How to Make Doughnuts

Doughnuts come in all shapes and sizes. They are the perfect way to treat yourself on a lazy weekend, or to indulge in a baking adventure. Store-bought doughnuts are great, but homemade ones are even better. Here are three distinctive doughnut recipes to whet your appetite. Enjoy!

• Prep time (Fried Glazed): 2 hours, 30 minutes
• Cook time: 15 minutes
• Total time: 2 hours, 45 minutes

EditIngredients

EditIngredients for Fried Glazed Donuts

• 2 (.25 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
• ¼ cup warm water (105-115°F or 40-45℃)
• 1½ cups lukewarm milk
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• ⅓ cup shortening
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 quart (1 liter) vegetable oil for frying

For glaze:

• ⅓ cup butter
• 2 cups confectioner's sugar
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla
• 4 tablespoons hot water or as needed

EditIngredients for Baked Glazed Donuts

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup milk
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon shortening (or 2 tablespoons melted butter)

For glaze:

• 1 cup confectioner's sugar
• 2 tablespoons hot water
• ½ teaspoon almond extract

EditIngredients for Canadian Fried Dough

• ½ cup warm water (110° F or 45° C)
• 5 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 pinch white sugar
• 1 cup warm milk (110° F or 45° C)
• ⅓ cup white sugar
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 beaten eggs
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 5 cups whole-wheat flour, divided
• 1 quart vegetable oil for frying

For dusting:

• 2 cups white sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, or to taste

EditSteps

EditFried Glazed Doughnuts

1. Mix the yeast and the warm water together in a small ramekin. The yeast needs warm water to activate; it will help the doughnut dough rise and stay fluffy. Let activate for 5 minutes.
   
2. Mix yeast mixture, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of the flour in a mixer on a low speed. Alternatively, you can use a wooden spoon and mix by hand, but be sure to mix the dry ingredients first, then the wet ingredients separately, and then combine the two.
   
3. Beat in remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, at a low speed. Do this until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl.
   
4. Knead the dough with your hands and knuckles for 5 minutes until the dough is smooth but elastic.
   
5. Set the dough into a greased bowl to rise. Cover with a towel and let stand until dough doubles in volume (about 1 hour). Dough will be ready when you can press a finger into it and the indentation stays.
   
6. On a floured surface, roll the dough out until it's about thick. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter, or cut into doughnut shapes by hand.
   
7. Let the doughnuts rise again until double their size (about 30-60 minutes). Lay them out on a tray and cover them with a large, clean towel.
   
8. Prepare the glaze while doughnuts are rising. This is a classic butter glaze, not unlike the Krispy Kreme glaze that is popular in America. To make the glaze:
   
   • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Be careful not to burn the butter.
   • Take the butter off the iron and stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth.
   • Stir in hot water one tablespoon at a time until the icing is thin, but not watery.
9. Heat the oil in a deep fryer or skillet until oil reaches a temperature of 350℉ (175℃). Use a kitchen thermometer for maximum precision.
   
   • To avoid a greasy taste, heat the oil up on medium high for five minutes, and then gently reduce the heat until thermometer reads 350℉ (175℃).
10. Slide the donuts into the oil carefully, with metal tongs or a spatula. Turn the doughnuts over when they float up to the surface. Fry evenly on both sides until golden brown.
    
11. Remove doughnuts from oil and let drain on a wire rack. Make sure any excess oil drips off the doughnut before you glaze it.
    
12. While doughnuts are still warm, dip doughnuts into the glaze, coating evenly. Set to dry on a wire rack and enjoy immediately.
    

EditBaked Glazed Donuts

1. Preheat your oven to 325℉ (165℃). Lightly grease a doughnut pan.
   
2. Into a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt.
   
3. Stir milk, eggs, vanilla, and shortening together before incorporating into dry mix. Beat the batter together until well blended.
   
4. Fill the doughnut pan so each cup is ¾ full. The doughnuts will rise as they bake in the oven.
   
5. Bake the doughnuts for 8-10 minutes, until they are springy when touched. Allow to cool slightly before removing from pan.
   
