by Larry Weaver

Created on: October 15, 2008   Last Updated: October 23, 2008

The Least Effective exercises for your butt.

Most everyone would like to have a firm and toned butt. The problem is that most people either go out and buy a book, thinking what they read is the gospel truth, or they buy some sort of instructional video thinking they now have the ultimate routine to firm up that butt. Well, unfortunately not all books and instructional video's are 100% accurate, nor do they go into much detail about what it is exactly that your working on. Now don't get me wrong, some books and some instructional video's are great but, finding the right ones may become a task in itself and once you've tried several without any benefits, most people give up. I have seen this senerio time and again. I do have some good news for you! After you read this article you will have in your presence, exercises that really do work your butt. I will also list some of the least effective by contrast as well. I'll start with a few of the best exercises but before I do I thought I'd list the three muscles you'll be working. They are;

gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus
1. Lunges are great for tightening your butt. This is where you step forward slightly beyond your normal stepping range, then back to the original position. When you step, your stepping leg, from your hip to your knee, should be horizontal.

2. Step Ups will give a good butt workout too. You simply do these by stepping up onto an aerobic step, a regular step in your house our outside for that matter, then step back down. To get the full benefit of these the step should be at least two foot from the ground.

3. Squats are good but if you have bad knees be careful while doing these. Squats are done by simply standing with your feet about shoulder width apart and squatting until your thighs are horizontal then back to the starting position again.

4. Rear Leg Kick backs are great! You perform these by getting on your hands and knees, keeping your back flat and raising one leg to where it's pointed straight out, then bend that leg till the bottom of your foot is facing the ceiling. From this position you will now raise that leg as if to touch the ceiling with the bottom of your foot, then back to the starting position. Make sure you do the other leg too.

5. Side leg raises are great as well. To perform this exercise you are again on your hands and knees. Raise one knee slightly off the floor and then raise it up to your side, then back down again. Repeat with other side once you've done 15 to 20 reps.

Ok, now that we've went over a few of the best exercises for your butt, let's go over a few of the worst, which is what this article is about.

1. I'm sure you all have heard that flexing your butt will help tone and tighten, well it may very slightly, but not enough to really show any results, so stop wasting your time.

2. Bike riding to firm up your butt. This simply does not work. Yes, you may get a sore butt but not a toned one.

3. The exercise bike. You may tone your hip flexors and quads but not your butt.

4. Jogging to firm your butt does NOT work either.

5. Belly Dancing to firm your butt, won't work.

If you work your butt and the next day it is not even sore, chances are pretty high that what you did, didn't work.

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