13 Exercises to Tone Your Body

Desk Exercises

You can do these simple exercises at your desk. Try this mini work out and shape up your body at the same time.

1. Desk Top Push-ups: Working the chest and back of upper arms.

Stand a few feet away from your desk, put your hands on the desk, shoulder width

apart. Keeping your back straight, lower your chest toward the desk, then

push out. Don't rush. Repeat 8 to 12 times.

2. Knee Stretch:

Pull one leg to your chest, grasp with both hands, and hold for a count of five. Repeat with opposite leg. Repeat 8 to 12 times.

3. Stretch Out Your Shoulders, Back And Hip Muscles

Place your palms on your lower back in a standing or sitting position. Stretch back your upper body. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Do this 3 times.

Neck stretch:

Let your head drop slowly to the left, then to the right. Slowly drop your chin to your chest, and then raise your chin as high as you can. Turn your head to the left, return it to the normal position, and then turn it to the right.

Shape your legs with these 6 tips

Bend your knees deeply to reach an item on a low shelf, then straighten up without leaning forward or holding onto anything for support.

When you get into or out of a chair, don't depend on the arms for help. Instead, let your thigh muscles contract to lower and raise your body while your back is kept straight.

Climb stairs two at a time, with a straight back and without leaning on the handrail.

Whilst sitting, sit with your lower back against a chair, then press your two legs tightly together as if they were one for as long as possible.

To increase your walking speed, take longer strides rather than shorter, quicker steps. By lengthening your pace you're using more of your thigh and hip muscles.

Just before going to bed, stand with your knees slightly bent and grip your pillow between them. Squeeze the pillow for 8 counts as if trying to crush it. Repeat several times.

Firm Your Bum

Lunges -  This exercise works your gluteus muscles in the Hips as well as your Quadriceps and Hamstrings.

1. Stand with your feet together, your toes pointed straight ahead and your hands at your sides. Take an exaggerated step forward with your right leg.

2. Bend your right knee slowly, lowering your body close to the floor. Keep your right knee directly over the right foot and your back straight. Most of your weight will be over your front foot; you should feel the strain in your hip and thigh muscles, not your knees, ankles or back.

3. When your rear knee is about two inches above the floor, hold for one second. Then slowly return to the starting position.

4. Perform 8 to 12 repetitions. Then do a set with your left leg in front.

Flutter Kicks

Lie on stomach, elbows bent, palms on floor near shoulders. Breathing steadily, contract muscles in buttocks and flutter kick legs as if swimming. Repeat for 50 repetitions, working up to 100.

Donkeys: This exercise works the Buttocks and Lower Back

1. On your hands and knees, bring your right knee to your chest, then kick it straight back, leading with your heel. Be careful not to arch your back. Finish with your leg straight, lifting it out and up.

2. Bring knee back to chest.

3. Do 25 to 30 repetitions, then switch legs.

Brush Away Cellulite

Cellulite is often a difficult thing to shift but with a healthy diet and daily body brushing, the appearance can be improved quickly. Here's how to body brush:

Choose a large natural bristle brush (most large chemists and health stores sell them).

You need to do this every day before taking a bath or shower.

With a dry brush, begin from the feet and use long upward strokes working towards the heart. Gently work up the legs and around the bottom area. Use circular movements on the bottom and abdomen, followed by upward strokes (always working towards the heart).

Work over the hands and up the arms and across the shoulders until all areas have been covered.

Avoid varicose veins and moles.

Once finished, take a nice warm bath or shower and finish off by applying baby oil to damp skin. This will lock in moisture to leave the skin soft. Dry off with a soft towel by gently blotting the skin until dry. Be careful of getting any residue oil onto bedding or clothing.

Alternatively dry off with a towel and apply a good moisturiser all over.

Done daily you can expect to see a difference in the skin in a few weeks. The appearance should be less bumpy and the skin will feel softer to touch.

Combine this with a good diet and plenty of water to flush out toxins.

Choose a natural brush so that it doesn't scratch the skin.

This is the one I use and is great value for money

Could a Home Body Wrap Help Weight Loss?

The prospect of having a slimmer figure may entice you to consider having a body wrap. However, you may wonder if it is really possible to lose pounds and inches after an hour-long beauty treatment. Before you invest ££££'s for this treatment usually costs, understand its true benefits.




Method

During the procedure, you wrap your torso, arms, legs and neck with elastic cloths. The cloths may be presoaked in a solution of herbs and minerals. 

Results

Do not have a body wrap simply through an attempt to lose weight. Dr. Joel Schlessinger, president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic surgery says, "The use of body wraps as weight loss is clearly more hocus-pocus than anything." Though you could lose between five to 10 pounds of water weight during a treatment, the toxins and fluids quickly re-accumulate; so does the weight. Wraps do not provide a permanent solution for weight loss.

Benefits

Ingredients in body wraps, such as seaweed and aloe vera, hydrate and moisturize the skin. Your skin may feel softer after a body wrap. Mud and clay heat the body during a wrap, so they can boost a sluggish metabolism. Herbal wraps may tighten the skin and diminish the appearance of cellulite.They are also excellent for a quick temporary weight loss solution and over time can make the skin appear firmer and less dimpled. Combine these with exercise and a healthy diet for optimum benefit.

Ensure you drink plenty of fluids before and after doing a wrap to ensure you do not dehydrate.

If you're looking for a quick short term weight loss treatment in time for Christmas or holiday, this may well be the answer.

Fight Fat After 40

It has been said that if you continue to eat the same in middle age then you will gain 30lb a year!

So what can you do to change your habits?

One thing you need to do is change your eating habits. By the age of 45, you need to be consuming 300 less calories a day and taking regular exercise (30-40 minutes 4-5 times a week).

Stress causes fat to accumulate around the waist area. Too much stress can put you at risk of health problems. Look for ways to reduce your stress levels that fit in with your daily lifestyle and that you enjoy e.g. going swimming, laughing more, relaxing in the bath, taking a daily stroll.

Food portion size as you get older is important. Portion sizes need to be reduced. One way to do this is by measuring out your cereal serving and making a note of the portion size according to the recommended serving on the carton. Try using a smaller plate for meal times which will make it more difficult to over fill and over eat.

Exercise is important as you age. It will not only make you feel better, but it will help keep you in shape. Choose something you enjoy and that is not too strenuous on your body. Walking rather than jogging will keep you in shape but won't put so much pressure on your joints. Using weights will help strengthen your bones and tone your muscles all over. All of these things can be done at home and for free.

An active sex life is a good way of reducing your stress AND getting some exercise!