Table of Contents
A PLUME BOOK
THE CHEERLEADER FITNESS PLAN
LINDSAY BRIN, C.P.T., B.S.E., is a fitness and nutrition expert and a former NFL cheerleader who has been helping women achieve healthier bodies and minds for nearly fifteen years. Brin was a fitness trainer for the St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders before joining the squad herself in 2005. In addition to her work with the NFL, she is the founder and creator of Moms Into Fitness, of which eleven workout DVD titles can be found in Shopko and Kohls nationwide, or online at Amazon.com, Target.com, or Walmart.com. Her innovative Moms Into Fitness line is currently the highest-rated pregnancy workout system on the Internet. Brin has been the regional director of seven womens health clubs, holds over ten national certifications, and is the fitness expert for Fit Pregnancy and Mom and Baby magazines.
She lives in the suburbs of St. Louis with her husband, David, and their baby girl. Visit her website at www.momsintofitness.com or blog at www.lindsaybrin.com.
To Taylor
for napping in the Baby Bjrn
for the first eleven weeks of your life
while I wrote this.
And to David
for putting up with my
insanity and loving me.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To Scott Mendel, my agent, who started this roller-coaster ride.
But gave me the opportunity to write. This book wouldnt have been possible without your guidance.
To Clyde Thomas, my photographer, for making a ten-hour photo shoot easy, and making me look good three months after giving birth!
To Gary Brozek, my ghostwriter, who helped me write this book. Your intelligence and wit are amazing. Im glad I fit into your schedule of secret agents and sci-fi. And to Dana Demas for putting my proposal together.
To Cherise Fisher, my editor; the first time I spoke with you on the phone you gave me the gift of confidence in being a first-time author. Thank you. And to Jennifer Risser for helping me along.
To Signe Pike, my editor; you were my cheerleader in writing this book and so thoughtful in every aspect of this process. I know if I lived in New York we would have good conversation over lunch! And to Nadia Kashper, I dont know how you do it, but thank you for staying on top of it all!
To Ed and Sharon for loving me and supporting me from the start. Ed, thank you for your illustrations.
To Brent for always being involved and helping make my dreams come true.
To Mom and Dad for your love, faith, and support even when I messed up! Thank you so much for believing in me. I couldnt have done anything in my life without your cheering, making me realize I had the potential to do anything. Youve always put your children first, and I hope one day I can be just like you.
Last but not least, to my daughter and husband. David, you give me the support and love that help me follow my dreams. And you make me a better person. Taylor, I love your laugh and your smile. And I love the way you look for me whenever Im not near. But Ill always be there for you both. I love you!
INTRODUCTION
Welcome! Are you ready for some fitness? This book is filled with insider secrets on how you can live the lifestyle that keeps NFL cheerleaders fit, healthy, and full of energy. Youre going to learn a simple, effective plan to look and feel your best that you can practice for years to come. This is a program thats going to change your lifeand were going to have some fun in the process!
Now, I know what you might be thinking. Me... look like an NFL cheerleader? Or, Ive never danced a day in my life. How can this program help me get in shape? Well, Im here to tell you that this program is all about you! Yes, you!
Whether youve fallen off the exercise bandwagon, youre eating all of those foods you know you shouldnt, or youve put on some weight (or all three), this book has found you for a reason. You know how the right people, the ideal job, or other opportunities seem to come into your life at the perfect moment? A healthy lifestyle change is no different. Youre holding this book for a reason and I cant wait to share all of the exclusive fitness and nutrition tips, taken straight from my days with the NFL and applied to the everyday woman.
Because real women are what Im all about. Ive spent my career helping women get the bodies they want. Women of every age, every size, and at every life stage. Young women who are just getting started on a fitness program. Women who are preparing to have children. Women who are working to get their bodies back after pregnancy. Women who are years past having children. Women who are gearing up for menopause. Women who are preparing for a life-defining event like a wedding. And women who are simply making a healthy lifestyle change. The bottom line? You dont have to be an NFL cheerleader to put this revolutionary program to work for you. I know youre busy and I know youre (probably) not an NFL cheerleader. So Ive made this plan simple to follow for every woman out there.
As they say, life isnt a sprint; its a marathon. Im going to teach you how to jump-start your body and your mind in six weeks, and then Im going to show you how to go the distance with a plan for lifelong wellness. This book isnt about gimmicks. It isnt about fad diets. It isnt about unrealistic exercise plans with fancy equipment. Its about you making a lifestyle change thats going to deliver quick results, but one that is also sustainable for the rest of your life.
I understand that we live in a results-oriented societywe want to see those results and spend as little time as possible getting them. And I know you have a busy life. As a mother, a full-time fitness instructor, and the creative director and vice president of my own company (Moms Into Fitness), I know from personal experience that finding time to get fit and to stay fit is hard! Thats why my program is realistic. By spending as few as thirty minutes a day, five days a week, and making better choices about what you eat, you can have the body youve always wanted in as few as six weeks.
I divide that six-week time period into two three-week phases, and provide you with week-by-week instruction in the Ultimate Six-Week Fitness Plan. Included in that is a Nutrition Jump Start with nutritional tips and tricks to help you set goals for yourself, eat smarter, and feel better doing it. Fitness and nutrition go hand in hand, so well work on both of them together: all the health experts in the world agree, you cant get fit if you dont monitor what you eat and increase the amount of your daily activity.
Getting rid of excess pounds and reducing the amount of fat we carry on our bodies isnt just about looking goodthough thats certainly importantits also about preventing disease that can shorten our life spans and make the years we have painful. For that reason, Im going to introduce you to my Get into Your Fat-Burning Zone method. Developed especially for busy women who want fast, lasting results, this method takes everything that top-level athletes and coaches know about the benefits of interval training and makes it easy to apply for anyone at any ability level. The exercises I suggest will put you in one of three zones during your workout to maximize your fat burning and conditioning. In combining cardio work with strength training and nutrition, youll minimize your time (and those targeted zones of fat) spent working out while maximizing results. My workout plan will have you using more muscle groups simultaneously to produce fast results and whole body conditioning.