Football isn’t the only focus of Rio right now. Famed for their toned curves, some of Victoria’s Secret top supermodels hail from Brazil. Look at the likes of Gisele Bundchen, Alessandra Ambrosio or Adriana Lima for some serious beach body inspiration.
With bikini season here, it’s time to kick butt with a body-honing regime that really makes a difference. Mix muscle-firming exercises with targeted toning products for a double-pronged attack.
BOTTOM
WORK IT: “Doing 40-60 squats for one minute every morning will keep your thighs and buttocks toned,” says Suzi Godson, author of The Body Bible. “Stand with your feet hip width apart and bend your knees and lower your bottom as if you are going to sit on a chair.”
WING IT: Stimulate circulation and toxin drainage with Sarah Chapman Bodylift massager. The 12 rolling heads and 72 massaging nodules will help sculpt and tone your bottom with dedicated use, £28 (www.sarahchapman.net).
Target cellulite and fatty deposits with Dr Ceuticals Beach Perfect Body Firmer, which contains skin-stimulating caffeine. Massage firmly in an upwards motion to help break down the fibrous tissues that hold fat in place, £19.99 (www.boots.com).
TUMMY
WORK IT: “Incorporating 40-60 sit-ups into your morning routine will make a huge difference to your shape,” Godson says. “Lie flat on the floor on your back with your knees bent and feet flat. Place your palms on your hips and run them slowly up to your knees, pulling yourself up with your stomach muscles.”
WING IT: If you’re slacking on the sit-up regime, buckle up with Slendertone Abs Female. The electrical stimulation produces contractions of the abdomen muscles to help create firmer, toned abs in four weeks, £119.99 (www.slendertone.com).
Firm up tummy flab with Mio Get Waisted Sculpting Body Shaper, containing seven body sculpting ingredients, like caffeine and seaweed extract. Massage in daily for 30-60 seconds using large clockwise strokes to aid sluggish, bloated bellies, £35 (www.mioskincare.co.uk).
LEGS
WORK IT: “Use an old pair of nylon tights as ankle weights that you can wear while doing your chores,” Godson suggests. “Cut off the legs and fill each with 900g of rice, lentils, sand or dried beans and tie each end, leaving some material to tie around your ankles.”
WING IT: Target that stubborn top of thigh area by rolling on Soap & Glory Sit Tight Saddlebags+. The clever microcellu-roller massages in the serum so you’re stimulating microcirculation as you deliver the targeted toning formula, £16.50 (Boots).
Giving your pins a golden glow with This Works Perfect Legs Gradual Tan will immediately make your limbs look leaner and toned. The repairing serum combats skin imperfections and evens out skin tone so you’re beach-ready, £38 (www.thisworks.com).
ARMS
WORK IT: “If you don’t have dumbbells at home, tins of food make excellent hand weights,” Godson advises. “Hold them in your hands, palms facing your hips with your arms by your side, then slowly raise your straight arms to shoulder height and bring them slowly back down again. Do 25 reps with both arms at the same time.”
WING IT: Help tone up bingo wings using Bliss FatGirlSlim Arm Candy, which has a targeted applicator massager to gently knead the skin. The double action arm perfecting cream reduces redness while the caffeine promotes firming, £34 (www.blissworld.co.uk).
Ideal after an upper body workout, make your arms feel lighter with Dr. Hauschka Rosemary Leg And Arm Toner. Massage in an upwards motion to invigorate tired arms and reduce any water retention, £25 (www.feelunique.com).