What It Takes to Look Like a Celeb

We asked pros who push, poke, and prod the rich and famous: What does it really take to get a red-carpet-worthy body? It turns out achieving perfection is a full-time job that takes time and money. But there are things you can do right now to improve what you've got.

« Previous |  1 of 5  | Next »

Incredible Abs

What Some Stars Do

To get the slender waist and washboard definition of a Victoria's Secret model, you'll need to banish belly fat, and that probably means watching every single bite you put in your mouth. Yes, a few lucky stars are blessed with a calorie-torching metabolism, but most stay super-slim by sticking "full-time, full-out" to a diet of lean protein and healthy whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, says celebrity nutritionist Oz Garcia. No junk food. Ever.

Add to that a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes of cardio, plus half an hour of abdominal exercises, six days a week. The Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels says a flat belly requires much more than crunches, according to her new book Slim for Life: My Insider Secrets to Simple, Fast, and Lasting Weight Loss. To get a really toned middle you have to do it all: the no-excuses diet, the cardio, and a bunch of different abs workouts, including sit-ups and bicycle crunches -- even leg lifts.

If the dress code calls for a bare belly, spray-tanner-to-the-stars Jimmy Coco visually fakes defined abs by creating strategic shadows down the center and sides of the body.

It's a not-so-well-kept secret that socialites, celebrities, and models often fast or do so-called cleanses. They may live (dangerously, say some experts) on concoctions of lemon juice, water, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup, plus laxatives, for three days or longer to drop a size or two before award shows or other big events.

Liposuction, anyone? Quite a few stars seek expensive surgery to suck away stubborn bulges -- sometimes with multiple procedures, which can increase risks.

What Crazy Folks Do

Los Angeles wardrobe stylist Lindsay Albanese had one red-carpet client who cinched her middle with an Ace bandage, wrapped tightly under her clothes, corset-style. "It did define her waist a little more, but it was ridiculous," she says.

Real-Person Plan

Super-restrictive diets aren't doable -- or healthy -- in the long run. But you can melt belly fat by avoiding sugar and other processed foods.

Interval training may banish belly fat more quickly than steady cardio, says a study. Try 20 minutes of interval sprints, three days a week.

If you're very pale, a light, natural-looking overall faux tan or bronzing product can make you look thinner.

Shapewear does help. Even celebs say they love their Spanx.

Facebook Twitter