Jenn's Losing It

You don't need a pricey new fitness class to shake up your routine. Work out any time, in any place, with this  total-body plan —which uses nothing but a household hand towel—created by Melissa Paris, a New York City–based personal trainer. "The key to seeing continued results and avoiding plateaus is to keep challenging your body in different ways, whether that's with new moves, a new environment, or new equipment," says Paris. "Incorporating a towel into your routine is a no-cost and efficient way to take your workout to the next level." That's because with every exercise, the towel provides either friction (as in the lateral lunge) or tension (as in the seated oblique twist) to help engage muscles that would otherwise be missing the action. So rather than using the towel to dry off, use it to break a sweat. Complete the exercises as instructed, moving from one to the next with little or no rest in between. Stop for 30 to 60 seconds at the end (if need...

Build a slim, trim body like screen siren Kate Beckinsale with these muscle-sculpting mat moves.  Strange as it sounds,  Kate Beckinsale  prepares for the physically demanding job of playing futuristic fighters and werewolf hunters with a yoga-based routine. She also practices qigong, a discipline involving controlled  breathing  and fluid movements that's similar to tai chi. In addition to making her physically strong, yoga and qigong help Kate relax. Want an action-star body like Kate's? Her instructor, Mandy Ingber, let us in on her body-sculpting moves. Do two or three sets of each four or five days a week. MOVE  1 Down-Dog Split with Knee Drives Begin in downward facing dog, then raise your left leg to move into down-dog split  (a).  Bend your left knee and pull it toward your forehead  (b).  Straighten the leg back, then bring the knee outside your left elbow. Straighten the leg again, then bring the knee toward your right elbow. R...

There are some seriously cute yoga pants out there that can take you from mat to cocktails, but here’s the catch: They’re all pretty tight. The good news is that you don’t need to hit up Google for the best  butt workout  ever to keep your buns looking great. Instead, use these four moves, all earmarked from The Women’s Health Big Book of Yoga . You can do the poses on their own or as a sequence. If you have extra time, throw in a few Sun Salutations to warm up and do some hip stretches afterward to keep muscles loose. Chair pose Begin standing with your feet together. Bend your knees and drop your hips, brining your weight into your heels. Drop your tailbone, firm your front ribs in and lift your arms up shoulder-width apart. Keep your shoulders relaxed in their sockets, and rotate the outer edges of your arms inward to broaden your upper back. Gaze upwards. Hold for eight breaths.   Warrior III Standing on one straight leg, lean forward with your chest until it is ...

Build a slim, trim body like screen siren Kate Beckinsale with these muscle-sculpting mat moves Strange as it sounds, Kate Beckinsale prepares for the physically demanding job of playing futuristic fighters and werewolf hunters with a yoga-based routine. She also practices qigong, a discipline involving controlled breathing and fluid movements that's similar to tai chi. In addition to making her physically strong, yoga and qigong help Kate relax. Want an action-star body like Kate's? Her instructor, Mandy Ingber, let us in on her body-sculpting moves. Do two or three sets of each four or five days a week. MOVE 1 Down-Dog Split with Knee Drives Begin in downward facing dog, then raise your left leg to move into down-dog split (a). Bend your left knee and pull it toward your forehead (b). Straighten the leg back, then bring the knee outside your left elbow. Straighten the leg again, then bring the knee toward your right elbow. Repeat three times. Switch legs and repeat. ...

Do these five serious shapers for your best butt ever. ON YOUR MARK – Targets shoulders, arms, abs and butt Start on all fours, hands under shoulders and back flat Step left foot forward on floor by left hand, left knee bent 90 degrees Extend your left leg behind you, raising it as high as you can, pointing toes Quickly return left foot to floor by left hand Do 15 to 30 reps, switch sides and repeat Do 2 Sets SADDLEBAG TRIMMER – Targets abs, butt, inner and outer thighs Start on all fours, then lower right hip to floor so that hips, knees and ankles are staked Bring left knee into chest as you bend elbows to lower chest toward floor Straighten left arm as you extend left leg behind you Do 15-30 reps, switch sides and repeat.  Do 2 sets LUNGE LEG LIFT –Targets abs, butt, hamstrings and quads Stand with feet shoulder width apart, then lunge back with left leg, raising arms in front of you shoulder height Stand up on right leg, knee slightly bent, and lift ...

Part two of a four part series on how to work those trouble zones! Belly Muffin top is not a phrase any of us EVER wants to hear.  So here are two workouts aimed at toning up and slimming down your waistline. Fallen Triangle (Targets shoulders, abs, obliques and inner thighs) Start on the ground in a full push up position.  Balance on your hands and feet with arms extended making your body into a straight line from head to heels Move into a side plank, shifting your body weight to your left hand and rotating your body to extend your right arm directly up, palm forward, as you bring your extended left leg under torso and to the right.  Pulse left leg up and down 1 inch 5 times Tightening Tilt (Targets shoulders, abs, obliques, butt and legs) Stand with your heels together, toes turned out, arms by sides Bring bent knee out to your side at hip level, touching toes to left knee, as you raise extended arms out to the side at shoulder level, palms down Ke...

Part One of a four part series on how to work those trouble zones! Back of Arms Lets face it having your arms wave back can be heart breaking.  Here are two workouts aimed at tightening that skin in the back of your arms and a few other places too! Spider Man Press Up (Targets chest, triceps, abs, obliques, butt and hips) Start on the ground in full push up position, balancing on hands and feet with your arms extended, your body will form a straight line from head to heels. (Make it easier by doing this move on your knees) Bring a bent right knee out to side at hip level as you bend your elbows 90 degrees, keeping your arms tucked close into your ribs, so that you touch your right knee to your elbow. Press up and return to start Do 8 reps, switch sides and repeat.  Do 2 sets. Sunburst Slimmer (Targets shoulders, chest, back, triceps, abs and butt) Start on ground on all fours, then extend your right leg behnd you parallel to the ground, toes pointed Bending ...

These are some post walk sculpting moves that are Pilate's based.   Three times a week try to throw these moves in at the end of your walk. Click here for a printable version of this workout. Plie Squat and Releve Combo (Targets your butt, inner thighs and hamstrings) Stand with feet together, toes turned out slightly, arms by sides Step left foot out to side so that feet are now wider than shoulder width apart and your toes are turned out.   Lower your body into a plie squat, bringing your arms out to your side about chin level. Return to start. Step right leg in next to left then rise tall onto toes, squeezing legs together from heel to hip working your inner thighs.   Bring hands to touch in front of rib cage.   Lower heels back to start and repeat in the opposite direction, stepping out with right foot, complete one rep. Do 2 sets of 10 reps   Standing Saw (Targets back, abs, obliques, inner thighs and hamstrings) Stand tall with feet s...

Here’s a 15 minute lower body workout.  Click here for printable version Diagonal Leg: Targets abs, obliques, butt, quads, hamstrings, calves ·          Lie face up on the floor with knees bent, keeping your feet flat with your hands on the floor by your hips ·          Lift your hips off the floor and tuck your left foot under your right thigh (left knee should be pointing left) ·          Keep your hips lifted during the whole time, bring left knee out to un-tuck your foot, then extend your leg diagonally up and to the left ·          Return foot to tucked in position.   Do 20 reps, then switch sides and repeat. ·          Do 2 sets Side-Lunge Butt Kicker: Targets abs, obliques, butt, quads, hamstrings ·          Stand with feet hip-widt...