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Saggy, Squishy, Flabby Butt- Top 5 Exercises to HELP . . .
Saggy, Squishy, Flabby Butt!? Top 5 Exercises to HELP
Are you not happy with the shape & look of your butt?? View these TOP 5 exercises to get your rear end into shape!!
By Paige Waehner, About.com Guide
Are you happy with your butt? Most of us aren't. They're too small, too big, too saggy, too flabby...this list goes on. The right cardio exercise and weight training activities (like squats and deadlifts) can make a difference in your backside, depending on your body type and genetics. Find out the best cardio and strength training exercises for strengthening and targeting your rear.
1. SQUATS
Squats are one of the best exercises you can do for your hips, butt and thighs and they're also a functional exercise, helping us build strength for a variety of daily activities.
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How to:
1. Stand with feet hip-width apart and, for added intensity, hold weights at shoulder level or at your sides.
2. Bend the knees, and lower into a squat, keeping the knees behind the toes. Imagine that you're sticking your butt out behind you, but keep the torso upright and contracted.
3. Press into the heels to stand up.
4. Repeat for 2-3 sets of 8-16 reps
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2. LUNGES
Lunges are a challenging exercise because they work so many muscles at the same time.
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On the front leg, you'll work the glutes and hamstrings and, on the back leg, you'll work the quads and calves. What's nice about lunges is that there are a variety to choose from such as:
* Static Lunges
* Side to Side Lunges
* Sliding Lunges
* Low Lunges
* One-Legged Lunge
* Wheel lunges (front, side, reverse)
* Step by Step: Lunges
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3. STEP UPS
Step ups are another great exercise for the glutes. For step ups, place one foot on a step or platform and push through the heel to lift the body up. This is an excellent exercise for the glutes, providing you use a step that's high enough, although you may need to work up to a higher step if you're a beginner. You eventually want a height were your knee is at about a 90-degree angle.
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The other key is to concentrate all your weight on the stepping leg. In other words, lower down gently, barely touching the toes of the other leg to the ground. You'll really feel this when you take it slow and concentrate on the working leg.
More Step Ups
* Side step ups
* Crossover step ups
* Resistance Band step ups
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4. HIP EXTENSIONS
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While I'm fond of more compound moves (like the squats, lunges and step ups listed above) since they work more muscle groups, the hip extension is an exercise that specifically targets the largest muscle in the body...the gluteus maximus.
For this move, you can hold a dumbbell behind the knee or use ankle weights for added intensity.
More Variations:
* Hip lift on the ball
* Hyperextension on the ball
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5. ONE LEGGED DEADLIFTS
Deadlifts are great for your hamstrings, butt and lower back, but this one-legged version is a great way to add intensity to the exercise and engage your stabilizer muscles to keep your body balanced. Form is critical and you should skip this exercise if you have any back problems.
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To do this move, take the left leg back just a bit, lightly resting on the toe. With the weights in front of the thighs, tip from the hips and lower the weights as low as your flexibility allows. Keep your back flat or with a natural arch and make sure you keep the abs contracted to protect the back. Squeeze the glutes of the working leg to raise back up. Do 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps.
More Variations
* One-Legged Deadlift with Balance
* One-Legged Deadlift on the Ball
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