Many women stay away from "men's" exercises in the gym, either because they're intimidated or they worry the exercises might make them too bulky. The reality is that some of these powerful movements are simply terrific toning exercises once you take off those huge barbell plates and add more reps. Hit the weight room and try these out!

This may be an exercise that massive V-shaped bodybuilders swear by for the back, but if you like looking toned come swimsuit time, tell that behemoth to wait his turn for the bench. Grabbing a light dumbbell and kneeling the opposing leg on a bench, let the weight move down and forward until you feel a full stretch in your back. After a moment, slowly return to the starting position, really squeezing the muscle at the top. Do 20 reps and then switch hands.

The bench press seems like the "men's zone" at most gyms, but you don't have to be after massive pecs to see the gains. With this in mind, there aren't many better exercises for the back of the triceps than the closed-grip bench press, says Anne Hess, personal trainer and director of Slim and Tone Gyms. Lie on the bench and use a light bicep curl bar. Grip your hands closely together on it and slowly lower to your chest. Feel it on the back of your arms? Slowly raise to the starting position just short of lock-out. Do 15 to 20 of those and you'll feel the burn and see the tone over time. "Women can put their feet up on the bench for balance if they have trouble getting their back flat," Hess says.