Stick thin celebrities have nothing on the sexy curves of Scarlett Johansson, Kim Kardashian, Sofia Vergara and Kate Winslet. But don’t think that having curves gives you a hall pass on diet and exercise, these celebrities just happened to learn how to accentuate what they’ve got.
“If you have curves, you want to enhance them by firming up your best features. Your clothes will fit better and your butt will look better in those tight jeans,” says New York City personal trainer and nutritionist Ariane Hundt.
Curves are defined by the shoulders, hips and butt, says Hundt. So you want to focus on exercises that tone those parts of your body along with cardio.
“Defined shoulders make your waist look smaller, and a smaller waist enhances your hips and makes them look curvier,” says Hundt. To tone your shoulders, the go-to exercise is shoulder presses, either seated or standing.
If you’re a beginner, start with five pound weights, then increase the weight by two pounds every two weeks until you’ve reached your max. You want weights that will fatigue you by the twelfth repetition and that are as heavy as you can lift, without losing form. And don’t worry, “The myth that lifting heavy weights will make you bulky is just false,” says Equinox group fitness manager Angela Leigh. “Lifting weight you can move effectively and efficiently can only help tighten up the areas we want a little extra boost in.”
To tone your butt, try what Hundt calls the “Donkey Kick Series.” Watch this video to see her demonstrate how to do it.
As for the hips, you can accentuate them by trimming down your waist. A waist-slimming exercise is the bicycle. Lying on your back, bring your right elbow to your left knee and then repeat on the other side. Do about 20 repetitions, but the key is to do them super slow and hold each one for two seconds.
Another waist-slimming area to target is your obliques, or the sides of your stomach area. Do this by lying on your side with your feet stacked, then lift both feet up into the air and lower them down slowly. Do 20 repetitions on one side and then repeat on the other side. Just make sure your upper body is relaxed.
While a great workout is key to enhancing your curves, you can’t get there without the right diet. “A narrow waist also really defines a curvy girl, so in order to have a slim waist you want to make sure you’re not eating sugar, starches, and alcohol,” says Hundt. “You need to eat a diet of lean protein and vegetables.”
