Denise's Daily Dozen (25 page)

TAKE IT SLOW

Resist the urge to cheat and use momentum to keep going with your exercises. I know it’s tempting to rush through your work-out, especially if you find part of your routine particularly challenging. But trust me, you’ll get the most bang for your body if you keep a slow-and-steady pace—consistency pays off. You’re doing great!

NOBODY’S PERFECT

Like me, I’m sure you always try your hardest to stay on top of things, but sometimes you get derailed. An unexpected phone call leaves you running fifteen minutes late. One of your children stays home from school with a cold, and you need to stay home, too. Or you have lunch with a friend and overeat that chocolate mousse. Then what happens? You get mad at yourself. You aim for perfection and then get upset when you miss the mark. And that’s negativity you just don’t need! We all make mistakes (it’s human!), but you can’t let those slipups get the best of you. Don’t get discouraged if you eat junk or miss a workout—and certainly don’t throw in the towel! Plan to do better tomorrow: Do an extra twelve-minute Daily Dozen workout or walk a little bit farther. You can do it!

K
nowledge is power! The more you learn about your body, the stronger you’ll be!

TUESDAY'S LOWER-BODY AND AB WORKOUT

Reshape and transform your bottom half to make it your better half! Get firm and lose the flab. You’ll lose inches because fat takes up five times more space than muscle.

1. Warm Up

 
SQUAT WITH OUTER THIGH:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, your hands on your thighs, and squat down. As you stand up, alternate swinging your legs straight out to the side. Time: 30 seconds.

 
CHALLENGE:
Repeat the squat while lifting your arms straight up and down over your head.

 
INNER-THIGH STRETCH:
Stand with your legs three to four feet apart and your toes facing forward. Lunge to the right, keeping your weight on your right leg. Place your left hand on the ground and twist your upper body, extending the right arm toward the ceiling. Switch sides and repeat. Time: 30 seconds.

2. Squats

Remember that your rear end is the last thing to leave the room, so make a good lasting impression.

 
DOUBLE-LEG SQUAT:
Holding a weight in each hand, stand with your feet a little wider than your hips and your arms by the sides of your body, elbows slightly bent.

  Squat down, sitting way back and keeping your body weight through your heels. Squeeze your buttocks as you straighten your legs to the start position, then repeat. Time: 1 minute.

 
CHALLENGE:
Single-leg squat: When you squat, lift the heel of the left foot off the ground, balancing only on the left toe. Sit all your weight into your right leg, keeping your back strong and abs pulled in. Switch legs and repeat.