How to Build an Hourglass Figure?

Talking about the female body types, the hourglass body shape is certainly the one that catches the most attention. It is the most desired by women and the most wooed by men, isn’t it? An hourglass figure is characterized by properly shaped and developed shoulders, shaped up curves, a tiny and firm waist, and toned hips. Celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson, Beyonce, and many more are truly the epitome of an hourglass figure. But you certainly don’t need superstardom and a bank balance resembling theirs to attain the hourglass figure. If you want to know how to give an hourglass shape to your body, you are in the right place.

How to Build an Hourglass Figure?

Okay….so now we arrive at the subject matter. Building an hourglass shape is not too difficult. All it requires is your sweat, discipline, and dedication towards your workouts. The first step to acquire any eye-catching figure is exercising, and acquiring the hourglass figure is no different.

Let’s have a look at the hourglass figure workout techniques. The illusion of an hourglass shape is created when some specific areas in your body including your bust, your waist, and your hips are well-trained and developed. Performing certain exercises that target those particular muscle groups to tone them is the first step to transform your body to attain an hourglass figure.

Exercises to Tone Your Shoulders and Bust

Toning up your shoulders to give them a curvier shape and building up your bust size can be done by performing these exercises:-

Push-ups

The most well known upper body movement is the push-up. This old school movement performed in a traditional manner, tones up your shoulders, and gives a nice and firm shape to your bust without making it appear bulky. You can start with five push-ups and can gradually increase your reps.

Wall presses

This works your pectoral muscles and is easier than the regular push-ups. This movement also works your front shoulders and area underneath your arm. Wall presses can be performed in 10-15 reps of 3 sets.

Reducing Waist Size

In order to reduce the extra inches off your waist, overall fat loss is recommended. However, there are certain exercises that target reducing the fat levels around your waist and promote toning. Some of these exercises are:-

Yoga

Undoubtedly, yoga is one of the oldest exercising disciplines but at the same time the most effective one. When it comes to reducing your waist size, you can try your hand on yoga poses including the boat pose, the reverse warrior pose, and the bow pose. These poses tighten and tone up your core muscles.

Planks

Planks are considered a stability movement that targets the core. Planks have numerous variations. But even performing some simple sets of elbow plank holds for 30-60 seconds can help tighten up your waist area.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT)

Probably, HIIT is one of the most effective ways to burn up your belly fat along with excess calories. You can do it by sprinting for 30 seconds and brisk walking for 15 seconds. You can repeat this pattern for 15-30 minutes.

Toning Your Hips

Toning of hips can be done with the help of some lower body movements. They are:-

Squats

There is no legit fitness routine in this world that doesn’t include squats. Along with toning the muscles of your hip, glutes, and thighs, they also strengthen up your lower body. Perform 3-4 sets of 10-12 squats at least thrice a week.

Lunges

Performing lunges aids in building up the muscle mass of your thighs and buttocks. Lunges also work your abdominals to some extent. You can start with performing 10-15 lunges on each leg and then progress with the numbers over time.

Some Other Important Recommendations

Although working out the specific muscle groups with the exercises suggested above will do a great job to help you acquire the coveted hourglass figure, at the same time there are certain recommendations following which can make your hourglass shape stand out from the rest. Have a look at them.

Eat Clean and Say “No” To Processed Food

Well, this advice has been given by almost every fit individual on the planet at least once in their lifetime. Eating clean means, consume whole foods that are almost present in their natural state. For instance, green vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, etc. They provide your body with all the minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients that help your body to lose weight and firm up. Processed foods should be avoided at all costs as they contain higher calories and the least nutritional value.

Cutting on Sugar Intake

If you have a sweet tooth, you would have to get rid of it if you want an hourglass figure. Although sugar intake is not a complete “no-no” for you, it should be consumed in the least amounts. Sugar and excessive body fat are related and can hamper your hourglass figure in no time. However, you can consume around 20-25 grams of sugar on a daily basis.

Say Goodbye to Soda and Alcohol

Regular soda has zero nutritional value and it is filled with calories. In fact, some researches have shown that consuming diet soda can also up your sugar cravings. Alcohol on the other hand has a bad reputation for adding up fat to your belly area. Moreover, it also gets you to unhealthier food choices. Your perfectly tightened waist will curse you for consuming them.

Stay Hydrated

It may sound a bit old-school, but drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated will surely help you attain an hourglass figure with ease. Drink a glass of water after waking up to keep your metabolism in perfect condition. You can also drink a glass of water before every meal to prevent yourself from overeating. Water flushes out toxins and minimizes any kind of softness or bulge in your belly area. You can start by drinking at least 64 ounces of water every day.

Final Words

Although there are some people who have the genetic edge that helps them to attain the hourglass figure with ease, you can work your way to attain that through consistency. All you need to do is to understand your body type and be realistic. Don’t set the scale too high, it may demotivate you. After all, your measurements certainly don’t define you. Along with trying to acquire the hourglass figure, ensuring the optimum level of fitness is also important.

How to Build an Hourglass Figure?