All About The Best Stomach Exercises

It is only natural, most people want to look their best, and exercising their
stomach muscles is usually a huge part of most fitness programs. If so much
time and energy is going to be focused on this muscle group, it is a good idea
to know what the best stomach exercises are. There are many resources available
for finding the best stomach exercises, and plenty of people to say what they
consider the best, so how can a person decide for themselves which truly are
the best exercises for working their stomach muscles?

First of all it is important to note that the best stomach exercises are those
that a person is willing to do. No matter how effective the exercise is, if a
person isn't going to do them consistently the exercise will not benefit that
particular individual. It is also important to note that the best stomach
exercises do not necessarily require equipment to perform them, although some
machines and equipment may work quite well for some people.

When a person decides on a fitness program that includes stomach exercises, it
is best to include stomach exercises that work the different parts of the
stomach. If a person simply concentrates on one area of their stomach, there
workout will not be as effective. The best stomach exercises, combine working
the oblique, which are the side muscles, the lower abdominals, the mid section
and also the upper section.

Some of the most popular stomach exercises are crunches. These are a very
effective exercise and very convenient since they can be performed anywhere
without any equipment. The next stomach exercise that is also very popular and
goes along with the basic crunch is the side crunch, which works out the
oblique.

Some people consider the best stomach exercises to be included in a Pilate's
workout. The reason for this is because in Pilates, the whole focus is on the
core of the body which is the abdominal, or stomach muscles. Every movement in
a Pilate's workout will work the stomach muscles either directly or indirectly.
These exercises can be found on the internet, either the exercise itself or
video's that can be purchased.

Another good exercise that some fitness experts considers to be one of the best
stomach exercises involves laying flat on your stomach, leg straight and then
raising your body up using your arms as your hands are clasped together and
keeping your body straight as if doing a pushup. Hold this position as long as
you can stand. This is an excellent movement to strengthen the whole stomach.

Remember again though that just because one person may consider a specific
exercise to be the best stomach exercise that does not necessarily mean it is
the best for everyone. Each person's body is different and will respond
differently to certain movements. Any one serious about working on the
abdominal muscles will find it most helpful to try several different stomach
exercises and then determine which one they can both feel and see results with.
If one exercise is simply too hard to do correctly, or does not feel like it has
done anything for the muscle group worked, that exercise is clearly not the best
and the person should find what works best for them.

Why Do People Do Exercises For The Stomach

Exercises for the stomach muscles are among the most popular type of exercise
done among people wanting to build a better body. When anyone plans a workout
program to build and strengthen muscles, abdominal workouts are always included
in the routine. Why is this? Why are more people concerned with their stomach
muscles then any other part of their body?

There are several reasons for this. The first reason should be for health
reasons. It has been documented that people carrying around a lot of extra fat
around their stomachs are at a greater risk of certain health conditions then
people that may be carrying the weight in other areas of their body. This
reason alone is enough to entice many people to exercise their stomach, and a
major reason why doctors suggest doing exercises for the stomach.

The stomach is the core of the person's body, when the stomach is strong; it
helps make the rest of the body look and feel stronger. This is another reason
to do exercises for the stomach. Most people want to feel strong and be strong,
whether it is so they can do their jobs, play with their children or just to
feel better about themselves. Also, when the stomach is strong, it helps to
take away pressure from several muscles in a person's back. Considering that
back problems are a big problem with many people, this is another good reason
to keep the stomach muscles strong by exercising them.

The next reason, and usually the biggest reason are looks. People tend to think
that a good looking stomach equals an overall good looking body. There are not
too many people that find a bulging stomach attractive. When people look in the
mirror, or someone passes by them that they want to impress, usually a natural
reaction is to suck in their stomach.

Women that have just had a baby are usually extra concerned with their stomach
muscles, and find themselves wanting to do exercises for the stomach as soon as
they are able to. This is not only for appearance sake but also for health
reasons since their stomach muscles really need to be strengthened after their
bodies have been put through childbirth.

Health and looks are the primary reasons to do exercises for the stomach, but
people have many different reasons motivating them to actually do exercises for
the stomach. Perhaps swimsuit season is coming up, which is usually the time
most people really get interested in doing exercises for the stomach and they
just want to look their best. Maybe a high school reunion is coming up and a
person wants to look extra good, or a person is getting married which is
another very popular time for wanting to tone up stomach muscles. Maybe their
doctor has told them they need to or maybe it is just to have more self
confidence in them. No matter the reason may be, as long as the person is
motivated enough to continue their program until they see results then the
reason is a good one.

When To Do Stomach Exercises

There is no question, people want flatter stomachs. Whether it is a woman who
just had a baby, or a man who wants to impress someone, or anyone in between.
While most people have good intentions when it comes to building their "six
pack" not as many people can find the time or dedication to really follow
through to see real results, and usually give up. To remedy the problem there
are several ideas that can help a person wanting to get a flatter stomach but
cannot find the time or energy to do intense stomach exercises.

For as many people that want to do stomach exercises, there are just as many
people, probably more, that like to watch television. This is a perfect time to
do stomach exercises. During commercials, or every ten minutes if there are no
commercials, try lying on the floor and doing as many stomach exercises as
possible during the break. If you have not done stomach exercises in awhile, it
is best to start slowly, but eventually make it a game, and try to get more
repetitions in each time. By following this simple plan, it will help your body
in several different ways. First of all, there is no extra scheduling involved,
for most people, watching television at some point in the day is natural so no
extra time is taken out of the day to do stomach exercise. The second thing
this strategy helps with is that the human body should not remain motionless
for more then thirty minutes anyway, by getting up and doing stomach exercises
every few minutes it really boosts up the bodies metabolism.

Another good time to do stomach exercises is first thing in the morning. Try
rolling out of bed, maybe literally, and lie down on the floor and do as many
repetitions as possible in a set amount of time, even just five minutes. There
is a lot of evidence to suggest that exercising first thing in the morning may
be more beneficial to a person then trying to exercise other times of the day.
While there are many reasons for this, one valid reason is that it gets the
metabolism going for the day after a nights sleep. Since most people are extra
concerned about the appearance of their stomach, it seems logical to start the
day with a good set of stomach exercise.

Of course, for those that are able to dedicate time each day to exercising,
their routine should include stomach exercises. There are some reports that say
that muscles need time to rest, so only exercise a particular group of muscles
every other day, while other reports say that stomach muscles are ok to
exercise everyday. One way to answer the question on when to do stomach
exercises, every day or every other day is first listen to your body. If the
stomach muscles are sore, rest them, if not then maybe one day work on them
more intensely then the next day, but try to include at least one set of
stomach exercises daily.

There is good reason for wanting to develop strong stomach muscles, besides for
appearance sake. This is the core of your body. If it is not strong, the rest of
your body will suffer. The good news is that most stomach exercises can be done
anywhere with absolutely no machines or gadgets. With a little diligence and
some creativity, there are plenty of times throughout the day to sneak in
stomach exercises

Stomach Exercises to Work off Those Love Handles

A major complaint of people who want to look more fit is belly fat.
Specifically, a large number of people have trouble with "love handles." Far
from lovely or lovable, these are deposits of fat that take up residence on the
sides of one's lower torso, around the external oblique muscles. Traditional
crunches and sit-ups will not do much for this sort of chub, as they mainly
work the abdominal muscles and not the obliques. The good news, however, is
that there are a few stomach exercises which specifically target the obliques,
helping trim love handles. As with any new physical activity, consult a
professional before beginning and be sure to properly warm up to avoid injury.

