Time to Tone Up 10 Tough Body Areas
By Sandy Schroeder
Yes, summer is right around the corner. No, those stubborn body areas that bug you won’t just disappear, but there are ways to work on them.
Womenworking.com has 10 simple exercises that may help. Pick your spots to work on and check in with your doctor for approval before you begin the exercises.
Shore up the abdomen - Sit on a mat with knees bent in a V-shape. Move the body back and forth reaching from one side to the other with hands clasped or holding a dumbbell to work on the flat muscles of the abdomen.
Tame glutes - Inner thighs and glutes can be shaped up. Start on all fours with knees under hips, hands under shoulders. Keep back straight and lift the right leg out to the side keeping knee at a 90-degree. Return and repeat on opposite side.
Erase bottom fat rolls - Use a bridge exercise. Lie on back with knees bent. Lift hips and squeeze bottom while hips are up then slowly lower back down.
Melt muffin tops - Tighten bulges with a climbing exercise. Start on your mat in a straight arm plank position. Pull one leg up to the chest and put it back down as you draw the other leg up, and keep climbing in place.
Subtract double chins - Do a neck crunch. Lie flat, lift the head and tuck the chin into chest keeping shoulders flat on the floor. Release, repeat.
Lose upper arm flaps - Loose upper arms can change your whole wardrobe as you look for ways to hide them. Use triceps exercises. Stand in front of a sturdy chair facing away. Put hands on chair, bend legs and keep back close to chair. Lower the body until elbows are at a 90-degree angle. Gradually raise the body up until arms are extended with a slight bend kept in the elbows.
Fight cellulite - Use a low-carb diet to lose body fat, firm muscles under skin, and boost blood flow. Use a step-up exercise on a bench or stair, stepping up and back down with the same leg. Switch and repeat.
Slim thighs - Squats, lunges and wall-sits can slim thighs along with long-distance running, which strengthens the legs without creating muscle mass.
Breast bulge - Shape and tighten breasts with a push-up. Place hands at shoulder-width and lower body until chest is almost to the floor, creating a head-to-toe straight line. Then push back up and repeat.
Tighten calves - Fight fat with calf lifts. Position feet at shoulder width and push yourself up with balls of feet as high as ankles allow. Gently lower back down.
Keep going with the exercises that work for you and have a great summer.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Tempe, Ariz.