It is not easy being an Aunt these days - for those of us who have little nieces and nephews, carrying those little guys can be a challenge. They may look small, but more than one minute in the arms can be taxing on your shoulders, biceps, chest and back. Even for Aunties like me that have older nieces and nephews, strong arms are still a necessity

A few hours at the park, playing at the beach, chasing the kids, reaching out to grab them every time they try to conquer a wave, carrying all of their things (toys, clothes, sporting equipment, etc.) all require upper body strength.

A few simple strength training moves can help you keep up with the kids and show the world how fit and fabulous you are!

To help prepare you for Auntie duty, one essential exercise that you must incorporate into your daily fitness regimen is the push up. This exercise will sculpt your arms, back, chest, shoulders and core and will help you gain strength, build muscle and burn fat.

All you need is a few minutes a day, practice, patience and you will see changes within a few weeks. In addition, push-ups can be performed anywhere, anytime with no equipment and, most importantly, no cost. It is a great form of exercise when preparing to effectively carry out the tasks of being an Aunt.

You can perform this exercise with modifications if you don’t have the strength to perform one full repetition with legs out in plank formation when you begin. Follow these simple instructions and set your goal for maximum reps!

How to perform a push-up:

-Place your body in the plank position: toes tucked, heels pressed back, legs straight and activated, abs tight, hands placed on the floor, palms down, directly underneath your shoulders.

-Be sure to keep your neck straight and look ahead of you while you bend your elbows and slowly lower your body to the ground; your goal should be to touch the floor with your chin and chest.

-Now, exhale and push back up – making sure to maintain a straight back and proper form. You will have to flex your quads and abs to help assist you with the motion.
-Repeat as many times as you can.

-If you are new to exercise or do not have the strength to perform full-out push-ups, you can modify this exercise by dropping your knees to the floor. This will decrease the amount of your body weight that you are lifting.

Be sure not to be intimidated! Practice and patience will have you stronger than ever and doing more reps then you ever imagined possible. Try mixing it up with walks, jogging, biking or other exercise to get a full body blast in a quick amount of time.



Becky Wenner, owner of Becky's Fitness Company, is a proud Aunt of five.

Published: June 22, 2010