Instructions
Stand with feet together and hold a 5- to 8-pound dumbbell in each hand; arms should be by your sides, and palms should face your body. Keeping your abs tight and chest lifted, take a large step to the side with your right foot. Lower your right leg into lunge position and curl your hands to your shoulders. Push off your right leg, lower your arms, and return to starting position; repeat with left leg to complete the rep.

6-month boost
As you return to starting position, keep your left leg still, cross your right leg behind your left leg into a curtsy squat, then bring your feet together; repeat on the opposite side.

  9-month boost
After the curtsy squat, lift your right foot slightly and straighten your left leg to standing. Keeping your foot just off the ground, hold this stance for 1–2 seconds. Start the next rep from this position. When lunging with your left leg, raise your left foot off the floor.

 Full-Body Workout: Lateral Lunge With Biceps Curl,bodywork, exercise, Petra Kolber, workout,bodywork, exercise, Petra Kolber, workout,fitness

Cross Training

Now that summer’s nearly here, chances are you’ll find writer Judy Waytiuk, 54, swimming in her backyard pool or riding her bike along the tree-lined streets near her house. She rarely goes a day without exercising, and especially treasures the time she spends swimming laps at dusk after a day devoted to juggling phone calls, emails, and assignments.

Waytiuk’s love affair with exercise began during the winter of 1995–96. She’d finally begun, with the help of an antidepressant, to climb out of the depression she’d fallen into the previous spring. In a moment of inspiration, she strapped on her long-neglected cross-country skis. Out on the crisp, clean snow, her mood lifted. “There’s absolutely nothing as beautiful as skiing along in the quiet of a wonderfully groomed park while the sky starts staining pink from the setting sun,” she says.

Soon, Waytiuk was skiing four times a week for an hour and a half at a time. When the snow melted and the seasons changed, she simply went with the flow, relocating her workouts to the pool and dusting off her old, neglected road bike.

While Waytiuk’s workouts are plenty vigorous, she says she’s too busy enjoying the scenery to notice all of the effort she’s exerting. “I love the air, the changing landscape, and the peacefulness of it all,” she says. “It’s glorious.”

The take-away: Outdoor workouts might be more palatable for obvious reasons (like scenery and fresh air). But the real news is that you may actually burn more calories outside than you would indoors. Utah State University researchers recently studied a group of men and women as they ran on treadmills, around an indoor track, and along a scenic outdoor route. The participants reported feeling more revitalized and tranquil—and notably less exhausted—when exercising outside than they did indoors. Plus, they ran almost 15% faster outside than they did on the treadmill. However, they felt they were exerting themselves less, says Rick LaCaille, PhD, a psychologist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.

Make it work for you: Try running in your neighborhood park or cycling on your local bike path. On the weekend, reward yourself by seeking out the best scenery (even if you have to drive a bit to get there). If you can’t go outside, at least choose the treadmill closest to a window, surround your home stationary bike with gorgeous plants, pop a scenic movie into the DVD player, or tune in to the Travel Channel—anything to keep your mind off what your body’s doing...

Cross Training,diet, exercise, motivation, weigh loss, workout,fitness

Each part of this 40-minute toning and calorie-blasting circuit workout from popular The Sports Club/LA instructor and personal trainer Maeve McCaffrey contains a quick cardio blast followed by a body-toning strength move. Do this workout three times a week, and you’ll cover both your cardio and strength needs. Each time, do the workout straight through as described, then repeat twice.

Part 1. Cardio Blast Squat Reach
With your feet about hip-width apart, squat down and touch the fronts of your shins. Return to standing and raise your hands overhead. Do 12–15 quick reps

Stability Ball Chest Press
for core, chest, arms, legs, butt
Sit on a stability ball, holding a 5- to 8-pound dumbbell in each hand. Slowly walk forward, and roll the ball under your body until only your head and shoulders are supported. (Your body should be in a straight line from your head to your knees.) Press both weights upward; then, keeping your right arm straight, bend your left arm and lower the dumbbell until your elbow forms a 90-degree angle. Extend your left arm, then repeat with your right to complete 1 rep. Do 12–15 reps, then put down the dumbbells and do 12–15 crunches on the ball. Move directly to Part 2.

