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Great Workouts For Flat Abs
Posted by Dean Welsh at Jul 14th, 2009 in Nutrition
It seems that everyone wants to have flat abs, and it is possible to have the body shape you desire. The modern lifestyle has been largely responsible for our flabby bellies, but the good news is that we can do something about it. The best workout for flat abs can be done at home, by making some changes to your lifestyle and eating habits.
Any reduction in body fat and strengthening of muscle begins with what you put into your mouth. You hear it over and over, but that is because it is the truth. To lose body fat, you need to burn it by building muscle and getting active. You need to burn more calories than you eat - common sense when you stop to think about it.
Before beginning a workout regimen, think about what you eat and maybe make some changes. Try eating 5 or 6 smaller meals or snacks a day; this increases your metabolism and stops you feeling hungry. Make protein your friend as it builds muscle, and muscle burns more calories than fat. Go for a variety of lean protein and don’t forget about dried beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.
To get balanced nutrition, you need carbs and fats in addition to protein. Fruit, vegetables and whole grain foods are really good, low GI carbs that keep you feeling full. Snack on nuts (full of healthy fats), fruit and smoothies made on skim milk and fruit.
The next stage of your workout is to get moving; do 30 minutes of something active every day, with 5 days being a cardio workout. In a cardio session you aim to get your heart rate and breathing rate higher than normal and sustain it for 20 minutes. The remainder of the session is a warm up and a cool down - necessary to avoid injury. You can walk, jog, swim or cycle; whatever you like to get you puffing a bit. You will be burning fat, building muscle, increasing your mobility and flexibility and you will start to feel great!
Undertake strength training and specific abs exercises that are aimed at increasing and strengthening your abdominal and core muscles. Toned muscle gives you more shape and a flatter belly. By focusing your training on muscles in the torso or core, you are strengthening the whole area for improved balance, coordination and a more shapely body. Make sure you warm up before doing strength training, with light cardio and stretches to prepare your muscles.
Strength exercises can be using machines at a gym, but you can also use your own body weight as the resistance in strengthening exercises like The Plank, The Side Plank and Oblique Crunches. Research online and you will find lots of different abs strengthening exercises that don’t require specific equipment, but will be a great part of your best workout for flat abs.
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