Seven Proven Steps to a Flat Stomach Fast
Is there anyone who doesn’t want a flat, tight stomach? If you’ve been working out your abs and trying to get “perfect abs” but haven’t had any luck, don’t despair. These seven proven exercises and lifestyle changes will come to your rescue.
The stomach is one of the problem places in the body where weight gain can end. Once the fat is there, it can seem almost impossible to remove. You can do all kinds of exercises and notice that your legs and arms are tightened and toned. However, your tummy may still be losing the battle against the bulge. What can be done with this area of the body?
Follow these seven steps and you will see significant improvements. Not only will your abs look good, but it will also tone the surrounding muscles to strengthen your back.
1. Contract your stomach muscles while sitting. You may be at work, in the car, or watching television. It doesn’t matter, wherever you are, just hold your stomach for half a minute. Do this simple but effective isometric style exercise several times a day. Think of it as a little stomach crunch that you can do while standing or sitting. The best results seem to come from taking deep breaths, contracting your stomach muscles as hard as you can, and then exhaling very slowly during the contraction.
2. Ditch sodas, alcoholic beverages, and mocha latte. Substitute the water instead. This may not be an exercise in itself. However, you are exercising your best judgment and willpower. Soft drinks contain seven teaspoons of sugar or more. Beer and wine are pure calories with no nutritional value. Fancy coffee drinks are really just one big glass of milk. We have never seen anyone lose weight around the stomach area unless they ditch these fattening drinks. Nobody wants to give them up and that’s why they keep complaining about how difficult it is to have a flat stomach. Try to drink water for only thirty days and you will see a noticeable improvement in your waistline.
3. Use an exercise ball. These are inexpensive and effective in helping to tighten the tummy. You can do sit-ups with the ball and you will find that they are easier to do and more effective than when done on the floor. You can also do a bridge, where you lie on the ball with your fingers and toes touching the ground. This is also good for the back. Most of these balls come with instructions on how to use them to do sit-ups.
4. Try Pilates. There is a reason these exercises are so popular today. Routines strengthen your core through movement and breathing. Tone your whole body but especially the abdominal area. Once you’ve tightened your abs, Pilates is also effective in keeping your abdomen flat, if done on a regular basis.
5. Leg raises. These can work wonders to help flatten your tummy. This is one that you may have done in school. You lie on your back on a rug on the floor. Then, while keeping your back flat on the floor, slowly raise your legs about a foot off the floor. Keep your legs stiff and hold them straight for ten seconds. Focus on your abs while doing this exercise. Rest and repeat. You will feel your abs tighten. This also helps tighten the thighs and glutes.
6. Knee raise. This is usually done in a gym with special equipment. Place your arms on a support device and then lift your knees toward your chest. You can also get one of these gadgets to put in a corner of the house. However, someone invented some slings that are less expensive and work well. To get an idea of how this exercise works, imagine hanging your hands over a chin bar. Instead of lifting your body by your arms, simply raise your knees. When you do this, your stomach contracts like you wouldn’t believe.
7. Any type of aerobic exercise that accelerates the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Walking, jogging, biking, ellipticals, whatever. The idea is to burn calories. Stop drinking fattening drinks and start doing aerobic-type exercises. In this way, fewer calories will enter and more will be burned. The net effect is, you guessed it, weight loss with fewer calories. Consume fewer calories by drinking only water, and burn more calories through daily aerobic exercise. Combine these lifestyle changes with the stomach exercises listed here and you’ll be on your way to a sexy flat stomach in no time.
