Whether you’re looking at the statue of David or the magazines featuring celebrity’s toned bottoms, sculpted glutes and hamstrings are always in fashion. But we’re all in a hurry, and this may be your number one excuse to not exercise. I’m going to banish that excuse today with a simple 2-in-1 timesaving technique. The truth is, you can tone your body by taking motions you use in everyday life and turning them into one fluid movement. This golden trick is called functional training.

Functional motions are exercises you mimic in your everyday life, like grabbing groceries from the isle and putting them in your cart. When you turn this everyday motion into an exercise, you aren’t just using one muscle group. This simple motion entails bending, twisting, lifting, reaching and extending, all in one sequence of integrated movements, so you simultaneously engage multiple muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons so that your body works as a unit. This is one of the most efficient ways to tone the body quickly and completely.  

Are you ready to get started? Try this time saving 2-in-1 glute and thigh functional exercise:

Squat With A Rotating Twist

Stand with feet hip distance apart, holding light weights in each hand. Push your hips back until your knees are bent to about a 90-degree angle, pulling weights to the chest. As you rise keep the left foot and hip parallel but pivot on the right toe, turning your whole body to the left. As you pivot on the right toe, squeeze the right glute while bringing the weights overhead toward your left side. 12 repetitions each side.

If you’d like to learn more about functional and compound exercises, along with specific routines and weight loss recipes from my personal kitchen, sign up for ReShape today!

Here’s to your health,
Kathy

Tips:
1. To begin, grab a chair and position yourself in front of it. Sit down, just brushing your butt on the end of the chair and stand back up. That's the beginning of great form!
2. Repeat and keep your knees and weight back
3. The further and lower you get down in the squat, the more you'll feel it in your butt.

To view the whole workout, visit: Body Blast Solution

Summer is just around the corner, and I want you to feel confident wearing your bikini bottoms! I know that in just a few short weeks, I can help you get great glutes. Today, I’m going to focus on a few of my favorite exercises to target your rear end and help you maximize results!

All of these exercises are simple and easy to do at home. You can even do them during daily tasks, like waiting for the microwave to finish heating your food. Instead of idly standing by, do a set of Walking Lunges around the kitchen! 

I have full confidence that if you practice the exercises I shared above and the exercises found in my Lower Body Kit you will get the results you want. If you’re ready for a total body transformation, check out my ReShape program.  Sign up for ReShape now!

The weekend is almost here, but that's no excuse to forget your diet and healthy habits! You can still eat meals that are delicious and healthy while burning muscle and shrinking fat. I love my Spicy Garlic Stir-Fry recipe because it's packed with nutrients and each of the spicy garlic sauce is fantastic! 

Use these proportions to creat your own signature stir-fry dishes!

Stir-Fry Ingredients:
4 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1 pound vegetables, cut into 1-inch pieces (use a mixture, such as broccoli, mushrooms and bell peppers)
1 pound meat/poultry/seafood, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1-2 cloves garlic, minced

Spicy Garlic Sauce Ingredients:
1 t cornstarch
1/2 C low-fat/low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 T low-sodium soy sauce
1 1/2 t chili garlic sauce
1 T ketchup
1 T dry sherry or red wine

Heat wok or large skillet over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil and heat util almost smoking. Add the vegetables and stir-fry 3 to 5 minutes. Removed from wok. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons more oil to the wok as needed; add meat and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic; cook and stir until the meat is almost done. Return veggies to wok and cook 1 minute to heat through.

In a separate pan, begin the sauce by combining 1 tablespoon water and 1 teaspoon cornstarch in a small saucepan. Stir in chicken broth, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, ketchup and dry sherry or red wine. Cook and stir until thickened (3 to 4 minutes). Stir in with your stir-fry. Enjoy!

Serves 4.

Did you try this stir fry? Comment below telling me how you liked it!

It’s almost bikini season and your tough workouts and healthy eating are about to pay off! When you push your body to achieve results, it’s important to reward yourself. Instead of indulging in desserts, give your whittled waistline some cute summer swimwear! Congratulations are in order for all of your hard work! This will help keep you motivated to stay on track.

I was shopping at a beautiful outdoor mall in Salt Lake City the other day and found an fantastic boutique, Albion. I loved all their colorful workout clothes and flattering swimming suits and had a blast trying everything on! What I love about Albion is they offer swimwear for all shapes, sizes and ages to help women feel confident and beautiful.

