Workouts for body trouble spots

Four perfect workouts for body trouble spots

Tone your trouble spots with targeted workouts

No matter your size, shape or level of fitness – everyone has a few trouble spots when it comes to their body; you know those wobbly bits that never seem to get in shape? Well, with our targeted tips and activity suggestions your less-than-perfect body zones could become history. 

We’ve selected four trouble spots, highlighting the type of toning exercises you need to work into your daily routine – plus some extra training tips to complement your toning workouts.  It’s time to hit those jiggly bits and watch your body transform.

Trouble spot 1 – Wobbly belly

If you're looking to get a slim waist and a set of killer abs, sit ups and crunches immediately come to mind. But exercises for your lower abs and obliques should be included too.  Have a go at leg-only v-sits (sit on the floor with your legs elevated and alternately bend and straighten your knees). 

To further train your core, use a stability ball to carry out your ab exercises – this will train the deeper muscles of your abdomen too which will lead to all-over better posture.

Trouble spot 2 – Saggy, flabby behind

For that perfect peachy rear you’ll need to be working all the glute muscles. There are many killer techniques that will set you on your way to a shapelier behind; squats, lunges, side leg lifts as well as running, stepping or skipping.

But one of the best ways to fit in an extra daily bum tone is to take to the stairs – go for two at a time concentrating on squeezing the cheeks as you climb.

Trouble spot 3 – Bingo wings

If you shy away from short-sleeved tops, you can banish those bingo wings by targeting your biceps, triceps and shoulders to get the sexy toned arms you desire.  Triceps dips are one of the best exercises to tone the under-arm wobble and good old fashioned press ups are great for targeting arms, shoulders and the chest.

Combine the toning with some cardiovascular exercise too; boxercise or cardio kickboxing classes are a great cardio workout with lots of upper-body work.

Trouble spot 4 – Thunder thighs

Want sleeker hips and streamlined, jiggle-free thighs that don’t meet in the middle? Well the good news is that the squats and lunges for your peachy rear will also double up as great thigh trimmers too.  But rather than just focusing on the large muscles on the front and back of the thighs (the quads and hamstrings) go for activities that work the hips and inner thighs too

In-line skating is a superb aerobic workout, burning 400 calories an hour, studies have shown that it works some muscles in the legs more effectively than running – particularly the inner thighs and hips.

Okay, so you know your body trouble spots and how to get them more toned and peachy but as an extra helper there are a few training rules and nutrition tips which will complement your workouts and get you closer to the body you crave.

Top six training and nutrition tips to complement toning workouts

Don’t forget to step up your cardio workouts (running, cycling, walking), in order to burn extra calories and ensure your newly honed and toned body isn’t buried under a layer of blubber.

Train early – Exercising in the morning kick-starts your metabolism (the rate at which you burn calories) and the benefits can last for up to 15 hours after training.

Up the resistance – As you progress the addition of hand/leg weights or resistance bands will make toning workouts that little bit tougher but will yield results.

Go natural when eating – Always try and select whole-food choices for meals and snacks. Processed foods (foods that come in packets) are generally low in nutritional quality and high in unwanted calories such as fat and sugar.

Hydrate for exercise – Inadequate hydration often presents false hunger pangs. Hunger pangs are often satisfied with processed foods (chocolate, sweets etc), which are generally high in calories, unnecessarily adding to total calorie intake.

Easy on the alcohol – The calories from alcohol in wine, beer and spirits are stored as body fat if they’re not used at the time of consumption; so reducing your alcohol intake will help with weight loss.