What Is Her Secret?

Work Out Like Marisa

Marisa: I've tried everything. I love surfing: It's spiritual and physical. It's something I grew up doing, and it's a big part of the California culture. I also like Spinning. It's good toning for your rear and legs. I've got the bike at home -- since it's in my house, I really have no excuse not to do it! I'll put in one of my favorite Guns N' Roses music video DVDs and start pedaling. I find it's so much easier to work out when I can distract myself with something visual. When I'm home, I will try to work out almost every day, because I never know if I'll have time to exercise once I'm on the road.

Marisa: I don't. Most of the time I use my own body weight. I stretch a lot. I like long, lean muscles.

Marisa: Backward lunges [laughs]. You basically put one foot in front of the other and then lean back, isolating your glutes. I did them yesterday, and I'm a little sore! With my job, you want your butt to bounce, not jiggle.

Marisa: For the five days leading up to the show, I train with my boxing instructor, Phil Paolina. We do different punch combinations -- jabs, hooks, uppercuts -- and combinations that include ducking, which incorporates squat-like moves for my legs. We do this in the ring for 10 rounds -- each round is three minutes and I get a one-minute break in between, during which I do as many crunches as I can. After the ring, I box with the speed bag for about 15 more minutes. I also use a resistance band every night for leg and butt toning. I put the band around my ankles and do 15 kicks in front, 15 kicks to the side, and 15 kicks to the back and then switch legs for three sets; I like it because it doesn't take a lot of time and the results are great.