Take up boxing and you can get a body like Rihanna says celebrity trainer

Home Top

Girls star Allison Williams marries her boyfriend in stunning ranch wedding with Tom Hanks officiating and John Mayer serenading the newlyweds - two days before Brian Williams makes TV return
No Muslim should ever be allowed to become President, says Ben Carson adding that Islam is 'inconsistent' with the constitution
Carly Fiorina creeps ahead of Ben Carson and closer to Trump in new poll after her 'winning' GOP debate performance
'Mistress' of slain Houston police deputy was in the car with him when he was murdered at gas station
Eiffel Tower is closed to visitors after terror suspect 'with large rucksack' is seen ascending France's most famous attraction
Police used bullet fragments to track down suspected Arizona 'highway sniper'
'Class! Style! Go USA!': American golf team enjoys sweet victory over Europe at Solheim cup after furious row leaves female stars from BOTH sides in tears
'Do what you love': Donald Trump offers advice to 'young and beautiful and attractive' Iowa teens
Hillary Clinton calls for the United States to bring in 65,000 Syrians this year calling it the 'worst refugee crisis' since World War II
Hillary goes on the attack amid sinking poll numbers: Clinton gets partisan at New Hampshire rally as she tries to claw back support
Alexis Tsipras and his left-wing Syriza party on course for Greek election victory as exit polls indicate a six point lead over closest rivals - but party WILL fall short of a majority
Kylie Jenner attacked by a crazed fan who grabbed her by her hair outside concert - before guards jumped to her defense
Six killed and five others wounded in string of shootings and stabbings during night of violence in New York City
Stock car driver dies while taking victory lap after winning the final race of the season
Pope Francis meets Fidel Castro after his pointed remarks about communism: Pair exchange books 'on religion' and share 'informal' talks as anger grows over Cuban dissidents made to 'disappear' for papal visit
Yemen rebels release six foreign hostages including three Americans
German mother and daughter found LIVING at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus (after arriving 15 months earlier)
It's not just a movie... I was left for dead on Everest: The bone-chilling true story behind the epic new film... told by the American hero who paid a terrible price for his survival
Florida man, 91, 'made landscaper get on his knees before shooting him because he sprayed grass clippings on his car'
Family with autistic son driven out of their home after neighbors bring lawsuit against parents accusing boy, 11, of causing house prices to plummet
Outrage as $125,000-a-year Hamptons school principal appears in rapper's sex and drug-fuelled music video
Beloved author Jackie Collins only told older sister Joan two WEEKS before she died that she had been battling breast cancer for six years - because she didn't want to be a burden
Jackie Collins' final, stoic TV appearance: Novelist flew from LA to London for chat show just NINE DAYS before her death, gave no indication of her suffering and even joked about her 'research' for erotic novels
'It's fraud': Now Richard Dawkins lays in to Texas schoolboy Ahmed Mohamed for his alarm clock 'invention'... as Sarah Palin says he was asking to be arrested

Johanna Bell, 32, attempted Rihanna's favourite boxing work-out
Carlos Moreno has trained Professor Green and Andrew Garfield
He suggests you should train six times a week to achieve a celebrity body

Published: 04:11 EST, 20 September 2015 | Updated: 06:17 EST, 20 September 2015

View
comments

If you want a body like Rihanna then you've got to work for it - but the Bajan beauty's favourite boxing workout isn't without its downsides.

Carlos Moreno, a four-time international boxing champion, says the sport really does have the power to transform a flabby body into a lithe one.

'I'm not surprised Rihanna swears by boxing to keep in shape,' says Moreno. 'You can burn anywhere from 500 to 1,000 calories in a one-hour session so it's a great way of keeping lean and fit. Plus it's a great stress buster.

Scroll down for video

Carlos Moreno says training six times weekly is required to get Rihanna's body (pictured earlier this year in New York)

Celebrity trainer and boxing champion Moreno, pictured with FEMAIL writer Johanna Bell, says that boxing is Rihanna's favourite workout because it uses your arms, legs and core muscles

A class with Moreno, who trains Camilla Mackintosh, Professor Green and Andrew Garfield among others, involves spending 45 minutes skipping, sparring, lunging, squatting and doing serious crunches.

Painful though it is, Moreno says it is essential for getting a body that is 'functional' as well as beautiful.

'Rihanna's body is not only designed to look good but to also fulfill a function – to sing and dance in a performance, be it live or televised,' he explains.

