5-Step Belly Fat Blasting Regimen
If you’re serious about kick-starting a plan for a strong core, try this smart trick that will keep your abs in the game…
The real secret is to keep moving continuously and then rest after the set. Aim to do each move for one minute, but keep in mind that it’s important to maintain good form. Let your abs and core do the work, while eliminating any tension in your neck and shoulders. After you complete all five moves, rest for 90 seconds. Each week, add in one more set until you can do the entire routine three times through with short breaks in-between the sets. Remember, perform the moves back-to-back.
As your muscles start to fatigue, you’ll be recruiting more muscle fibers, which results in a nice balanced core to stabilize your entire body. Plus, this routine includes the right mix of ab exercises that work together to tone the entire area from every angle so you can have a strong, sleek, midsection. Let’s get started!
Windshield Wipers
How to do it:
- Start on your back, with your hands on the floor for support and legs lifted up off the floor.
- Using your core muscles to support you and protect your lower back, keep your knees over your hips as you slowly drop both knees to the right side, forming a 45-degree angle with the floor.
- Then, fire up your obliques as you drive your knees back to the starting position.
- Repeat on the other side.
Cannonball
How to do it:
- Start lying on your back, with your arms reaching out overhead, legs lifted slightly off the floor, and toes pointed. Even here, at the start of the move, you’re activating core muscles by stretching them out. Keep pressing the lower back into the mat or floor to ensure the back doesn’t arch. If this feels like too much tension on the back, try lifting the legs a little further away from the floor.
- Imagine that, as you’re stretching the fingers and toes away from each other, the core is a strong magnet working to pull them back in. Using the force of that imaginary magnet, bring the knees in toward the chest. At the same time, reach your arms toward the legs.
Ceiling Stamp
How to do it:
- Lying on your back, squeeze your abdominals and lift your legs off the floor. Extend them up straight, feet facing the ceiling.
- With your hands on the floor for balance, use your lower abdominal strength to push your feet up 1-2 inches toward the ceiling (meaning your hips come 1-2 inches further away from the floor simultaneously). It’s a quick movement, almost a ˙pulse,” as if you’re stamping the ceiling with the bottom of your feet (hence the title).
Charlie’s Angels
How to do it:
- Sit upright with knees bent, feet on the floor, chest lifted. Lift your feet off the floor, tucking your knees into your chest. Interlace your fingers and point them forward.
- Using your obliques, swivel your knees side to side.
Roll-Overs
How to do it:
- Lying facedown on the floor with your arms and legs extended, lift your upper body and legs off the floor, making sure to keep your feet together.
- Without moving your shoulders or legs, use the strength of your abs to roll to your right side until your back is on the floor and you’re facing the ceiling. Remember, your hands and feet never touch the floor!
- Slowly roll back, keeping the belly button pulled in toward the spine throughout the entire movement.
- Aim for 10 repetitions on each side.
