Friday, November 16, 2007

Your workout


No two women are made alike, so why should we stick to the same workout routine? While the benefits of having a workout buddy are undeniable, working together is bound to benefit one of you more than the other.

Understanding your shape and the way your body functions is the first step in customizing your perfect workout routine. Using the shape of your body and information about your metabolism, Women’s Health Magazine has devised 6 specific workout plans.

For the full detailed article and to pick your specific shape, see the article in its entirety here .

Generally speaking, a pear figure is one with more curvature, or bottom heavy (weight gain around hips), while apples appear to have less shape or gain weight in a rounded way (weight gain around belly).

For mid-sized pears, the article recommends a good 40-60 minutes of moderate cardio (think able to talk but not tell a whole story in one breath) twice a week. Concentrate on building your upper body for a more balanced look, while toning your lower body to elongate muscles with extra reps without bulking up. Lifting more for fewer reps can increase your power and build curves.

Mid-sized apples should focus on a slightly different routine. Apples should work a good 30 minutes worth of cardio into their week about three times. Core specific workouts are key to the apple shape, and working core with weights is a perk (think stability ball). Extra leg work with heavier weights and less reps is recommended to build your backside, and think about the opposite for toning arms and shoulders.