The women's fitness blog

If you've been losing weight for a while, you may come to a stage where you can't lose any more fat from some areas. For women, this is usually the stomach, hips and thighs. If you want to shift that stubborn fat from these problem areas, it doesn't have to be hard. Even if you are busy, I can show you how to succeed.

My intention with this post is to teach you a few things you can do to shift the fat and how plan out your day to help.

1. Fat Loss Workouts

You may think that in order to get in an effective workout you have to spend hours every week slaving away on the treadmill or going to classes in order to lose that stubborn fat from your stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks and upper back.

Have you attained the body of your dreams by doing that or do you just think that that's what you're supposed to do?

Doing hours of light exercise isn't going to shift that stubborn fat.

All you really need to do is find about 10-20 minutes every day to fit in quality, intense workouts, with little interruption, and you'll be burning fat like crazy.

You don't even need lots of fancy equipment. You could get away with just using some dumbbells, resistance bands and your own bodyweight. Just make sure the dumbbells are heavy enough - you should have to make real effort and work up a sweat.

Here's an example of a female fat loss bodyweight workout. Do these exercises in a circuit format and complete as many of the circuits as you can in 15 minutes.

1A) Bodyweight Squat - 15 reps

1B) Push-up - 10 reps

1C) Hip Extension - 15 reps

1D) Plank - 45 seconds

1E) Forward Lunge - 15 per leg

1F) Push-up - 10 reps

1G) Mt. Climbers - 30 seconds

Do that a few times a week and I guarantee you'll lose stomach fat, you'll lose the muffin top...you'll be losing that stubborn fat like crazy!

2. Fit in quality meals when you're busy

It's tough to fit in quality meals when you're always on the go, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.

You just need to learn to plan ahead and know where your weaknesses are.

Do you always find yourself starving by 9:00? Well, then plan ahead and bring along some almonds and a piece of fruit so you're not tempted to eat an unhealthy snack, bagel or nothing at all.

If you get really pressed for time and are hungry come lunch time, don't head for the nearest drive-thru or to eat a high-fat or high-carb meal. Instead, plan ahead and make something for lunch that's easy to eat on the go like a turkey or chicken breast sandwich with some fruit. Make sure you snack on healthy foods through the morning so you don't get too hungry and can show some self-control.

You should also sit down on Sundays and look at your calendar and plan ahead for the week. If you know you're going to be busy every night of the week, plan ahead and bake up a bunch of chicken breast and have some healthy side dishes prepared in advance so all you have to do is pop them in the microwave and you're good to go.

Convenience is key with this one. If it's not convenient, you'll find something that is...like fast food or a box of cookies.

Learn to understand your habits and follow these two stubborn fat loss tips and you'll be well on your way to getting rid of the stubborn fat that just won't seem to go away.

Labels: busy lifestyle, hips, stomach, thighs

It's every woman's dream; shapely hip muscles. From a human anatomy point of view, women tend to have larger hips relative to the waist (unlike men) since women tend to store higher amounts of body fat in the hip, buttocks and thighs.

Each person is different and fat gets stored in the body in a certain order. That order is determined by gender and genetics. It's a myth that women can selectively lose fat in the hip region. In fact, 'spot reduction' is something that advertisers use to prey on unsuspecting customers desperate to try anything to shape up certain areas of the body. You have probably wasted time and money on gadgets, weight loss creams and other gimmicks. When one loses weight, the 'reduction' is general i.e all over the body, but never in one 'spot'. Think of the body as if it was a balloon, which inflates and deflates every time, you gain / lose weight.

Here's the good news: specific exercises for the hip, as outlined below will help tone the hip muscles (but not spot reduce them). The following exercise routine has been designed to tone the hip muscles. It works best when combined with an aerobic exercise program and a healthy diet.

