How do Brazilian women approach fitness?
Usually there is no middle ground. Brazilian women are either fanatics that approach fitness like a religion with dedication, putting a lot of time into their workout routines and nutrition or they simply believe that they have good genes and tend to pay for this assumption, later on in life, in their 30s and 40s.
Describe a typical workout session for the Victoria's Secret models.
The workout focuses upon movements that use body weight resistance and whole body movements. The session starts like a dance class taking movements from ballet and blending them with elements of Afro-Brazilian dance. This is the safest way to warm-up the body and prepare for more demanding exercises such as the capoeira routines. One thing that is always for sure, the Victoria Secret models will always end up with ankle weights on doing mat lifts. This helps to reshape and increases volume (in the right places).
What are your top 5 diet tips for females?
1. Avoid sugar
2. Avoid large meals
3. Say NO to processed food
4. Say NO to fried food
5. Say YES to Lemon and ginger
[pullquotes bg_image_id="34662" quote="Women need a lot of variety in their routine to work the muscles from many different angles" quotee="Leandro Carvalho"]
What mistakes do women make when it comes to exercise?
Not choosing the right exercises for their body type! It’s important to avoid repetition too, women in general need a lot of variety in their routine to work the muscles from many different angles, this is the only way to really reshape and reach your goal.
So variation is key. What’s the other important advice do you give to your clients?
Don’t skip it! Even if you don't have much time or energy you can always do a short version of your regular workout. Creating a habit is extremely important for great results, always focus on the areas that need the most work.