Top 3 Exercises to Start Slimming Down Your Hips, Thighs, and Glutes
Try these slimming exercises to tone the trouble areas.
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For many, slimming down the hips, thighs and glutes is a frustrating feat. With all the workout routines out there, it can be hard to find the right one for you. So iMag went to fitness expert Heather Culton to find some great ways to tone this trouble area. Read below and check out Culton's fitness videos to find out how you can best workout your hips, thighs, and glutes.
Culton's Advice:
My female clients are always asking me what they can do to slim down their hips and thighs while simultaneously lifting and toning their butt. I think it’s safe to say that there isn’t one machine or one particular exercise that does the trick. What I recommend instead is a well-rounded targeted approach; a combination of different types of exercise with moves that specifically target all of our favorite areas.
Use the Elliptical or the Arc Machines
When you’re at the gym, try warming up on the Elliptical or Arc machine rather than the treadmill. These are low impact machines that will allow you to more safely increase the incline to make the leg range of motion steeper, giving your thighs and glutes a challenge. You will want to raise the resistance level higher than you would for your typical cardio routine. I prefer the machines that include the arms because the body has to fuel 4 limbs rather than 2 which results in more calories burned. You can start with 10 minutes and increase your time as desired. If you are not able to do 10 minutes initially, try doing 2 sets of 5 minutes each until you work your way up to at least 10 minutes.
READ: Treadmill vs. Elliptical: What's the Better Workout?
Pilates, Yoga and Dance
All are excellent ways to exercise and can be very conducive to toning this particular area of the body. One or more of these activities should be part of your weekly routine. For some of my signature thigh slimming Pilates moves you can try at home, click here.
Squats and Walking Lunges
Good, old-fashioned squats and walking lunges are great compound moves that engage the thighs and glutes all in the same move. You might want to start by standing in front of a workout bench and bend your knees no more than 90 degrees and touch your tush to the bench. Work up to at least 3 sets of 10-15 repetitions. For walking lunges, try 3 sets of 10-20 steps. If you want more of a challenge, you can hold free weights in each hand increasing the weight for each set.
As a rule of thumb, extension of the hips engages the glutes and extension at the knee engages the thighs. The important thing to remember is that there’s no such thing as spot reducing. It’s essential to work all areas of the body in a combination of ways in order to keep yourself looking and feeling your best.
Click below for more of Culton's fitness advice:
1 Move to Target and Tone Your Arms
Master this Pilates Move: The Mermaid
3 Belly-Flattening Pilates Moves
Click here to check out Culton's website.
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