How To Tone Up Your Hips & Stomach

If you want to tighten your hip and stomach muscles, it's possible with a few lifestyle changes. Although it isn't possible to spot reduce a certain part of the body, you can create sleeker hips and abdominal muscles through fat-burning cardio and toning sessions. Together, these two types of activities will help you achieve toned hip and stomach muscles.

Step 1

Complete 150 minutes of cardio activity weekly, recommends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cardio activity burns calories, which results in fat loss. Beginners need to select moderate activities, such as biking or walking. As these activities get easy, challenge your body to vigorous activity, such as jogging, rollerblading or running to burn hip and stomach fat quicker.

Step 2

Tone your hips at least twice weekly, recommends Fitness magazine. Use the traveling squat kick to target your glutes and hips. Start out in a standing position. Kick your left leg in front of your body. As you bring your foot to the floor, lower into a squat position. Repeat this exercise 15 times on each side of the body.

Step 3

Strengthen your abdominal muscles with arm and leg raises. This exercise uses your own balance to create a sleeker-looking core. Start out on all fours with your wrists aligned under your shoulders and knees under the hips. Contract your core muscles and lift your right arm and left leg. Hold the contraction for two counts and release. Repeat 15 to 20 repetitions on each side of your body.

Step 4

Use a circuit-training approach to target your hips and stomach. Start out with a toning exercise, such as your traveling squat kick. Then, switch to an intense type of activity, such as jogging. Rotate back to a strength-training exercise, such as arm and leg raises, then back to intense cardio activity. Repeat this sequence for at least 30 minutes during your workout session.

Tips and Warnings

Don't work the same muscle group two days in a row. For example, if you work your stomach on Monday; wait until at least Wednesday to work this muscle group again.
Discuss your fitness goals with your doctor. She will make recommendations for your situation, based on your fitness level.