by Kim Droze
eDiets
Managing Editor
How many times have you looked in
the mirror
and wished you could magically melt away the fat that seems to have
swallowed your thighs?
It sure is frustrating -- and sometimes devastating --
when you�re
striving for a flab-free
figure. Cheer up. Even the fittest of the fit battle with the
dreaded fat zones (think your abs, butt, thighs and arms). Fitness superstar Denise Austin admits to having
troublesome thighs.
Sure she's the picture of health for the millions who have watched her
TV workouts for the past 20-plus years. Yet she battles some of the
same fitness issues as you. "I spend 10 minutes three times a week doing toning
exercises for my
legs. You just need to spend 10 minutes on the area that you feel is
your problem area. Most of us have one or two or three.� One look at her photo and it's obvious Denise practices
what she
preaches. At 46 -- yes, 46 -- Denise looks marvelous. Luckily for you,
she�s not stingy with her secrets of success. With more than 30 fitness
videos under her belt, she�s one of the most recognized names in the
fitness game. Denise makes what's worked for her work for you. Denise knows women have different needs than men,
especially when it
comes to tackling trouble spots. She says females have more body fat
than men. They also store that unsightly fat in different areas than
men. That fact inspired her latest book-video offering Shrink Your
Female Fat Zones: Lose Pounds and Inches Fast From Your Belly, Hips,
Thighs and More (Rodale). In a nutshell, the fat-fighting formula includes: The host of Lifetime Television�s Fit & Lite
and The
Daily Workout, the number one daily fitness show in America, has
made it her mission to help women of all shapes and sizes tame their
fat zones. When it comes to getting a tight, toned physique,
Denise says
there are four elements that are crucial to any program: cardiovascular
exercise, muscle conditioning, stretching and healthy eating.
Regardless of your body type, Denise�s 6-week program can help you
shape up. She provides step-by-step explanations of what you should do
and when you should do it. Denise says the best way to lose weight is with a
one-two punch of
fat-burning cardio and muscle-toning strength training. You don�t have to spend long hours in the gym. It
takes just 30
minutes a day to firm up your figure. �I personally only work out 30 minutes a day --
dedicating 30
minutes isn�t much when you think about it," Denise says. "If you did
30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, that�s just 2 1/2 hours a week devoted
to your health, your whole body looking and feeling better. A lot of
people think you need to run a marathon. Even 10 minutes can boost your
metabolism. �You�ll start to see the difference and feel the
difference in
three weeks. The average woman loses about 12 pounds in 6 weeks. It�s
very safely done. It�s conservative. I�m not a big believer in a lot of
weight lost at once. Two pounds a week is usually safe and effective
and stays off.� Check out these sample exercises from the Upper Body
workout of Shrink
Your Body Fat Zones Standing Bicep Curls B. Exhale as you slowly curl your left hand toward
your left
shoulder, keeping your elbow in close to your torso. Rotate your palm
inward as you curl your hand toward your shoulder, squeezing your
biceps muscle. Inhale as you lower, then repeat with your right hand.
Continue to alternate sides until you�ve done 10 to 15 repetitions on
each side. For extra fat-burning power, do two sets of 10 to 15
repetitions. Bilateral Row A. Standing with a slight bend in your knees, hold a
dumbbell in
each hand. Bend forward from the waist about 45 degrees and extend your
arms toward the floor, as shown. B. Maintain a tight tummy as you exhale and pull the
weights up
toward your armpits, keeping your elbows close to your torso. Inhale as
you lower the weights. Do 15 repetitions or repeat until fatigue. For
extra fat-burning power, do two sets of 15 repetitions. Seated Double-Arm Row A. Sit on the edge of your chair with your knees bent
and feet
flat on the floor. Hold a dumbbell in each hand, with your palms facing
behind you. Bend forward from the waist about 90 degrees so that your
torso is nearly parallel to the floor. Extend your arms to the floor. B. Keep your abs tight as you exhale and pull the
weights up
toward your armpits. Inhale as you lower them. Do 15 repetitions or
repeat until fatigue. For extra fat-burning power, do two sets of 15
repetitions.
�I
have the most problems with my thighs,� Denise tells eDiets in the
fitness exclusive. �It�s my worst area... it�s my genetic disposition
just like my mother and grandmother.
Weeks 1 & 2
Shapes the front of your upper arms
A.
Stand while holding a pair of dumbbells at your sides, palms facing
each other, and with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart.
Extend through the crown of your head, relax your shoulders, tighten
yours abs and straighten your back.
Weeks 3 & 4
Targets
the backs of your shoulders, shrinks the flab that
tends to
press out over your bra strap, minimizes your waist
Weeks 5 & 6
Tones
and shapes the backs of your shoulders and upper back, carves a
beautiful bathing-suit back
Get ready to become a winner
at losing. To
get started with your effective and economical
click here
and fill
out a free diet profile.
