Being a proud Aunt of five, I know how challenging it can be to carry around my little nieces and nephews. They grow fast, which means they gain weight and the required strength to carry them increases with each visit. Don’t lose out on the experience and connections that are made when kids want to be held; build your back and upper body muscles so you are ready to carry and play with them for hours! Need more motivation? These moves will help you lose excess weight around the core and bra line.

As you all know, there is no such thing as spot-reducing when it comes to fat loss. That being said, there are ways you can focus your training to help increase your lean muscle  in certain areas; these tactics, combined with regular cardio training and clean eating, will rid you of unwanted fat fast and increase your strength in no time.

For starters, to help eliminate body fat and build muscle in your upper and/or lower back region, I suggest you do three to four days of cardio for 30 minutes at a time. Increased physical activity will help shed unwanted pounds and reveal lean back muscle, creating a slim, sculpted look.

Next, it is critical that you drink lots of water and eat clean, fresh foods. Avoid processed foods containing added sodium and sugars, as this will create bloat. Finally, be sure to strength train your back and core muscles twice a week. Some exercises that will help you focus your training are bent over reverse flyes, lateral pull- downs, pull ups and bent over rows. Bent over rows happen to be my favorite exercise as they are versatile, can be done with dumbbells, bars, reverse grip et cetera! The possibilities are endless.

Remember, start slow and finish strong! Any new change in your life must take place gradually to last. As you progress with your training, slowly increase the amount of weight you use to exercise which will result in increased strength.

Being a fit Aunt will not only make your experience better, but you will become a great role model for the little ones you love so much.

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

Published: July 20, 2010