30 Days to a Better Butt

Glutes, derriere - whatever name we use, we often forget the butt is actually a group of muscles that can be shaped and toned. "You already use these muscles every day," explains Lakey Evans, a personal trainer at New York City's Reebok Sports Club who developed this routine. "So it doesn't take much to firm them up."

Before starting the program, warm up for five minutes by jogging in place. Start with 15 repetitions of each exercise two times per week, then increase to three. Stay with it, and you'll see results in just a month.


Sideways Step, Starting Position

1. Starting position: Stand with feet slightly apart. Bend your knees and lean forward into a crouching position. Click arrow to see the next step.


Sideways Step, The Move (a)

2a. The move: Staying in the crouch position, take a fast step to the side with your left foot. Click arrow to see the next step


Sideways Step, The Move (b)

2b. Quickly bring your right foot over to meet the left foot, tapping the ball of the right foot on the floor. Repeat by stepping your right foot out, with your left foot coming to meet it. A rep includes movement of both left and right feet. For an added challenge, quicken the pace.




Related: Get Toned Thighs



Kickback, Starting Position

1. Starting position: Get down on knees and forearms. Click arrow to see the next step.


Kickback, The Move

2. The move: Starting with the left, bend leg at a 90-degree angle, then flex foot and lift toward the ceiling. Being careful not to move pelvis, pulse foot three to four inches toward the ceiling. After 15 reps, switch legs. Click arrow to see a variation on the exercise.


Kickback, Variation

3. Variation: To increase difficulty and isolate the muscles you're targeting, use a resistance ball. It comes in three sizes and is about $30 in most sporting goods stores. Place the ball (we used a medium) between the calf and thigh of the leg you are lifting. Repeat from Step 2.





Backward Lunge
Backward Lunge

Backward Lunge, Starting Position

1. Starting position: Stand with feet hip-width apart. Click arrow to see the next step.


Backward Lunge, The Move

2. The move: Step backward with left leg, keeping heel off floor. Bend both knees until right thigh is parallel to floor and left thigh is perpendicular to it. Pause, then return to starting position. Click arrow to see a variation on this exercise.


Backward Lunge, Variation

3. Variation: Repeat from Step 2, holding onto a chair and placing top of foot on resistance ball (ball will slide).






Related: Got 10 Minutes? Lose 10 Pounds!



Lifting Crunch, Starting Position

1. Starting position: Lie on your back with knees bent, feet slightly apart, arms down at your sides. Click arrow to see the next step.


Lifting Crunch, The Move

2. The move: Squeeze glutes together and tighten your abdominals. Continue to squeeze glutes as you raise your pelvis toward the ceiling, lifting as high as you can. Hold for three counts. Keeping glutes tight, slowly lower your pelvis down to the floor, starting with your midback and ending with your tailbone. Click arrow to see a variation on this exercise.


Lifting Crunch, Variation

3. Variation: Rest calves on ball. Repeat from Step 2.









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