Denise's Daily Dozen (12 page)

  
Vertical buttocks length:
This is the distance from the top of your rear to the bottom of each butt cheek (where a pair of traditional underwear would end). You may be able to twist your body around and take this measurement yourself, but it’s better if you can enlist someone else to do it from behind (no pun intended!). This is less scientific than some of the other measurements, but it’s fun to see the change in your cheeks. My girlfriend did the Daily Dozen workouts for three weeks and found that her rear lifted two inches!

Q
:
Can I eat chocolate or any other sweets on this plan?

A
: I like dessert, too, and am definitely not willing to banish it from my diet. After all, life is too short, and sometimes I just need a piece of chocolate! Plus, you probably know that cutting one whole food group out of your life just sets you up to crave that food and binge on it in days to come. The way I fit sweets into my life is to eat a little less of something else that day. For example, if I want to have some chocolate after dinner, I’ll skip my afternoon snack. Do the same on the Daily Dozen Plan and you’ll easily be able to squeeze in some treats. But don’t have dessert during week one, and remember when you do substitute in later weeks to do it rarely—desserts might be delicious, but they don’t give you a full feeling or lasting energy.

Q
:
Can you recommend anything to help boost my energy levels?

A
: There’s no shortage of things you can do to create more energy! But first I’d look at your sleeping habits—people often need more energy because they regularly get by on less than seven hours of sleep. That’s not enough! Although exercise, a healthy diet, and lots of water will definitely help energize you, nothing can compensate for a lack of sleep. So try to go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning. And try to get a full eight hours of uninterrupted sleep!

Twelve Easy, Effective Ab Exercises

M
y tummy is flat and firm, and my secret is consistency. Working the abs and back at least three times a week or a few minutes each day—particularly after the age of forty—is the key to keeping them fit. And the great thing about the ab muscles is that they respond quickly to toning no matter your age.

1. Warm Up

Get those stomach muscles warmed up to work!

 
KNEE-UPS:
Stand up straight with your abs pulled in tight and feet hip-width apart. Bend your elbows and place your hands behind your head. Alternate lifting your knees up to your chest. Time: 30 seconds.

 Continue alternating lifting your knees, but bring your opposite elbow to the opposite knee. Time: 30 seconds.

2. Waist Twist

Lose an inch—or two—around your waist!

 Holding a weight or two vertically in both hands, stand with your feet wider than hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, and toes pointed out.

 Keep your upper body upright. Hold the weights in front of your chest, contract your abs and twist from side to side, really rotating your upper body. Time: 1 minute.

3. Ab Pull-Down

This works similar to the ab machines at the gym.

 Stand straight with your legs together. Hold a weight in each hand and bend your elbows so your hands are by the sides of your head.