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Home › Fitness › Workouts › 20 Ways to Make Your Favorite Moves More Effective
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20 Ways to Make Your Favorite Moves More Effective

Give your workout a makeover to get better results faster.

By Jessica Smith Photos by: Vanessa Rogers Photography
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Instead of: Deadlifts

Try This: Deadlift Split Squat

Deadlifts are a great exercise for your back and buns, and adding this slight variation can help maximize this move's benefits even more.

To do it:Grab a pair of dumbbells and stand in a staggered stance with your right foot forward. Your left foot should be about one step behind you, heel lifted. Reach both arms out in front of your legs, palms facing in towards your thighs.

Bend both knees and sit back into your hips, lowering into a squat, as you hinge forward with a straight spine.

Press down through your right foot to extend your legs and return to standing, keeping your back flat and abs tight the whole time. Your arms stay extended in front of you the entire time (be sure to lean forward with your torso on the squat to avoid hitting your knees with the dumbbells).

Try to do 10 reps in a row with your right foot forward, and then 10 with your left.

Options: If it's too tough to add the squat, simply do the deadlift (bend forward), but maintain your split stance to keep the core activated even more.

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