Alright ladies (and slightly vain gents). Spring is in the air and that means one thing: It’s time to start thinking about shorts and skinny capri season.
If we can learn anything from Kate Middleton and her now famed curve-hugging ‘tangerine jeans,’ it’s that it’s never too early to start working on our gams in anticipation of warmer weather.
Kate was recently spotted at Olympic Park in London promoting the upcoming summer Olympics, playing field hockey in some seriously orange, hip-hugging jeans. And from the looks of her silhouette, she’s already figure-ready for spring and beyond.
So how can we get a royally fit bod like Kate’s? Of course it starts with nutrition. A lean body requires a healthy diet. I’m a firm believer that you can’t out-train bad eating habits. So start by making sure you’re incorporating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet, drinking lots of water, and cutting back on sugar, refined carbohydrates, and fatty meats.
As far as fitness goes, just get out there and move. Cardio is key – check out this beginner’s guide for some guidance. But resistance training is where you’ll get your tone. Here are some ideas to get you inspired.
Spin or Cycle – Try a spin class at your gym. Rumor has it you can burn 400-900 calories in a single class and it makes a fantastic resistance workout for your legs and core. If you don’t frequent a gym, hop on a bike for similar results.
Squats on a Bosu Ball – Squats are good but squats on a bosu ball are better. The instability the ball provides causes you to engage more muscles than you would in a normal squat. Just stand on top of the Bosu with feet shoulder width apart, get balanced, and squat slowly up and down for 15 reps.
Jumping Squats – Jumping squats require no equipment, which makes them my favorite quick leg workout that also gets my heart pumping. Simply jump your legs out wider than shoulder width apart, squat deep, then spring up and quickly bring your legs to shoulder width position and squat once more. Repeat in a fluid motion for a total of 40 reps.
Although we can’t replicate Kate’s workouts, we can aim to replicate her fit figure. So get moving and your legs will be tangerine jean – and spring – ready in no time.
Image from mirror.co.uk