It's a classic move for good reason: It's really effective at toning your lower body. Baker explains how to do it:
Step 1: Stand with your back to the bench, and hook the toes of one foot onto the seat. Then, hop forward with the foot that's on the ground so your back leg is outstretched. Step 2: Bend your forward leg into a lunge so your leg is at a 90-degree angle (make sure you don't go further; you don't want your knee to move past your toes). Do 10 to 15 reps on each leg.
Challenge yourself: Hold each lunge position for five seconds for an extra burn.
Photo 7/7
V sit
This move from Janero will target different ab muscles than traditional crunches.
Step 1: Sit on the edge of the bench with your hands next to you for balance. Lean back slightly and lift your legs off the floor (keeping your knees straight) until your torso and legs form a "V." Step 2: Bring your legs into a crunch by bending your knees, then straighten your legs back out. Do three sets of eight crunches.
Challenge yourself: After a set with your knees together, do one set of 18 crunches alternating bending your left and right legs, keeping the other extended. Finish with a final set of eight crunches with your knees together.
We all have excuses to avoid strength training, and ours typically go something like this:
1. "I barely have time to squeeze in a run in the park; I couldn't possibly add weights to the mix." 2. "I can't afford a gym membership, so I don't have access to all the weights and fancy machines." 3. "When I go to the gym, the weight room is full of 'serious' weight lifters (aka intimidating meat-heads)." 4. "I don't want to look like a bulky female body builder."
While we'd like to cut ourselves some slack for these (understandable! ubiquitous!) excuses, they're all a load of BS.
For starters, strength training has way too many benefits for you to not do it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says strength training increases bone density, boosts your metabolism, improves sleep, and can even help prevent and manage a number of diseases. In essence, it's one of the simplest things you can do to get healthier, faster.
And those fears that strength training will give you quads like Arnold Schwarzenegger's in his body building days? A total myth. Experts agree very few women have the hormone balance (mainly enough testosterone) necessary to bulk up, so your chances of looking like an American Gladiator are pretty slim -- no matter how many bench presses and leg curls you do.
As for that lack of time and a gym membership, here's the deal: We talked to experts who say you don't need either to strength train. In fact, they helped us create a full-body program that you can do using a simple park bench -- and that's all.
So head to a park and start working on your bikini bod. This workout is quick, easy, and free -- the ultimate buzz kill for all of those "I can't strength train" excuses.
