Flatter Abs With 6 Surprising Moves
Fun, almost-effortless ways to tighten your belly without a
single sit-up
Effortless Ab Exercises You Can Do Anywhere
Conventional ab exercises get results, but let's face it,
they're boring as heck. To help you rock a flat belly, we found easy, fun ways
to tone your belly at your desk, when waiting in line, even while cooking! Your
abdominal muscles are the easiest to engage without equipment because you can
work them by simply pulling your belly in and holding that position, here, six impossibly easy ways to tone your core and flatten
your belly—fast.
1. Do This 2-Second Posture Check
Make your abs look flatter instantly by changing your
posture, suggests Andrea Metcalf, author of Naked Fitness and fitness expert
for Anytime Fitness. "When you’re standing and waiting in line, drop your
tailbone and pull the hip bones up as if you’re trying to connect your hips to
your rib cage. This pulls in and flattens out the belly. Keep your tailbone
slightly tucked under to take pressure off your lower back while you walk. This
also makes your stomach appear flatter."
2. Belly Dance While You Brush
Smith likes the belly-dancing hip drop step to work
obliques. To do the move, support yourself on the left leg with the right leg
slightly forward and to the left, balancing on your right toe. Move your right
hip up and then drop it down. Do this hip dance for a minute on each side while
you’re brushing your teeth, on the phone at your desk, or waiting for food to
heat up in the microwave.
3. V-Sit While You Sit
Reclaim those wasted minutes waiting for your computer to
boot up by using them to do these quick and powerful seated chair office
exercises. "The v-sit is one of the most effective ways to strengthen your
entire midsection," says Smith, and you don’t have to get on the floor to
do it. In fact, this move is easy to do even in a skirt and heels, and is so
subtle no one will know you’re doing it. 1. While sitting, scoot your butt to
the front of your chair. Then lean back so that your upper back rests lightly
on the seat back. Contract abs and lift your right knee up, then place your
foot back down on the floor. Repeat with your left leg, doing 10 reps on each
side. 2. Then, sit up straight on the front edge of your chair, engage abs and
lean back again to lean upper back against the chair back. Sit up straight
again, using your abs. Smith suggests 10 reps of the alternating leg exercises,
then 10 reps of the front and back exercise. Once you get strong enough, pull
both legs up during the exercises. Then do the movements together—legs come up,
lean your upper back to the chair back, then sit up straight, and legs go back
down.
4. Pretend There’s Gum Stuck to Your Chair
If you’re driving or sitting and just waiting at the
doctor’s office, imagine there’s gum or wet paint on the back of your chair so
you have to hold yourself up instead of leaning back, says Smith. Keep shoulder
blades down and back, abdominals lifted, and picture yourself knitting your rib
cage together and in.
5. Stay Balanced
Sitting on an exercise ball at your desk may help you focus
and power through your workload. Some studies found that when balls replaced
chairs in classrooms, students had an easier time paying attention to their
teachers and focusing on their schoolwork. When you sit on or lie across a
stability ball, you engage all the muscles in your core to keep yourself
supported. A proper fit will help you work your way to a toned body with better
posture, more-defined abs, and a healthy spine with less back pain. Here’s a
guide to help you find the perfect ball size for your height. Under 4'6" /
30-cm (12") ball 4'6" to 5'0" / 45-cm (18") ball 5'1"
to 5'7" / 55-cm (22") ball 5'8" to 6'2" / 65-cm (26")
ball Over 6'2" / 75-cm (30") ball.
6. Hoop It Up
Hula
hoops aren't just for the playground. Michelle Obama has been spotted hooping
with her daughters, and actress Marisa Tomei credits it for her strong, sexy
46-year-old physique.Here’s how to do it: Move only your midsection, keeping upper and lower
body stable and rocking hips from side to side or front to back—not in a circle.
