If watching the Summer Games in the past has had you looking at your soft belly and wanting to whip it into shape, here are some tips to help you get there.
Does watching the Summer Games always make you envious of the chiselled, rock-hard abs on the athletes? Us too. To get those flat abs, we are on a mission, and here are strategies that’ll help achieve our goal.
Cut out fattening foods
It’ll be tough, but cutting down on alcohol and sugar, which tend to be stored in the belly region, will help to tone down the belly bulge. Focus on a healthy, balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.
Develop your lower and mid abdominals
The lower abs can often be a problem spot for people to tighten up. This exercise helps to build and strengthen the muscles in this area: Lie on your back with your hands under your hips, extend both legs upward at a 45-degree angles and alternate crossing your feet. Complete three sets of 30 repetitions each.
Develop your upper and oblique abdominals
You need to work the other muscles of your abs too. This exercise will strengthen the upper and oblique muscles: Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground, then move your arms as though you’re climbing a rope. As you do this, lift your shoulders off the ground, higher and higher as your move up with each reach. Complete four reaches, then return to your beginning position on the ground. Complete 10 repetitions, four times.
Focus on the obliques
If you’re in a park that has a set of monkey bars handy or a strong tree limb, hang from it and crunch your body to the side, making sure you’re controlling the movement and not using momentum. The idea is to try to get your knees close to your elbows. Complete five reps on each side two times.
Increase your cardio workouts
Do more fat-blasting workouts that get your heart rate up and have you sweating up a storm. Since it’s summer, why not take it outdoors and go swimming in a pool, running in a park or inline skating on a path? You need to include cardio because you need to burn the fat you have to reveal your abdominal muscles (spot reducing your abs isn’t possible).
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