Forget the soft white sugar high calorie easter buns. We want
hard, firm tight hot glutes don't we girls! So in this article
we're focusing on leg and butt exercises to get your glutes nice
and firm as demonstrated by Go Figure's own Super Girls Monty and
Heidi.
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Heidi and Monty
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I recently caught up
with Monty and Heidi in Matamata for a Pow Wow to go through some
exercises and techniques which they might not understand through my
emailing language - everyone has their own version of names don't
they?
So it was great to catch up with the girls and showed them some new
things I'd like them to try.
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Lisa with Super Girls in the baking
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As I know they just LOVE the camera
- they have no choice really with my camera fetish. I got them to
be my Super Models and we went through some exercises so I can take
pics and maybe show you some new exercises too. So here are a few
you might want to try in your leg workouts.
So lets work them buns! Click on pics
to enlarge. Or check out Leg workout on video
here
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Step 1
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Step 2
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Lean Back Lunges
This is a Superslow protocol exercise and its a unique take on the
traditional standing lunge. Instead of having your body straight up
and down while lunging, lean your body back. Kind of like doing
sissy squats in lunge position.
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This automatically locks your quads as its in stretched position
which will make them work harder. Go slowly down while keeping your
body leaned back, pref 5-10sec down and 10sec up. After 4 reps
you'll be feeling quite wobbly and pumped. You won't need weight
for this if you are being true and go slowly.
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Step 1
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Step 2
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Dumbell Deadlifts
Deadlifts is a great exercise to develop your glutes, hamstrings as
well as your core strength. You can get into back trouble if you
don't get your deadlifting technique right. To do the deadlift
correctly you must get into deep squat position first with your
butt below parrallel and your legs are quite wide with feet pointed
outwards. |
Some athletes who aren't flexible
enough to get below parrallel might get more benefit from doing
dumbell deadlifts first as doing it with dumbells forces you to go
parralel to pick up the weight. Start with your feet wide apart and
your chest and head looking up, then slowly squeeze your butt while
holding the weight with your hands to put move your body
upwards.
On your downward movement, make sure you keep your head and chest
up while your butt goes backwards and slowly bending your knees in
a controlled movement. Start with a lightweight first to get the
movement right.
Highly recommended that you get a trainer or instructor who knows
how to do deadlifts to show you how its done otherwise you could
hurt yourself.
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Step 1
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Step 2
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Go
Sideways!
Why lunge forward. Go Sideways! Here are a couple of options to
test your balance, glutes, abductors and hamstrings. In the first
demonstration, Monty is holding on to a bar, her legs are wide
apart and toes pointed slightly outwards. Lunge down to one side
while keeping your heels down and toe pointed upwards.
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Step 1
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Step 2
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In the second demo, Heidi is doing extra long
lunges sideways. This gives your hamstrings an extra stretch and
its much harder to flex while moving forward.
By mixing up your lunge you'll be sure to work and tone your glutes
from all angles!
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This next set of exercises are demonstrated by another guinea
pig, oops I mean Super Girls in Auckland, Dawn Foenander. I've been
putting Dawn through her regime for the past 2 months and she's
lost a couple of kgs and firming up nicely.
She hasn't got contest plans but enjoying the challenges of the
Super Body Programme nonetheless. Here she is displaying some more
butt kicking exercises. |
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Step 1
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Step 2
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One legged
lunge
This is another good exercise for the quads and glutes, although
you do need to concentrate on your balance while doing it. Place 1
foot on a bench and the other foot lunged forward. Then lunge up
and down while keeping your head and chest up. NB in this picture
Dawn should've been more forward with her feet so that her back is
straight.
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Step 1
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Step 2
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Super (wo)man on
Swiss Ball
Hyperextensions are a great butt toning exercise but if you haven't
got a hyperextension apparatus, you can use the swiss ball. This
one is good for your core, lower back and ofcourse glutes. In step
1, place hands and feet on the floor, then lift opposite arms and
legs and hold for 2 seconds and alternate. Do 10 reps each
side.
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And
Finally!
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Fig 1
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Fig 2
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Fig 1.
Squats
Sure you can do squats with both feet on the ground but why not try
squats with 1 foot on a box. You can do this while placing barbell
across your shoulders. By doing uneven squats you can stimulate
more your gluteus minimus and hamstrings, giving your butt a
different burning sensation. In Fig
2, Monty's doing toe taps, alternating tapping each foot on
a box. Great cardio when combined with walking lunges.
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Step 1
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Step 2
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Standing Forward lunge with weight
This is one of Tom Wojcik's gruelling
leg exercises and I just had to 'borrow' it. In step 1, the back
leg is straight and front leg is bent at around 90 degrees, your
body is bent forward holding weight in front of your knees with
arms straight. This position alone is hard! next you do a slight
movement upwards, only about 5-10cm. This small movement done 8
times gives you a killer burn in your quads and hamstrings. Thanks
Tom!
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