Part 2.

Cardio Blast! Squat Jumps
With your feet about hip-width apart, squat down slightly and extend your arms behind you. Swing them above your head and jump a few inches off the ground. (If you have knee or hip problems, just rise up on the balls of your feet instead of jumping.) Land softly and return to squat position. Do 12–15 quick reps.

Wide Squat and Power Press
for legs, butt, arms, shoulders, core
Start with your feet a little wider than shoulder-width apart and hold a 5- to 8-pound dumbbell down in front of your body with your right hand. Squat slightly, and let your arm drop down between your legs. Stand up, and lift dumbbell straight up in front of you (as if zipping a jacket) to shoulder level. Rotate right arm until palm is facing forward, then extend right hand overhead. Low–er hand to shoulder, then return to start–ing position. Do 12–15 reps with right hand; switch sides and repeat. Put down dumbbell and do 12–15 push-ups, then move directly to Part 3.

Part 3.

Cardio Blast! Modified Side Lunge
Stand with feet together and arms down by your sides. Keeping left foot facing forward, turn your body and lunge to the right with your right foot. Return to starting position, then repeat move on the left side; that’s 1 rep. Do 12–15 quick reps.

Single Leg Lift and Row
for hamstrings, back, butt, arms, core
Stand with left foot in front of right foot, holding a 5- to 8-pound dumbbell in right hand and keeping arms by your sides. Lean forward, and raise right foot off the ground. Extend weight toward the ground, then raise it to your hip.
Do 12–15 reps with right arm, then switch arms and legs and repeat on left side. Afterward, return to starting position and do 12–15 front lunges
with each leg. Move directly to Part 4.

Part 4.

Cardio Blast! Mountain Climbers
Starting in push-up position, step your right foot in toward your hands. In one motion, extend your right leg back to the starting position and bring your
left foot in toward your hands to complete 1 rep. Do 12–15 quick reps.

Stability Ball Roll Outs
for abs, back, shoulders
Kneel with a stability ball about 2 feet in front of you. Place your forearms on the ball, and bend your elbows to 90-degree angles. Keeping your abs tight, lean into the ball and allow it to roll forward about 1 foot. Using your ab muscles, pull the ball back toward you. Do 12–15 reps, then stand up and do 12–15 side lunges with each leg.Four weeks to your healthy beach body!

exercise, Fitness, health magazine june 2008, workout,diet 

1. It’s great for the heart
In a recent study conducted at Duke University Medical Center, researchers found that walking briskly for 30 minutes every day lowers your odds of developing metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors linked to higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Roughly 24 million women in the United States have metabolic syndrome. Don’t have time for a daily half-hour walk? Try multitasking: A British study found that active commuting (incorporating walking and cycling into your sedentary commute) is associated with an 11 percent reduction in heart-disease risk, especially among women. (For sneaky ways to work more walking into your life, see No Time to Walk? Try This.)

2. It cuts breast-cancer risks
Walking, even for a few hours a week, significantly reduces breast-cancer risk, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The thinking is that walking helps reduce levels of body fat, a source of estrogen. The research looked at 74,000 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79. Those at a normal weight lowered their risk by 30 percent; those who were overweight, by 10 to 20 percent. Younger women may also gain similar benefits.

3. It helps you sleep
A brisk walk in the afternoon will help you get a better night’s sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Experts say that walking may boost levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin, which relaxes you. Or, the rise in body temperature brought on by walking may signal the brain to lower your temperature later, which promotes sleep. (Avoid a walk two hours before bed—that’s too late to cool down.)

4. It cuts down on aches and pains
Walk the “chi” (pronounced chee) way and you could have fewer achy days. Nine years ago, Danny Dreyer, an ultra-marathoner then living near San Francisco, invented ChiWalking, which incorporates ideas from tai chi, yoga, and Pilates. It looks like regular walking but, because you consciously relax, improve the alignment of your body, and involve arm movements, puts less stress on the legs while you walk. That means fewer aches. “ChiWalking can cut down any risk of injury,” says Alice Peters Diffely, a ChiWalking instructor in Portland, Oregon. “Your whole body will feel better.”

