BEST WORKOUT FOR AN HOURGLASS BODY

Curves Ahead: Toning Your Hourglass Figure

Get your hourglass figure in traffic-stopping shape

By Selene Yeager

 

The shape: Curvaceous like Beyoncé or Scarlett Johannson, woman with curvy body types are balanced beauties who fill out a bikini top and bottom. When they gain weight, it tends to be all over. Like pears with larger chests, they have the curves, but what they usually lack is all-over muscle tone. 

The Rx: Without some full-body toning exercises, hourglass-shaped girls run the risk of popping out a little bit too much, especially in the thighs and upper arms. To keep a shapely yet firm figure, curvy body types should pay special attention to their extremities. 

The Workout:Monday: For each exercise shown, do 1 set of the prescribed repetitions, rest 30 seconds, then do another set of that same exercise. To amp up your results, follow your strength workout with a round of Smart Cardio Intervals. 

 

Wednesday: Perform the moves circuit style: Do the prescribed number of repetitions for each exercise, with no rest between exercises. After you’ve done all of the exercises once, rest two minutes. Perform the entire circuit 3 times, resting two minutes between each circuit. 

Friday: Perform each set of two exercises back-to-back, with no rest between each exercise. Rest 30 to 60 seconds before repeating the set one more time. 

SET 1 Lift-off Lunge, MermaidSET 2 Pushup and Leg Raise, Hundred on the BallSET 3 Tai Chi Lunge, Side Plank with Moving KneeSET 4 Lateral Step-Ups, Glute Bridge with Triceps Extension 

Nothing scorches calories or firms your muscles like fighting gravity. Follow your Friday strength-training sequence with the following Butt-Busting Hill Repeats—which can be done on a treadmill, elliptical trainer, or stationary bike.