Side Bend

A simple exercise, side bends are also probably the most effective method for
losing love handles. Start by standing upright. Position your feet shoulder
width apart and bend your knees slightly. Lower your whole torso to one side,
then back to the other. Lean only side to side, not backwards or forwards.

Torso Twist

This stomach exercise is also effective at reducing love handles, and is good
to do right after the side bends in your routine, as it is also done in a
standing position. Again, with feet shoulder width apart, slowly twist the body
to one side, then to the other. The key here is to twist from your torso, not
from the hips. As much of the twisting work as possible should be done by your
oblique muscles, not your hip flexors. Keep your torso upright with no bending.

Side Crunch

The next two stomach exercises require you to get off your feet and lie down,
preferably on the floor or other flat surface. Use a mat or towel as a cushion
if you have a particularly hard floor to work with. Lie down on one side. For
simplicity, let us say you are on your right side to start. Bring your right
arm across your waist so that your right hand comes to rest on your left side.
Touch your ear with the fingertips of your left hand, so that your left elbows
winds up pointing straight upward. Lift your shoulders up off the floor while
simultaneously raising your left leg to height of about twelve inches (30 cm).
Contract your obliques as you do this. Hold for a few seconds, then gently lie
back down. Do this for an entire set, then switch to the right side.

Seated Knee Drop

First, position yourself on the floor so that you are resting on your hipbones
(not sitting on your butt). You can put your hands on the floor behind you to
keep yourself stable in this position. Bend your knees so that your feet are
flat on the floor. Put your ankles together. Now lower your knees to the right.
Your feet will roll on to their sides, but should remain on the floor. Continue
this lowering move until your knees are about six inches above the floor. Hold
for one second, then go back up and down to the left side. Move slowly and
under control, using your stomach muscles rather than momentum to raise and
lower your legs.

Stomach Exercises to Eliminate Belly Fat

Now that spring seems to finally be back in our lives, many people are
concerned about losing those few extra pounds of chub which stand between them
and a sculpted midriff. Those folks who let themselves go a little in the
winter months may be working overtime now that it is April and thoughts of
bikinis are dancing in their heads. The good news is that there are, of course,
stomach exercises to speed along the process. Some are better than others,
including these few, which are good specifically for trimming belly fat. As
with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning
and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Hip Lift

For this stomach exercise, you will need to lie on your back on a flat surface,
such as the floor. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine. Put your arms at
your sides with palms facing up to the ceiling. Put your legs straight up in
the air so that the soles of your feet are facing the ceiling and your legs
make about a ninety degree angle with your torso. Keep your knees unbent and as
straight as possible. Now, contract your ab muscles so that it feels like your
belly button is being pulled toward your spine, while at the same time gently
lifting your hips off the floor. Raise your hips to height of a few inches,
keeping your legs extended straight upward. Hold this position, then slowly
lower your hips back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set.

Seated Torso Twist

Stay on the floor for this stomach exercise, getting into a seated position.
Bend your knees so that your feet are flat on the floor. Position your feet
about hip width apart. Extend your arms straight out in front of you,
interlocking your fingers. Contract your abdominals and lean back about
forty-five degrees. Holding the contraction, rotate your torso as far to one
side as you are comfortably able. Use your abdominals to control this motion so
that your upper body moves at once, do not lead with your arms. Remember to keep
your arms in from of you with fingers locked-- pretend you are aiming an
imaginary gun. Once you have rotated as far as you feel comfortable, rotate
back to center, then to the other side. Repeat these steps for an entire set.
Take care to go slow and keep a controlled movement. Do not allow your momentum
to twist you.

Stomach Exercises For A Flatter Tummy

The weather is warming up, and for many people, that means it is time to work
on that little bulge that has been taking up residence around the midsection
since Thanksgiving. These several exercises can help you shed that excess
turkey weight and flatten out that stomach in time for beach season. As with
any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and
always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Plank

For this stomach exercise, you will need to lie on a flat surface, such as the
floor. You will be lying in your stomach, so you may want to use a mat or towel
to cushion your knees. Prop your upper body up on your forearms so that your
elbows make a ninety degree angle and are positioned directly below your
shoulders. Now lift your body up off the floor so that your lower body is
supported by your toes, while your upper body remains supported by your elbows.
Your body should basically be a straight line, with no arch or drooping through
your back. Hold this position for twenty seconds, then lower your body back to
the floor. One repetition is sufficient.

Side Plank

This stomach exercise is a variation on the previous one, and begins in the
same starting position. Once you are positioned properly, roll to your right
side, keeping your torso supported with your right forearm. You will have to
raise your hips and roll your feet so that your left foot is on top of your
right. As in the plank, your body will be a straight line, but this time you
will be on one side. Place your left hand on your hip and hold the plank
position for five seconds. Return to start and repeat on the left side.

Ball Roll

If you just quickly glanced at the title, you may have gone to find a ball
before reading on. If you did, you can go put it away, because in this stomach
exercise, you are the ball! First, sit on the floor and hug your knees to your
chest. Roll back slightly so you are balancing on your tail bone and your feet
are off the floor, toes pointing downward. Pull your abdominals inward while
rolling onto your lower back and the upper part of your butt. Contract your
abdominals and pull yourself back to the starting position. Loosening your arms
up may help if you find this exercise too difficult at first.

Standing Crossover

As the name implies, you will need to stand up for this stomach exercise.
Position your feet a few inches apart. Put your arms out to the sides and bend
your elbows at a ninety degree angle so your fingertips are pointing to the
ceiling and your palm are facing forward. Contract your abdominals and lift
your right knee toward your left elbow, while at the same time bringing your
left elbow down toward your right knee. Touch the two joints together, pause,
then return to start. Switch sides and repeat for an entire set.

Different Exercises To Get A Flat Stomach

There are many different exercises to get a flat stomach. Some require machines
or special equipment; others simply require a floor to lie on and a little
motivation and determination. There are some that are performed while also
exercising other groups of muscles such as in Pilate's moves, where every
exercise will work the stomach muscles even if the focus is the legs, arms or
other area of the body.

There are a couple of movements that are very basic and yet give many people
the results they are looking for. The first movement is the basic crunch. These
exercises are better for the body then sit ups because they do not strain the
back as much. A crunch is performed simply by lying on your back and raising
the upper portion of your body a few inches off the ground, just enough to feel
the strain in the stomach muscles. The key to these movements is to be sure your
stomach is doing the work and not your head, or arms. Also, it is important to
keep everything straight, do not lift the head more then the shoulders or back,
for more information and detail on performing this movement properly there are
many resources available on the internet, in books and also in videos. Another
movement which is also great and should be done in conjunction with the basic
crunch is a side crunch which works the oblique, or as some people call them
"love handles" This exercises are performed the same way as the crunch, only
the body is twisted slightly to one side. Again to get a more accurate
description of how to properly perform this movement there are many resources
available.

