5 Best Fitness Workouts for Head to Toe Toning

Fitting a full-body workout in every day is a lot easier than you think. There are several exercises that target many muscle groups, so you don’t have to spend so much time focusing on just one part of your body. These intense fitness workouts also have an element of cardio to get your heart pumping and promote weight loss. Best of all, they’re not hard to follow so give them a try!

Push-ups

Who hasn’t done at least one push-up in their life? This workout staple has withstood the test of time because it works so much of your body.

Which muscles do push-ups target?

  • Core
  • Chest
  • Arms
  • Shoulders

Tips

Although you’ve probably seen them done 100 times, many people do push-ups incorrectly. Make sure to keep your feet close together, keep elbows close to your body, and above all, make sure your back is straight (not arching toward the ceiling or sinking into the ground!). If you can’t maintain the position correctly, modify the exercise by dropping your knees until you build up your strength.

Squats

Walk into any gym and you’re sure to see someone doing a squat. This odd-looking move that forces you to sit in an imaginary chair is easily adaptable, not hard to master, and one of the best full-body exercises out there, which is why it’s always one of the number one fitness trends.

Which muscles do squats target?

  • Hips
  • Core
  • Quads
  • Glutes
  • Adductors
  • Calves
  • Hamstrings

Tips

It’s easy to hurt your back if you don’t squat correctly. Before squatting down, roll your shoulders back and away from your ears and keep your back in a neutral position throughout the squat – it shouldn’t arch in either direction.

Lunge with tricep extension

Lunges work most of the body on their own, but you can easily add in an arm workout just by adding a tricep extension. Use a medicine ball or dumbbell for the tricep extension, holding it overhead in both hands. When you lunge down, perform the extension.

Which muscles do lunges target?

  • Hips
  • Abs
  • Glutes
  • Legs

Tips

When you lunge, both legs should form 90 degree angles. If your knees are out of line with your ankles, you put stress on the knee and increase your risk of injury.

Kettlebell swing

Kettlebells can be intimidating to some people, but once you get the hang of them, they are one of the best tools for full body toning.

Which muscles do kettlebell swings target?

  • Thighs
  • Glutes
  • Abs
  • Lower back
  • Shoulders
  • Lats

Tips

To properly form the exercise, you need to learn how to breathe correctly. When you swing up, exhale quickly through the mouth, and inhale through the nose when you swing down.

Burpees

Burpees are the ultimate workout. Their intensity will tire you out in no time while also burning fat and building muscle. If you could only pick one exercise, the burpee would be the one to incorporate into your lifestyle fitness.

Which muscles do burpees target?

  • Quads
  • Hamstrings
  • Glutes
  • Lower back
  • Abs
  • Hips
  • Upper back
  • Arms
  • Chest
  • Shoulders

Maybe a better question would be which muscles don´t they work­?

Tips

Compromising form as a beginner is easy, so modify the burpee if you need to. When you jump down into the plank position, your back should be straight. Simply getting into this position may be enough for a beginner. If you choose to include the push-up, you can modify it by not doing a full push-up, or by lowering your knees.

With these head to toe toning fitness workouts, you’ll start building strength, shedding weight, and feeling more fit in no time.

Author Bio:

Evlin Symon is a freelance health writer from New Jersey. She enjoys learning about a wide variety of wellness issues and staying up-to-date on the latest research. She also is the author of many active blogs.

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