6. Make and apply the glaze. In a small bowl, mix confectioners' sugar, hot water, and almond extract until smooth and creamy. Dip the still-warm doughnuts into glaze and let excess drip off.
   

EditCanadian Fried Dough

1. In a large bowl, mix yeast, warm water, and pinch of sugar until foam begins to show (about 5 minutes).
   
2. Into the yeast mixture, stir in milk, ⅓ cup sugar, salt, vanilla extract, eggs, and ⅓ cup vegetable oil. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
   
3. Mix in about 2½ cups of the whole-wheat flour. Stir until the dough is too stiff to add more flour. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and begin to knead in more flour until the dough is no longer sticky. Continue kneading until dough is smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes).
   
4. Form the dough into one big ball, place into a greased bowl, and cover. Let rest until the dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
   
5. Place the dough back on a well-floured surface and knead again to reshape it. Break off a piece of dough roughly the size of a heaping tablespoon.
   
6. Shape the heaping tablespoon of dough into a thin strip or an oval shape. You can use a rolling pin or your hands. The dough should be thick. In Canada, fried dough is often called "Beaver Trails," so let your imagination run wild!
   
7. Place rolled bits of dough under a cloth to rise while you shape the remainder of the dough.
   
8. Heat oil in a deep fryer or large skillet to 375℉ (190℃). Oil should be at least deep in your fryer or skillet.
   
9. While oil is heating, combine 2 cups of sugar with cinnamon and set aside for dusting.
   
10. Gently introduce pastries into the frying oil, one at a time, cooking for 1-2 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove onto a wire rack.
    
11. Remove excess oil from fried pastries with paper towels. Dip each pastry into the cinnamon sugar mixture while still warm.
    
12. Enjoy.
    

EditTips

• Remember to flour the surface well, once the dough gets a grip on your worktop, it will not let go.
• If you don't have any vanilla for the glaze, use lemon extract or lemon juice.

EditWarnings

• Be careful not to burn yourself with the hot oil.

EditRelated wikiHows

• Make Cold Mixed Fruits Sago
• Make Mango Souffle
• Make a Traditional Tiramisu
• Make Sweet Milk Doughnuts

EditSources and Citations

• http://ift.tt/15zCJeM
• http://ift.tt/2rjGmDT
• http://ift.tt/2qOtQJf

How to Compare Unsubsidized vs. Subsidized Student Loans

When a student in the U.S. applies for college financial aid, the student and his or her parents should know how to compare subsidized and unsubsidized student loans in order to make an informed decision on what sort of financial aid to select. The biggest difference between the two is how much you are allowed to borrow each year, but there are other factors, too, that can play into your loan choice.

EditSteps

EditComparing Loan Offers

1. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to determine how much financial aid you qualify for. Most students log onto the website http://ift.tt/wAPEko to fill out the forms, but you may be able to acquire hard copies from your school guidance staff or a college you are applying to.^[1]
   
   • The FAFSA form will ask for tax information, but don't wait until you file your tax returns to submit the form. Estimates can be provided until you have the actual numbers. Try to send in the form the January before you start college.
2. Find out your "Expected Family Contribution" (EFC). This is the amount of money that the government expects you and your family to contribute toward the costs of your education each year. The remainder of the amount due will be covered by college scholarships and loans. Most families cannot afford the entire amount of the EFC to pay for college and will supplement with unsubsidized loans.
   
3. Determine your total costs for college. This includes not only tuition and fees but also room and board (unless you will live with parents, relatives, or friends for free), textbooks, supplies, laboratory fees and transportation costs.
   

EditAnalyzing and Choosing a Loan

1. Compare your student-loan offers by repayment schedule. As a student you may not have the time or energy to hold a job while you are in college in order to start paying back loans, so knowing which loan lets you defer all payments while you are in school can be helpful.
   
   • With a subsidized student loan, interest is not charged until you graduate. Interest is considered deferred and is subsidized by the federal government. You start paying the principal amount and the interest after you graduate. With an unsubsidized student loan the interest is charged from the time that the funds are first disbursed to you.
   • Both types of loan will allow you to defer your principal and interest payments until after you graduate. However, an unsubsidized loan will accrue interest beginning from disbursement of funds.
2. Compare your loan options by how much you can borrow. The amount that you need to borrow may influence which loan you choose. The cost differences at various colleges may weigh into your decision.
   