Along with working out the mid section of the stomach and sides, a person
should include several different exercises to get a flat stomach by way of
exercising the whole stomach, which includes the lower section and upper
section of their stomach as well. It will do a person no good to only focus on
one specific muscle group of their stomach. There are many places to find
exercises to get a flat stomach including the internet, library, book store and
in videos. With so many different options a person may have trouble deciding
which exercises would benefit them the most while trying to get a flat stomach.
The best suggestion in this case is to try several different ones and decide
what works for the individual. One exercise may work great for one person, but
be too strenuous for another. Or, one person may be in better shape and be able
to do several different exercises that a beginner can not do, at least in the
beginning and may just need to concentrate on one movement, instead of a series
of different movements in one workout session.

While some exercises to get a flat stomach may work better then others, no
exercise will work if not properly performed and done regularly. A person
should decide which exercises they are both capable of doing and also can do
for an extended period of time while working to get the flat stomach they want.
If they exercise is too complicated, takes too much time or can only be done on
a special type of equipment, the person may not be able to stick with it long
term. Remember, getting a flat stomach will not happen overnight, it takes
time, dedication and patience, regardless of the exercise used.

Why Exercises To Flatten Stomach Muscles Are Popular

There are many times in a person's life when they really want to look their
best. Perhaps it is for a high school reunion or for a wedding, and probably
the most popular time for wanting to look good is during swimsuit season. For
all of these times, and many more times, most people's focus turns to their
stomach and they start thinking about excursuses to flatten stomachs.

People tend to think that a flatter stomach means better looks and most people
want to look their best. A flat stomach does go beyond looks however; there are
medical reasons why people should concentrate on exercises to flatten the
stomach. Medical evidence suggests that people that carry extra weight around
the stomach tend to be more likely to develop serious medical conditions,
including diabetes. The stomach is also the core of the body, this means that
the stronger and healthier the core is, the more likely the rest of the body
will be as well. Consider a person with back problems, which is a common
problem with many people. These people benefit greatly from doing exercises to
flatten their stomachs. This will help improve posture and relieve tension in
the back as access weight is removed from the center of the body. When a
stomach is flat, it also helps the person to walk taller and straighter, giving
the person more confidence and improves their overall looks compared to a person
that walks hunched over.

Besides looks and health, another reason why exercises to flatten stomach
muscles are popular is because they are easy to do. They can be done
practically anywhere, in a gym, at home in front of the television or anywhere
else. They also do not take equipment to do. While there are plenty of machines
and smaller pieces of equipment all geared for flattening a stomach, they are
not necessarily needed to get the same results. All a person needs is some room
to lie down and the desire to improve their stomach. There are a wide variety of
exercises that target this area of the body, so a person can choose which moves
will work best for him or her.

Because this type of exercise is so popular, most workout programs, whether on
a video watched at home, a health club or any other program a person follows,
will include exercises to flatten stomach muscles, because it is so important
to keep them strong and also because of the popularity of this type of
exercise. Most people are not interested in simply working on their legs or
arms or other parts of their bodies unless they are exercising their stomach as
well.

Obviously there are many reasons why people want to flatten their stomach and
spend a lot of time doing exercises to flatten the stomach. Whether the reason
is vanity or health, it is important to remember that like with all things, it
will take time to get the desired results and a person must stick to whatever
program they are comfortable with until they have the stomach they want. The
good news is that stomach muscles respond very well to even a little exercise,
with some exercise and a good healthy diet, most people can see results,
provided there is no medical reason why they probably won't succeed.

Where To Find Exercises That Flatten The Stomach

When people think about the summer, for most, the first thing that comes to
their mind is their stomach and how to make it flatter. This is normal; most
people want to look their best. The question isn't whether or not a person
wants a flatter stomach; it is usually a question on how to obtain one. The
first thing that many people will wonder is where to find exercises that
flatten the stomach.

There are many resources for finding exercises that flatten the stomach. The
first source many people go to is the internet. From this source all a person
has to do is type in "exercises that flatten the stomach" and a variety of
sites will come up all in answer to this question. Some sites are paid sites
that for a fee the website will give a detailed workout routine and usually
eating program all in the hopes of flattening the stomach. Other sites will
simply describe various exercises that flatten the stomach. Then there are the
sites that sell videos that concentrate on these types of exercises. It may be
a bit overwhelming for a person to decide on the best way to achieve their
goal. For some people, the paid sites are wonderful since everything is laid
out for them and is usually designed specifically for that individual based on
their goals and current situation. For others, these types of sites are not an
option; in that case the sites that offer free advice can be helpful. The
videos are also excellent for people that like to exercise at home and do not
want to rely on reading instructions in order to do the exercises correctly.

Besides the internet, there are also resources where are person can find
exercises that flatten the stomach. For those that are truly dedicated to this
goal, and has the time and money, sometimes a gym or fitness club is the way to
go. It is at these places that a person can get one on one help from trainers
and have access to different types of equipment all geared at flattening the
stomach. This option however is not for everyone. Many people can not afford
the membership fees and even if they can, it takes time to travel back and
forth from the club, this is time that many people do not have. It may also be
inconvenient for people who would have to find babysitters for children while
they are working out.

The library is a great and often times overlooked place to find exercises that
flatten the stomach. At the library a person has access to many books that are
written on this topic along with videos that can be borrowed and magazines that
can either be borrowed or read while at the library. Besides the information
that can be found at the library, another advantage is that the books and
videos are not purchased, so if a person does not like that particular
selection, all the person has to do is return it, and try another one without
investing large amounts of money to find just the right exercise. When a person
does find what they like, they can then buy the video, book or magazine and know
that they are getting what they want.

These are just a few sources a person can go to when looking for exercises that
flatten the stomach. A person may want to try several different sources and
decide which one works best for them given their own circumstance and then
remember to follow through in order to achieve their goals.

Aquasize To A Flatter Stomach!

When the weather is warm, there is nothing quite like going for a refreshing
swim at the local pool. To add to the benefits, you can use it as an
opportunity to work on those stomach muscles. The water provides natural
resistance, making the pool a great place to do stomach exercises to flatten
out that tummy. Despite the greater resistance water has than air, aquasizing
is low-impact, meaning less strain on joints. Try out these exercises next time
you take a trip down to your pool. Remember, consult your doctor before
beginning a new workout routine, and always warm up properly to prevent injury.

The first set of exercises to try is called the jump and dig. There are two
moves in this set, one for the upper body and one for the lower body. The
former is great for your obliques, and the latter works on your abdominals. To
start, stand in water that is between your belly button and chest. To work the
lower body (including your abdominals), put your feet a wide distance apart,
then jump so your knees come up to the surface of the water and back down.
Picture a frog as you do it; this will help you get the form right. Next, to
work the upper body, begin by making a scoop with both hands at the surface of
the water. Bring your hand scoop below the surface, then scoop up and to one
side. Alternate sides to work the obliques on both sides. Start by doing the
two moves separately for three minutes each. Once you have mastered the form,
do them at the same time to exercise both sets of stomach muscles at once.