5. It makes you happy
Walking can relieve depression, anxiety, and stress. Just one 30-minute walk may make you feel better when you’re down, University of Texas researchers found. Head out for 90 minutes five times a week and you’ll get the biggest boost, according to a new study from Temple University. One possible explanation: Walking helps the body produce endorphins, the mood-boosting chemicals linked to “runner’s high.”

6. It keeps you slimmer
Walking for 30 minutes a day can pre-vent weight gain in most people who are physically inactive, according to another Duke study. And researchers from Brown University and the University of Pittsburgh showed that women who walked for an hour five days a week and consumed 1,500 calories a day lost and kept off 25 pounds over the course of a year. The reason walking helps control your weight: It’s easy! “The harder the exercise is, the less people will do it,” says Johnny Benjamin, MD, chairman of the department of orthopedics at Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach, Fla.

7. It staves off senior moments
Several studies in older people suggest that walking—even for as little as 45 minutes a week—helps ward off Alzheimer’s disease. Regular strolls are also linked to mental sharpness in seniors. But regardless of your age, walking is likely to help keep your mind active, Dr. Benjamin says—particularly if you stroll with friends; walking while talking is a surefire brain booster.

8. It protects your bones
Just 30 minutes of walking three times a week does wonders to prevent and treat thinning bones. This kind of exercise, which uses 95 percent of your muscles, actually pushes your bones to get stronger so they can handle the load. “Walking,” Look says, “is not just for cardio.”

By Lambeth Hochwald

 It protects your bones,It staves off senior moments,It keeps you slimmer,It makes you happy,It cuts down on aches and pains,It helps you sleep,It cuts breast-cancer risks,It’s great for the heart,exercise, Fitness, health magazine june 2008, walking, workout

You’ve been on the plan for a month, now it’s time to step up your exercise. Try these two ramp-it-up moves—from Feel Great Weight dream team member Geralyn Coopersmith.

Add in Superwoman
Superwoman works the back (pictured above).

This move will balance the back muscles that work with the ab muscles targeted by the Diagonal Crunches, further strengthening your core.

Here’s how to do it: Lie face down on a mat with your arms straight overhead. Exhale and lift your right leg and left arm several inches off the floor. Pause for a second, inhale, then lower down. Repeat using your left leg and right arm; continue alternating for a total of 20 reps (10 per side). Do 2-3 sets.

Replace Step-Up with Crane Lunge
This move works the glutes, hamstrings, quads, and calves.

Now that you have mastered the Step-Up, you’re ready to advance to the Crane Lunge. Not only does it challenge your balance, but it also provides a great workout for the same muscle groups with absolutely no equipment needed, since your body provides the resistance.

Here’s how to do it: Begin in lunge position with your left foot in front and right foot in back (don’t let your left knee go over your toes). Exhale, straighten your left leg, and bring your right knee forward and up as high as you can while maintaining a straight back. Inhale and return to the starting position. Do 10-12 reps, then switch sides and repeat. Do 1-2 sets.

1. Best pedometer: ThinQ pedometer. Sportline’s credit card–size step-counter tucks into your purse or pocket to tally your daily paces and the calories you burn. And it comes in lime green, blue, and orange. ($29.99)

2. Best reflective device/light: Nite Ize Flashflight SpotLit L.E.D. Carabiner Light. Calling all night owls. Clip the lightweight, water-resistant light on your bag’s zipper, your bike, or even your dog’s collar, and you’ll stay safe on evening walks and hikes. ($7)

  3. Best hydration: Hydrapak Gel-Bot Bottle. Great for a day hike or tough Spinning class, this cleverly designed bottle holds water and sports gel in one container. Push the nozzle down to get the gel; pull it up for water. Easy to clean, too. ($13.99)

4. Best gym bag: Sherpani Blaze Sport Duffle. Our Gear judges loves the many pockets on this cute bag—it even has a fleece-lined one to safely stash shades and an external water bottle pouch. Stowable straps make it easy to convert from duffle to backpack. ($64.95)

