Double Dose of Working it Out with Liz!

Today is a special double dose of Working it Out with Liz! Unfortunately, I was unable to post last week as I was bed-bound due to possibly the worst flu experience I have ever had in my life. Thankfully, my immune system is strong and I was able to fight it off quite quickly. So here we go!

I feel the best part of the body to start my personalized workout plan is the upper body. While I am quite comfortable and happy with my upper body, it never hurts to tone it up.  

Most interestingly, I found while researching that upper body exercises which focus on your chest muscles underneath the ‘ladies’ can actually make them look perkier. This really is not a problem for younger women, but hey, it can never hurt to start young.

Exercise 1

The Shoulder-Shrug Plank

1) Begin in a normal push up/plank position, making sure that your body is completely straight (no bums sticking in the air) and your hands and feet are shoulders-width apart.

     

2) Squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold for three seconds. (Your chest should change from hollowed out to pushed out towards the floor when you squeeze)

3) Return back to the normal push up/plank position and repeat nine times.

This exercise is nice because it tones the chest muscles without having to physically do a push up.  This means you can perk up without bulking up your arms. Also, holding a plank position works is great for your abs!

Exercise 2

Push-up with a Twist

      1) Starting in a push up position again, put your knees on the floor and arms shoulder-width apart.

      Slowly bend your elbows and lower yourself into a conventional push up.

      2) On the way up, instead of just extending your elbows back up normally, push back up, rotate your body to the right and raise your right arm so it is in line with your right shoulder.

     

      Hold for three counts, then, return to beginning push up position. Repeat four more times and switch sides.

For those days when you feel like working out your arms! This workout will not only great for  your arms and chest but for your core muscles as well.

So there it is, the double feature. Next week: abs, abs and more abs.