As you build strength and endurance, you can add water gloves to increase
resistance. You can also do the exercises faster, packing more reps into each
three minute period. Form is key, though. Do not sacrifice form for the sake of
speed. It is better to do it properly than quickly. Also remember to set fitness
goals and work toward them at a gradual pace. Do not push yourself too hard, too
fast. You may want to see results fast, but an injury will seriously delay your
workout goals. Start small, know your limits, and build gradually.

As long as you are working on your midsection, here are a few additional tips.
First, proper diet is essential to any fitness routine. A great, hard workout
can be completely negated by improper eating habits. Second, stay hydrated both
while working out and in everyday life. A good rule of thumb is to take your
body weight in pounds, divide it by 2, and drink that number of ounces of water
each day. This helps to keep the body functioning at it's highest level. Third,
rest up. This means not only getting plenty of sleep, but also getting the
right kind of sleep. Spend all night sleeping on your stomach, and you will
wake up with a sore back, making it difficult to do your stomach exercises.
Also be sure to schedule off days into your routine to give your muscles a
chance to rest up and rebuild. Now you already have a great start on a toned,
flat stomach!

All About Working The Transverse Abdominals

A group of muscles that often gets neglected in stomach exercise routines are
the transverse abdominals, the core muscles that lie below the rectus
abdominus. Most abdominal exercises target the rectus abdominus and the
vertical abdominals, ignoring the transverse abdominals. Even crunches, the
staple of most abdominal workouts, do nothing for the transverse abdominals.
These muscles are actually the most important to target, however, as they
connect to both the lower back muscles and the rectus abdominus and for a
girdle for the entire abdomen. Any routine aimed at flattening the stomach
should include the transverse abdominals as a focus. Using the following
exercises, you can work out your transverse abdominals and really make progress
on that flat tummy. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a
professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Pelvic Tilts

This stomach exercise requires lying on your back on a flat surface, such as
the floor or a bench. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine. Bend your knees
so that your feet are flat on the floor. Raise your pelvis (and only your
pelvis) off the floor, hold momentarily, and then lower it back down. Repeat
for an entire set. Maintaining a controlled movement is crucial to this
exercise. This will allow you to use your abdominal muscles, rather than your
body's momentum, to do the work on the exercise. Also, be sure to keep your
upper body on the floor throughout.

Crunchless Crunch

This first exercise is fairly simple but can also be fairly difficult.
Essentially, it involves trying to pull the belly button in towards the spine.
This can be tricky, as it involves using muscles which you may not be used to
activating. To start, either lie or on your stomach or kneel. You might want to
try both ways and see which helps you feel the exercise better. Relax your body
as much as possible, then try to use only the lower abdominals to move your
belly button toward your spine. Hold for ten seconds. If holding for ten
seconds feels easy, hold for a longer period. The goal is to hold the
contraction until you either cannot feel it, or you feel other muscles working
harder than the transverse abdominus. When you feel this, let the contraction
out.

Scissor Kicks

This stomach exercise also requires lying on the floor. Position your hands
under your butt, keeping your back pressed against the floor. Slowly raise one
leg to a height of about ten inches, then slowly lower it back to the floor. As
your lower one leg, raise the other. Repeat this motion for an entire set.
Maintaining control throughout is important, not allowing momentum to get the
better of you. Your upper body should remain on the floor through the entire
move.

There are plenty of other exercises targeting the transverse abdominals, but
these three ought to be enough to get you started. Stomach exercises like these
are key to any tummy-flattening plan, and they are especially good for pregnant
and post-partum women.

What Are Isometric Exercises For Stomach Muscles

When exercising, or thinking about getting involved in an exercise program,
there are many words that may be said that are unfamiliar to many people. This
can cause confusion and may frustrate a person who is trying to understand and
apply different aspects of excersising. For instance, what are isometric
exercises for stomach muscles? To make is simple, these exercises are simply
flexing, or applying force to the particular group of muscles, they do not
involve the use of weights. The reason people enjoy doing this type of exercise
is that they can be done anywhere because no special equipment is needed in
order to perform them; although often times the use of a wall comes in handy.

Crunches and sit-ups are popular forms of isometric exercises for stomach
muscles. Besides being able to perform them anywhere, they are also a
convenient form of exercise because they can be fit into practically anyone's
schedule, the reason for this is because isometric exercises do not take much
time to complete them. The range of movement with the isometric exercises is
very limited and the amount of time to complete one set is such a short amount
of time, usually between 6-8 seconds per repetition, it does not take too much
time. However, these movements only work isolated parts of the body and
therefore more then one exercise is needed to work out different muscles groups
within the stomach.

Breathing also seems to be a factor in isometric exercises for stomach muscles.
As a person breathes slowly in and out, they are contracting the stomach
muscles, which is the point of isometric exercises.

While studying isometric exercises, a person will find out that these
particular exercises are not good for people who have a high blood pressure
since they will raise the blood pressure while the moves are being performed. A
person will also be advised that in order to achieve maximum results in any
exercise plan, isometric exercises should be combined with strength training
exercises for the stomach muscles.

Besides crunches and sit-ups there are many other forms of isometric exercises
for stomach muscles, and they are very easy to find on the internet. There are
many sites that will provide step by step instructions on how to perform these
exercises and give the advantages of doing them. Again, keep in mind that a
well-balanced exercise plan combines several different types of moves that work
different muscle groups within the stomach.

There are obviously many advantages and disadvantages of performing isometric
exercises for stomach muscles. Being able to perform them anywhere will no
equipment and being able to fit them into a busy schedule are the main
advantages, the disadvantages of course being they are very limited in the
muscles they work. For some people however, just that extra boost of strength
is all they need and isometric exercises alone will work great for them. For
those that need more work on their stomach, combining isometric exercises along
with weight training exercises for the stomach is the best plan.

How To Target Your Stomach With Yoga

Yoga is a great part of any wellness routine, as it has the ability to both
reduce stress and exercise the body. If you are trying to use yoga to target
your midsection, well, that can be done. There are a number of yoga positions
(called asanas) which exercise the stomach muscles. Bear in mind that some of
these are more advanced than other. Assess your own skill and comfort level
before trying certain asanas. If you are not sure you are able to do one asana,
start with one that seems easier and work your way up once you have belt some
strength and flexibility. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a
professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Pavan-Muktasan

To perform this stomach-exercising asana, first lie flat on your back. Use a
yoga mat of towel to cushion the spine. Bend both knees up to your chest so
that your thigh touches the stomach. Hug your knees in place and lock your
fingers. Now lift your head up so your nose meets your knees. Take a deep
breath and hold it for thirty seconds before releasing and slowly lowering back
to start. This exercise can also be done one leg at a time.

Bhujangasan

For this stomach exercise, remain on the floor, but roll over on to your
stomach. Position your hand under your shoulders. Now, using your back muscles,
raise your upper torso off the ground to that your head is upright. Be careful
not to push with your hands. You want the muscles in your back to be doing the
work. Hold this posture for thirty seconds, then lower yourself back to start.
Even though you are using your back muscles to lift your upper body, performing
the asana will assist in reducing belly fat and flattening your tummy.