   • Subsidized loans carry a specific cap on how much you can borrow. Unsubsidized loans also have a cap, but it is typically about $4,000 more per year than with subsidized loans. ^[2]
3. Review the differences in loan requirements between unsubsidized and subsidized student loans. Your personal financial circumstances may not permit you to qualify for a subsidized loan.
   
   • Subsidized loans are offered according to financial status and specific need. Each college determines how much money their students qualify for in unsubsidized or subsidized loans. Many students use subsidized-loan money first and then piggyback it with an unsubsidized loan.
4. Compare loan similarities and differences. Unsubsidized and subsidized student loans both give you ten years to pay them back. Depending on your circumstances, there are other programs that allow you to make payments for 20 or 25 years. They both feature fixed interest rates.^[3]
   
   • Unsubsidized loans start charging interest from the moment the money is given to you. However, sometimes the lender will give you the option of making “interest-only” payments while you are still in school. You might also make arrangements to postpone paying the interest and the principal until you leave school and the repayment period starts. ^[4]

EditFinding Other Options

1. Research other loan options. If your unsubsidized and subsidized loan offers do not meet your financial needs, you do have other possibilities. These include private student loans from a bank or credit union, state aid programs, a home-equity loan attached to your parents' home, or a Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) loan where financial institutions lend subsidized money to parents to cover the education expenses of a dependent child.^[5]
   
   • Graduate students are eligible only for unsubsidized federal and Graduate PLUS loans. If you want to go to graduate or medical school, a subsidized loan will not be an option for you.^[6]
2. Apply for a federal Perkins loan. This loan is made available through schools and is funded by the federal government for low-income students. Interest is not charged while you are enrolled in a post-secondary school at least half-time. You do not have to start paying it back until nine months after you graduate or when your enrollment is less than half-time. ^[7]
   
3. Contact the financial aid office of your college. Ask that their financial-aid offer be increased by explaining, for example, that your financial situation has changed, such as the loss of a parent's job. Also inform them of any higher financial-aid offers from other colleges, and ask if they will match it.
   

EditTips

• If you have an unsubsidized loan, you can make interest payments while you are in school if you choose to. This will cut down on the total interest you'll pay, but just know that any accrued interest will be added to your principal payment. This will raise your interest rate when you leave school, since the rate is based on the balance of principal.

EditWarnings

• You also must be a U.S. citizen or eligible resident non-citizen.
• On a subsidized loan program you have to be in school at least half-time to meet the requirement for deferred interest.
• It can be difficult to discharge federal student loans even in bankruptcy. Borrow only what you need.

EditSources and Citations

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How to Naturally Remove Blackheads (Steam and Towel Method)

Blackheads can be annoying. Luckily, they are easy to remove. This wikiHow will show you how to remove blackheads naturally using steam and a towel.

Edit10 Second Summary

1. Wash your face with warm water.
2. Fill a clean bowl with hot, steaming water.
3. Lean over the bowl.
4. Drape a clean towel over your head to create a "tent."
5. Wait 5 to 10 minutes.
6. Wash your face with cool water and apply moisturizer.

EditSteps

EditSteaming Your Face

1. Wash your face thoroughly. Steaming helps to relax and open the pores in your skin, which can help to clean them, but it also opens them up to more inflammation and can lock in any dirt already on your face. Before you steam your face, you need to wash it with room temperature water thoroughly, getting any dirt, grime, make-up, and oils off of your skin before you start. Never steam your face before cleaning your face.
   
2. Fill a sink or bowl with hot water. You can steam your skin in any clean bowl, sink, or other water basin. It's usually done by draping a towel over your face and the sink creating a tent to trap the steam and heat inside, softening your skin and opening your pores.
   
   • Make sure you clean the surface of the water basin thoroughly with soap, and rinse it out before you attempt to steam your face. In the past it was thought that antibacterial soap would be helpful, but newer studies have shown that antibacterial soaps can cause superbugs, that is why ordinary detergent or soap is recommended. This will remove germs stuck to the bottom of your sink and you can be reassured that you will not vaporize germs.
3. Hold your face over the steam for for 5-10 minutes. Relax and breathe deeply, enjoying the effect of the steam. This is a common feature of spa treatments, helping also to relieve sinus problems and other respiratory issues.
   
