Your butt and thighs are areas in the body that can make or break your appearance. You might have a well-toned upper body but if your butt and thighs are flabby, then you can't really feel totally confident about how you look. These are problem areas since they have the potential to carry extra fat. Lean and tight glutes can definitely give you that sculpted look and make your pants or shorts fit better. More importantly, a lean lower body can contribute to better posture and overall strength. It can give you better balance and agility.

The good thing about butt and thigh exercises is that they don't have to be done with equipment that you can only find in the gym. You can achieve lower body strength through the performance of bodyweight exercises that specifically target these muscle groups. Take note, however, that you need to consult with your doctor before you do butt and thigh workouts if you have recently recovered from a lower body injury. Certain conditions like obesity, age, recent surgical operations and/or other medical conditions might warrant a visit to a doctor before starting butt and thigh exercises. If you are otherwise healthy, then there's no reason why you should not start these exercises today.

For butt exercises, do hip extensions. Begin this exercise by bending your knees and going on all fours. Then push one foot towards the ceiling and hold for a couple of seconds before putting it down again. Repeat for ten counts before doing it to the other leg. Accompany this with lunges where you take one giant step with your leg as you drop to your knees to lower your body. Do ten lunges on each leg, more if you can. This works out your butt to give it that tight and toned look. Another butt exercise that you can do is simple step up exercises using a sturdy bench or chair. Use only a single leg to push up your body to tighten your glutes. Do as many repetitions as you can, taking care not to fall and injure yourself.

For thigh exercises, the dependable squats have been proven to tone your legs. Begin by standing with your back against the wall with your feet shoulder-width apart. Gradually lower your body to a sitting position. Your back must be straight and your knees behind your toes. Hold for two to three seconds before slowly standing up again and repeating the exercise. Plies are also good thigh-strengthening exercises. Stand with your toes positioned outwards with feet placed slightly shoulder width apart. With your arms straight out in front of you, lower your body into a squat with your back straight. Keep your butt tucked in--plies are a common move in ballet. Try to do as many repetitions as you possibly can.

Of course, for a better burn, you can run, jog, brisk walk or ride a bike for at least thirty minutes on most days of the week. These cardiovascular exercises will definitely do wonders for your legs, butt and thighs. You can also lift some free weights as you do your exercises so you make them more intense and give your body more resistance for faster and more efficient toning. Do these butt and thigh exercises regularly to fully experience the benefits.