From The Straits Times    |

Looking to burn fat – fast? Ditch the machines and the marathon cardio sessions. Your best weight loss and sculpting tool is your own bodyweight.

Whether you’re just starting out or have a regular workout routine in place, mastering bodyweight exercises goes a long way to maintaining any fitness regimen.

“The biggest misconception about bodyweight exercises is that you can’t build muscle or tone up while doing them,” shares Natalie Dau, a Reebok brand athlete who launched her fitness app RockStarFit last May.

Not only do these exercises rev up your metabolic rate, they build muscle and tone the entire body. Plus, they are safe to do regardless of experience, age or fitness level. 

“Benefits of doing them include increased flexibility, strength, better balance and improved posture – which only comes from doing these compound movements and improving your core strength,” says Natalie. 

So once the standard exercises (squats, push-up, lunges) become easy, both Natalie and coach Muhammad Fazrul (or Faz) of TripleFit gym recommend variations to amp up the burn. To get started, try these five power-packed bodyweight moves.

Level up your squats by doing jump squats.

#1 SQUATS

There’s no escaping the bread-and-butter of all leg workouts, according to Faz. “If you want to make it harder, try box squats or chair squats before progressing to squat jumps or pistol squats.” To build core strength, he suggests doing a hollow body hold to engage the anterior core muscles, and a superman hold (single leg squat with arms out) to work the posterior core muscles and the glutes.

 

#2 BEAR CRAWLS

Awkward as they look, the dreaded bear crawl is Faz’s go-to move for good reason. “The bear crawl strengthens your core and works your entire body, especially your shoulders, arms and glutes,” says Faz. “When you crawl, your hips go from fully flexed to fully extended, taking the joint through its entire range of motion. It’s a no-brainer conditioning tool as this exercise increases your muscular endurance and improves overall conditioning.”

See also: LOSING WEIGHT FOR YOUR WEDDING? BURN FAT FASTER WITH THESE 8 SURPRISING FOODS!

The Hindu push-up is an excellent push-up variation to build upper body strength.

#3 PUSH-UPS

However you choose to do them – knees on the ground, against a wall or with your hands in a diamond shape – the compound exercise, when done properly, engages multiple muscle groups.  It is amazing for your core, helps to improve posture and prevent lower back injuries. And you can do it pretty much anywhere, anytime,” says Natalie. (See also: 5 ways to get a flatter stomach fast)

If the bear crawl (eventually) proves to be too easy, Faz recommends doing them with Hindu push-ups, a push-up variation that starts from a downward dog position, before transitioning into an upward facing dog pose (see below). 

 

A full burpee forces you to switch on all muscles in the body.

#4 BURPEES

While it’s no one’s favourite bodyweight exercise, according to Natalie, the burpee is great for burning fat and getting a full-body workout. “The correct version is to have your chest to the ground, but you can scale it without your chest hitting the ground.” She adds that they’re more explosive than hill sprints, and works on your coordination.

See also: WEDDING DIE? 10 BIGGEST MISTAKES BRIDES MAKE

 

Dips target the common flabby zones in your arms.

#5 DIPS  

Trying to tone that tricky tricep area? Natalie recommends doing dips to work those hard-to-firm places on the back of the arms. “Try dips with your legs bent for beginners, and straighten legs out for a challenge.”

See also: 4 SINGAPORE DIGITAL INFLUENCERS’ TOP PRE-WEDDING SKINCARE TIPS FOR GLOWING SKIN

All images: www.123rf.com. This article was originally published in Shape Singapore