Hot Body Sculpting How-Tos

How To: Get skinny legs through Pilates exercise

In this demonstration, Erin Huggins shows Pilates exercises that can be used to firm and tone legs. Start laying on our left side with your arm above your head and your head resting on your arm. Your legs should be straight. Start by pointing your right kneecap (top leg) to the ceiling. Then lift it straight up to a 90 degree angle. Flex your foot at the top of the move and keep it flexed when you drop the leg. A variation of the move is to keep your foot pointed and bend your knee as you pul...

How To: Do a frog squat with Chris Houston

This is a great instructional video on how to do a frog squat. This exercise involves a pose that is similar to a frog squat. First you have to spread your feet beyond shoulder width apart. Now place your hands in front of your body and inhale while you go down and exhale when you go up. The important point you should note is that you have to push hips back with out bending your knees and folding them towards your toes. You can do this exercise for about 10 to 15 minutes. This is very good fo...

How To: Do an arm-toning routine for women

In this video from modernmom we learn how to do an arm toning routine for women. It's a short exercise routine that you can do every other day. You'll need 5-8 lb dumbbells. You'll work biceps, triceps, chest, back of arms and shoulders. Do each exercise 10-12 reps. Do at least 3 times a week. First is front raise lifting up weights in front of your thighs bringing them to shoulder level. Exhale out as you lift. Bicep curl works the front of the arm. It gives shape and definition to that part...

How To: Do an 8 minute ab workout with Brooke Burke

Brooke Burk with Modern Mom instructs this video on how to do a quick ab work out. Lay down on your back on a yoga mat. Start with 20 basic crunches with your hands behind your head. If you feel it start to hurt your neck, rest your head against your hands. Now do a bicycle motion with your legs, touching your elbow to your opposite knee with each rep. Do 20 reps. Now point your legs into the air and do 20 crunches. Next bring your legs beside you and to the right, and do 20 more crunches. Re...

How To: Do barbell full squats

In this video from Livestrong we learn how to do a barbell full squat to increase leg strength. Find a squat rack at a gym and rack your bar a little bit below shoulder. In a split stance, come up underneath the bar and rest it on the back of your shoulders. Lift off, core tight, and step back away. Feet shoulder width apart, chest up, head up. In a sitting motion, come back down and then back up. Drive through the heels, abs tight. Down and up. Remember to keep chest and head up always and s...

How To: Tone with dumbbell pushup rows

Pushups are a great workout at any level of bodybuilding. However, if you feel that you're ready for something more advanced, dumbbell rows are a good option for the next step in your advancement. They offer a new challenge and a different way to work out the same muscles you do with pushups.

How To: Do backpack pushups

Pushups are a great workout. But if you think you're ready to take it to the next level, you should consider incorporating backback pushups into your workout. The added weight will give your muscles added strength and give an exciting new take on a simple exercise.

How To: Do the plank with Brooke Burke

This video shows you how to correctly do the exercise called "the Plank". For beginners, turns of fifteen to thirty seconds are suggested, and you can end up doing minutes after you practice. "The Plank" exercise consists in trying to keep your body in a strait position, somewhat lifted, supporting it only in your toes and arms from the elbow down. You can also do some movement while in that position. Leaning to a side, and then to another, without touching the ground, and always stopping in ...

How To: Do stomach flattening exercises at home

This fitness video shows how to do stomach-flattening exercises at home. Our host, Kathy, Kaehler, informs us that the best exercise is a yoga-based exercise called the plank, because it focuses on your core. Your core is where your abs are. This exercise is best done on soft surfaces. Start out at 15 seconds, and build up to a minute or more. To do the plank, rest on your knees and 1 forearm, with your side facing the ground. Make sure your body is straight. If you want to make the exercise ...

How To: Do squats for dummies

Squats strengthen your butt muscles, hamstrings and quadriceps. First, pick up your dumbbells. Bring the dumbbells by your hips, thighs or let them hang by your side. Next, stand with your feet shoulder width apart, toes pointing forward and stand straight and tall. Sit down like you're sitting on a chair. Don't let your knees pop out in front of you. Go down slowly and don't let your knees lock on the way back up. Don't shift your body weight forward. Instead, push through your heels. You ca...

How To: Do squats correctly

This video in the Fitness category will show you how to do squats correctly. This exercise is meant for the legs. The easiest way to do this is to sit down and stand up using a bench. The bench should be about knee height. Technically the line from the ankle to the knee and the line from the hip to the shoulder should be parallel as you go up and down. The legs should be about one and a half feet apart. This is the body weight squat. As you progress, you can do the dumbbell squat. The video ...