Combining hip toning exercises with a well rounded aerobic exercise and weight training program requires more energy and more strength. Your body responds to high intensity exercises by adding lean muscle. This increases the rate at which the body burns calories and helps use up excess stored fat. You can burn more calories by doing a variety of activities, and mixing up the exercises, intensity and duration every 2-3 weeks. All weight training exercises are not created equal. Exercises that involve large muscle groups such as squats and lunges for your legs, bench presses for your chest, overhead presses for your shoulders and lat pull-downs for your back build more muscle mass. A combination of cardiovascular exercise and weight lifting will make you stronger and leaner. This kind of effort takes time, but the results are permanent.

The following routine has been specially designed for toning hip muscles. For best results, start with 15-20 repetitions and one set. Increase gradually to 2 sets. Complete the routine at least 2 times a week and you will see results within the first few weeks. These numbers are general guidelines. For best results, consult a personal trainer. If you have any injuries or medical ailments, please obtain a physicians clearance before starting any exercise program.

Side Lying Hip Raises: Hip toning.
Starting Position: Lie on your left side on a mat with the legs straight. Support your heard in your hands and keep the left leg bent. Movement: Slowly raise the right leg 8-12 inches up in the air, keeping the knee straight. Lower it gradually. Complete 15-20 repetitions and repeat on the opposite side. To make this exercise harder, you can try using weight cuffs around the ankles. Start with 1 lb and work your way up to 5 lbs within 4-6 weeks. Another way to make the exercise harder is to raise the leg and then trace large circles clockwise 10 times, followed by another 10 repetitions anticlockwise.

Seated Hip Toning: Hip toning.
Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt with your legs together and your palms on the matt for support. Movement: Lift your right foot 8-12 inches off of the matt. Point your toes and moving only at your ankle trace a large circle in the air. Complete fifteen circles clockwise and fifteen circles counter clockwise. Repeat as required on other side. To make this exercise harder, you can try using weight cuffs around the ankles. Start with 1 lb and work your way up to 5 lbs within 4-6 weeks. Another way to make the exercise harder is to trace smaller circles.

Standing Single Leg Wall Squat (Advanced): Hip And Thigh Toning.
This is an advanced exercise since it shapes the hips and thighs. Starting Position: - Place your upper back against a smooth wall. Stand on one foot and lean back against the wall. Movement: - Inhale, keeping your heel in contact with the floor at all times, slowly lower into a squat position while sliding down the wall. Exhale as you slowly straighten your leg, keeping your head and chest up, returning to the starting position. Repeat as required. This is an advanced exercise. Please discontinue the exercises if you have any pain and consult a physician prior to this exercise routine if you have a history of hip or knee pain.

Standing Single Leg Dumbbell Squats (Advanced): Hip And Thigh Toning.
Starting Position:- Stand on one leg with a slight bend in your knees. Hold a dumbbell in each hand and allow them to hang down at your sides. Movement: - Inhale, keeping your heel in contact with the floor at all times, slowly lower into a squat position. Exhale as you slowly straighten your leg, keeping your head and chest up, returning to the starting position. Repeat as required. You can start with 2 lb dumbbells and work your way up to 5 lbs within 3-4 weeks.

Lying Leg Bridge: Hip Toning.
Starting Position:- On an exercise matt, lie with your feet on a plank or a board with a 4-6 inch elevation. Keep the knees bent and both feet flat on the floor. Lay your hands on the matt palms down on either side of your body for support. Movement: - Exhale as you push your hips up into the air, keeping your spine straight. Hold this position as long as you can, continuously keeping your hips in the air. Lower slowly. Repeat for 15 to 20 repetitions.

Lying Face Down Plank: Hip, Thigh And Ab Toning.
Starting Position: Get on an exercise matt on all fours, with your elbows touching the matt directly underneath your shoulders. Extend your legs back as far as you can, and keep the toes on the floor. Movement: Raise the hips up and hold yourself in this 'plank position' with your back completely flat. This is an excellent exercise for the hips, thighs and abdominal muscles. Since it involves so many muscles, it is strenuous in nature. Lower the hips slowly down to the mat. Repeat for 15-20 repetitions. (Most individuals find it hard to complete 15-20 reps for this exercise and 8-10 might be a more suitable starting point).

Labels: hips, toning