Working Out | Health & Wellness

Gloss How-To: Get Killer Calves

calves 300x199 Gloss How To: Get Killer Calves Whoever said men were God’s gift to women obviously never slipped into a pair of Louboutins. Seriously, what were they thinking? Stilettos can do wonders in shaping our legs – from lengthening to making them appear even more toned than they are.

Toned calf muscles are super sexy. Here are some tips on how to get yours in shape so they look even more fierce in your favorite heels:

- Hold a free-weight in each hand down along your side (the amount of weight you choose is at your discretion, but keep it light) and keep your feet slightly apart

- Keeping your back straight raise up onto the balls of your feet and lower down. Do this twelve times in a row and take a 30 second break before repeating for two more sets.

- Turn out your toes so your heels are touching and do the same exercise. This works the outer part of your calf muscle and will ensure better definition.

If you’re looking for more of a challenge, place a block underneath your heels and never fully come down onto a flat foot.

Gloss How-To: Workout While Cleaning

With the change of the seasons it’s a good time to clean up your home and get organized. Try cleaning using a special technique – a toning technique from Molly Maid – that will leave your house sparkling and your muscles looking tight.

- Warm Up – Dusting: Dusting works all major muscles, especially quads and glutes. When reaching up to those high, hard-to-reach places, stretch thoroughly to get those muscles working and include a few step-ups on your stairs to get the blood pumping. Alternate your legs; after one minute leading with one, change to lead with the other for one minute.

- Cleaning windows: Clean up and down your windows and incorporate squats to boost the calories burned. Make sure to stretch up to reach the top of your window.

- Polishing windows: Once windows are cleaned with the squat technique, use a dry cloth in each hand to dry and polish the windows. Rotate both hands one way to polish and change direction after 10 rotations.

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Health Tip: Pay Attention to Protein

girl dumbell Health Tip: Pay Attention to Protein We’ve studied the food pyramid since grade school and know we need to eat our daily serving of protein to maintain our optimal health, but if you pay attention to when and how you eat your protein, you can maximize it’s benefits.

“Eating protein after a weight training workout will help to repair and build lean muscle faster,” says Hannah Davis, of BodybyHannah.

While most think of protein as a body builder’s go-to fuel, it’s the key to building the lean muscle associated with toning as well. According to Davis, the quicker you build this muscle, the quicker you’ll achieve a faster metabolism –- which leads to a leaner physique.

So what types of protein should you consume after a workout? Try light proteins like a hard boiled egg, non-fat Greek yogurt or drinking a glass of skim milk. It’s best to have it within 45 minutes of your fitness session for maximum benefits.

Treat Yourself: Cool Down Before You Sweat

slushies 300x200 Treat Yourself: Cool Down Before You Sweat Good news! You don’t have to feel guilty about having the Italian ices and slushies you’ve been enjoying so far this summer — because they are a great asset to your workout.

On a hot day, it’s natural for our bodies to feel sluggish. The reason: blood is drawn to the skin to give off a cooling effect and away from our muscles. Therefore, it’s harder to put your all into a workout and eventually your body just gives up. Recent research has shown that cooling your body down before you start helps to prolong your workout in the heat.

The combination of crushed ice and sugar in slushies works better than sucking on ice or drinking cold water to cool the body before an exercise session, because slushies are actually colder. So indulge –- cool down (try to opt for a sugar-free version!) before you hit the ground running.

Gloss Find: “Look Better Naked”

Gloss Find: Look Better Naked As the summer heats up and the sundresses and bikinis come out, many of us are left to face our biggest fear: exposed skin. Thanks to the Editor-In-Chief of Women’s Health magazine, Michele Promaulayko, you can strut your stuff without worries if you follow the rules of her latest book, “Look Better Naked.”

The book features a 6-week plan to an ultimately toned and lean body. From workout to eating plans, Promaulayko keeps in mind that we’re all human and makes it possible to live a normal life while accomplishing your fitness goals. She even created a signature cocktail and allows wine on her plan!

Who says getting in shape has to interfere with your social life? So…what are you waiting for? Grab the book and look better this summer!

Look Better Naked – $17.15 at Amazon.com