Let's face it, for some of us it seems that no matter how much we workout there are those"stubborn" areas that refuse to budge...Have you ever thought that maybe you are not doing the right exercises for your body type? That's right, there are exercises that can help you shred that excess weight in the places that you don't want it! First decide which body works for you and then, scroll down to find the exercises you need to try out:
Apples: Apples tend to carry weight in their middle section. They have a larger upper body and thinner legs. You are an apple if every time that you gain weight, it tends to be in you midsection.
Pear: Pears are generally women, some men. A pear-shaped women is said to be the child-bearer, larger hips, most weight is in the bottom half of the body with an average waist line, and shoulders that are smaller than your hips.
Pepper: Ah the pepper, a person with shoulders and hips that are proportionate, like an hour-glass, but the slimmer version. These figures tend to have high metabolism and tend to gain weight in their tummies and backside. Many people are some form of the pepper....anaheim, pasilla...you get my drift.
Now that we have sorted the body types ordeal out(remember to pick the one that is closest to you) let's look at the exercise that you should be doing to maintain and/or lose weight. In order to firm up your figure, aim for 5 days of cardio per week for 45 minutes,plus stretching everyday. Once you have the cardio schedule down, add weights every other day.
Apples: I bet you thought that I was going to say sit-ups? Not at all. You can do 1,000 sit-ups and never see results because you have not lost the fat sitting on top of the muscle. Apples need to focus on endurance and aerobic exercises. Dont' get me wrong, don't stop doing the sit-ups, just add stretching, aerobics, and weights to your routine.
- Running and jogging are great ways to burn calories(100cal per mile) and boost your endurance. Runners lose weight in their bellies because the body relies on glucose stores during times of strenuous exercise. In addition to running, try incorporating stariclimbing(for every mile do two minutes of stairclimbing). Once you have got a good cardio routine, I suggest adding free weight are yoga, both will help increase lean muscle, which burns fat all day long.
- Hiking: Build muscle and burn the fat off while having fun! Find some hills in your area, grab some shoes and a water bottle and climb that sucker. If you can't make it to the top, then set a goal to do so.
Pears: Legs, hips, and buttocks. It is time to find exercises that work out those areas of your body to help you slim down to a more proportionate shape. Some of the best exercises include walking, running, the elliptical maching, and stretching. As a pear, you don't have to worry about going to the gym or buying equipment(maybe some good shoes) because your focus is on shaping your mody through natural movement.
-Running or walking will help you slim down your legs, butt, and thighs, replacing the jiggle and bulk for lean muscle. Your legs are made to run and by doing so you will engage muscles that are not often used, making your legs looking tined and sleek. Don't forgot you can burn 100 calories for every mile you run (6mph).
- If you are not a runner and are too impatient for walking, I suggest taking a ride on the elliptical machine(gym required, unless you guy one). The elliptical machine is just like running without the impact on your knees. This is a good start if you want to work your way into running.
- Stretching your legs out is very important for your body type because it keeps your muscles relaxed and elongated, rather that than short and tight.Try some lunges, squats, calves dips... You also may want to incorporate some jump rope into your routine to help boost your metabolism.
Pepper: So now that you have determined that you are a pepper, you can do whatever you want to maintain your shape! Of course in order to maintain your figure you should incorporate a high-rep free weights workout along with 4-5 days of cardio. Many peppers engage in step classes, walking, swimming, and cycling. I suggest at least 30 minutes per day pf exercise to maintain your weight. If you are looking to lose a little flub around the edges then I suggest bumping your cardio to five days a week for 45 minutes and strength training to four days a week at 20 to 30 minutes. Enjoy!