Tips to a better bottom

Seems suddenly we’re living in a booty-centric society. I thought the whole booty glorification thing would pass when J-lo & Puffy split, but Beyonce’s booty shake has kept the bottom at the top! Low rises are getting lower and buns are getting bigger be it surgically (for $4,250 per cheek) or temporarily (Walter Drake padded panties $15.99 www.catalogcity.com). Mainstream America is trying to pump up what so many of us have been trying to minimize for years. Here are some tips to a better bottom:

Shaping Your “Assets”

3 proven exercises for strengthening, toning and shaping your backside:

Squats
Stand straight up with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Point toes out ward. Reach out with your hands and hold your arms straight out in front of you.
Bend the knees and lower you butt towards the floor (Imagine you are trying to sit down in a low chair). Pause when thighs are parallel to the floor. Push your feet into the floor and begin to stand up straight.
Repeat 10 - 15 times.  

Lunges

Stand straight up with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Point your toes straight ahead.  Take one giant step back with one foot. Place your hands on your hips to help keep your balance.
Slowly bend the knee of the front leg. Your back knee will begin to descend towards the ground. Pause when your back knee is parallel to and about 6 inches from the floor. Press the front foot into the floor and begin to straighten both legs.
Repeat 10 - 15 times. Take a 1 minute rest. Do 10 - 15 repetitions on the opposite leg. Repeat as desired.

Buttkickers
Position yourself on all four - hands and knees in contact with the floor. Gently lift one foot off the ground.
With the lifted leg maintaining a bend in the knee, raise the foot high above your bottom. Hold and squeeze for 2 seconds. Slowly lower and repeat 15 times.
Perform this exercise on each leg twice.

Go to buttexcercises.com for step by step instructions and pictures.

Shake A Tailfeather

Donna Richardson’s, “30 days to Thinner Thighs” available at donnarichardson.com & amazon.com.  or the tried and true “Buns of Steel” available at most local libraries, Blockbuster or amazon.com $15.00.

Soft As A Baby’s Bottom

After toning and shaping your derriere don’t forget to soften and smooth. If neglected, bottoms can get bumpy. Remember to exfoliate at least twice a week to slough off dead skin cells that can build up and cause dry, flaky skin, discoloration and/or bumps. A good body scrub to try is Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub with salicylic acid available at Target $5.49. Moisturize with a non-greasy moisturizer as some body’s bottoms are prone to acne. Eucerin is an effective yet non-greasy moisturizer.

Stretch Marks the Spot

Getting stretch marks or not is said to be a matter of genetics. There are many products that claim to remove stretch marks, but no medical evidence these topical creams actually work. Products containing Tretinoin cream (Retin-A, Renova) may slightly reduce the length and width of stretch marks, but these products are by prescription only and should not be used while pregnant or breast feeding. Removal may not be an option but there are things you can do to reduce the amount of stretch marks you get. Ivillage.com suggest these steps: Massage your skin with a massage brush or glove to increase circulation; apply moisturizing cream to the area of concern on a daily basis to keep the skin supple; and eat foods that contribute to the overall health of the skin, such as those high in vitamins C and E, zinc and silica (which helps to form collagen).

The Bottom line is we’re sitting on a million. Whether it’s big, round, flat or square it’s ours, it’s beautiful and we’re blessed. A junky trunk is the fetish of the moment but honor all of your body by giving it the proper diet, rest and exercise it needs to keep you body-licious long after the big booty trend goes flat.