How To: Do a reverse plank to sculpt your body

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to do a reverse plank. This exercise will strengthen the core muscles. Begin by sitting with your legs in front of you. Your hands should be behind you and your fingertips should be facing forward. Now lift your hips off the ground as high as you can. Squeeze the stomach into your spine and hold it. Users may also use their forearms instead of their hands. This exercise should be held for 15-30 seconds. This video will benefit those viewers who are in...

How To: Properly gain muscle by warming up and more

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to gain muscle and lose fat with stretching methods. Before exercising, users should warm up for about 10 minutes. Warming up allows safety and consistency. The sequence for an intense workout should be: 10 minutes of warming up, light stretching, 45-60 minutes of intense resistance training, intense stretching that lasts one-half of the intense resistance session, and then cooling down. This video demonstrates various stretches and warm-ups such as: ...

How To: Do a Bulgarian or single leg squat

Michelle Berger explains how to do a Bulgarian or single leg squat. Have a bench behind you and step forward 2-3 ft. A good way to start is to have something to hold onto in the beginning. Simply place your leg behind you on the bench, lower yourself down, lower down perpendicular of the floor, make sure your knee does not go over your foot. You then push up through your heel, you should hold on as your doing this if you need to. There are many variations for this exercise where you can bring...

How To: Do V-sit abdominal exercises with Brooke Burke

In this exercise video, Brooke Burke and Autumn Calabrese, trainers with Modern Mom, help women viewers attain their fitness goals by teaching you how to perform stomach exercises! They demonstrate how to perform aerobic motions that train your abs and core; they explain how V-sit abdominal exercises work, show how you can set your own personal fitness goals, and also show you how you can increase the level of challenge you get from your workout. Advice is also offered on rest and managing th...

How To: Do bicycle crunches with Brooke Burke

Bicycle crunches consist of lying flat on your back, your hand on the back of your head, knees bent to face the ceiling, feet flat on the floor. To perform the bicycle crunch bring one elbow up toward your opposite knee as you bring the knee toward your elbow. This will cause you to move part of your upper body and you should feel the workout in your abs. As you progressively get better at this move you can bring your legs straight up in to the air. 5 minutes of this 3 times a week should be ...

How To: Do leg lifts with Brooke Burke

In this video Brooke Burke demonstrates how to do leg lifts. This exercise targets the abs. Lay your mat on the floor. Lie on your back with your hands on the floor. Raise both legs together, keeping them straight. Do it slowly to make it a little harder, and lower them again but not right to the floor. Do this ten times at first, then aim for twenty times. Keep your lower back on the ground. Rest a little. Now to make it even more difficult, do it very slowly, counting down from five until o...

How To: Use an exercise band

This video shows you how to use an exercise band to do bicep curls, triceps extensions and shoulder raises along with some fun extensions of these basic exercises. When doing the bicep curl with the band it is very important to ensure that the band is firmly secured under your shoe, so that it does not slip forwards and snap. Once the band is secure you must curl the arms up towards the shoulders, keeping your elbows bent and close to your sides. The arms are still working in a negative resis...

How To: Do barbell hack squats

This video in the Fitness category will show you how to do barbell hack squats. The video is from Livestrong. Michelle Trapp, a Certified Personal Trainer at Gold’s Gym will demonstrate this routine. Keep the bar low enough so that you can safely un-rack it. Stand next to the bar facing away from the bar. Lift the bar and step away from the rack. Keep the bar close to your legs and let it slide along your legs as you come up and down. Your chest should be up and your head should be straight u...

How To: Do bridge exercises with Brooke Burke

This exercise video for women, featuring Autumn Calebrese and Brooke Burke from Modern Mom, show you how to work your abs and stomach area! In "the Bridge," you arch your back slowly, working the gluteus maximus as well as the core area in general. Do about twenty-five repetitions, if possible, in three sets; afterwards, you can try a "pulse" method for an increased rate of "burn." This activity can be repeated until you are fatigued, and possibly consider holding at the top for increased fit...

How To: Do a concentrated hip extension

In this video, you are shown, you are shown how to properly do a concentrated hip extension. You are instructed to lay on the floor, supported on your elbows. With one knee on the floor, you are then told to life the opposite leg off the floor, completely extended, to form a horizontal line from the floor. While lifting the leg to about 40 degrees, you are to contract the muscles of the same glutes at the same time. After, return to the starting position, bringing your leg to form the horizon...

