Wellness Wednesdays - #28 - Lose 10 Inches In 10 Days

 

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This eight-move series will leave no muscle unworked—it engages nearly 400 of them (in your arms, abs, legs, butt and then some!) for serious head-to-toe and front-to-back sculpting.  Based on the Tracy Anderson Method, "the moves are strategically placed in order to fatigue the muscles, allowing you to work each one deeply for overall strengthening, balance and proportion," explains Tracy.  "Building strength and allowing the body's muscles to work together as one cohesive instrument will give lasting results and a lean and even-toned frame."  Do the workout six days a week (four if you're strapped for time), following each strength session with 30 to 60 minutes of cardio, and you could lose up to 10 inches over your whole body in 10 days.

 

Single-leg kick

Targets shoulders, chest, sides, core, glutes, inner thighs and hamstrings

Start on all fours, with hands placed right over left directly below chest, knees slightly wider than hip-width apart and feet pointing out (A).  Pull abs in, lift right leg and extend it out diagonally from body (B).  Return to start.  Do 30 to 40 reps. 

Mini squat with leg extension

Targets shoulders, upper back, chest, arms, core, glutes, quads and hamstrings

Start in down dog, with knees slightly bent and legs in a wide stance.  Lift right foot, tuck right leg in toward chest (think mountain climber), allowing left leg to bend deeper (A).  Straighten left leg as you extend right leg up to ceiling (B).  Return to start. Do 30 to 40 reps.  Lengthen leg as much as possible to really feel a stretch.

Plank with arm/leg lift

Targets upper back, chest, sides, core and glutes

Start in plank with legs slightly wider than hip-width (A).  Lift left arm out to side while raising right leg diagonally away from body until both arm and leg are higher than back (B.)  Pulse up for 30 to 40 reps. 

Stretch, bend and kick

Targets chest, abs, glutes and hamstrings

Start on all fours with right leg extended straight back, resting tips of left toes on ground (A).  Bend right leg and tuck it behind left knee (B).  Bend elbows, drop chest to ground and extend right leg straight up (C).  Press chest back up until arms are straight while lowering right leg back to start.  Do 30 to 40 reps. 

Side hip drop and kick

Targets shoulders, upper back, core, glutes and outer thighs

Start kneeling; reach left hand to floor so it's in line with left knee.  Place right hand along right leg.  (Keep chest up and left arm straight).  With hips stacked, lower them to 6 inches off the floor (A).   Push hips back to start as you extend right leg straight out to side (B).  Do 30 to 40 reps.  Keep gaze down so that neck stays in a neutral position.

Army crawl leg extension

Targets shoulders, back, chest, abs, glutes and inner thighs

Lie facedown with hands under shoulders, elbows bent, right leg at 90 degrees with inner thigh on the floor and left leg extended straight back on the floor (A).  Push up until arms are straight, bend left leg until kneeling (keep foot off the floor) and extend right leg straight back (B).  Lower down, pulling right knee back into a 90-degree angle.  Return to start.  Repeat 30 to 40 times. 

All-fours leg swing

Targets back, chest, arms, sides, glutes and outer thighs

Start on all fours with hands in fists.  Extend right leg straight back, reaching lower leg toward left side.  In one fluid motion, drop your left forearm to the ground (A) and swing right leg out to right side as leg fully extends (B).  Return to start.  Do 30 to 40 reps.  Don't place entire body weight on or sink into the elbow.

Grand plie with kick

Targets back, chest, arms, abs, glutes, inner thighs, quads and hamstrings

Stand with heels together and toes pointed out.  Lower hips down while allowing knees to open and heels to rise (A).  Drop down to kneeling position (B).  Place hands on the ground and extend right leg straight back, then lift (C).  Perform entire movement in reverse.  Do 30 to 40 reps.