7 Exercises To Get a Flat Tummy
By Nidhal
Having a flat and taut tummy is one such accessory that grabs eyeballs instantly. Be it a figure-hugging one-piece or the graceful 9-yards (read: saree), a flat tummy is the ideal finishing touch to any attire. Not only does it manifest that one takes her body and its appearance seriously but also is a mark of proper upkeep. Keeping in mind that life these days is fraught with stress and unhealthy diet (envisage as many insalubrious food items you stoked in to your system right now… Yes, I know guilt would be knocking you down now), here is a brief rundown of 7 easy exercises that you can incorporate in your daily fitness regimen to kick that flab off your body!
1. CRUNCHES– Crunches help one tone and tighten the muscles in the stomach and you do not need any sophisticated equipment to get going too! Just flat on the ground and wake up- it is as simple as that. However, the key is to wake up while keeping your entire body (from your head to the waist) straight (as if in a line) and focus on an object (say the ceiling). DO NOT bend your head/neck. It will undermine your entire posture. 15 reps is a good enough number for a novice.
2. SIDE PLANKS- Planks are one of the best exercises for a flat, toned stomach because they work on all the muscles in your core. To do so, all you need to do is, lie on your left side with your knees straight. Raise your body up on your left elbow and forearm, feet stacked. Raise your hips until your body forms a straight line from your ankles to your shoulders. Hold this position for half a minute. That’s one rep. 10 reps are good for a beginner. Increase the frequency and duration as you get habituated with it.
3. MOGUL JUMP- Mogul jumps give one’s hips, abs and back muscles a strenuous workout which helps one kick fat promptly. To perform the Mogul jump, raise your knees a few inches off the floor while keeping your hands and feet in their position. Make a jumping movement, shifting your feet to the left. Then, similarly jump them to the right. During this ensure that your feet stay together.
4. BURPEES- Burpees set a lot of muscles to work in our body which helps one lose fat from the belly swiftly. To do this exercise, stand up straight with your legs apart about shoulder-width. Start lowering your body till your palms lie flat on the floor, the same width apart as your legs. Kick your legs out from under you in backward direction so you are in a position to perform push-ups. Do a single push up and pull your legs back. Then, stand back up with a jump, and repeat the whole exercise. That’s it, wasn’t it cushy?
5. ELBOW PLANK- The elbow plank is a slight variation of the simple plank. All you need to do is now balance on the part of your hand extending from the elbows to the fingers. Do not let your hips or abdomen droop. Hold the position for half a minute and there goes one rep!
6. THE V-HOLD- The simplest of all the exercises so far- the V-Hold requires you to lie down on your back while placing your hands under your butt for leverage. Lift back and legs off ground. Hold “V” position for 15 to 30 seconds.
7. THE WINDMILL EXERCISE- The windmill exercise targets the oblique(meaning side) abs. To perform it, stand with your feet hip-width apart. Hold a kettle-bell (any bearable weight) in your left hand. bring the weight onto your left shoulder and press it overhead. While you rotate your chest to the left, you need to look at your kettle-bell (or any weight that you may have opted for) as you reach your right foot with your right hand. Pause for half a minute and revert to your former self. You have perfected the exercise, lady!
Editor’s Note: Again a fabulous and useful compilation Nidhal
Do you do these exercises? Have any to add, do let us know in the comments below