Exercises To Say Goodbye To Saddlebags

MIAMI (CBS4) -- In South Florida, it's always swimsuit season and women are always trying to keep their slim swimsuit shapes. But no matter how hard we work and how hard we sweat, it seems like all of us have one spot where we worry about the fat. For many women, it's the area between the hip and thigh, an area some folks call "saddlebags."

Simple corrections like a change in diet, cutting down the amount of calories, sodium, sugars, fat and carbohydrates can help. But most important, you need to get your body moving.

Mike Torcia is a fitness expert who says lunges and the elliptical machines are great ways work quads, hamstrings and glute muscles. So is a hip abductor machine. But instead of sitting with your back resting on the chair, sit straight in order to tighten your core.

Even if you don't belong to a gym, celebrity trainer Mike Donovanik says there are simple at home solutions good for anyone on the go.

The first is a wall squat hold. With your back braced against the wall, you put yourself in a sitting position. You can make this more difficult by lifting your heels off the ground.

The next exercise is the stationary lunge, and the advanced version, pushing off with your back leg.

Remember, training one area isn't as effective as working larger muscle groups. And nutrition is the key to everything. Experts recommend keeping a food diary and shooting for a 40-40-20 mix.

The bottom line is exercise is the best way to lose those saddle bags. That's 40 percent carbohydrates, 40 percent protein and 20 percent fat. There are even phone apps available to help you track those stats.

And if you need a quick fix, try self-tanner. Put on one layer and add another on the inner and outer thigh for contouring illusion.