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Earn a Jean-Worthy Butt

Fitness

woman wearning jeans
Photo: Getty Images
If you're starting to pull out your cool-weather clothes or heading to the mall to pick up few fall fashion pieces, chances are you're going to be debating denim. Before you slip on a pair of jeans, however, you might want to get your behind in just the right shape for filling them out. That's Fit.ca lists 10 exercises for a firmer, rounder, jean-worthy butt.

Squats are named as the go-to exercise for the buns, lunges are tops, and step-ups will score you glutes of steel. Don't forget hip extensions and one-legged dead lifts -- and be sure to incorporate glute extensions and exercises with a stability ball into your routine. Aim for two to three sets of 12 to 15 reps every other day for each of these. Then fold in some fencing, kickboxing, running, walking or hiking, and there's no way your bum won't benefit.

Even if you don't have the butt you've always dreamed of, StyleList says there are jeans to flatter every figure.

Butt-Toning Moves - This Week on AOL Health

Fitness

woman looking at butt in mirror
Photo: jupiterimages
On the lookout for a new exercise routine? Did you know that doing exercises that target your glutes for just five to 10 minutes can help you burn up to 50 to 100 calories? Check out these four moves from AOL Health, designed to target and tone your butt. But first, read these tips to help you enhance any exercise to give your backside more of a workout.

Flatter Belly, Tighter Butt - Step-By-Step Guides to Getting Toned - This Week on AOL Health

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Motivation


Admit it, you're scrutinizing yourself a little bit more closely in the mirror, wondering how you'll look in a bikini or shorts this summer. Well isn't it time to sop nit-picking, and start doing something about it? Consider AOL Health's photo slideshow of moves to get your butt and belly in better shape.

What's your workout routine like these days? Have you upped your ab work?

Take a Big Step Towards a Small Swimsuit

Fit Kicks Videos, Fitness

fit kicks

A stadium is a great place to sit on your bum to watch a game and get off your bum and train it. Whether you live near a small or large stadium, I recommend utilizing it as a unique component of your training regimen to intensely target your lower body muscles and respiratory systems. There are so many activities you can do with the varying heights of steps, and the benefits are unreal.

For more innovative training videos, visit SportsHealthExercise.org.

For more from Fitz, visit Fitzness.com

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Lower Body Exercises - 3 of the Best

Fit Kicks Videos, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

fit kicks

As your online trainer, it's my job to send to your computers my very best training advice. The ability to actually show you my favorite exercises is a gift, and I'm excited to share these three with you. They're moderately simple training techniques, but very challenging and exactly what I'd have you do if you showed up at my gym searching for a stronger, leaner and tighter lower body.

I recommend you do as many as you can of each exercise -- and aim for three times a week for the greatest results. Beginners may only do 10 of each exercise. My advanced clients build up to about 100 reps of each move. No equipment is required, so please feel free to do these moves anywhere and everywhere. No excuses! Progress slowly and you'll be sporting short shorts this summer for sure!

For more innovative training videos, visit Fitzness.com.

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Tight Buns, Lean Thighs and Fresh Air

Fitness

Stadiums are not only fantastic places to watch sports. They're incredible places to work out as well. Tune in to this Fit Kick to find out how to make your lower body tight and your waist waste away.

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Pilates Induced Butt Boo-Boo

Fitness, Reviews & Products

devi matThis is one of those stories I thought I'd never write. I'm writing about my tush and the big boo-boo on it. My dignity missing, I tell this tale as a warning to save the rest of you from similar pain. I promise to keep it short.

Last week I was a guest at a lovely gym while traveling and chose to participate in a pilates mat class. Just like everyone else in the room, I grabbed one of the little blue mats rolled up in the corner and unraveled it on to the wood floor. The instructor was terrific and everything was going really well, until we started rocking.

If you're not familiar with me, I'm a pretty lean little lady with a fairly flat booty. This lack of curvaceousness did not jibe well with the scrawny yoga mat and the wooden floor. I swear to you, my tailbone carved the alphabet into that studio floor after just a few minutes of V sits.

Devi Yoga Mats(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Jasmine MatFire MatEarth MatWind MatStarscape Mat

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Kate Winslet Sends Her "Tushie" a Valentine

Celebs & Entertainment

kate winsletI'm taking a little of my love and sending it to Kate Winslet this Valentine's Day. I mean, here's a woman who isn't afraid to admit that her body isn't perfect, but asks us all to respect the fact that she loves it anyway. She even refused to let Vanity Fair retouch her during a nude shoot last year.

Looking for a healthy body image role model? She's it.

She's even giving her backside a little love these days. "I don't know a single woman who doesn't stand up and check the tushie before she walks out the door," she told Nightline on Friday. "I've decided I am going to start loving my backside, really just saying, yes. Because I don't know anyone who does that, you know? And for my daughter [Mia, who is 8], I want to be able to say to her, I love this."

