No matter how jam-packed your summer schedule may be, you're never too busy to take care of yourself -- especially when the method you choose takes half the time of your typical running route or boot camp class.
Latoya Julce, a New York City-based personal trainer who also teaches cycling and cardio dance, shared six of her favorite resistance-training moves with us. These exercises simultaneously make use of two different large muscle groups in smart ways to increase your heart rate, challenge your coordination and push your muscular strength to the next level. Now that's the one kind of multitasking we can get behind!
All you need to complete this total-body strength-training circuit is a set of dumbbells -- we recommend starting with 5-pounders -- and an exercise mat. Stick to the gym or take it outside, your choice! Regardless, these 2-in-1 moves will leave you trim, toned and full of energy to take on the rest of your daily to-do list.
Ready to work those muscles? Check out Julce's six multitasking strength-training moves below.
Side Lunge with Shoulder Press
Step 1: Stand with your feet together and with dumbbells in your hands stacked at the shoulders. Your palms should be facing inward and your elbows should be tucked closely to your sides.
Step 2: Take a wide, lateral step with the right foot, bending the right knee and sinking in to a side lunge. Be sure your knee remains behind your toes and that your posture stays tall.
Step 3: While in the lunge, press the dumbbells directly above your shoulders. Lower them back to their original position and stand, rejoining the right foot with the left.
Step 4: Do a lunge on the left side and another shoulder press to complete one full rep. Try for 30 total (15 lunges and presses on each side).
Standing Twist with Dumbbell
Step 1: Stand with feet wider than hip-width apart, and raise one dumbbell directly out in front of your chest, holding on with both hands. Tuck your tailbone inward, so you are already in a mini-crunch of sorts while standing.
Step 2: Keeping your hips stationary, engage your oblique muscles and rotate the shoulders to the right. Return to the center position.
Step 3: Continue with a rotation to the left and return to center to complete one rep. Try for 30 reps (15 twists on each side). And don't forget to focus on that breath!
Front Shoulder Raise with Reverse Lunge
Step 2: Take a step backward with your right foot, lowering into a reverse lunge. Be sure to form right angles with both of your knees, keeping the left knee behind your left toes. As you lower, simultaneously reach the arms straight out in front of you until they reach shoulder height with palms facing down. Lower the arms to their original position as you step your feet back together.
Step 3: Now take a step backward with your left foot and raise the arms to shoulder height as you find yourself in another reverse lunge. Return to the starting position to complete one rep. Try for 30 reps (15 lunges and raises on each side).
Single-Leg Bridge with Chest Press
Step 2: Lift the right leg straight up in the air. Engage your core for balance and lift the hips off of the ground using the strength from your left glute. While in the bridge, press the dumbbells straight into the air above the chest. Lower the dumbbells, then the hips, and then the legs to the original position.
Step 3: Now lift the left leg and work through the glute bridge and chest press series to complete one rep. Try for 20 to 30 reps (10 to 15 bridges and presses on each side).
Side Plank with Oblique Twist
Step 2: Reach that dumbbell high into the air directly above your stacked shoulders. Using the control of your abs and obliques, bring the dumbbell down and slide it beneath you between your core and your stabilizing arm. Return the dumbbell to the high-reaching position. That's one rep.
Step 3: Try for 10 reps on the right side, and then set up in a side plank on the left side and continue for an additional 10 reps. Be sure to move slowly and with control.
Single-Leg Deadlift with Shoulder Press
Step 2: Take a step forward with the right foot, keeping a slight bend in right knee for balance, and hinge forward at the hips as you lift your left leg into the air behind you. Lower the dumbbells down toward your right foot until you feel a moderate stretch in your right hamstring.
Step 3: Return to an upright position, and immediately press the dumbbells directly above your shoulders. Lower them back to their original position.
Step 4: Now take a step forward with the left foot, and complete a deadlift on the right side. Return to standing and do another shoulder press to complete one rep. Try 20 reps (10 deadlifts and presses on each side).