   • It's important that you do this for no more than 5-10 minutes at a time, and no more than once or twice a week. Over-steaming your face can eventually dry it out, which can eventually result in your skin over-producing oil to try to make up for the lack of moisture in your skin.
4. Wash your face with cold water. To close your skin back up, rinse your face with cold water and moisturize, using a natural moisturizer. It's important to use cold water to close your pores gently and naturally, not products made from glycerine and alcohol, which can be extremely irritating to sensitive skin.
   

EditKeeping Your Face Clean

1. Only use gentle cleaning techniques. If you want to remove blackheads naturally, it's important to separate the astringent cleaners from the gentle cleaners to keep your skin as healthy as possible. It's likely you'll want to avoid harsh, alcohol-based cleaners, as well as chemical-based commercial cleansers.
   
   • It's also important to be gentle with your skin as you wash. Don't pick at your blackheads, or scrub your skin vigorously. Only use gentle scrubbing, even if you're exfoliating. You don't need to dig at your skin to keep it clean.
2. Consider using home remedies to cleanse your skin. Done properly and applied in the correct way, home remedies can be crafted using a wide variety of ingredients that are effective at tightening, soothing, and exfoliating your skin, making your skin more inhospitable to blackheads.
   
3. Use natural moisturizers. Using natural-based moisturizers is essential to healthy skin. While many associate oiliness with blackheads, it's true that using excessive products that dry out your skin will actually end up making your skin oilier in the long run. Remember to moisturize regularly with natural plant-based oils and moisturizers to keep your skin healthy.
   
4. Never squeeze your blackheads. Again, this can't be overstressed. Do not squeeze, strip, or pick at your blackheads. They cannot be removed entirely or permanently, and attempting to do so is bad for your skin. However, skin specialists may sometimes use a comedone remover, which is available in surgical supply stores; this applies pressure only around the comedone with minimal pressure, so the rest of the skin does not get damaged.
   
5. Use coconut oil. Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids, which are bactericidal and kill acne bacteria. They also function as a natural moisturizer and prevent comedones from forming. Buy organic coconut oil and use a thin film on your face once a day.^[1]
   
6. Eat a diet free of dairy products and sugar. It has been known for decades that only people in civilized countries come down with comedones and acne. In native populations of Brazil and Japan where food is eaten containing no milk products, sugar and starchy foods, there is no acne.^[2]
   

EditTips

• Use cold water while rinsing your face. It'll close up blackheads.
• Try not to touch the water or tap when you're over the sink. It will be hot.
• If the blackhead is being stubborn, leave it, don't force it as you can break the skin and cause scarring.
• Don't pick at your blackheads. They will become worse. Go see a dermatologist if the problem worsens.
• Those who have asthma may need to take precautions before steaming their faces. Depending on the severity of your ailment, have your rescue inhaler ready. Many spas warn against streaming or use of sauna if you are asthmatic, pregnant, or have hypertension ( high blood pressure).
• If you put tea tree oil and leave it on your face, it helps.
• For severe acne, steam cleaning daily is highly beneficial.
• Don't pick at blackheads or pimples, they might get worse.
• To clear blackheads wash your face with warm water then apply a moisturizer then was off with cold water... This will help because the hotness of the water will open up the pours more and then you put your moisturiser in to clear out the pours then you wash off with Really cold water to close your pours... Then you should probably apply sunscreen SPF 30 to protect your skin from harmful UV rays from the sun! Do this treatment twice a day.

EditWarnings

• Try not to use removal tools as that can most likely lead to more blackheads.

EditRelated wikiHows

• Use Essential Oils As a Quick Pick Me up

EditSources and Citations

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How to See Who Viewed Your Snapchat Story

This wikiHow teaches you how to see a list of everybody who viewed the snaps in your Story on Snapchat.

Edit10 Second Summary

1. Open Snapchat.
2. Swipe left.
3. Tap the " ⁝ " button.
4. Tap on the eyeball icon.
5. Scroll down to see the full list.

