JESSICA SIMPSON sizzles in the all-new 'Dukes of Hazzard' movie, but how did she manage to squeeze into those Daisy Dukes? ET went straight to the source -- her personal trainer -- to see how she got into shape for her feature film debut!
"I think she was extremely motivated by the fact that she knew that she was going to be up on the big screen for millions of people to see in some very revealing clothes, so it wasn't very difficult at all," says MIKE ALEXANDER, a celebrity trainer based at The Sports Club/L.A., a popular location for such heavy hitter celebrities as TOM CRUISE, KATIE HOLMES, SHAQ, JOHN TRAVOLTA and HARRISON FORD.
"She is genetically blessed, but she never really worked out consistently," Mike tells ET about Jessica's exercise habits before the movie. "She's a very busy girl. She's got concerts and appearances and a cosmetics line, so she was never able to get on a regular workout schedule. This was the first time that she actually cracked down and did it consistently."
In 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' in theaters August 5, Jessica stars opposite SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT and JOHNNY KNOXVILLE as country cousins Bo and Luke Duke. Chock-full of car chases and plenty of good humor, the new 'Dukes' finds Daisy Duke and the good 'ol boys trying to save their family farm from the scheming Boss Hogg (played by '70's icon BURT REYNOLDS).
In preparing for the role (and to be able to fit in those short shorts), Jessica first had to give up her No. 1 vice -- dessert! "She's a big sweet tooth person," reports Mike. "She likes to cook desserts -- brownies and cookies and banana pudding and stuff like that -- so she wasn't allowed to do that. And being from the South, she loves chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes and chips and hot sauce and Mexican food -- fried and carbs, basically -- so she had to give that all up."
As for her exercise regimen, Jessica focused specifically on her legs and behind to tone the muscle and burn the fat covering it. "To get those Daisy Duke legs, we would put Jessica in a lot of static, squat and lunge positions while she would do other upper-body exercises," explains Mike, adding, "If there was one thing that Jessica was ever hesitant about while working out, it would definitely be jumping, whether it's over a rope or up on a step, so we had to overcome that fear."
Mike accompanied Jessica in Baton Rouge, LA, for much of the shoot so he could monitor her diet and supervise her training. Of course, once production wrapped and she didn't have to worry how she'd look in front of the lens, the "Newlyweds" star headed straight for the comfort food. "She took about two weeks off where she didn't want to look at weights and she didn't want to return my phone calls," laughs Mike. "I think she did the chicken fried steak and the
ice cream with a brownie and hot fudge."