  5. Best watch: Timex Ironman Sleek iControl Watch. Forget fumbling for your iPod midwalk. Instead, sync it up with this watch, then just push buttons on its face to play, skip, and adjust the volume of your favorite tunes. ($100) 

1. Best bra top: Champion Seamless Empire Tech Tank. With a built-in bra, this comfy wicking top supports up to a D-cup for low-impact activities like Pilates and up to a C-cup for walking and other medium-intensity pursuits. Bonus: The empire waist helps camouflage belly pooch. ($36)

2. Best jacket: Nike Women’s Trail Jacket. With underarm and back vents, this breathable, lightweight jacket is perfect for a breezy ride or run. If the weather heats up, no problem: The sleeves zip off to stuff easily into any of the three pockets. ($110)

  3. Best pants: Lululemon Athletica Reverse Groove Pants. These flat-seamed pants—great for yoga or a light strength workout—are solid black on one side, and black with a colored waistband on the other. Stash your house key in the handy waistband pocket. ($92)

4. Best shorts/skirt: Moving Comfort Endurance Skort. This shorts-and-skirt combo surprised our judge with its versatility and comfort. The flattering cut makes it a perfect fit for running, lifting weights, or sweating through a class at the gym. ($36)

  5. Best top: Asics Quadro Flow Run Top. Protect your skin during outdoor workouts with this shirt. The 50+ UPF fabric shields against UV rays, and the mesh panels on the back and sides help keep you cool. ($38 ) 

1. Best weight system: Advanced Fitness Group 2.0 AS Home Gym. The gym’s simple cable design offers more than 70 exercises. Plus, it’s sleek-looking and quick to assemble. The removable seat leaves room for a stability ball. ($1,199)

2. Best stationary bike: LifeCORE Fitness LC1000rb Recumbent Bike. The comfortable mesh-back seat on this step-through bike reclines to three different positions, and the easy-to-read console makes it a cinch to adjust time and intensity levels. ($1,499)

  3. Best treadmill: Horizon Fitness T1200. Listen to and charge your iPod on this smooth, quiet treadmill. Thirteen programs, a hydraulic-lift incline, and a lifetime performance tracker make it simple to vary and measure workouts. ($2,599)

4. Best elliptical: The SportsArt Fitness E825 Elliptical Trainer. This machine’s electronically adjustable strides ensure the most natural and efficient leg motion. Personal trainer programs and easy-to-read icons help you target specific muscles, too. ($3,699)

1. Best Pilates: 15-minute Everyday Pilates with Alycea Ungaro. Good for beginners on up, this DVD comes with an instruction book so you’ll never get lost. Each of the four 15-minute programs gives you a full-body workout. ($17.95)

2. Best cardio: Your Body Breakthru: Your Best Body Circuit by Michelle Dozois. Varied music and athletic moves with a resistance band (included) will keep you feeling the burn throughout this 58-minute session. Each move progresses from basic to more advanced. ($19.99)

  3. Best yoga: Jennifer Kries Yin Yoga. During the 75-minute session, Kries takes yogis of all levels through the “yin” style of holding poses for up to 15 minutes. Easy-to-follow instruction helps keep you focused during this relaxing and strengthening workout. ($14.99)

4. Best dance: 3-2-1 Dance Featuring Petra Kolber. Straight forward cueing and creative moves make Kolber’s dance variations fun during this calorie-blasting, 55-minute workout. ($19.95)

  5. Best strength: Keli Roberts’ Time Saver Workouts, Breakthrough Upper Body and Core. Burn serious calories and shape your top half with your choice of three intense 30-minute medicine ball and dumbbell workouts. Geared toward intermediate and advanced fitness levels. ($14.99) 

1. Best bar: Luna Minis. At just 80 calories and 2.5 fat grams (or less), plus 4 grams of protein, these tasty three-bite bars are great to eat before heading to the gym or after a walk. ($11.99 to 14.99 for an 18-count box)

2. Best beverage: O.N.E. Coconut Water. This slightly coconut-flavored drink only has 60 calories per 11 ounces and replenishes electrolytes without artificial sweeteners. Great during a long bike ride. ($5.59 to $5.79 for 1 liter)