The holidays are over, and you’re feeling a bit worse for wear. You know the symptoms: you’re tired, you’re inactive, and you just feel blech. Yup, you’re suffering from the post-holiday back-to-reality crash.
Don’t worry, though! We’re here to help! Here is a daily routine with four simple exercises to help you get back into shape (because, lets face it, round isn’t an appropriate shape). Bikini weather is coming—you don’t want to be caught off-guard when it’s time for Spring Break!
1. Single Leg Lunges
Do three sets of fifteen lunges on each leg—you’ll feel the burn!
This exercise will help tighten up the back of your legs. You’ll look perfect from behind when it’s time to squeeze into that itsy-bitsy bikini bottom!
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/single-leg-squat-start-with-stationary-lunge
2. Squats
Buy a cute exercise mat and do three sets of fifteen squats.
Your backside and your front side will thank you for this! Squats tone your legs and, if done correctly, strengthen your abs as well!
http://0.tqn.com/d/exercise/1/0/c/j/squat.jpg
3. Sit-Ups
Do three sets of twenty-five of these sit-ups.
Lift your legs so that you see a ninety-degree angle when your knee is bent, then drop your ankles 2-3 inches (until you feel tension in your lower abs). Make sure when you sit up, you’re using your shoulders to lift your body, and not leading with your neck/chin. If your neck starts to hurt, try lifting your shoulders up off the ground a second before you allow the back of your head to lose contact with the floor.
http://hratafamilymartialarts.com/Pictures/girl_doing_sit_ups.jpg
4. Oblique Crunches
Do three sets of twenty-five of these oblique crunches.
As you crunch up, turn toward each knee, so that you’re crunching left, then right, then left, then right… This targets the higher portion of your abdominals, whereas the prior exercise strengthens your lower abdominals. You’ll feel it under your rib cage, so don’t worry if you’re sore the next morning.
http://tonishealthblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/oblique_crunch_large.jpg
Try these exercises for the next few weeks – you’ll see a difference in the way you look and in the way you feel!