Julz Darroch First of all, let me get the inevitable out the way (just so I'm covered)! Beauty is only skin deep… It doesn't matter what you like it's all in how you feel… Yada yada yada… Don't get me wrong, I believe in all these principles FOR OTHER WOMEN. Me? I'm just aiming for the perfect body and be damned with everyone. Trouble is, despite years of important research involving countless women's magazine articles about getting the "perfect body" it's just never the body I truly see on myself!! (I swear I only bought the mags because I thought I was going to get dating advice) How come the perfect body they claim I can have in just three minutes a day is always curvy and girly? Don't get me wrong, I adore curvy and girly! Just not when I look in the mirror… So, if your fitness and physique aspirations lean a little more to the androgynous style then this column is for you… Shoulders A good strong looking set of shoulders is where we start. Work with heavy weights (dumbbells, power tools, what ever you have lying around) doing simple old school exercises such as a dumbbell shoulder press. This achieved, you end up with your shirts hanging squarely off your shoulders. A good start. Chest The booby bits are beyond my control, sorry. Your chest exercises should be lighter on the weights as big weights will give you big muscles which must, must, must increase your bust. Focus on exercises that develop muscle tone but also encourage lengthening of the muscles. Wide pushups will give you the desired results AND impress the ladies. Back Strength in your upper back will improve your posture and help with that 'swagger' (oh yeh!). Any exercise that targets upper back works, chopping branches off the trees in the back garden is a perfect example but do check with your girlfriend first as she might get mad if she was fond of the tree in question. Abs Get ready for some serious ab work. The secret is to think of your upper and lower abs as one and work them together. Try a hold on your front, in the position like a push up, but without the push and the up. Working your oblique abdominals to strengthen them will help with 'straightening up' through the waist. Try a side plank, which is based on a yoga move but with more street cred. Lower Body Your cardio workout is your main lower body exercise. It's not like anyone you haven't impressed already is going to be seeing anything under those jeans… To check out any of these exercises go to my website http://www.julzdarroch.co.nz/, and head to 'exercise tips'. See you next time… Julz Darroch is a Wellington-based Personal Trainer and Fitness Educator with 15 years experience in the fitness industry. She regularly tortures Steve Grey and the Good Morning team on TVOne each Tuesday. Send your fitness-related questions and personal training enquiries to julzdarroch@actrix.co.nz . Julz Darroch - 22nd April 2008