Here is a fast circuit workout for your core. Set your timer for 30 seconds. You'll do each move for 30 seconds, rest for 30 seconds then repeat all three exercises two more times.
Here is a basic explanation of each move: Scissors - Lie flat on your back. You can extend your arms along the sides of your body with your palms pressing into the floor, or you can bend your elbows and place your palms under the back of your head. Pull your navel in towards your spine (engaging your abs) and actively press your lower back flat on the ground. Lift both legs straight up toward the ceiling, continuing to engage your abs and press your lower back into the ground throughout the exercise. Slowly lower your right leg down toward the ground, until it is a few inches above the floor. Then scissor your legs, so you lift your right leg back up as you lower your left leg down towards the ground. Keep this up with slow and controlled movements. Russian Twist - Sit with your knees bent and heels on the floor. Engage your abs and lean back until your upper body is at a 45 degree angle to the floor, keeping your back long and flat. Rotate your torso, reaching both hands toward the floor on the side before returning back to center then reaching for the other side. A weight or medicine ball can be held and/or feet lifted off the ground to make this more challenging. Plank - Lie facedown with legs extended and elbows bent and directly under shoulders; place your hands flat. Feet should be hip-width apart, and elbows should be shoulder-width apart. Contract your abs, then tuck your toes to lift your body (forearms remain on the ground); you should be in a straight line from head to heels. Hold for 30 seconds. Do this two to three times a week on non-consecutive days for stronger abs! The good news is, anything you do to burn calories could contribute to weight loss around your waist. The bad news is, there isn’t just one move that will get rid of your belly fat. Any strength training move for your abs (like crunches) will strengthen those ab muscles but does not necessarily remove the fat over those muscles. I know, confusing right?
To remove the excess around your middle, you need to take steps to lose weight, not just crunches or sit ups. This means watching your calorie intake, focusing on non bloating foods and drink, getting in cardio exercise to get your heart rate up and burn calories, strength training and get plenty of sleep. Let's break it down. 1. Watch Your Calories - Very simply, if you burn more calories than you take in, you will lose weight. A 500 calorie deficient each day will result in a loss of a pound a week. Of course that is easier said than done and there are many variables in there. But bottom line, you won't lose weight if you are eating and drinking too much and that includes any belly fat. I recommend tracking your nutrition in an app like My Fitness Pal. 2. Non-Bloating Foods and Drink - Not only is it important to watch how much you are eating and drinking, it is also important to make sure your calories are healthier and not ones that will naturally make you bloated. Focus on foods with lots of fiber, little saturated fat, lean proteins and only whole grains instead of anything made with white flour. Watch your salt intake, and for the love of Pete, stop drinking pop. 3. Cardio, Cardio, Cardio - Many studies show that aerobic exercise helps to get rid of excess weight. A recent study from Duke found that jogging the equivalent of 12 miles a week will help you lose belly fat. You don't have to jog to get this benefit. Anything you are doing to get your heart rate up will help, try to work to the point that you don't want to talk (but could if you needed to) at least 20 minutes a day. Walk fast, take a dance class or kickboxing class. Also, some circuit training will elevate your heart rate just as much as steady state cardio (like jogging). Find the type of aerobic exercise you like, and do that! 4. Strength Training - Adding in strength training at least two times a week is a good thing for everyone but also helps with reducing excess belly. The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism, which means the more calories your burn. Be sure to work all of your muscles with either body weight or weight resistance. If I were to pick one exercise to strengthen your abs, I would suggest a plank. Start off holding a plank in good form (engage your abs, keep a straight line from your head to your heels) as long as you can, working up to 2 minutes. Then start to progress the move. I've posted a few plank variations on my Facebook page. Follow me there to watch for more! 5. More Sleep, Less Stress - According to a 2010 Wake Forest University study, routinely getting 5 hours or less of sleep per night increases visceral fat levels. Aim to get 7-8 hours a night. Getting less increases levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, which is linked to belly fat. Guess what else increase your cortisol levels? Yep, that's right, stress. Be sure to have strategies to reduce your stress. Less stress will benefit you in many ways above and beyond reducing your middle. These are just a few things that may impact your waist line and I could go into much more detail on each. Also, everyone is different and there are other factors that can contribute to weight loss or gain and specifically how your stomach looks. Please contact me if you have more questions or contact your doctor if nothing is working to reduce your belly fat. |
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