Kick Start Your New Years: Exercise Day Two: Squats

In case you missed yesterday's exercise, I thought I would refresh your brains with the beginning of the post from yesterday with today's exercise:  Squats
Being a busy mother of four, I hardly have time to exercise.  So, I try my hardest to incorporate it into little things I do every day!  Throughout the month of January, we will be posting not only recipes, but exercises and tips on how to fit that exercise into our busy schedule!  If you know me, I am all about what is easy and most practical for me.  Each day in January, we will do a post on an exercise to do and a tip to work into your daily routine to burn an extra few calories here or there...These exercises will require nothing but you and maybe some basic household items
Day Two Exercise:
Squats
 

1. Stand with feet hip distance apart with your toes, knees and hips in a straight line.
2. Pull your belly button towards your spine and contract your abdominal muscles.
3. Slowly lower your body, as though you are sitting in a chair.
4. If you can, go down until your butt is in line with your knees (knees at 90 degree angles). If you can't go down that low, go as low as you can.
5. Take a moment and look down make sure your knees are BEHIND your toes.
6. Keeping the weight in your heels, slowly push your body back to starting position.
7. At the top of the movement, do NOT lock your knees. Keep a slight bend in them.
8. Repeat the movement 10 to 15 times, performing 1 to 3 sets. For each repetion, count to 3 on the way up and on the way down to ensure you're not going too fast.
9. Rest 30 to 60 seconds in between sets.

I know, a pretty basic exercise, but so easy to do and doesn't require much of anything.  I do squats while I brush my teeth, cook, and even when I'm trying to get the baby to relax.  Try it while holding a baby or young toddler...it calms my newborn and makes my 19 month old giggle like crazy! 

Day Two:  Easy Exercise Tip:

• It sounds silly, but sucking in your stomach throughout the day can actually help tighten your abs and whittle your waist. No one even has to know you're doing it. Just suck in your stomach for five minutes of time throughout the day. This can really help if your exercise options are limited and many women have managed to lose whole dress sizes after just a few weeks.  I do this while I am driving in the car or standing in line at the store.  No one knows I'm doing it, but I know and I can feel it!  In fact when I went in for my ultrasound with my FOURTH child, my sonographer made a comment on how great my ab muscles still are.  Talk about a boost in self esteem, right when I needed it :) !
    

Thanks, WebMD, and WeightLadder! 

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