3 Recessionista Workout Moves
As the economy's tanked, so have our exercise habits: According to a recent Omnibus survey, 25 percent of Americans with gym memberships have cancelled them. But there are ways to stay in shape on little (or no) scrilla. I asked personal trainer Natalie Rado, who works out Allure editors (including me!) at home, for three whole-body moves. Do each three times a week-and bump up the number of reps as you get stronger. (Consult your doctor before starting this or any exercise program.)
1. Cardio Push-up (works the legs, butt, shoulders, back, and core) Squat with your arms bent at waist-level. Shoot your hands above your head like you're shooting a basketball. Bring your hands to the floor and kick back your feet so you're in a push-up position, then do a push-up. Jump your feet back to your hands, and spring up into the next jump. Repeat 10 times.
What you eat before you workout can significantly affect how much fat you burn.
2. Waist Whittler (works the abs, obliques, thighs, glutes, quads, and shoulders) Lunge to your left, with your hands down at your sides (palms facing inward and fingers to the floor), and hold for two seconds. Bring your right foot up so it's next to your left knee. Then bring your arms above your head with your palms facing each other, and bend at the waist to the left as far as you can without toppling over. Do 12 to 15 reps on one side, then 12 to 15 on the other. (If you have three- to five-pound dumbells-or even bottles of water-use them and lower the reps to 10 to 12.)
3. Bicep Curl/Shoulder Press. ("This exercise will throw off your balance, so you're working your stabilizing muscles-the smaller muscles mainly in the back and abs," Rado says. You'll need 3- to 10-pound weights, bottles of water, or half-gallon milk jugs for each side.) Holding the weights, squat down like you're doing a curtsy, with your right leg in back. At the same time do a bicep curl on both sides with your arms in a "V" position. Come up out of the curtsy and lower you arms, keeping your elbows tight to your sides. Bring your left knee up to your chest so you are balancing on one foot. Push your arms straight up into the air, then back down to your sides. "Anytime you bring your arms overhead in a repetitive motion," says Rado, "you're bringing your heart rate up." Repeat 15 times on each side if you're not using weights, 10 to 12 times with weights.
How using free-weights can make your workout more effective.
-- Amy Keller Laird, Beauty Director
Image via David Cook
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