The Bow

This stomach exercise is pretty similar to the previous asana, but more
involved. It starts from the same position lying on your stomach, but in this
exercise you curl your legs upward in addition to lifting your upper torso.
Bend your knees so that the soles of your feet come up toward your head. Grab
your ankles and pull with your hands and push with your legs until only your
stomach is on the floor. Your body should feel sort of like it is making a
circle. Your knees should remain together throughout the exercise. Hold this
position for thirty seconds before releasing and returning to starting position.

Paad-Pashchimottanasan

Now that you have read the name of this asana, try not to be intimidated-- it
is less complicated in practice than in pronunciation. It does, however,
require a fair amount of flexibility, so you may want to start with something
easier and build up to this one. Start by lying on your back with your legs
straight and arms overhead. Your body should be straight from head to toe with
all limbs extended. Point your palms up to the ceiling and put your hands
together. Contract your stomach muscles to sit up, keeping your back straight
and hands overhead. Bend forward and grab your toes with your hands, putting
your head between your arms so it touches your knees. Hold the position for two
minutes before releasing.

Where To Find Free Exercises To Flatten Stomach

They are everywhere; magazines where on the front cover have beautiful models
showing off their flat stomach and a caption that may say something similar to
"Want flat abs, we'll show you how!" These magazine articles are great for some
people who want to spend the money to buy the magazine in order to find out how
to flatten their stomach. Then there are endless websites that if you sign up
and pay the fee, you will be given exercise routines meant to flatten you
stomach. Again, this may be a good source for some people who have this goal,
but where can you go to find free exercise to flatten stomachs?

The internet is probably one of the best sources for finding free information.
There are hundreds of sites a person will find just by using the search words
"free stomach exercises" or similar phrases. These sites will give step-by-step
instructions on how to perform a variety of exercises to flatten stomachs. When
a person finds several exercises he or she likes, it is simple to print them
out and have the paper available when performing the exercise.

Another good source to find free exercises to flatten stomachs is at a library.
The library may actually have more information then the internet; it is just
not as convenient. A person who takes the time to visit the library can find
books on how to flatten their stomach read magazine articles and borrow videos
that talk about exercises to flatten stomachs.

One source for finding free exercise to flatten stomachs is the television. If
a person can set aside a specific time during the day for exercise, there are
many television programs on throughout the day that are exercise related, even
channels dedicated just to exercise and health. Many of these shows will focus
on flattening stomachs, since this is a primary goal of most people that
exercise. This method for finding free exercises to flatten stomachs may be the
least convenient and may not be feasible to everyone, but for some people that
can find the right program and make it work with their schedule or the ability
to record for use at a later time, it may be a good option.

For people that truly need to loose weight around their stomachs for health
reasons, doctors are probably the best source for free exercises to flatten
stomachs. They will have available many brochures and other material that will
help the person in their goal to look and feel better. In addition, a doctor
would be a good source for finding out other places to obtain this information.

There are hundreds of sources for finding exercises to flatten stomachs. Some
of these sources require a purchase or even an investment. There are also many
sources available that offer free exercises to flatten stomach muscles. Just
because a person paid for the information does not necessarily make it better.
Remember, the best exercise is the exercise that works for the individual,
regardless of the source.

Using Resistance Bands In Stomach Exercises

Using resistance bands can be an effective component of any workout routine,
and stomach exercises are no exception. There are a number of exercises
targeting the midsection that incorporate resistance bands. Resistance bands
come in a variety of difficulties, usually indicated by the color of the band
itself (e.g., green can be little resistance, yellow may be medium, red for
difficult, etc.). Choose a resistance level that is appropriate for you, then
move up as necessary. Do not overdo it by immediately grabbing the most
advanced band you can find, as this can lead to injury. As with any workout
routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always warm up
properly to avoid injury.

Seated Crunch

This exercise provides the same benefits as the basic abdominal crunch, but
with less neck strain and without the possible discomfort that comes with lying
on the floor, since it uses a band rather than gravity to provide resistance.
For this stomach exercise, you will need to be sitting in a straight back chair
which you can somehow loop your band through. Sit up straight with your feet
flat on the floor and about as wide apart as your hips. Contract your abdominal
muscles, and slowly bend forward to about a forty-five degree angle. Repeat for
an entire set. Be sure to keep your feet on the floor and your back as straight
as possible.

One-Arm Band Pull

Put the chair away and stand up, again with feet hip width apart. Put your
hands above your head, holding the band about eighteen inches apart. Keeping
your left hand overhead, bring your right hand out to the side, elbow bent at
about a ninety degree angle. Hold your left arm still as you contract your
abdominals and lower your right arm until your hand is in line with your chest.
Hold this position, then slowly return. Repeat for an entire set, then switch
hands. Keep your back straight and avoid bending or leaning at the waist. For
an additional challenge, do this exercise standing on one foot. Perform the
exercise with both hands while standing on your left foot, then do it all again
on your right foot.

Twisting Roll-Back

For this stomach exercise, you will need to sit on a flat surface, preferably
the floor. Use a mat or towel for cushioning to ease possible strain on your
tail bone. Sit down with your legs bent and heels on the floor. Your toes
should be pointing up-- do not put your feet flat on the floor. Loop the band
around your feet, put one end in each hand and put your hands together. In a
rolling motion, lower your torso toward the floor about forty-five degrees. As
you do this, twist to the right and spread your hands to the sides. Hold for a
second, then rotate back to the middle and raise your torso back to start. Your
heels should remain on the floor throughout the exercise. Do a full set, then
switch to the left side.

The Strong Stomach Workout

When beginning an abdominal workout routine, for most people the goal is
simple: a flatter stomach. While a smooth, flat stomach looks good, it is less
of an accomplishment if the the stomach muscles have not gained any strength.
In addition to slimming down around the outer abdominals, it is also important
to build strength in the core abdominals. Below are some stomach exercises that
work out the core to build strong muscles throughout the abdomen. As with any
workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always
warm up properly to avoid injury.

Tone Your Torso

Begin this stomach exercise on all fours, knees and hands on the floor. Keep
your stomach pulled in and extend your left arm out in front of you (football
fans, imagine a referee signaling first down). Keep this arm outstretched as
you extend your right leg out behind you. Switch arms and legs, and repeat for
an entire set. Take particular care not to let your pelvis sway out of position.

Butt Burner

You will need to lie on your back for this exercise. Use a mat or towel to
cushion your spine. Bend your knees so your feet are flat on the floor, and
position your arms at your sides. Squeeze your buttocks as you lift your pelvis
off the floor. Keep the rest of your body in line. Raise your pelvis to about
forty-five degrees, so your upper body from your head to your knees makes a
straight, flat ramp. Hold this for three to five seconds before slowly lowering
your pelvis back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set.

