5 Fitness Experts Reveal the One Move That Transformed Their Body

Workout results take forever, don't they? Now you can take the guesswork out of the picture, thanks to these personal trainers, who are spilling their workout secrets.

Find a favorite

While a complete workout that targets all your major muscle groups is the best way to get fit, even the experts admit they have a favorite move that they not only love performing but that gives them the results they’re looking for. These trainers reveal their go-to moves—maybe you’ll find your favorite here. 

Fitness-Models-Share-the-One-Move-that-Changed-Their-Body
Tatiana Ayazo/Rd.com

Super-fly crunch

Sarah Bowmar began her career in digital marketing but soon realized that her main passion was fitness and helping others also become fit. Bowmar says there was one workout that had the most dramatic effect on her body: “It’s called the super-fly crunch, and it targets your abs,” she says. You’ll need bands or a cable strength training machine to pull this one off. Assume a plank position, and place your feet into handles of the band or cable machine, suspending your legs off the ground. Now bring your knees forward to your chest in a crunch. Start out slow—you may only be able to do a few repetitions of this demanding move at first. Want more from Bowmar? Follow her fitness Instagram. When you start your workout, make sure you avoid these common exercise mistakes that work against you.

Fitness-Models-Share-the-One-Move-that-Changed-Their-Body
Tatiana Ayazo/Rd.com

Tuck jumps

Dietitian Cassie Barnard, RD, is a Pilates instructor based in Australia and she has the perfect flat belly exercises for you. But the one that changed her body was tuck jumps. “Tuck jumps are an amazing exercise because they work your whole body with an element of cardio. Glutes, quads, and hamstrings are the primary muscles in this exercise while also challenging your core. I find jumping exercises are a great way to keep unwanted fat away from my belly!” said Barnard.

Start by standing with your legs shoulder-width apart, toes turned out slightly. Bend at the knees and sink down to a squat position, thighs parallel to the ground and taking care that your knees don’t extend past your toes. Now spring upward and bring your knees up to your chest and don’t let your elbows fall below your knees. Land and then sink back to a squat position. Try doing three sets of eight repetitions each.

Fitness-Models-Share-the-One-Move-that-Changed-Their-Body
Tatiana Ayazo/Rd.com

Deadlifts

Certified personal trainer Tana Cogan is one of the most popular fitness models on Instagram. The fitness expert says the one move that changed her body was the deadlift. “Deadlifts have been an amazing compound workout, which means they work more than just one area. They target my hamstrings, quads, glutes, back, and core. I’ll never skip my deadlifts on leg day,” said Cogan.

Stand with your feet wider than shoulder-width apart in front of a barbell. (Start with a weight you can manage easily until you perfect the form, she says.) Sink down in a squat, knees over your toes, head up, back flat, and grasp the barbell with your hands slightly wider than your shoulders. Lift the weight up using your legs and core. Lower back down, then repeat. Try three sets of ten reps. (Try these gym hacks to make your workout less of a chore.)

Fitness-Models-Share-the-One-Move-that-Changed-Their-Body
Tatiana Ayazo/Rd.com

Push Up With Alternating Leg Lift

Fitness pro Nina Munoz is an online trainer who swears by high-intensity interval training as a way to burn more calories than steady-paced cardio. She wants to help clients attain their dream body. One move she says that made a huge impact on her body was a push-up with an alternating leg lift. “The push-up with an alternating leg lift is an amazing move—it targets your entire body,” says Munoz. It really works your triceps, core, legs, and glutes; it’s more effective than the normal plank. I love adding this move into my interval circuits. I’ll perform a cardio move then complete it with a toning move like the push-up with an alternating leg lift.” said Munoz.

The move: Begin in a plank position, and then sink down into a push-up, holding your elbows close to your sides. (Keep your knees on the ground is a standard push up is too demanding.) At the same time, squeeze your glutes and lift up one leg. Push back up as you lower the leg, then do another push up while lifting the other leg. Try to do the move for 30 seconds.

Fitness-Models-Share-the-One-Move-that-Changed-Their-Body
Tatiana Ayazo/Rd.com

Lunges

When it comes to transforming your body, Alexia Clark believes there are a couple of different ways to achieve your goals. “First, the best way to impact your shape is to do a variety of exercises,” she says. “But the one exercise I love most and do almost every day is lunges. They are incredible because their work your glutes, quads and core! You can also combine an upper body exercise with it or speed up the exercise to get a cardio benefit,’ says Clark.

With your hands on your hips, back straight, take a big step forward and then sink down until the leg in front is at a 90-degree angle, thigh parallel to the floor. Straighten back up by pushing through the heel of your front foot. Repeat with the opposite leg. Incorporate lunges into your walks for one minute, with a minute break to catch your breath. Do five intervals of lunges. Try this simple trick to actually enjoy exercising.

Sources