Kate's joined a growing club of celebrity women who are saying no to super skinny bodies and yes to healthy curves. They work out and watch what they eat, but when they look back in the mirror on the way out the door ... they like what they see.

Hottest Celebrity Bodies

    By Mary Kearl

    Faith Hill

    This 41-year-old has a hott mama body, and the world knows it thanks to her flat-belly pose on the cover of the much-drooled-over December 2008 issue of "Shape" Magazine. Not a fan of low-carb diets, Hill's meals consist of Mediterranean cuisine and fresh organic produce. We hear that Pilates, gave the confidence to show off what she's got.

    Charley Gallay, Getty Images

    Kelly Ripa

    This 38-year-old mother of three slid through her 20s without taking exercising seriously. All that has changed now -- her arsenal of fitness moves includes running, squats, leg raises and arm-toning exercises. What keeps her going? Ripa has said vanity is a major motivator.

    Jason Kempin, WireImage.com

    Carrie Underwood

    Grammy-Award winning, "American Idol" country singer Carrie Underwood has definitely been idolized for her musical talents, but her healthy diet deserves praise too. A vegetarian since she was 13, she explained in an interview with "Glamour" that obsessive food journaling and doing cardio helps her maintain a healthy weight. And according to "The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets," Underwood also made a few smart diet swaps -- green tea over soda, and whole grain bread instead of white. She's also banned high-cal cocktails, like margaritas and daiquiris.

    Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

    Shakira

    This beautiful belly dancer doesn't need a gym membership. Shakira's workouts take place on stage, with live audiences to cheer her on to dance harder (and burn more calories -- belly dancing can burn about 300 calories an hour). So it's no wonder this singer/song-writer has such toned legs, a lean middle, that tight butt, and of course, her signature, shapely hips.

    Michael Buckner/Getty Images

    Rosario Dawson

    Rosario Dawson has a message for her fellow skinny-getting-skinnier actresses, she told British "Elle" magazine: "You might look cute in those jeans for one year of your life, but you might take 10 years off your life if you're not careful. It's not healthy." She's admitted that her own photo has been touched up and that camera tricks gave her a full booty on "Rent." But since then, she's done more workouts that include spinning, strength training, and
    . The result? "My butt is looking better," Dawson has reported.

    Evan Agostini/Getty Images

    Jennifer Hudson

    J-Hud has come a long way. She's lost 60 pounds since her days as a finalist on "American Idol" in 2004. She gained 20 pounds for her Oscar-winning role in "Dream Girls,"
    but has lost the weight and then some. Her secret? Waking up at dawn to run. We love her sensible and determined approach to weight loss: "There's no shortcut -- you have to work for it," Hudson has said.

    Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

    Sheryl Crow

    Grammy winner Sheryl Crow has had many personal detours in the past few years. Yet, she has remained unstoppable. Now in remission from breast cancer, she has adopted a son and released a new album, appropriately titled, "Detours."According to Crow, looking and feeling so fabulous is all about a mix of exercise, eating a balanced diet and taking time to relax and quiet her mind.

    Mark Von Holden/WireImage.com

    Vanessa Williams

    It is possible to have the body of a twenty-something in your forties -- at least it is for Vanessa Williams. This foxy mother of four explained how she does it to "Us Weekly": "When you're in your forties, you have to eat less and you have to move more. The bottom line is, it's work!" She does her "work" with celeb trainer Harley Pasternak, and she also does yoga and dances. No wonder she's the same size she was in college!

    Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

    Alicia Keys

    Alicia Keys recently told "Us Weekly." "I'm into eating well and taking care of myself now." And we've noticed. We love this soulful songstress's toned arms and dancer legs. She's said that running regularly and training with Harley Pasternak (founder of the 5-Factor Diet) has helped her achieve "incredible results." When it comes to food, she limits her butter and salt intake, but still helps herself to mac 'n' cheese.

    Ethan Miller/Getty Images

    Helen Mirren

    This stunning actress make aging look sexy. Plus, Helen Mirren has said: "The aging process happens and you cannot do the things you used to do. I will fight it off for as long as I can." She credits her shape to her good "constitution" and to getting exercise walking her dogs.

    Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

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Carol Burnett - Her Top 4 Smart and Funny Fitness Tips

Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products

carol burnettThe secret to thin legs. How to plump up the appearance of a flat fanny. How to stay trim. What exercise does and doesn't count. Carol Burnett shared superb advice on all these topics.

I just saw the legendary funny woman last night and was fortunate enough to ask her a couple of questions. At 73 years young, she really does have a body most women would dream of at that age (including me). In fact, she's always had an amazing physique; just check out her old pics from The Carol Burnett Show!

Burnett is starring in Laughter and Reflection with Carol Burnett: A Conversation with Carol Where the Audience Asks the Questions and besides answering my questions, she answered some from the audience as well.

On the topic of how she keeps her legs so thin: "I shave off loads of excess hair each day."

-The ape woman population will benefit greatly from doing this.

