Every day, people all across the world head to the gym for hours of crunches to get a flat stomach. You can go into the fitness section of any bookstore and see dozens of books promising the secret of how to get a flat stomach.
Infomercials run across the television spectrum at all hours of the day and night selling gadgets, pills, proprietary plans, and secret knowledge, all claiming to give you a flat stomach instantly.
So, does any of it work? Scientists and fitness experts all say that no, it won’t work by itself, and some of it won’t work at all.
The keys to getting a flat stomach are still old-fashioned diet and exercise.
Here’s a quick list of exercises that you can do at home, without any cash outlay. Just try these every other day, and try each one five to ten times in sequence.
- Curls
- Crunches
- Bicycles
- Knee to Chest Stretch
A good cardiovascular workout plan is an excellent foundation for any exercise plan. Running, swimming, pilates, yoga, or even a plain old walk will benefit you greatly.
Try for at least three hours a week of exercise. It takes hard work to get a flat stomach, but don’t overdo it. An hour at a time is quite enough. Otherwise, you can become fatigued and even injure yourself.
If you feel like snacking, it should be done right after your exercise. Your metabolism will be working overtime and you will burn fat much quicker than normal.
What many people don’t understand is that sit-ups alone won’t get you a flat stomach in days, if ever. Sit-ups will help tone a loose stomach, but if you really have belly flab, your first step needs to be losing that weight.
What did you have for breakfast? You probably don’t remember, but it was most likely fat filled – donuts, sausages, french toast? Keeping your diet plan is just as important as keeping your exercise plan.
You will need to make a diet plan, and stick to it. If you want a flat stomach, you’ll have to eat for it as well. Eating healthy food regularly isn’t a hard thing to do, as long as you keep track of the foods you eat.
Eat frequent, small meals, between 4-6 times per day. Make sure to make each and every meal balanced. Balanced means including a generous amount of whole grains, healthy proteins, and a small amount of fat from a healthy source (such as olive oil).
Whole grains are the most important, white bread just doesn’t cut it. Make whole grains the base of your diet and you’ll have plenty of energy for exercise.
How about you? What’s your flat stomach workout strategy? Share your insights below.