Five exercise moves to leaner legs
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We all want to look and feel our best. Each week we share five tips, five items, five products, five ingredients, five steps, five minutes to a more fabulous you -- Five to Fab!
Let's face it. We are not all born with perfectly toned legs. I know I'm certainly not! In fact, it's the one part of the body I have to work the hardest to get into shape, which is why I love great leg exercises.
Alison Lackey with Real Results Fitness came up with some super moves that will tone us up in no time!
1. Jump Squats: Feet need to be hip width apart with knees back, making sure not to push knees over toes. Keep chest and shoulders lifted with good posture, start position with arms down by your side. As you jump, swing and raise arms to ceiling. Then, land softly, toe-ball-heel. Return to start position and begin again. Do two sets of 15 repetitions while resting for 30 seconds in between sets.
2. Single Leg Lunges Into Knee Lift with Dumb bells: Start in lunge position with knees bent, making sure not to push knees over toes, while holding dumb bells straight by your side. Keep chest and shoulders lifted with good posture. Next, shift weight forward by raising your knee to balance on one leg, then return to lunge position, bending knees and staying low. Return to start position and begin again. Do two sets of 15 repetitions and rest for 30 seconds in between sets.
3. Squats with Medicine Ball: Using a regular gym bench or chair, stand with feet hip width apart, arms straight by your side holding medicine ball in front of your torso with arms straight. Lower hips and glutes to sitting position on bench as you raise the medicine ball with straight arms to shoulder height. Immediately stand up again returning arms to start position. Do two sets of 15 repetitions and rest for 30 seconds in between sets.
4. Single Leg Pistol Squat Stand-Ups: Using a regular gym bench or chair, start in sitting position on bench with right foot on the floor, left leg lifted, keeping all of your weight on your right foot. Stand up slowly, keeping all of your weight on your right foot and balancing with arms raised. Slowly, sit back down and return to start position and repeat. Alternate 15 repetitions on right leg, then on left leg until you've completed two sets on each leg.
5. Floor Bridges: Begin on the mat laying down with knees bent and back flat. Keep right leg bent, push through your right heel putting all of your weight on your right foot as you push arms to the floor raising hips to the ceiling. Extend your left leg to straightened position, hip height. Then, return to bent, lower hips to ground returning to starting position and repeat. Alternate 15 repetitions on right leg, then on left leg until you've completed two sets on each leg.
