Bikini Body Ready Trilogy [ #1 FITNESS ]

"If there's a heaven for me, I'm sure it has a beach attached to it." - Jimmy Buffett

It's summertime, which means that it's time to take out those bikinis/swimsuits (or maybe you already have!) and head on over to the beach or the pool, soak up the sun, and really have a blast with friends and family! That's why I'm putting together a Bikini Body Ready Trilogy where I will be posting three consecutive blog posts dedicated to this theme. I will be starting off this Trilogy with one of the most popular topics: fitness. Sometimes it's not easy to achieve that "perfect bikini body," so I've put together some of my favorite, simple workouts that target different areas of the body, to help you sculpt a toned bikini body.

Disclaimer: These are just some of my favorite workouts and they may not be fit for everyone. As any other exercise, there is the possibility of physical injury. Finally, I understand that each person has their own opinions on the image for a"perfect bikini body."

Abs

When it comes to a bikini body, I feel like many people want to target their stomach. It's a problem area for many people, but I hope that these moves will help tone your stomach and sculpt your abs.

Bicycle Crunches - These are super effective for the upper abs and the traverse abs. Lie flat on the floor, put your hands behind your head and raise your legs to tabletop position. Kick your right leg out while raising your right shoulder towards the direction of your left knee. Then kick your left leg out while raising your left shoulder towards the direction of your right knee. Continue to alternate back and fourth.

Double Leg Lifts - One of my favorite moves for targeting the lower abs. Lie flat on the ground with both legs extending straight up to the ceiling. Place hands at the bottom of your spine so that you don't hurt your lower back. Lower both legs to the ground (but don't touch the ground!), hold, and raise back up. Continue to do reps of this exercise.

Legs/Butt

These two moves are classics, but both extremely effective!

Squats - Keep your feet apart, slightly wider than your hips. Reach both hands in front of you, then proceed to squat down so that your hip joint is slightly lower than your knees. 

Note: You can easily add some cardio to this exercise by jumping in the air after the squat position.

Lunges - Step forward with your right foot around one and a half/two feet (it's just an estimate, use your best judgement) forward while keeping the left feet in the original spot. Lower your body down but keep your chest upright. Push back up and step your right foot back to the original position. Repeat this same process with the left foot and alternate back and forth.

Arms

Personally, I don't work out my arms directly very often. However, when I do, I like to do the classic push-up exercise.

Push-ups - Keep your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart on the ground and get into plank position. Lower yourself to the ground until your arms are at a 90 degree angle (some of you may go lower). Lift your body back up to plank position and repeat.

Note: You can make modifications by keeping your knees on the ground, etc.

Cardio

Cardio is essential to help lose fat and to allow your muscles to really appear.

Jumping Jacks - Another classic, jumping jacks are a great cardio exercise. Start at a standing position then jump into the air so that your legs are slightly wider than shoulder-width and your hands are raised over your head. Jump back to standing position and repeat this exercise.

Running - Hopefully this one is self-explanatory! Stay hydrated and stay at your own pace until you're ready to challenge yourself a bit. Running is a great exercise that really targets the entire body.

Speed-walking - If running is too much, just try speed-walking first! You can slowly build up over time as you progress.

Although many of these exercises are relatively simple and well-known, these are my favorite exercises that I often perform to really tone up my body. If any directions are unclear, feel free to look it up or refer to pictures for a clearer understanding. I hope you found this helpful and best of luck with your fitness goals!

Thanks for reading!
xo Shirley

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