Crunchless Crunch

This stomach exercise is fairly simple in theory but can be fairly difficult to
perform. Essentially, it involves trying to pull the belly button in towards the
spine. This can be tricky, as it involves using muscles which you may not be
used to activating. To start, either lie or on your stomach or kneel. You might
want to try both ways and see which helps you feel the exercise better. Relax
your body as much as possible, then try to use only the lower abdominals to
move your belly button toward your spine. Hold for ten seconds. If this feels
easy, hold for a longer period. The goal is to hold the contraction until you
either cannot feel it, or you feel other muscles working harder than the
transverse abdominus. When you feel this, let the contraction out.

Scissor Kicks

This stomach exercise also requires lying on the floor. Position your hands
under your butt, keeping your back pressed against the floor. Slowly raise one
leg to a height of about ten inches, then slowly lower it back to the floor. As
your lower one leg, raise the other. Repeat this motion for an entire set.
Maintaining control throughout is important, not allowing momentum to get the
better of you. Your upper body should remain on the floor through the entire
move.

These are just a few of all the strength building stomach exercises out there.
If you are looking to build strength in your midsection, look for any exercise
that works your core, especially the transverse abdominal muscles. Many
components of Pilates are good for this also.

The Stomach Exercise All-Stars

There are plenty of stomach exercises out the for those who want to shape their
core and strengthen their midsection. This may be both a blessing and a curse.
It is easy to find plenty of exercises and routines that work the midsection,
but how does one know which ones are any good? Well, listed here are what
appear to be some of the best around, according to recommendations by fitness
experts. If you want to work on your stomach, but are not sure where to start,
then this "all-star team" may be a good jumping off point. As with any workout
routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always warm up
properly to avoid injury.

Crunchless Crunch

Regular crunches are great for working the rectus abdominus (the muscles at the
front of your stomach), but they do very little for the transverse abdominal
muscles deeper in the midsection, plus they tend to put strain on your back and
neck. This first exercise corrects that, working the transverse muscles with no
back or neck strain. Essentially, it involves trying to pull the belly button
in towards the spine. This can be tricky, as it involves using muscles which
you may not be used to activating. To start, either lie or on your stomach or
kneel. You might want to try both ways and see which helps you feel the
exercise better. Relax your body as much as possible, then try to use only the
lower abdominals to move your belly button toward your spine. Hold for ten
seconds. If holding for ten seconds feels easy, hold for a longer period. The
goal is to hold the contraction until you either cannot feel it, or you feel
other muscles working harder than the transverse abdominus. When you feel this,
let the contraction out.

Hip Lift

Remain on your back for this stomach exercise. Put your arms at your sides with
palms facing up to the ceiling. Put your legs straight up in the air so that the
soles of your feet are facing the ceiling and your legs make about a ninety
degree angle with your torso. Keep your knees unbent and as straight as
possible. Now, contract your ab muscles so that it feels like your belly button
is being pulled toward your spine, while at the same time gently lifting your
hips off the floor. Raise your hips to height of a few inches, keeping your
legs extended straight upward. Hold this position, then slowly lower your hips
back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set.

Long Arm Crunch

For this stomach exercise, remain on the floor with your knees bent and feet
flat. Lie back and extend your arms straight back on the floor as though you
are reaching above your head. Contract your abs and slowly lift your arms, head
and shoulders off the floor to about a thirty degree angle. Hold it, then slowly
lower your shoulders back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set. Be careful not
to lead with your arms, keeping them straight and alongside your head.

Some other honorable mentions include the vertical leg crunch, torso twists,
and any Pilates routine that emphasizes the core. Feel free to research some of
these exercises more once you have mastered the three above. Now that you are
armed with some of the better stomach exercises, you are on your way to a
trimmer tummy!

The Post-Partum Tummy Routine

Having a baby is a beautiful and exciting thing. What is less beautiful and
exciting, however, is the extra weight that hangs around the midsection after
the baby has been born. The best way to go about shedding this baby belly is
proper diet and an exercise routine, which may not always be easy to do for a
new stay-at-home mom still reeling from a pregnancy. The good news is that
working out and eliminating the extra belly fat will give you more energy, so
you can spend more quality time playing with and caring for your new rugrat.
Here are a few simple exercises to set your on your way toward baby belly
freedom. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before
beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Progressive Crunchless Crunch

This stomach exercise works your abdominals as well as a crunch does, but
without the strain to your neck and back. Begin by sitting in a chair, placing
one hand above and below your belly button in order to feel the contraction of
your abdominals. Take one big deep breath, so your midsection expands
completely. Then let the breath out as you pull your belly in, imagining your
belly button being pulled inward toward your spine. Finally, briefly contract
your abs five times. Do a full set of repetitions of all three parts. You can
also try this exercise lying on your back. Try both to see which one helps you
feel the contractions of your abdominal muscles better.

Contractions

This exercise starts off very much the same way as the last one, but involves
quicker steps and more repetitions. Begin by sitting in the same position as in
the progressive crunchless crunch, and taking the same deep breath. This time,
instead of bringing your belly all the way back, exhale and bring it just about
halfway. Then pull your belly button back toward your spine. Contract and hold
for a count of one. Repeat from the half-exhalation point. Do the whole thing
one hundred times.

Crunchless Crunch

As you can tell from the name, this stomach exercise is very similar to the
first. Instead of making a few stops as you exhale a deep breath, however, this
exercise consists of just one move. To start, either lie or on your stomach or
kneel. You might want to try both ways and see which helps you feel the
exercise better. Relax your body as much as possible, then try to use only the
lower abdominals to move your belly button toward your spine. Hold for ten
seconds. If holding for ten seconds feels easy, hold for a longer period. The
goal is to hold the contraction until you either cannot feel it, or you feel
other muscles working harder than the transverse abdominus. When you feel this,
let the contraction out.

If you start doing these stomach exercises at home in your spare few (very few)
minutes, you can lose your baby belly and be fit and trim and just a few
months-- just in time to start chasing after Junior once he learns to crawl!

All About Stomach Flattening Exercises

Pick up practically any magazine related to health and fitness and there is
sure to be an article on stomach flattening exercises. It is no surprise, this
is what people want, flatter stomachs. Why do some people have flatter stomachs
then others, and what are some ways to achieve this goal? These are a few
questions that come up when the subject is addressed.

To answer the first question, why do some people have flatter stomachs then
others, there are a couple of very logical answers and some that are not as
logical. The logical reasons are the diets of individuals, a person cannot
expect to eat chocolate cake every night and still have a flat stomach. The
other obvious answer to this question is what people are doing with their
stomachs. Some people spend time each day doing stomach flattening exercises,
while others do not, they may eat right and hope that is enough to flatten
their stomachs. The next few reasons include heredity and factors such as women
who have been pregnant and certain medical conditions.

The next question, what are some ways to achieve a flatter stomach then is
answered by looking at what causes a person to not have a flat stomach,
basically the answers to the first question. Without a doubt stomach flattening
exercises are the best and quickest way to get a flatter stomach. Despite a
persons good eating habits exercise is absolutely essential in getting the
desired results. Good stomach flattening exercises will also combat the factors
such as childbirth and heredity.

