Exercises To Appear Thinner

Weight loss is a slow process. However, even small changes in your physical activity and diet can make a big difference in decreasing your risk for serious diseases. Luckily, you can perform exercises that will tone your muscles and make you appear thinner. Before you know it, such exercises will help you lose weight so you'll actually have a slimmer body.

Posture

Take pounds off your appearance by simply standing up straight with your shoulders back and your head lifted, eyes straight ahead. Practice what proper posture feels like. Begin with a standing exercise. Distribute your weight equally between your toes and heels with your knees slightly bent. Raise your arms to face height in front of your body. Align your shoulders directly above your hips, tuck in your tummy and let your shoulders relax. Practice this exercise several times a day to improve your posture.

Core Muscles

It's hard to stand up straight if the muscles around your core are weak. Strengthen your abdomen and lower back muscles with what the American Council on Exercise says are the top ab exercises: the bicycle maneuver, the captain's chair and crunches on an exercise ball.

For the bicycle, lie on your back with your hands behind your head. Lift your shoulders, but keep your lower back pressed to the floor. Begin a pedaling motion with your legs. Alternate sides with each pedal as you touch your elbow to your opposite knee. On the captain's chair in your local gym, lift your legs from a dangling position to your chest with a controlled movement. Do crunches on an exercise ball with your feet flat on the ground.

Strength Training

Building all your muscles through weight lifting, or strength training, will tone your muscles even if you don't lose weight, according to the University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter. In turn, toned muscles will make you appear thinner.

Use either weight machines or free weights. Warm up for a few minutes before each session. Learn about weight lifting guidelines before you start a workout program. For example, begin with light weights and pair muscle groups in a workout to avoid an imbalance between opposing muscles. Get at least two rest days before working the same muscle again.

Back Muscles

Developing your latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles, or your lats and traps, will make your body appear slimmer, according to Joyce L. Vedral, Ph.D., author of "Weight Training Made Easy." The up-right row, or lifting dumbbells in front of your chest with your elbows out to the sides, develops your traps -- this creates a smooth line between your neck and shoulders. The one-arm dumbbell row, in which you kneel with one knee and hand on a weight bench, works your traps and lats.