'If your goal is to look like Rihanna, you need to imagine you'll be doing the same.'

So are you ready to get a fit body that moves as well as it looks? Mr Moreno - with a little help from FEMAIL writer Johanna, 32, reveals how getting a body like Rihanna's is done.

Carlos says that all his clients keep a food diary and email him every week to make sure they stay on target

Boxing her way to Rihanna's figure: Johanna puts on a pair of boxing gloves and throws a jab at the pads

CARDIO IS KEY

'We all know how well Rihanna can sing, and performing life is very taxing and you need to be fit,' he says,

'To be able to sing while dancing Rihanna needs some good cardio, so if you plan on looking like her, you will too.'

'Hit the road for some jogging in the early mornings when pollution levels are lower. Running outdoors can be more challenging than on a treadmill if you're not used to it, so embrace the challenge!'

JOHANNA SAYS: We've opted for an indoor workout, so Carlos gets me doing cardio in the form of skipping and high-knee runs. Every time I whip myself with the skipping rope and stop he's on at me to keep going - we even do high-knee skips. There's no slacking with this guy.

CORE EXERCISE

'Rihanna's body is not just for show, but it allows her to dance pretty well on stage too.

'You need to ensure you have good core stability if you want to shake your hips like her, so go get yourself a stability ball and perform a one-minute plank three times with a two-minute rest in between at the end of your workouts.'

JOHANNA SAYS: My core is one of my weakest parts, so I'm dreading this bit. My arms start shaking almost as soon as I assume the position but Carlos won't let me give in. I manage to hold it for the full minute almost every time - it really makes a difference to have someone spurring you on.

Johanna tries out the 'straights challenge' where you throw as many punches as you can in one minute

The trainer says there are no shortcuts when it comes to achieving your goal and it takes serious effort

GET CROSS (TRAINING)

'Do something different apart from just cardio and weights – cross train,' Moreno advises.

'We all know Rihanna loves boxing and you can't go amiss with an intense boxing session with someone who knows the sport.

'In boxing, to throw punches you need to use your core muscles, your legs and arms too, and it burns a lot of calories.

'A good exercise to try out is the ‘straights challenge’ where you throw as many straight punches as you can in one minute, or alternatively you can have a target in mind - for example 500 punches in three minutes.”

JOHANNA SAYS: Carlos takes me through the basic boxing punches - jab, straight, hook and upper cut. Then we do some three-minute rounds and I’m amazed at how intense the workout is. As I fire out the punches my arms start burning and the sweat starts dripping.

I’m relieved we’re doing short, sharp bursts as I really need the breathers in-between - although they never seem long enough. I’ve got such a weak punch I realise it must feel like a tickle to Carlos, who is an international boxing champ.

As the boxing rounds went on, my arms became heavier and heavier - each time I was about to give up when Carlos would shout some encouragement to keep me going.

It’s hard to give in when someone is making you feel like they believe in you and they want you to finish strong.

We move on to the straights challenge and I’m dead on my feet as Carlos barks at me to keep going - a minute has never seemed so long.

After a few sets I fire some more questions at him as an excuse for a breather. I want to know how many times a week I need to do this in order to get a body like Rihanna.

Kitted out for a gruelling workout, writer Johanna Bell lays on her workout mat ready to do some sit ups

Carlos's workout is tough, but you'll be left buzzing at the end (mainly because it's over)

Rihanna trains regularly to keep her figure trim and allow her to perform her energetic routines on stage

'I’ve trained a few models in my time and I know that looking good is no overnight job,' he says. 'These people work very hard to look good and they take a lot of pride in that.

'If your goal is to emulate Rihanna’s body you should be training five to six times per week as a minimum, regulating the intensities so that you allow your body to recover. Vary your workouts by cross training in other sports to avoid tedium.'

JOHANNA'S VERDICT: As we started another round I had to focus hard and push through the pain, but the adrenalin rush I got when we’d finished was worth it - I was buzzing.

But I was also a sweaty mess - Carlos really knows how to push you and encourage you to work your hardest.

It hurt to move my arms for a good couple of days afterwards so I have no idea how his clients manage to train so many times a week. No wonder Rihanna looks so good. It even hurt my stomach to cough - so I’d managed to work my abs without even realising.

It was a hard workout but it was fun, and I took the aches as a sign it had done some good. I’ll definitely be donning boxing gloves again - just as soon as I can move my arms properly.