In my quest to get healthy and lose some weight, I have been working on some new things. The latest is toning. I want to get rid of any “soft” areas of my body where they shouldn’t be soft. I have found some great toning exercises that really help.
Think about some of the areas that we most want to tone. Start with the upper arms, which can be an area of flab for many. To do this exercise you will need a light weight, five pounds or less. Start with your right side by extending your right arm straight up while holding the weight, pointing toward the ceiling. Take your left arm and lightly place it over your right elbow. Your left arm serves as a guide. Then take your right arm and move the weight down toward you. Lift it up and then back down again. Do this on each side at least 10 times, more if you can.
Moving down the body we get to another area of flab which is the stomach. This can be a difficult area to tone, especially for women. To tone your stomach, lie flat on your back with your feet on the ground and knees bent. Extend your arms behind you so they are flat on the ground. Lift your arms and legs up at the same time, making sure your knees are no longer bent until you are forming a “V.” Hold that pose for about five seconds and then go back down to your regular position. Lift up and hold the pose in a “V” shape again for another five seconds. This exercise can be done as many times as you can.
Then we get to the thighs, yet another area of our bodies that can usually use some toning. Stand with your legs slightly apart. Move your left leg back and then bend your right leg. You should feel the muscles in your right thigh working as you bend. Bend for at least five seconds and then come back up. Do this several times on each leg.
Just a few of these everyday and you will begin to tone those flabby areas.
Related Articles:
The Importance of Bending and Stretching
Exercise Tips: Squats & Lunges