What’s Your Biggest Body Gripe?

By for Completely You

What’s your biggest body gripe?

A. Cellulite — it’s everywhere!

B. I wish my belly were flatter

C. My butt is flat and saggy

Your Diagnosis:

Fitness and wellness expert David Kirsch, whose clients include Heidi Klum, Kerry Washington and Kate Upton, shows you how to banish bothersome trouble spots — or at least make them look better.

A. Cellulite — it’s everywhere!

When fat beneath the skin pushes through crisscrossing bands of connective tissue, the result is not-so-cute dimples. Toning your muscles tightens the area and reduces fat so cellulite is less visible. Target dimpled skin with strength training exercises for those spots at least three times a week along with aerobic activity to shed fat. (Eating a healthy diet helps, too.) Antioxidant-rich green tea helps speed up your metabolism, helping your body process and remove toxins faster which makes cellulite less visible in the long- and short-term. Lastly, whether you do it yourself or make an appointment, giving cellulite-covered areas a vigorous, daily massage, in addition to working out, will help you see smoother skin.

B. I wish my belly were flatter

Avoid alcohol, bread or processed carbs, and drink plenty of water to flush out your body. Eat water-based foods like cucumbers or asparagus, which can act as natural diuretics, and lean protein — like fish, chicken, egg whites — to keep you full. Some people also swear that eliminating dairy prevents bloating. Along with a healthy diet, two exercises can help flatten your stomach by engaging and strengthening it.

Planks:

• Place hands on the floor, shoulder-width apart directly beneath your shoulders. Extend your feet behind you and balance on your toes.
• Keep your body straight so it’s flat as a board from head to toe.
• Hold for 15 seconds, pause for 10-20, and repeat 3 more times. As you get stronger, work up to one minute.  

Double Crunches (15-20 reps):

• Lie flat on your back on a mat, towel or carpet. Place a rolled up towel between your knees and shins and extend your legs straight up toward the ceiling and arms over your head.
• Exhale while curling your tailbone towards your belly button, which will lift your legs up. Simultaneously, lift your arms toward the ceiling while crunching your upper body.

C. My butt is flat and saggy

These exercises work quickly to give your butt a lift.

Plie Squats (15-20 reps):

These get your inner thighs working and are a full-scale assault on your lower butt.

• Start with feet wider than shoulder-width and turn your toes out.
• Keeping your weight in your heels and knees turned out, squat up and down. Tip: Tuck your pelvis in, and stick your butt out. The more you engage, the more you’ll shape that booty.
• Advanced modification: Lift your heels up as you squat to put greater emphasis on your inner thighs, butt and core.

Platypus Walk (15-20 reps):

You’re not going to look pretty, but the result is hot stuff!

• Start in plie squat position, with your hands behind your head and thighs parallel to the ground (or as close as possible).
• Waddle forward for about five or six steps while staying in the plie squat. Make sure your knees stay out and land heel-first with each step.
• Reverse and waddle backwards.