Spring Break is less than 3 weeks away and gyms are already full of girls and their tight Lululemon leggings trying to get those tight stomachs for their week on the beach. Logging miles on the treadmill or spending hours on the elliptical is where you’ll find most of these ladies, maybe even in a spin class or two. Don’t get me wrong, cardio is great, you’ll burn fat and boost your endorphins, but there are much more efficient ways to get in Spring Break shape without spending hours working up a sweat.
These are a few go-to exercises that will flatten bellies and strengthen legs a lot quicker than 5 miles of jogging, and only require dumbbells!
1. For the bikini butt: SQUATS! SQUATS! SQUATS! I can’t say it enough! Yes, it’s an awkward motion but nothing will form a round, toned butt like squats. Print a “Squats Challenge” off Pinterest if you're new to them, or go for the bar and weights if you’re a pro. Either way, squats will give you a Victoria’s Secret worthy booty.
2. For cellulite-free legs: LUNGES! Do them at the gym with weights, or do them at home during commercials. I don’t care where you do them, just do them! Grab dumbbells or a bar and lunge down the hallway and back three times. I promise you’ll be sweating by the end! If you’re not, do more! Nothing will tone your thighs like lunges.
3. For a flat stomach: Jack-knives. They suck. There’s no sugar-coating it. Unless you are blessed with a strong core, you will hate this move, but if you do it enough, your abs will be so tight you won’t want a cover up. Lay on the floor with your arms above your head and raise your legs and torso until your hands touch your toes and your bent in half. Do as many as you can. Once these start to suck less, do them while holding dumbbells. You won’t hate them so much when you're comfortably wearing that crop top!
4. For toned arms: Tricep extensions. These don’t feel like your doing much in the moment, but the next day you’ll probably find yourself wincing when you reach to put your hair in a ponytail or grab something off a shelf. Hold a dumbbell in each hand (or one at a time if you can’t handle two yet) and hold your arms above your head with elbows bent as if your trying to scratch your back. Start in this position and raise the weight until your arm is extended above your head, then lower it. Start with 3 sets of 10 and go from there. Do these while you watch the lecture-capture classes that you don’t actually go to and reap the rewards come Spring Break!
5. For a Tank-Top Worthy chest: Dumbbell/Bench Press. A lot of ladies avoid this exercise because they think that pressing will shrink their breasts. That is NOT the case! Instead, it will build the muscle underneath and make them perky. Lie down and hold your dumbbells at your armpits and press them up to the air. Do 3 sets of 10.
