Toning your muscles will improve muscle strength and endurance. Doing so will also make it easier for you to work on all parts of your body and will help you look better in your clothing. We have several compound exercises that you can do with a resistance band, dumbbells or just your own body weight. Try out this toning workout now and watch for the changes in your body.
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1. Squat Pulse to Calf Raise
For this exercise, you can either perform this as bodyweight or with dumbbells for added resistance.
Begin in an upright, standing position with your legs hip-width apart and your toes slightly pointed outward. Hold a dumbbell in each hand. Bend your knees and hinge through your hips to move into a deep squat. Raise up slightly, and then lower your hips back down again, pulsing as you raise back up to calf raise. Repeat the sequence of movements to tone and sculpt your body.
Squat Pulse to Calf Raise
Start with one set of 5 repetitions. The intensity of this exercise is light.
2. Plank Walk to a Push-up
For this exercise, you can either perform your push up from knees or from your toes.
Move into a straight-arm plank position, maintaining proper alignment with your head, shoulders, hips and toes. Walk your hands and feet to one side, and then lower your knees to the floor. Pivot at your knees and bend your arms to lower your upper body, and then straighten your arms to raise back, completing the push-up movement. Repeat the sequence of movements in the opposite direction.
Plank Walk to a Push-up
Start with one set of 5 repetitions on each side. The intensity of this exercise is light to moderate.
3. Lunge to Press
Begin in an upright, standing position, holding a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder-height. Take a big step forward with one leg and lower your back knee to the ground as you extend your arms overhead. Raise up to return to the starting position. Repeat the movement on the opposite side
Lunge to Press
Start with one set of 5 repetitions on each side. The intensity of this exercise is light.
4. Deadlift to a Row
Begin in an upright, standing position with your legs hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand. Maintain proper alignment with your head, shoulders, hips and legs. Bend your knees slightly and pivot through your hips to bend your upper body forward, ideally to be parallel to the floor. Raise up and pull your arms back in a rowing motion, keeping your elbows 30 to 45 degrees away from your body. Return to the starting position and repeat the sequence of movements.
Deadlift to a Row
Start with one set of 5 repetitions. The intensity of this exercise is light.
5. Mountain Climbers
Move into a straight-arm plank position, maintaining proper alignment with your head, shoulders, hips and toes. Contract your core, and then drive one knee up toward your chest. Bring your knee back and repeat the movement on the opposite side.
Mountain Climbers
Start with 1 set of 5 repetitions on each side. The intensity of this exercise is light to moderate.
For the dumbbell workout to tone and sculpt your body, check out our Tone & Tighten Dumbbell Workout, here!