There is a variety of stomach flattening exercise available to choose from. All
a person has to do is do a search on the internet for stomach flattening
exercises to find many different ones. It is good to keep in mind that there is
a difference between building good abdominal muscles and flattening the stomach,
even though they are very similar. The person has to decide what goal is wanted
for themselves. Stomach flattening exercises will generally include moves in
which the person concentrates on sucking in their stomach, trying to "hollow it
out" as they perform each move. If the exercise is intended to build muscle but
not necessarily flatten the stomach, the exercise will not stress this point.
Every exercise though will build muscle in the stomach, it is just a matter of
what the person's primary goal is as they exercise and decide which exercises
to do.

One thing to keep in mind as a person works on stomach flattening exercise is
that the routine he or she does should include exercises that are meant to
flatten each area of the stomach, and not just concentrate on one section,
otherwise the person will not get the results he or she is looking for.

A flatter stomach can mean more confidence, better health and more overall
strength. It is a reasonable goal to want to have a flat stomach, and is not
unobtainable unless there is a specific medical reason for not being able to do
stomach flattening exercises. Besides knowing which exercise will bring about
the desired results, a person just needs the determination to follow through,
remembering that a flatter stomach will not come overnight, it takes time,
energy and dedication, but the results are worth it.

Shrink Your Tummy!

The midsection is a problem area for many people, and those who want to shrink
the size of their belly are numerous. A balanced diet is a good place to start,
but there are also some great stomach exercises to help along the process. The
exercises discussed below meet this description, as they are specifically
designed to help reduce belly fat, and therefore, the size of your tummy. These
particular exercises are targeted at beginners, so give them a try if you are
just starting out. Once you have mastered these, feel free to advance to
something more challenging. When doing these exercises, it is important to move
slowly so as to maintain control and not allow momentum to take over. As with
any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and
always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Vertical Leg Crunch

This is a variation on the traditional crunch that focuses more specifically on
reducing stomach fat. To begin this stomach exercise, first lie on your back on
a flat surface, such as the floor. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine.
Put your hands behind your head, with elbows out far enough that they are out
of sight. Now lift your legs straight up into the air, crossing your ankles and
bending your knees slightly. Contract your abdominals and lift your shoulders,
head and upper back up to about a thirty degree angle. Be aware of not lifting
with your hands or leading with your head.

Long Arm Crunch

For this stomach exercise, remain on the floor with your knees bent and feet
flat. Lie back and extend your arms straight back on the floor as though you
are reaching above your head. Contract your abs and slowly lift your arms, head
and shoulders off the floor to about a thirty degree angle. Hold it, then slowly
lower your shoulders back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set. Be careful not
to lead with your arms, keeping them straight and alongside your head.

Reverse Crunch

You will need to stay on your back for this stomach exercise. Use a mat or
towel to cushion your spine. Put your arms at your sides with palms facing up
to the ceiling. Put your legs in the air so that your knees are bent at ninety
degree angles and your hips make about a ninety degree angle with your torso.
Keep your knees unbent and as straight as possible. Now, contract your ab
muscles so that it feels like your belly button is being pulled toward your
spine, while at the same time gently lifting your hips off the floor. Raise
your hips to height of a few inches, keeping your legs extended straight
upward. Hold this position, then slowly lower your hips back to the floor.
Repeat for an entire set.

Reduce The Size of Your Tummy

Now that spring seems to finally be back in our lives, many people are
concerned about wearing down that belly they have built up, making way for a
sculpted midriff to shine through. Those folks who let themselves go a little
in the winter months may be working overtime now that it is April and thoughts
of bikinis are dancing in their heads. The good news is that there are, of
course, stomach exercises to speed along the process. Some are better than
others, including these few, which are good specifically for reducing the size
of that tummy. These particular exercises are targeted at beginners, so give
them a try if you are just starting out. Once you have mastered these, feel
free to advance to something more challenging. When doing these exercises, it
is important to move slowly so as to maintain control and not allow momentum to
take over. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before
beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Vertical Leg Crunch

This is a variation on the traditional crunch that focuses more specifically on
reducing stomach fat. To begin this stomach exercise, first lie on your back on
a flat surface, such as the floor. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine.
Put your hands behind your head, with elbows out far enough that they are out
of sight. Now lift your legs straight up into the air, crossing your ankles and
bending your knees slightly. Contract your abdominals and lift your shoulders,
head and upper back up to about a thirty degree angle. Be aware of not lifting
with your hands or leading with your head.

Hip Lift

You will need to stay on your back for this stomach exercise. Use a mat or
towel to cushion your spine. Put your arms at your sides with palms facing up
to the ceiling. Put your legs straight up in the air so that the soles of your
feet are facing the ceiling and your legs make about a ninety degree angle with
your torso. Keep your knees unbent and as straight as possible. Now, contract
your ab muscles so that it feels like your belly button is being pulled toward
your spine, while at the same time gently lifting your hips off the floor.
Raise your hips to height of a few inches, keeping your legs extended straight
upward. Hold this position, then slowly lower your hips back to the floor.
Repeat for an entire set.

Long Arm Crunch

For this stomach exercise, remain on the floor with your knees bent and feet
flat. Lie back and extend your arms straight back on the floor as though you
are reaching above your head. Contract your abs and slowly lift your arms, head
and shoulders off the floor to about a thirty degree angle. Hold it, then slowly
lower your shoulders back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set. Be careful not
to lead with your arms, keeping them straight and alongside your head.

Six Poor Stomach Exercise Habits

As with all things, there is a right way to go about working for a flatter
midsection, and several wrong ways. Working out the wrong way can lead to no
physical improvement or worse, serious injury. When doing stomach exercises or
any other exercise, be sure to consult a professional, warm up properly, and
remember the following tips.

Keep Your Knees Up

When doing crunches, you want your knees to bent and your feet flat on the
floor so that your knees are centered and pointed upward. Keep them centered
and up, not to one side. If you drop your knees to one side, you are
unnecessarily compressing your vertebrae, which can lead to a painful back
injury.

Sit-Ups

Traditional sit-ups actually do very little for the abdominal muscles. Even
when done properly, the strain is mostly on the hip muscles. There is also the
tendency to pull the torso up with the arms, which of course is not the point
of the exercise. Further, when sit-ups are done very quickly, as people have a
tendency to do, it is momentum that mostly forces the torso up and down, rather
than any muscle groups. The crunch is a good alternative to old school sit-ups.

Straight Leg Lift

Another traditional "stomach exercise," this move actually works the lower back
more than any muscles in the midsection. This is also another way to put strain
on your back, possibly leading to injury.

Too Many Reps

There is never a need to do more fifty reps of a stomach exercise. If fifty
reps is not giving you results, doing more than that will not help wither. As
you build strength, if you feel the need for a bigger challenge, try a more
difficult exercise as an alternative to adding reps.

Sleeping

Believe it or not, how you sleep has an effect on your stomach exercise
routine. If you sleep in a position that cause back pain, it will make it much
more difficult to work on your midsection in the morning. Sleeping mostly on
your stomach is one of the best ways to cause back pain, as it forces your back
to arch, often resulting in annoying back pain. The best way to avoid this is to
sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees. This will help keep your
vertebrae in line, prevent back pain and allowing you work out pain free in the
morning.