How To: Use an exercise ball to work-out

Kathy Kaehler, a Personal Trainer, talks about how to use an exercise ball. Exercise balls are very effective because they allow you to do multiple exercises at once. Even just sitting on an exercise ball makes you use your core muscles, so you can sit on an exercise ball at your desk and exercise your core muscles at the same time. First you will want to buy your own ball. Make sure to get a quality ball from a reputable seller or brand. Make sure that it is the right size for your height. S...

How To: Do barbell single leg squats

Michelle Trap, a Certified Personal Trainer from Gold's Gym, teaches the viewers how to do barbell leg squats. First, use the Smith machine to do the leg squats. It is beneficial because the machine holds you in place. You will also need to place a bench behind you since you will use this when you lift your legs. Rack the barbell slightly lower than your shoulder and have a slight split stance with your front food centered. With this stance, take your back legs and place it on the bench behin...

How To: Get thinner thighs by sitting on a giant ball

AskEJean shows the viewer how they can get thinner thighs in just three minutes by using a giant work out ball! It's quite easy! All you need to do is replace your chair with a giant exercise ball. Simply bounce up and down on this ball subtly and rotate around. This workout will give you slimmer thighs and help diminish cellulite in your legs. This workout is also great for the core and strength training. In a few weeks you will notice a large change in your legs and thighs. You legs will lo...

How To: Do exercises to reduce your breast size

In this video from modernmom we learn exercises to reduce your breast size. You can't lose weight in your breast the personal trainer says. But when you want to lose weight, and you get into an exercise program that is consistent, you will begin to lose weight, and our bodies shed pounds all over, and because there is lots of fat in the breast tissue, you will notice they will get smaller. There's no one specific exercise though. But doing a walking program and watching calories will make you...

How To: Do Sumo squats

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to perform a sumo squat. It is the same as a regular squat, except the legs are extended more wider. The bar should be setup a little bit below your shoulder level. Go into a split stance when picking up the bar. Keep your core muscles tight and keep the bar stabilized. Spread the legs wide, pass the shoulder width. This exercise target the leg muscles and helps strengthen them. Inhale when going up and exhale when going down. This video will benefit ...

How To: Do an Olympic style front squat

Charles shows you the proper procedures and steps to follow in order to do an Olympic style front squat the correct way. He demonstrated the different techniques and the proper way to position yourself no matter what your body shape or build. he explains it whether you are bulky or have long or short arms. He also explains the correct way to have your shoulders and chest positioned as well as recommends that you wear wrist bands to prevent any injuries to your body. He shows the proper techni...

How To: Work out your butt with Brooke Burke

Brooke Burke and Autumn Calabrese walk the viewer through a super-effective, targeted butt workout, doable in your living room in only 5 minutes. The first exercise, a "Heel Press", is done from your hands and knees. Keeping your head in line with your spine and your belly button tucked in, press one heel toward the ceiling, then bring it all the way into your chest. Brooke recommends 15-20 reps on each leg. The next exercise, "Crossovers", builds on the Heel Press. After pressing your heel t...

How To: Perform a hang-clean to build your traps and shoulders

In this video, Darin L. Steen teaches how to perform the hang-clean exercise, which is a weightlifting technique that is good for working out the shoulders. Learn how to correctly perform this movement so that you can practice it yourself at home. You will also learn tips such as common mistakes, and things to watch out for, so that you can perform this exercise safely and effectively. This video follows Steen's methods of "muscle confusion"; that is variations to keep workouts unique, causin...

How To: Do an intense fat loss workout

This step-by-step video tutorial will show you how to do a high weight, low rep workout that will burn fat effectively. Yuri Elkaim of MyFitterU will show you six high intensity exercises in a circuit fashion that will have you slimmer in no time. Yuri will walk you through each exercise, including the dumbbell clean, box jumps, and speed skate lateral lines, with basic and simple instructions to make sure you do this workout safely and effectively. Visit Yuri's website for a 12-week workout ...

How To: Build your arms with the straight bar barbell curl

Get your straight bar and the weight that you are use to. Get the technique down before you add a bunch of weight. With the straight bar in front of you bend over and grab the bar with your hands. A narrow grab, much closer then you are use to. As you raise the bar up to your chin, visualize that you are bending the bar. The movement is as if you were scooping water up to your mouth. As your hands come up think of the pinky side of the hand coming up to your nose. Also as you do this squeeze ...

How To: Do a push up with medicine balls to build your chest

This video demonstrates how to use a few very simple tools to do a few variations on your push-ups, including how to do a medicine ball push-up. These exercises are great for stimulating muscle growth in the chest area. Before getting to the medicine ball push-up, we're shown some ways to more safely and effectively perform push-ups. One issue with the push-up is that when you put your hands on the floor your wrists are in a vulnerable position. When you can straighten out your wrist, it's sa...