EditSteps

1. Open Snapchat. This is the yellow box with a white ghost icon on your Home screen, or in a folder on your Home screen. Snapchat opens to the camera screen by default.
   
   • If you have not yet installed Snapchat and created your account, do so before continuing.
2. Swipe left on the camera screen. Snapchat always opens up to the camera, and swiping left will take you to your stories screen.
   
   • Alternatively, you can tap the Stories button in the lower-right corner of your camera screen. This button looks like three dots in a triangle, and it will take you to the same page.
3. Tap next to your story. Your story will be at the top of your Stories page, and this button will expand a list of all the snaps in your story.^[1]
   
   • You will need to check the viewers of each snap separately.
4. Tap on the eyeball icon next to your snap. This will bring up a list of all users who viewed this snap.
   
   • Scroll down to see the full list of Snapchatters who viewed your story snap. The list will be in reverse-chronological order; the name at the bottom of the list is the first person who viewed your snap, and the name at the top is the most recent view you got.
   • Tap on the overlapping arrow icon next to the eyeball in the upper-left corner of your screen. This will show you a list of everybody who took a screenshot of your story snap.
   • You can always edit your privacy settings to change who can view your Snapchat Story.

EditTips

• If you don’t see a “Chat” option at the bottom of someone’s stories, it’s usually because that person only accepts chat requests from people they follow.
• If someone is harassing you on Snapchat, block them and report it at http://ift.tt/29S3al0. If you are being harassed, please seek immediate help from authorities including law enforcement and mental health professionals.

EditWarnings

• If a very large number of people viewed your snap, the list may not display all of their names and usernames. Instead, you will see “+ <number of usernames> more” at the bottom of the list.

EditSources and Citations

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How to Tone Your Butt Fast

Who doesn’t want a toned butt? Improving the backside is really rather simple. The butt is basically just another muscle, so those can be targeted and strengthened. A few key exercises will tone your butt fast – that is, as long as you also clean up your diet. Try these steps, and you will be well on your way to a shapely butt.

EditSteps

EditDoing the Right Exercises

1. Try bridges. Bridge exercises are among those that will target your butt and, if you do them consistently, you should tone your butt fast. Sometimes these are called hip lifts. You should strive for at least 15 reps of each exercise twice a day.
   
   • One variation of this exercise is to lie on your back with your knees bent. Keep your feet anchored firmly on the floor. Now, press your hips upward and squeeze your butt. Then lower your hips back to the floor. Do this as many times as you can.
   • Lie with your back on the floor with your left knee bent, and keep your right leg straight. Now, lift your right leg until it lines up with your left thigh. Push your hips up, while keeping your right leg elevated. Then, lower your body and leg back down. Repeat. Now, switch and do the same exercise with your other leg.^[1]
   • For an advanced version, extend one leg into the air during each hip lift. Elevate your hips first, then extend your leg. Hold for 10 seconds, then bring your leg back down to its original position before lowering your hips. Repeat.
2. Use dumbbells. Butt toning exercises that involve using a pair of dumbbells will show you results fast. Remember, the glutes are a muscle, so at least some strength training is important. You can either buy your own or use the dumbbells at a workout center.
   
   • Bend down at the knees, and pick up the dumbbells. You should hold them with an overhand grip. An overhand grip means that you keep your palms facing downward toward the dumbbells as you hold them.
   • Now, stand up with the dumbbells, and then lower them back down. Repeat. This is a simple exercise that basically just involves you bending your knees while holding weights, which will help you see faster results.
   • Another dumbbell exercise you can do to tone your butt involves using a light pair of dumbbells. Stand on one foot, and then lift the other foot behind you, while bending your knee. Bend forward, and lower your body as far as you can. Go back to starting position, repeat and then switch to the other leg.
3. Try squats. Squats are one of the easiest ways to tone your butt, and they are an exercise that doesn’t require equipment. Such toning exercises are the most common ways to tone the butt fast. Remember to keep your knees safe by lining them up directly above your feet. Don't let your knees extend forward.
   
