Only when we have the curves and well, at the right places! We definitely do not want that accumulated fat around our stomach make all our gorgeous dresses look not-so-pretty. This is perhaps the reason why flat stomach exercises are increasingly gaining huge popularity as a must ritual in any and every exercise regime. If you are wondering why you really need to focus on flat stomach workout, here is some very important information for you.
Keeping yourself physically active is the best way to lose belly fat and that is quite a no-brainer. Of course, you will see better results when you complement your physically active lifestyle with a balanced, nutritious diet. While any physical activity will be great for you such as walking, running or jogging, there are some specific exercises that particularly target the belly fat.
Here are some of the most effective flat tummy exercises you should try to get a flat stomach in a week.
Crunches are great for toning your upper abdomen muscles. Lie down on the floor with your back to the ground. Hold your hands by your ears; this prevents straining your neck. Now bend your legs on the knees with the feet flat on the ground. Keep your face pointed towards the ceiling and raise your shoulders and upper back to as far as you can go. Exhale while you do that, hold for a couple of seconds and inhale as you go down to the starting position.
The above exercise is one of the most popular flat stomach exercises that can be done for about 10 minutes every day. It is best to perform this exercise early morning on empty stomach.
This exercise is specifically targeted at working out the love handles or the obliques. To perform this exercise, you will need to start at the same position as the crunches. Just like above, you will need to keep your hands by your ears and bend your legs at the knee with the feet on the ground.While you raise your upper body, you will need to twist yourself at the waist this time. You can even try to touch your knee with the opposite side elbow. Repeat this move about 10 to 15 times on each side.
This exercise is great for toning your abs and giving your belly a slender look. To perform this exercise, you will again lie down on your back facing the ceiling. Now raise both your legs up in the air over your hips. While extending your hands towards your feet, raise your upper body and hold on for a few seconds.While returning to the starting position, extend your hands over your head and get your left leg down. Repeat the same move with the alternating legs for about 20 reps.
This flat stomach workout not just helps in toning your belly but is also great for strengthening your core muscles and your back. To perform this exercise, lie down on the ground facing the ground and while resting on your elbows. Breathe in and suck in your belly button. Now hold on to this as long as you can while keeping your knees straight and your toes touching the ground. Repeat this exercise a few times and try to increase the duration of holding your breath for better results.
This is one of the most common flat stomach exercises that will be very effective in getting rid of post-pregnancy belly fat. For performing this exercise, lie down on your back facing the ceiling and keeping your hands down on the ground on your either sides. Keep your legs straight and the palms of your hands down on the ground.Now push your legs up over your hips at 90 degrees. Raise the legs as much as you can along with the hips. Use the strength of your core muscles to lift your hips; don’t support using your hands. Hold on to the position for a few seconds and then relax to the starting point. Repeat the exercise 15 to 20 times.
Crunches are the ideal exercise for stomach and hence there are many variations of this exercise that are all considered equally effective. The crunch chop is a great variant of the traditional crunches that helps in strengthening your core muscles too while ensuring you get a toned tummy. To perform this exercise, lie down on your back, facing the ceiling. In the regular crunches, you will hold your hands by your ears but in this exercise extend your hands over your head and hold them together.Raise your legs over your hip and then raise your upper body while bringing your hands towards your legs. Pull your legs apart as if your hands are chopping them in between. Repeat the exercise for about a couple of minutes. You can further bring a variation to this by bringing in the twist move by twisting your body at the waist.
Planks are another great way to toning your belly muscles; it is the side plank that is the most effective. To perform this exercise, lie on your side, start with the right side, and keep your hips and feet resting on the floor on the top of each other. Keep your right elbow directly under your shoulder.Now contract your core muscles and lift your hips and knees off the ground with the support of your elbow. Hold for a few seconds or for as long as you can and then relax back to the starting positon. Repeat the exercise on the other side.
This exercise is recommended to the beginners for its ease and effectiveness. Lie down on your back and raise your legs straight over your hips.Keep your hands facing the ground on your either sides. Now slowly drop your legs to the ground without letting your lower back leave the ground, repeat the exercise 10 to 15 times.
Breathing Exercises Can Help Too!
While intense flat stomach exercises as mentioned above are sure to show you some quick results with reducing your belly fat, it has been proven that deep breathing exercises also have a positive impact on reducing belly fat incredibly. Also known as pranayama, these exercises are usually associated with yoga exercises that help in reducing belly fat. Apart from helping you lose the fat around your tummy, these exercises also help in improving your health as well as improve your digestion by strengthening your abdominal muscles.
The fact is that belly fat reduction needs a structured exercise regime. Lack of physical activity is the main culprit for your belly fat and that being said, a sedentary lifestyle also promotes diabetes and other heart ailments. Here are some simple breathing exercises that are aimed at helping you reduce and gradually eliminate your belly fat –
- Diaphragm breathing is one of the most effective breathing exercises here. This is a deep breathing technique that focuses on making your abdominal muscles more flexible.This exercise engages your diaphragm and increases your lung capacity. Lie down on your back and take deep breaths. Observe your chest and stomach move up and down while you’re exhale and inhale.
- Deep breathing, of any type, can be very effective for toning your core muscles.The best way to lose stomach fat and to perform this breathing exercise is to sit with legs crossed and your hands on your knees. Close your eyes as your relax and take deep breaths.
- You can also try mouth breathing here. Breathing with your mouth exerts pressure on your abdominal muscles.
Eat Healthy, Stay Fit!
Exercising is great for your body and exercise for stomach is definitely the best way to reduce stomach fat accumulation around your belly but make sure that you eat right too. There are various weight loss foods that you can try such as a flaxseed diet that can have a very positive impact on getting a flat stomach along with other flat stomach diet. Green tea for weight loss is another great idea.
Source www.superhealthy365.com