor, then stand on the forward leg with the assistance of the rear leg.
Lunge forward with the opposite leg.
The Married-with-Kids Workout
One word: yoga. "It's relaxing, enjoyable and intimate," Matthews says. There are
plenty of partner postures you can practice as a couple, and the body awareness —
and touching — that couples yoga brings to the table adds to the romance. In
addition to the positions below, any Gold's Gym yoga instructor will be able to suggest
moves you can do at home or in a class.
Double boat
Sit facing your partner, with about three feet between you. Hold hands along the
outside of your legs. Raise both legs and place the soles of your feet on your
partner's. Work on finding your balance and, when you're ready, try straightening your
legs. As you hold the pose, work on drawing in your lower back (don't round your
spine) and engaging your abs while gazing at each other.
Double standing forward bend
Stand back to back with six to 12 inches between your heels. Both partners bend
forward at the waist. Reach behind you and grab your partner's hands. Depending on
your flexibility, you can walk your hands closer, so that you are holding each other's
forearms, elbows or shoulders. The backs of your legs and buttocks should be touching.
Keep your legs straight and lower the top of your head toward the ground. Hold for
five deep breaths, then let go of your partner and slowly come to stand.
Facing twist
Sit facing your partner with your legs crossed. Make sure your knees are touching
your partner's. Both of you hold your right arm around your lower back, with the back
of your hand touching just above your hip. Then reach your left hand out diagonally
and grab your partner's left hand. Turn your hand so your thumb is pointing down. If
you can't reach that hand, the two of you can hold each end of a towel, bringing your
hands as close as you can. If you can hold hands, reach farther and hold each other's
wrists. Now each of you look over your right shoulder and pull against the other as
much as you can to feel the deepest twist. Hold this stretch for five or more deep
breaths and gently release. Then do the other side, twisting to the left.
The Love-on-the-Rocks Workout
Never let an argument sabotage your workout, even when things begin to go
south. "Get to the gym and be the good exercise partners that you've always
been," Vranich suggests. After the sweat has dried and the endorphins have
rushed, you'll have endured a grueling workout and survived it together.
Hopefully, you'll be too exhausted to scream at each other — that is,
if you can remember what you were fighting about in the first place.
Front plank
Lie on your stomach with arms bent, palms and forearms on the ground,
fingers pointed forward, legs extended and toes tucked under. Work your
back and abs by contracting your core muscles and slowly lifting your
entire torso off the floor, keeping palms, forearms and toes on the
ground. Hold for one minute. Repeat twice.
Squat Thrust
Do three sets of 10 reps
Begin in a standing position with feet apart. Squat and place your palms
on the floor in front of you. Kick your feet back like you are going to do
a pushup. Quickly return to the squat position and then stand up. Repeat.
Pushup with a BOSU
Do as many as possible
A BOSU is an inflated rubber hemisphere attached to a rigid platform; it
looks like a stability ball cut in half. Place the BOSU soft side down and
hold on to the edges as you lie facedown with your feet together. Keeping
your body straight, push up.
Mini cardio triathlon
Hop on the stationary bike and pedal at your own max speed for three to
five minutes. Quickly switch to the stair climber and climb at your own max
speed for three to five minutes. Finish strong on the treadmill: Run for
three to five minutes at the fastest speed you can maintain.
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