Articles written by Devin Sherrington about health, wellness and fitness in regular column called Fit to Be Tried in the Daily News:

The Daily News - Fit to Be Tried by Devin Sherrington

When you think about summer are you thinking about your rearview? As spring approaches many people are starting to think about shorts. People are looking at their backside and wondering if they're ready.

Many people aren't happy with their butts. Either they're too small, too big, too flabby, too flat. The list goes on and on. If you're one of those people, you might dread summer coming.

But take heart. With some cardio and butt specific exercise you can tone up and see a difference in your backside by June.

How do you get buns of steel? You don't have to kill yourself, but it will take some work. And I have some great exercises to give you the butt you've always wanted.

One of the best exercises to get a great butt is squats. Try the Chair squat. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, in front of a chair. Remember a squat is like sitting down. You just have to keep your back straight and stomach tight.

Bend first at your knees, and then allow you hips to bend as you sit down. Your knees should bend to about 90 degrees. Let your butt lightly touch the chair, pause and stand up. To make it a little harder flex your legs and squeeze your butt when you reach the standing position for one second, then squat down again. Repeat for two sets of 12 repetitions.

If you want it to be even a little tougher, try holding weights in your hands to add some resistance to the exercise.

Hip Thrusts. Lie on your back. Your arms should be at your sides. Your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Raise your heels off the floor so you are on your toes. Push your butt and hips towards the ceiling. You should be able to move your hips into a straight line with your upper body.

When your hips have formed the straight line with your upper body, squeeze your butt as hard as you can and hold for 5 seconds. Do two sets of 12 repetitions.

Kneeling Hip Extensions. Get on your hands and knees. Keep your back flat, not arched and not rounded. Your head should form a straight line with your back. Extend one leg back and up as if you were kicking someone behind and above you. Push your foot up as high as you can, then lower your leg back to the starting position. Do two sets of 10 repetitions on both sides.

Don't forget to put in some time doing cardio too. All of the machines available today have great programs to really work your legs and butt. The stair master is a great leg and butt machine. Just remember to take deep steps not shallow ones. The treadmill is also an excellent machine as long as you raise the incline to five degrees or more.

In the gym there are some great cycling and step classes that will tone your derriere in no time. Just remember to stick with it. A great butt, like anything else, takes time and commitment.