Lose the Gut, Keep the Butt

While squats have a reputation for sculpting glutes, Robinson is a fan of a variation called the Bulgarian split squat. It does triple booty duty by activating all three glute muscles, plus your hamstrings and quads, for strong, tight thighs. Here’s how to do it: Place one leg behind you on a bench, chair or a sofa, stand upright on the opposite leg, then bend it to lunge forward. Pro tip: Make sure your forward knee doesn’t extend past your toe. To return to starting position, push up through the heel.

Do This Simple Twist to Whittle Your Middle

A tight core is important for overall functional strength, plus it’s essential to maintaining an hourglass shape. Rather than torture yourself with endless traditional sit-ups or crunches, recruit the entire core with Russian twists. Begin by sitting on your bottom with your feet hovering a few inches above the ground. Then rotate your torso side to side, tapping all 10 fingertips to each side as you turn. By engaging your obliques, you’ll get that slim, whittled waist. According to Robinson, who describes her gym as having a girl-power family atmosphere, this exercise also helps to improve your balance, stability and posture.

Visit the Green Market — and Bring Along Your Water Bottle

There’s an old saying that flat tummies are made in the kitchen not in the gym. To build and maintain muscle and keep the jelly rolls in check, aim to eat about one gram of lean protein per pound of body weight. Of course, anything with too much processed sugar or saturated fat can be a recipe for unslightly fat, but eating a balanced, mostly plant-based diet can boost your energy, reduce inflammation and support your weight loss goals. You can start by bringing “Meatless Mondays” into your life (or any day of the week you prefer to go veggie). Whatever you eat, remember to hydrate with plenty of water, especially after workouts and before meals. Nutritionists suggest that drinking 17 ounces of water before every meal is helpful to your health and for weight loss.

Spice it up

Another weight loss tip — get generous with the hot sauce, which can increase your metabolism slightly. But if you can’t take the heat, try switching up from skinny lattes to green tea. While coffee’s a well-known fat burner, green tea contains compounds shown to shrink fat cells and activate muscles. Win-win. One more secret weapon: cinnamon. Sprinkle it on everything­ from cereal to Greek yogurt — it can curb your appetite.

Give Thanks for What Your Mama Gave Ya

There’s no way to target fat loss from any specific area of the body. But you can definitely target specific muscles for toning with resistance training. And the most important factor in any body-positive workout plan? Find something you love to do. After all, you won’t stick with it for long if gets boring or becomes a chore. Pro tip: Even more important than enjoying your exercise is valuing your assets. Shapeliness is a function of genetics and health — but not dress size. As curve model and "Catfish" co-host Kamie Crawford says, “Learn to love yourself first. Honor your body and decorate it beautifully. As long as you’re happy and healthy, you’re exactly where you need to be.”

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