No Resistance

All stomach exercises need resistance to be effective, whether it comes from a
resistance band, an exercise ball, or just gravity. Exercises that do not use
any resistance, such as standing broomstick twists, will not be beneficial to
your midsection. The good news is that this particular exercise will not do any
harm and is actually a good warm up for your trunk. Just do not expect it to
flatten out your stomach.

Proper exercise technique is important. These are just a few tips to help you
avoid wasting time and potential injury. Be sure to research thoroughly before
beginning a new exercise, and always consult your physician before beginning
any physical fitness routine.

Lower Stomach Exercises

An important and sometimes neglected step in stomach exercise routines is
isolating particular muscles within the abdominal group. One such set of
muscles which needs isolation in order to be exercised properly are the muscles
in the lower stomach. There are a number of stomach exercises which isolate and
work these muscles. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a
professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Crunchless Crunch

This first exercise is fairly simple but can also be fairly difficult.
Essentially, it involves trying to pull the belly button in towards the spine.
This can be tricky, as it involves using muscles which you may not be used to
activating. To start, either lie or on your stomach or kneel. You might want to
try both ways and see which helps you feel the exercise better. Relax your body
as much as possible, then try to use only the lower abdominals to move your
belly button toward your spine. Hold for ten seconds. If holding for ten
seconds feels easy, hold for a longer period. The goal is to hold the
contraction until you either cannot feel it, or you feel other muscles working
harder than the transverse abdominus. When you feel this, let the contraction
out.

Alternating Toe Touch

You will need to lie on a flat surface for this stomach exercise. The floor
works best, using a mat or towel to cushion the spine. Lie on the floor and put
your feet up in the air. Extend your right arm and use your lower abdominals to
lift your shoulders off the floor. Touch your left toes with your right hand,
then lower yourself back down. Switch hands and repeat. Keep your knees
straight throughout and maintain a space between your chin and chest.

Sit-Up Hold

While you are still on the floor, try this stomach exercise. Bend your knees so
your feet are flat on the floor and position your hands behind your head. Keep
your elbows back so you cannot see them-- do not put them alongside your head.
Use your lower abdominals to lift your shoulders off the floor. Hold for ten
seconds. You may increase the number of seconds you hold as it gets easier. Be
sure to lift with your abdominals and not with your arms or neck.

Lower Back Flatten

This stomach exercise is a good natural progression from the sit-up hold, as it
starts from the same basic position: lying down, knees bent, feet flat. You may
have noticed when you did the previous exercise that there is a natural space
between your lower back and the floor, created by the curve of your spine. In
this exercise, you want to use your lower abdominals to push your lower back
toward the floor and eliminate this space. Try to focus on pushing with only
your lower abdominals and not your legs. Your pelvis will rotate slightly,
which is fine so long as the lower abdominals are doing the work. Once you have
got your back flat to the floor, hold the contraction for ten seconds. Again,
you should continue to build on this time as your stomach muscles gain strength
and endurance.

Lose Your Belly by Improving Your Posture

Everyone knows the children's song about the leg bone being connected to the
hip bone, but how many people really take it to heart? Obviously, everyone
knows that the leg bone does in fact attach to the hip bone; that's not the
point. Probably not many people really stop to think about how related and
interconnected the parts of the human body really are. In an illustration of
this point, the back and stomach muscles are all affected by one another as
they form a girdle around the lower torso. It stands to reason, then, that your
posture affects how your tummy looks, and the strength of your stomach muscles
affects your posture.

Stand Up Straight

This first step to losing a belly is to stand and sit up straight. This
actually has a few different effects. First of all, slouching accentuates belly
fat, so simply sitting up will make you appear slimmer. Second, proper posture
help improves the strength of your back, which of course makes it easier to
maintain proper posture longer. Third, poor posture leads to back pain, which
makes stomach exercises difficult. Having good posture will make it easier for
you to work out your stomach muscles and whittle down that belly. Lastly, a
nice straight posture enhances blood flow throughout the body, particularly to
the legs and lower back, both of which are involved in many stomach exercises.
So, if you are trying to lose a belly, the first step is to simply sit and
stand up as straight as possible as often as possible. Do that, and you are
already on your way!

Back Extension

For the reader familiar with the crunchless crunch, this move will seem similar
but backwards. For this exercise, you will need to start by lying on your
stomach with your forehead on the floor. You may use a mat or towel to cushion
your pelvis and head. Position your arms by your sides, palms up. Contract your
back muscles to lift your torso off the floor. Hold the contraction briefly,
then release and slowly lower your torso back down to the floor. Repeat for an
entire set.

The next part of this exercise begins by extended your arms out above your head
(picture a superhero flying through the air). Now lift your legs off the floor
simultaneously while keeping your head and arms held in place. Try to imagine
your legs growing longer as you are lifting them up. Hold your legs up briefly,
then slowly lower them back to the floor.

Doing these two things will help you strengthen your back and correct your
posture, which are great first steps to losing an unwanted belly. You will also
want to continue working on your back muscles and other core muscles, such as
the transverse and rectus abdominus. Stomach exercises that work the core will
help you straighten up your posture, lose belly fat, and gain muscle tone in
both your back and tummy. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a
professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

All About Free Exercises To Flatten The Stomach Fast

Many people believe that in order to get their desired results when it comes to
a flatter stomach, they must spend a lot of money in order to achieve their
goal, especially if they have a goal to flatten the stomach fast. They may
think that they need to buy an expensive gym membership so they have access to
the best equipment, or they may believe that they need to hire a person trainer
in order to get a flat stomach. Then there are some people who know going to a
gym is not an option because of money or time, but they think that they will
only get a flat stomach if they buy one or several of the many apparatuses
designed for exercising the stomach.

The fact is that all of this is untrue. While going to a gym may help some
people, it does not guarantee results; the same is true for all those machines
and other equipment that is sold to people claiming they will get a flatter
stomach by using the specific machine or equipment.

The truth is that the same results can be achieved without spending any extra 
money, which is really good news for people who do not have or want to spend 
money in order to get a flatter stomach. There are many places to find free 
exercises to flatten stomach fast.

Among some of the most common places to look for free exercises to flatten the
stomach fast is the internet which has a large amount of information regarding
this topic along with step by step instructions on how to perform varies
movements aimed at flattening the stomach fast. There is also the library which
has many different books and videos a person can choose from and borrow without
having to pay to use them. Besides finding different free exercises to flatten
the stomach fast, there are several that most people are already aware of; they
just need to take the time to do them. The crunch is a very popular and basic
exercise designed to flatten and tone the stomach muscles. There are of course
variations of this basic exercise, but for many people just being consistent
with this one movement is enough to bring about results.

How much money a person spends does not necessarily equal the results that
person can expect to get. It is true that if a person spends a lot of money,
they may find themselves more committed to exercising since they do not want
their money to go to waste, but for those that do not have the money, or just
do not want to spend a lot of money, there is no reason to believe that a flat
stomach is unachievable.

Exercise is not about the amount of money spent, it is about the time and
dedication spent on exercising. Also, a flat stomach is a combination of
exercise and diet. A person can do many exercises geared at flattening their
stomach, but if they eat a lot of extra food, or fattening foods, they will not
get the flat stomach they hope for.

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