What it works: Everything. Core, legs, arms, patience.
Why do it: Before going to a big dinner or party, consider some important factors that affect your waistline:
1) What am I about to eat? How should I go about this?
2) What am I going to drink? How should I go about that?
3) When is the next time I realistically can do a workout?
If you can squeeze in a workout within a few hours of the event, you’ll gain less fat, and make better decisions about what you eat and drink.
This exercise in particular is dynamic and powerful, keeping the body working with the push, pull, forward and sideways muscles working together to create a high level of metabolic stimulus. (Translation: It’s a calorie-burning inferno.)
How to do it: Find a firm rubber medicine ball that weighs between 8 and 16 pounds. Hold it in your hands, and take a wide step sideways with your right foot.
Drop into a squat as you throw the medicine ball onto the floor.
As the ball bounces, grab it and come up out of the squat. Stand with your feet together. Step wide to the left, and drop into a squat again as you throw the medicine ball onto the floor.
Add a jump in the middle — jumping up out of your squat — to increase the intensity. Do this drill for 30 seconds. Take a 60- to 90-second break. Repeat for 6 to 10 sets.
Exercises demonstrated by Lori Johnson; directed by Jamie Atlas, lead trainer for Bonza Bodies, . Photos by John Leyba, The Denver Post
Claire Martin: 303-954-1477 or cmartin@denverpost.com
