From my mailbox, you'd think it was already summer!  Nordstroms, Victoria Secret, and everyone's mamas are sending out swimsuit specials.  WTF?  Isn't it raining outside right now?  Sure the weekend was warm, but it's only the beginning of March.  There's still 3 more months til summer.  Maybe I accidently listed my address as Hawaii, so I'm getting these emails telling me about great deals of swimsuits all year long!

$39.00 at Victoria's Secret

 

Anyhow.. these emails does remind me that I should get my butt back into the gym.  Last year, I started training at the gym with 1 trainer, and was progressing until he moved.  I continued, hopping from 1 trainer to another, but that groove was gone.  I made a resolution to go back, and once again, gelled with another great trainer.  But 2 weeks ago, she left to go train at Equinox in Beverly Hills.

I have learned some moves that works great.  Some are really basic, but they can be done everywhere and anywhere!  I sometimes do these at work when I'm alone and wearing comfy pants.  I'll start out with a few basics first, and continue on in later posts!

LEGS!

1.  Squats - Every trainer I've worked with starts out each session with squats.  Why?  Because working out your legs burns the most fat!  Plus they just work out so many leg muscles, from your bum to your quads.  The trick to doing them is to pretend like your about to sit on a chair.  Make sure your lower body does not lean forward, keep it upright.  You can also use light weights (3-10 pounds, depending on your strenght), while you do these!  Do curls or shoulder lifts with every squat.  The first set is probably fun, but by the third set, I want to cry!

2.  Ballet Squats/plies - most trainers actually don't do this with you, since there aren't that many trainers who have danced ballet.  Can you imagine that big buff trainer in your gym doing ballet?  Yea, I don't think so either.  But that doesn't mean you can't do them!  These probably need a bit more explanation than your regular squats.  So stand with your feet shoulder width apart, and turn your legs out, with your toes pointed outward.  Make sure that when you bend, your knees and your toes are aligned, or you will get injured.  You don't have to keep your toes turned 90 degrees if your knees can't be bent outwards at 90 degrees!  Then bend your knees as low as you can, making sure your butt does not stick out!  Go straight down!  Then when you come up, tighten your butt!  This will work out your inner thigh as well as your butt.

From http://www.womansday.com