Carol Burnett - Fit and Funny(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Carol looks great at any age!She's always been lean and strong.Carol has a funny way of keeping her legs thin.Carol works out, but doesn't think Carol's eating habits are smart ... not silly.

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Queen Latifah - She's Getting Her Butt Back in Gear

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements

Queen LatifahQueen Latifah has decided to stay on as spokesperson for Jenny Craig, and it's a good thing, because the star is looking to get her post-holiday butt back in gear. What better way than to embrace the weight-loss program that helped her shed a few in the first place.

"I'm glad I re-signed [with Jenny Craig] because I had a little fun over the holidays, as most people do," says the host of Wednesday night's People Choice Awards.

Apparently, the 38-year-old indulged in everything while in Trinidad recently. "It wasn't that I wasn't eating healthy stuff," she explains. "It was just a lot of it. There's always a beach barbeque." Time for some regular workouts and swimming, she says adding, "I will knock this weight back down. I know it."

Jenny Craig's Famous Faces(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Kirstie AlleyValerie BertinelliQueen LatifahBaron DavisPhylicia Rashad

Want to get your butt in gear but don't have the funds for Jenny Craig? Do it for free with America Takes It Off.

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A Reason to Like Big Butts

Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

Kim KardashianWhile being overweight can be detrimental to your health, having a little junk in the trunk might actually be helpful.

Researchers have long known that belly fat can raise your risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. New research from Harvard Medical School suggests that subcutaneous fat -- the kind that tends to gather on hips and butts -- may actually help prevent type 2 diabetes.

This is great news if you've got a little extra bulk in your booty, but I wouldn't take this research as a green light to let yourself go. Eating healthful foods and maintaining a healthy weight is still your best defense against health issues like type 2 diabetes. AOL Health has some great exercises to help get your butt in shape. And remember, you can be fit and still keep your curves -- just check out the sexy stars below for proof.

Sexy Celebs With Booty to Spare(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Kim KardashianBeyonceJennifer LopezVenus WilliamsSalma Hayek


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Michelle Williams Shows Us How to Sculpt Curves

Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

Michelle WilliamsBaring your butt on stage for all the audience to see is pretty powerful motivation. Michelle Williams, formerly of Destiny's Child, had to reveal her rear during a scene in The Color Purple. She worked with a trainer to get her body in shape so that if anyone was shocked, they were shocked at how great she looked.

Williams kept up the workouts after her run in the play was over. Good thing, too ... I'm sure her fitness level will come in handy while performing songs from her new album, Unexpected. Besides the rigors of her performing schedule, Williams just plain feels proud of her physique. She says "I'll be brushing my teeth, see my arm in the mirror and think ... cool."

Even if your job isn't as revealing as Williams' (and I certainly hope it's not), you can take some tips from her workout. Her strength and toning routine uses resistance bands and dumbbells.

Fitness Isn't Unexpected for Michelle Williams(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Michelle WilliamsDestiny's ChildMIchelle WilliamsMichelle WilliamsMichelle Williams

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Stop the Hippy Hippy Shake

Ask Fitz!, Fitness

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz. My doctor told me that that I have "hip instability" and I should work on it, but I have not idea what to do. What types of exercises will improve the strength in my hips? Leena

A. Hi Leena, Great question. I'm sorry your doctor didn't recommend a few visits with a physical therapist, though. That probably would have given you the perfect solution for your situation. Having said that, I work on this a lot with many of my clients, and there are some pretty simple exercises you can do to make your hips more stable.

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Airbrushed - How That's Fit Readers Would Like Their Photos Touched Up

Motivation

retouched photo
It's just a matter of fact that the pages of our magazines are filled with retouched photos of celebrities and models. Too bad, really. Even if we logically know that Jessica Alba's impossibly skinny waist is a result of Photoshop magic, it makes it difficult to look at pictures of ourselves and not wish for something a little different. So it made me wonder ... if you could have any body part airbrushed in your photos, what would it be? Here's how you responded:

  • Removing a double chin is what 2.5 percent of you wished for.
  • A smaller butt got 12.5 percent of your vote.
  • Thinner thighs were on 25 percent of your wish lists.
  • A better stomach is what a whopping 47.5 percent of you would like.
  • And 12.5% of you like yourself just the way you are.

I understand the wish for improved features. If the gorgeous Jessica Alba can be improved, I guess we all have room for improvement. But I can't help but wish that more that 12.5 percent had voted for not being retouched at all.

Biniki - The Butt Bra

Reviews & Products

BinikiNow I've officially heard it all. If you wish you had a perfect butt, look no further. All you need is the Biniki to wrap it, strap it and tie it up. The Biniki promises to lift and define the curve of your butt as well as smoothe out your thighs.

I've got nothing against undergarments that are designed to hide flaws and maximize body shape. If control top hose are good enough for Eva Longoria, they're good enough for me. But something about the butt bra just strikes me as really strange ... not to mention uncomfortable.

Of course, you could just go the tried and true route (and avoid wearing straps around your rear) and work your butt into perfect shape.

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