   
   • To do a squat, stand with your feet spread apart at hip width and squat down at a 90-degree angle. Then, stand back up. The key to doing a proper squat is to make sure you are pressing back on your heels, not forward on your toes. Keep your feet firmly planted on the floor. Again, doing 15 reps 2 times is a good goal when you are starting out, but you can increase the reps as you get stronger.
   • Another variation of this exercise is called the squat hold and pulse. In this exercise, again stand with your feet hip width apart. Squat down at a 90-degree angle, but when you are in the squat position, move up and down slightly. This is called pulsing. ^[2]
   • Perform a jump squat. Once you squat down, simply swing your arms overhead. Jump as high as possible. ^[3]
4. Do lunges and plies. As with squats, lunges and plies are other butt targeting exercises that are easy to learn and quickly effective.
   
   
   • To perform a lunge, stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Your feet should point straight ahead. Step forward, while keeping your knee from going past your toes. Push off with the heels so you keep your balance. Then, straighten back up. Now, switch to the other leg.
   • To do a plié, remember this move isn't just for ballerinas; it's also a great butt-toning exercise! Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your toes pointing outward. Keeping your back straight and your arms held out in front of you, lower yourself into a squatting position, and then use your glutes to bring yourself back to standing position. Repeat the move for one to two minutes.
5. Try yoga or pilates. Yoga and pilates poses will relax you and improve flexibility, but many of them also target the butt. So, if you add yoga or pilates into your daily routine, your butt will tone up fast.
   
   
   • Try the downward facing dog pose, and then a three-legged dog pose. Put both hands and both feet on the floor, and keep your back straight while hinging forward at the hips. For the three-legged dog pose, lift your right leg in the air, while keeping your left foot and both hands pressed to the floor. Now switch legs.
   • Hold each pose for five breaths.
   • The warrior pose also tones the butt. To do this pose, put both hands straight over your head and look up to the sky. Step forward with your right foot and lunge, while keeping your left leg straight behind you and both feet anchored into the ground. Now switch legs. ^[4]
6. Add weights to your exercises. If you add even 5 or 10 pound weights to basic butt exercises, like squats or lunges, you will quickly improve your results. ^[5]
   
   • Hold the weights at shoulder or hip level. If you hold a position for at least 30 seconds, you will get more out of the maneuver.
   • Experts recommend that you choose the heaviest weights you can lift, even if it means you will end up doing fewer reps of an exercise. It's a quicker way to see results.
7. Do a circuit training workout most days of the week. Circuit training is great for the butt because many of the exercises in a typical circuit exercise target the glutes from different angles. Circuit training involves different types of exercise, which means the butt will get a thorough work out.
   
   
   • The key to getting a better butt is to build muscle. You aren’t going to have a toned butt with a lot of flab. Circuit training usually involves some kind of resistance and strength training. ^[6]
   • Circuit training also involves some cardio exercises. This is the perfect balance. If you only do toning exercises (like squats and lunges), you are unlikely to reduce fat. To tone your butt, you need to get rid of unwanted fat, and this means you need some cardio. Other options for cardio are running, walking, and cycling. ^[7]
   • Most circuit training workouts have at least three separate exercises (or circuits). Each typically involves doing 10 to 15 reps of each exercise. You rest in between each circuit, and then move to the next. ^[8]

EditEating the Right Food

1. Stop eating junk food completely. It’s unlikely that you will be able to tone your butt fast with exercise alone. If you are eating a bad diet, exercise won’t be enough to counteract the food’s effects. Junk food needs to go.
   
   • The problem with fast food is that it contains a lot of fat and calories, but it also contains lots of sodium. Sodium makes you retain water, so this will make your butt look bigger, and it will make cellulite look worse.
   • The sodium in fast food will also make you feel tired, which makes it harder to find the energy for exercising, so fast-food consumption is a double whammy.
2. Avoid simple carbohydrates. The problem with simple carbs is that the body will turn them into fat stores if you don’t burn them off right away. So stay away from eating lots of simple carbs, which have just 1 or 2 sugar molecules, so the body burns them off very fast. ^[9]
   
   • Examples of simple carbs to avoid include foods with molasses, corn syrup, and honey. Candy, soft drinks, jellies or jams, and fruit juices are examples of foods that have simple carbs in them.
   • Don’t eat anything white. This is a good rule of thumb. White bread and refined sugar need to go. They don’t offer much nutritional value. And the fat will go right to your butt (and abdomen and hips). That means no white pasta, either.
   • Do eat good, complex carbohydrates, such as fresh, green vegetables, oatmeal, and brown rice. These will have some carbs, but not many and not the kind that pack the fat on your backside. Complex carbohydrates take the body longer to digest.
3. Eat a balanced, healthy diet. This means you shouldn’t starve yourself (remember, again, that the glutes are a muscle. That means they need calories and protein). You should try to eat natural foods (not things that come in a can or box), and you should have a good balance of them.
   
