If you’ve been working out for months and seen very little change in the shape of your body, chances are you’re either not doing resistance work at all, which is a whole article in itself, or you’re not doing the right exercises.

Two of the biggest ‘result-giving’ exercises known to man or woman are the squat and the lunge. These two exercises hit the whole hip and leg structure, as well as every other muscle in your lower body. Why do you feel so breathless after a set of either one? Because they are hard and they work! For the quickest results to reshape and define your buttocks and legs, there really are very few exercises that even come close.

Starting with your own bodyweight is more than enough to see physical change initially. There are more people in gyms doing squats and lunges incorrectly than doing them the right way, so make sure that you ask for some technique advice from the instructors in your gym, and try to choose one that knows what he or she is talking about.

Key points to remember are:

Squats: Sit back from the hips, not the knees. Think about pushing your bum back behind you, and keeping your chest lifted as you lower down. Standing facing close to a wall will force you to maintain a more upright posture and stop you from pushing forward with the knees.

Lunges: As a beginner, use a support to get yourself into place, such as a wall, a door or a rail. Step forward into a split stance position, both knees slightly bent, your front foot flat on the floor and your rear heel lifted. Keeping your torso upright, slowly lower down, by bending both knees and tightening your bum. ONLY lower down as far as you can, while keeping your torso upright.

Once you have the basic technique in place, there’s no stopping you, especially with lunges, which can be performed at a whole variety of angles and depths, to hit every single muscle in and around your hips.

Squats and lunges are the staple of any exercise program worth its salt, provided that they are correctly performed and regularly practiced. These 2 exercises will build you ‘buns of steel’ in the shortest possible time!

While some of you may not be able to see your ‘steel’ glutes immediately, they are in development – trust me. Stick to a healthy eating plan, exercise regularly and you will uncover your ‘behind’ for all to admire!