14 DAY TRIAL // Jackie Warner may have occasionally allowed her personal life to take center stage and cast some shadow on her accomplishments as a fitness instructor, but she’s still rocking the kind of body most women would want to have, especially now that the beach season is approaching fast. The good news is that any woman can have this toned figure with some effort and lots of dedication, Warner says for Life & Style magazine, as cited by FitSugar.
According to the 41-year-old instructor, 20 minutes of combined exercises four or five times a week are more than enough to get a toned body. The exercises should focus on interval training, which is proven to be more effective than regular exercises, while also taking less time. Combined with resistance training, which is ensured to burn fat, this type of intense workout will shape up the backside, thighs and abdomen, just in time to break out the swimsuit for the beach.
“Jackie says lunges are a great way to tone your backside, especially the thighs. To do Jackie’s forward lunge: Begin with feet together, chest out, and shoulders back. Hold a dumbbell at each side. Take a step forward on your right foot and lower the opposite knee to the ground, then push back to starting position. Repeat with opposite leg,” FitSugar says. Lunges tone the legs and the backside, being ideal for a swimsuit-ready body. The same goes for squats, which “are great for strong quads, hamstrings, glutes, and a lower back.” With dumbbells, squats are twice more effective.
Warner also has some tips for abs. “Jackie recommends dumbbell transverses because they ‘shape and tighten your body, and give you a firmer, more defined look.’ Stand with your feet a bit wider than shoulder-width apart with a slight bend at the knees. Hold a dumbbell with both hands vertically in front of your torso. swivel your torso as far to the right as you can. Swivel your torso as far to the left as you can. Repeat entire sequence,” FitSugar goes on to say.
For its latest issue, Life & Style magazine also spoke to some of the female stars considered to have the best body around. Kendra Wilkinson, Kim Kardashian and Kristin Cavallari are all featured in the special issue, with tips for a healthy diet and the best exercises to tone the problem areas in time for the beach season.