Looking to add some new exercises to my routine

waramara

I'm gong to write this post a little backwards. I am specifically looking to add some exercises that work on the torso area. I do some basic lifting along with cardio right now. I have a membership at an Anytime Fitness and I have some DVDs and a resistance band at home.

Now why am I asking about this area in particular? I am getting married in 3.5 months. I bought my dress over 3 years ago when I was engaged to a different man. That relationship ended shortly after the purchase. I've hung onto the dress because I had that crying like a broken faucet moment when I tried it on and my grandmother actually got to see it before she passed. We were close and wearing this dress is a big deal in my head for that reason alone. I tried it on for the first time in years this weekend. I didn't think it would fit and I was prepared to go and get a new one. Well, it doesn't fit perfectly but I can get it on and it zips up all but the last 3 to 4 inches in height. It is about an inch short of closing in width. I have been working hard to loose weight and get in this dress and I am so close. I was told that if need be they can probably add a little to it to make it fit but with the beading and other details it would be difficult. If we can avoid that I'd like to. So I figure if I add a few new exercises to my current plan and make a serious effort to get to the gym a day or two a week more I can do this.

Thank you for any suggestions!

suiteblooms

I have a few favorites... Everyone does sit ups and crunches - which are great, but they don't work the love handle area - which is a trouble spot for me.
Stand at a hip height bar or sturdy chair to help keep balance, then lift your leg out to the side keeping it straight and lowering slowly. You will feel this in your butt, leg, lower back and side. Do as many reps as you can on each leg then do 3 sets.
I also love planks & V sits.

Cherimoose

You're already exercising, so your ab muscles are fine. Torso exercises don't target the fat there. For an explanation, Google "spot reduction myth". To reduce fat - from anywhere - get into a calorie deficit.. Simple as that.

whitebalance

You're already exercising, so your ab muscles are fine. Torso exercises don't target the fat there. For an explanation, Google "spot reduction myth". To reduce fat - from anywhere - get into a calorie deficit.. Simple as that.

Agree with this whole-heartedly, and with over three months till the wedding, you have time to lose that inch pretty easily with a reasonable caloric deficit. The deficit is what will make a difference in inches.

But even though you can't spot reduce, you might like overhead presses. Done standing with proper form, they're great for your posture and, uh, gravity-defying effects... and they do nice things for the triceps too. You can do OHP with dumbbells or a barbell. In a pinch, you might find a way to do it with your bands - like standing in the middle of the band and pressing up wth the ends in your hands - but I think using weight would be more effective. For form, ask a trainer to check you at the gym or search youtube for "Rippetoe overhead press."

Bench, push-ups, and bent-over rows are all great too, but the overhead press is probably the biggest bang for your buck given your goal. You'll feel it all the way down to your abs.

Congratulations on your engagement, and get ready to rock that dress! :happy:

prestigio

Stick to the basic exercises such as squats, deadlifts and overhead press as stated before.
Especially when done using free weights (barbells / dumbbells) these work the targetted muscles and your torso.
So you hit more muscles in the same amount of time, which also increases your energy expanditure slightly.

In before comment: "Those lifts will make me bulky and muscular".
How many men do you see that try to get muscular but are having a really hard time on it? Exactly, you won't be bulky instantaniously unless you start eating like crazy. Don't be worried, (most) men love women that squat (don't want to generalize to much here).

Summarized: Watch your dieet and stick to the basic lifts. Make sure that you eat in a small caloric defecit by either the calories burned by exercise or a decreased amount of food.
Make sure that you perform the lifts using good form. You don't wanna snap some stuff up.
Best of luck and enjoy the wedding!

waramara

Thank you everyone! I appreciate everything that was said!