Do This Four-Move Workout If You’re Wearing a Bridal Crop Top

We’ve been totally obsessed with the bridal crop top trend ever since the runways were flooded with them earlier this year (we even featured a gorgeous Ysa Makino one in the fashion spread in our most recent issue).

Now, they’re everywhere, so much so that brides are focusing their pre-wedding workouts on the moves that’ll whittle and tone their waists in time to bare it all on the Big Day.

And so, for our brave girls who are rocking the crop top on their Big Day, we asked local trainer Juliet Burgh of Unite Fitness to put together a quick workout for brides who plan on exposing a little midriff while walking down the aisle. And she delivered: Below you’ll find four super effective moves—which you can do at home or at the gym—to strengthen your obliques and tone your upper abs.

From Juliet:

When it comes to toning specific areas of the body, you have to make sure to focus on compound movements, not just isolating one area. Our muscles work together and there is no such thing as spot reduction. The example I always use is that it doesn’t matter how much gum you chew—your face will not slim down just from working those muscle over and over.

Also, we tend to focus so much on exercise and forget that abs are really made in the kitchen. With any exercise program, make sure, too, to incorporate a healthy, whole-foods diet to enhance your results.”

Here are my four favorite metabolism-boosting exercises that will get your core wedding-ready for that crop top gown:

Move: Thruster.

Thruster: A full squat to an overhead press. When pressing weights over head your core activates so much and you will really feel this in your abs.

Move: Deadlift row.

Deadlift into a bent-over row. We tend to think of our core as being in the front of us, but our lower back is all a part of the trunk of our body. Even though you can’t see back there, other people can. This exercise is great for the entire backside of the body—legs, butt and back.

Move: Side plank.

Side plank to lat raise. This exercise is advanced by nature, but can be modified by going down to the bottom knee. The plank position will engage your side obliques the whole time and the shoulder work will get those arms wedding-ready.

Move: Waiter lunges.

Waiter lunges. Lunging, while holding weights over your head, will work your body head to toe. Try these with front, back and walking lunges to add in more variety.

Photos provided by Juliet Burgh.

RELATED:Trend We’re Currently Loving: Two-Piece Wedding Dresses

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