   • Try to eat lean meats like fish and poultry. Other choices that work include tuna fish, and whole eggs. These are good sources of protein. ^[10]
   • Don’t fall into the trap of eating shakes and protein bars. You might be shocked what you see on the ingredient label. Instead, get the majority of your calories from whole foods you find in the produce section. Avoid diet foods with artificial sweeteners, too.
   • Vegetables, nuts, fruit, and whole grains are good choices. Buy only what you will eat that day. This will help you keep the focus on perishable, whole foods.
   • Only eat a limited amount of dairy. Don’t drink sugary fruit juices or sodas. And read food labels. You'd be surprised to learn that extra sugars have been creeping into your bread, salad dressings, cooking sauces, and fruit juice!
4. Drink a lot of water. Keeping your body hydrated all day long will make your butt look better (and your skin, too).
   
   • For example, if you have cellulite, it won’t be as obvious if you guzzle H20. You should drink as much water as you can all day long.
   • This means that caffeine and alcohol are not good beverage choices because they cause dehydration. So cut out that glass of wine you have each night and the cups of coffee in the morning if you want a better looking butt.

EditToning the Butt with Daily Changes

1. Tone your butt all day long. If you don’t have a lot of time for working out, you can still work on those glutes. Be active throughout the day. Having a sedentary lifestyle is extremely detrimental to your health, and it forces your body to store extra fat.
   
   • If you work a desk job, be sure to get up and walk around during your breaks or lunch.
   • Tone your butt while you walk by consciously contracting your glutes. To do this, keep your heel on the ground as long as you can and when you do lift it, roll through to your foot and push off with your toes. Squeeze your butt all day long! Be conscious of it.
   • You could use an exercise ball for an office chair. You might as well work those muscles while you’re sitting at your desk, taking phone calls or working on the computer! This will also improve your core, but it helps the butt.
2. Stand more. The glutes can actually atrophy if you sit all day long. Little things matter, but one of the biggest killers on the butt is the amount of time that people sit at the office before plopping down on the sofa in front of the television at night.
   
   • Get rid of your office chair altogether. Ask your work to give you a desk you can stand at. You might as well exercise while you are on the job by simply standing.
   • Take the stairs, not the elevator. Park farther away so you have to walk more. Bike to work. Small steps like this can add up if you do them every day. Consistency is key. Walk up hills as much as possible.
3. Track your progress. Don't try to guess what you weigh, and don't hide your butt in baggy clothes. You need to actively measure progress.
   
   • Take progress photos each week. When you're having a bad day look back at your starting photo to remind yourself why you want to change!
   • Keep a food diary. Many experts believe that charting out what you eat every day will help you be honest about what you're putting in your body.
   • Weigh yourself almost every day. If you stop weighing yourself, you may be tempted to let little things slip.

EditVideo

EditTIPS

• Don’t only do one exercise for your butt every day. You need to mix up your workouts with a variety of exercises so you attack the butt muscles from different angles.
• Many gyms have toning classes that focus on specific body parts like abs, legs, or arms. If you are a member of a gym, take advantage of these classes.

EditWarnings

• Use caution when lifting weights or using other heavy exercise equipment.
• Always wear proper exercise shoes when running, walking, or biking.

EditRelated wikiHows

• Get a Great Bikini Butt
• Get in Shape
• Get Your Arms in Great Shape
• Stay in Shape
• Make Your Butt Bigger
• Tone the Butt With Walking
• Get Bigger Biceps by Just Tensing Your Muscles

EditSources and Citations

• Videos provided by womensworkoutchannel

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