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Are you trying to build muscle without lifting weights? You’re in luck! Lifting heavy weights is not the only way to tone up and strengthen your muscles, according to personal trainers and fitness experts. Lia Bartha, a certified Pilates instructor and creator of B The Method, has developed a popular low-impact, full-body home workout program that is suitable for all fitness levels. In a recent interview with Eat This, Not That!, Bartha shared 5 strength moves that can help you build muscle without lifting a single weight.

Standing Chair Sit

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Position: “Place the legs a little wider than hip distance apart, keeping the outer and inner thighs engaged so as not to externally or internally rotate the hips. Placing your weight into the heels, slowly sit back as if you’re about to sit in a chair, hinging at the hips and not the waist. Hinge at the hips while bending the knees,” says Bartha.

Reason: “Your body becomes the weight to add resistance necessary to build muscle,” she says.

Side Plank

side plank, concept of bodyweight workouts that burn the most calories
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Position: “Get into a side plank position – either on your elbow or hand. Feet are stacked on top of each other or the bottom knee is dropped to the floor for light support. Slowly dip the hips towards the floor and back up just until you find a neutral spine. Make sure the dip comes from the hips and not from sinking into the shoulder,” she suggests.

Reason: “Your body becomes the weight to add resistance necessary to build muscle.”

Planking in Motion

man high plank exercises for men to melt belly fat
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Position: “Find a plank position, either on your hands or elbows. Make sure the spine is in neutral and you’re keeping equal weight in your hands and feet. Push back onto your arms to create a child’s pose-like position with the knees elevated off the ground, then push yourself back into a plank. 10x,” she instructs.

Reason: “Your body becomes the weight to add resistance necessary to build full-body muscle.”

Single Leg Glute Bridges

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Position: “Make your way into a bridge position with the pelvis in neutral – do not tuck the hips up to squeeze the glutes, instead engage the core and glutes evenly. Slowly lift one leg into a tabletop position. Tap the lifted leg towards the floor 10x. Then hold the leg in tabletop position and dip the hips down and up 10x,” she instructs.

Reason: “Your body becomes the weight to add resistance necessary to build muscle in the glutes.”

Moving Dips

Athletic young man performing triceps dips outdoors on a wooden platform amidst a lush green park background. Emphasizes fitness, and exercise in nature.
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Position: “Sit with your legs bent in front of you and your arms on the floor behind you. Slowly lift your hips off the floor. Rock forward towards your heels and tap your hips, then rock back to the starting position. Bend your elbows to tap your hips again, and lift back up. 10x,” she says.

Reason: “Your body becomes the weight to add resistance necessary to build muscle in the upper body.”

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