Stretch marks are caused by weight gain or pregnancy. According to the experts at Mother Nature, the most susceptible parts of the body are the thighs, breasts, stomach and hips. There are creams and lotions available on the market designed to cover up stretch marks, but such remedies do not provide permanent results. The only way to effectively reduce stretch marks is through exercise, as decreased fat and toning will minimize their appearance.
Step 1
Complete crunches with the assistance of your legs. Lie down and pull legs in towards chest. Slowly push legs out until they are straight and pull them back to starting position. Start with 10 to 20 repetitions and increase when you can effectively complete the move.
Step 2
Lie down and bend your knees at a 90 degree angle, so that they are stacked over your feet. Place your hands on the back of your head and slowly lift your upper body as far as you can, without straining your neck. Complete a minimum of 25 repetitions at a time.
Step 3
Reduce stretch marks on your breasts with push-ups. Start of with 10 repetitions at a time and hold each exercise for two seconds at a time. Push-ups are effective whether you balance on your feet or your knees.
Step 4
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands on your hips. Squat down slowly, making sure that your knees do not go past your toes. Do 10 repetitions.
Step 5
Lie on your right side and support your head with your right hand. Place your left hand on the ground to support your body and bend your knees. Lift left leg and hold for two seconds. Repeat 25 times and switch sides.
Step 6
Walk to reduce fat and stretch marks. Walking also helps to prevent stretch marks from even occurring. Although speed walking increases your heart rate more, you can reap the benefits of walking at a normal pace as well. Walk for a 30 minutes at a time at least four times a week.
Step 7
Jog if you are more used to higher intensity cardio workouts. Faster skin tightening results are achieved from jogging, particularly in the leg, thigh and hip areas. If you are new to jogging, try speed walking first until you build up your muscles. Then jog and walk at intervals, until you are comfortable enough to solely jog.
Tips and Warnings
- Alternate these exercises so you do not do them everyday and risk strains. For example, concentrate on leg exercises one day and stomach exercises on another. Use a balance ball for sit-ups to prevent back injuries. Do some form of cardiovascular workout everyday. Eat foods that are low in fat. A consistent diet of high-fat foods will contradict any weight loss through exercise.
- Do not over exert yourself if you are not used to exercising. Start off slow and gradually increase repetitions so that you avoid muscle strains.
Things You'll Need
- Floor mat
- Running or walking shoes
