The Curvy Girl's Workout

This is a workout I do several times a week.  I enjoy it.  I'm sharing it with you all just in case you want to change it up a bit.  This is a low impact workout for me, as I still have some knew pain.  I know many of you are pass this but it's a great workout none the less.  I found it in the November issue of Essence magazine.

1. Chair Squat - stand in front of a char with feet shoulder width apart and toes facing straight ahead.  Clasp your hands in front of your chest.  With your weight in your heels, bend your knees and lower your body until your butt touches the chair.  then press through your heels to return to standing.  Looking at the ceiling helps keep your weight in your heels to protect your knees.  Targets: Glutes and thighs.

2.  Triceps Dip - Sit on the edge of a chair with your hands gripping the sides.  Keep legs bent and shoulder width apart.  Extend your arms straight and move your hips forward and off the chair.  now bend your arms to 90 degrees with elbows pointing back and lower your body.  Squeeze the back of the arms and return to start.  Targets:  Triceps and core

3.  Leg Lift - Get into push-up position, holding the sides of a chair's seat and keeping your elbows straight but not locked.  Bend your left knee and bring it toward your chest.  Then extend it behind you, keeping your helps flat, and lift until the side of your glutes contract.  Do all reps on one leg, then switch.  Targets: buttocks, lower back and lower abs.

4.  Chair push-up - an inclines makes this move easier than floor push-ups.  Place your hands on the sides of a chair's seat.  Keeping your arms straight, walk your legs back behind you until your weight is on the balls of your feet.  Now bend your elbows, lowering your chest toward the seat.  Then push back up.  Targets: arms, chest, back and core

5.  Toe touch - wrap up this workout by taking the moves to the floor.  Lie on your back with your legs extended straight up toward the ceiling and your feet flexed.  Extend your arms toward your legs.  now lift your shoulders off the mat and reach your right hand toward your right foot ten times and your left hand toward your left foot ten times.  You can use your non reaching hand to cradle your neck for support.  Concentrate on working your stomach muscles to move upward.  Targets: upper abs and obliques

6.  Butterfly crunch - lie on your back with the soles of your feet touching and your knees pointing out to the sides.  Place your palms together in a prayer position or ponting your fingers toward your toes. Now focus on using just your abs to lift your head and shoulders off the floor as you perform a crunch.  If your having trouble or find this move too hard, hook your feet under a couch or chair to give you a bit of leverage.  Targets: Lower abs