I’m thrilled to announce that Albion has given all of my readers an incredible coupon, $20 OFF of your purchase of $50 when you use the code KathySmith20! You don’t even have to live in Salt Lake to redeem this offer, just click over to their website at www.AlbionFit.com to shop their fun summer collection and reward your body with fresh, flirty and flattering swimwear! If you already have your swimwear ready to go for this season, then grab a new pair of yoga pants or a darling tennis skirt. This coupon applies to their entire website!

I put a photo of my suit selection on Instagram. When you redeem your coupon and get your summer suit, add yours to Instagram too and tag me (and Albion) in your photo so I can see which one you chose!

Happy shopping and couponing,
Kathy Smith       

P.S. Here’s a few of my favorite choices:

This fat burning workout from the 80’s is a classic! What I’ve done is pair three of my most popular DVDs (Body Basics, Winning Workout and Fat Burning Workout) and compile them into two hours of exercise in only one DVD. If you’re looking specifically to burn fat, this workout is for you!

In this program, I’ve combined multiple lower-intensity workouts to keep you in a fat-burning-zone. Each video is about 40 minutes long to help you slim down and tone your muscles. So let’s get started with the free video clip below.

Are you ready to noticeably reduce the size of your thighs and hips? Grab your copy of Fat Burning Classics in my store!

There' s no better time than spring to lace up your running shoes and start hitting the pavement. Regardless of your current fitness level, using a run/walk method, or what I call “Gonzo training,” can burn belly fat like a pro.

1.     The Happy Face Pace – At this level, you can carry a conversation, laugh and have an enjoyable chat.

2.     The Determined Face Pace – At this level, it’s harder to carry on a conversation.

3.     The Gonzo Face Pace – At this level you give it all and start counting down the seconds until you can pull back and continue the Happy Face Pace once again.

Here’s an example of how you can put it all together for an effective Gonzo workout: Warm up for 5 minutes to get your body loose and moving. Then, 30 seconds Happy Face Pace, 30 seconds Determined Face Pace and 60-90 seconds Gonzo Face Pace. Repeat at least 5 times

Going Gonzo on a regular basis will burn that hard-to-beat belly fat. Switching to those lower-intensity levels will allow you to avoid fatigue and effectively exercise for a longer duration of time.  So lace up those shoes and start Going Gonzo! 

Sign up for my ReShape program for free Gonzo workouts, eating plans and recipes from my own personal cookbook!

Happy Spring,
Kathy Smith

Today, I hiked to the top of Iron Mountain in Park City, Utah (there's still snow up there!) and I hula hooped at the top. Recently, Kelly Osborne lost 70 lbs hula hooping, and you can lose weight doing it too. What I love about hula hooping is that it's fun, it burns calories, it whittles your waistline, and you can do it anywhere! You can hula in your house, your backyard, the beach, or the top of a mountain, but the main point is — do it. So, grab a small or large hoop, and start having fun and getting your body ready for bathing suit season!

Are you hula hooping with me today? I posted a photo of me hooping on Instagram — tag me in your photo so I can see!

Here's to your health,
Kathy Smith

I've used yoga as a part of my practice for more than 30 years. Early on, I learned that yoga is a practice of discovery. What got me excited was not only did it challenge my flexibility, but it also strengthened and toned my muscles while leaving me energized and relaxed. 

One of my favorite places in the yoga world is Destination Satori. My friends there are about living life in a more balanced way. They offer great ways to stay connected physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. So, grab a yoga mat and work into the simple hip opening pose in the video below to jumpstart your body's calorie-burning machine. 

I love doing this Resting Pigeon stretch at the end of a tough workout or yoga practice to balance my body. As you're doing this pose, stretch into the posture as best you can with the right form. But remember — don't strain yourself! Form is more important than range. It's better to be half in a posture and doing it the right way than to stretch too far into it and be doing it the wrong way!

As always, here's to your health!
Kathy Smith

Are you ready for a blast from the past? Three of my favorite fat burning classics (Body Basics, Winning Workout and Fat Burning Workout) have been put into one DVD! Burning fat has never been so much fun!  In this video, we'll get you like totally in the fat burning zone. No need for the leg warmers…it's all about attitude. So, let's get moving for the best results! Here's a free clip to get you started. If you'd like to view the whole video, it is available in my store.

Order Fat Burning Classics now!