Best Exercise to Flatten the Tummy

By Laura Williams, M.S.Ed.
Masters in Exercise and Sports ScienceIf you're looking for the best exercise to flatten the tummy, then you need to consider your own fitness goals and exercise preferences before you spend money on the latest gadget or gimmick. Generally speaking, belly flattening occurs when you combine fat-blasting cardio routines with tummy-tightening strength training moves. You can choose the best exercise to flatten the tummy by choosing a form of exercise that you'll stick with and enjoy.

The Best Exercise to Flatten the Tummy for...

Cardio Kings and Queens
If you like to hit the road or the machine to do an extended cardio workout, then running is absolutely the best exercise to flatten the tummy. Not only does running burn off lots of calories, but it also works your core as you hold your body upright and engage your abdomen as you breathe. Even if you can't run for extended periods of time, consider including short bursts of running into your walking routine. These intervals will challenge your workout and help you target the spare tire sitting around your middle.

Strength Trainers
If you're a strength trainer carrying a little extra tummy fat on your frame, you may want to try a circuit training routine. Circuit training increases your heart rate and helps you burn more calories while still improving your muscular health. The trick to circuit training is to not allow much rest between exercises. You can achieve this goal by either alternating between cardio and strength training moves, or you can stick to strength training moves alone. Either way, you'll get a full-body strength training workout and a cardio kicker all at the same time, helping you flatten your belly.

Class Fanatics
If you plan your life schedule around your gym's fitness classes, then you must try a kickboxing class to help you trim your tummy. All the jabbing, kicking, squatting and twisting movements performed during a kickboxing class require constant engagement of the back and abs. Not only will you huff and puff your way to a leaner body, you'll begin to see muscles in places you never thought you'd see them including down the center of your stomach.

Abs-Only Routines
On days when you just aren't up for performing an all-out exercise routine, try a short abs-only routine that focuses on the plank exercise. The plank exercise engages the entire core, including the deep muscles of your abdomen, the transverse abdominis and the "six pack" muscles, the rectus abdominis. If you include a side-plank or a plank that adds twisting and movement to the exercise you can also target the muscles of your sides, the obliques.

Competition-Driven Athletes
To tone up your tummy while playing a competitive sport, look no further than your local basketball court. The game of basketball includes running, twisting, jumping, squatting, sliding and more. All these exercises target the core, build strength and burn calories. Over time, this will lead to a toned and tight midsection.

Any Exercise Will Do the Trick
Really and truly, a healthy diet combined with a consistent exercise plan will eventually help you reach your flat-belly goals, regardless of the exercise you choose to perform. Focus on improving your personal fitness while creating a calorie deficit with your exercise routine. These two things will help you lose weight and will allow you to see substantial changes in your midsection's appearance.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 by For Her · 0