FitSugar

You Asked: How to Get Rid of My Ab Flab

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:47:12 -0700

Dear Fit,
I'm fairly thin, have muscular thighs from running 20 minutes a few times a week and toned arms from doing yoga, but my belly is pudgy. I heard crunches won't get rid of my gut, but what exercises will?
- Jiggly Middle

We all have areas of our body that hang on to fat, so to hear my suggestions about how to get rid of the extra around your midsection keep reading

Assess Your Ab Work

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:47:59 -0700

Countless crunches and multiple sets of Russian twists might tone your abs, but they're not so great for your back. Not only that, but they aren't functional movement, meaning the strength gained in these exercises won't really help you outside the gym. Repeatedly rounding the spine in a crunch or full sit-up sets the stage for a disk injury. Repeatedly twisting, especially if your abs are weak, also puts stress on the spine.

The safest and most effective way to work your abs is to use them to stabilize your torso against motions. The elbow plank is the perfect beginner ab exercise, since it works the extensor muscles, which line and stabilize the spine, in combination with the abs. Adding leg lifts to your plank, while keeping the pelvis and ribs stable, will take the plank to the next level. Working with free weights, moving from a squat into an overhead press, will work your abs too. Work one-armed to force your obliques to kick into action.

How-To: Alphabet Abs With Medicine Ball

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:30:23 -0700

Lying on the ground doing crunches might help you tone your upper six-pack, but you also need to strengthen your abs standing, because that's how you use them in your daily activities. Here is a great ab and core exercise, and all you need is a medicine ball and to know how to write your A, B, Cs. There are two variations.

To start: Grab a medicine ball that's between five and 15 pounds. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, making sure your knees are not locked.

For stability: Start with the ball at chest level, and slowly write the cursive alphabet in front of you. While your arms move around in all sorts of angles, you need to use your abs to keep your torso still. Think of keeping the area between your ribs and pelvis solid. For a more advanced version, try this move while standing on a BOSU.

Learn the other variation.

Minutes to a Healthier You: Strengthen Your Core to Center Your Mind

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:30:46 -0700

In Summer, both daily and weekly schedules get all out of whack and the lack of structure leaves me feeling uncentered. To combat my emotional unease, I have added a little ab and core work to my morning routine. I am strengthening my physical center, hoping it translates to my mental life. First, I warm up my spine and follow up with some easy ab and back exercises - heel taps in neutral spine, hip-ups (aka reverse crunches), classic crunches, superman - ending with a few elbow planks. While ab work will never replace my morning coffee, I do like starting the day feeling a little stronger and much more connected to my core. Try it tomorrow and see how you feel.

Want Toned Abs? Don't Use Momentum

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:00:05 -0700

Many of the women in my Pilates and yoga classes ask how they can get a trim and toned middle. Aside from doing cardio to reduce overall body fat, exercises that target the core muscles are key. Crunches on an exercise ball, Pilates 100s, the always challenging Bicycle Crunches, and Reverse Curls are all essential exercises when it comes to strengthening your abs.

One tip to keep in mind when doing these strength training moves is to move with control. You want to use your muscles, not momentum, to ensure that your abs are doing all the work. You can even pause slightly between reps to make sure you're not just rocking from one rep to another. Keep your abs contracted throughout the entire range of motion, and you'll feel the burn instantly that lets you know your hard work is paying off.

6 Ways to a Fitter and Flatter Belly

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:00:04 -0700

It is the height of bikini season and hopefully you feel great about baring your belly. If you consider your bikini body a work in progress, let me remind you that no matter how many crunches you do, you cannot spot reduce your midsection. If you are battling with your tummy, here are six ways to make peace with your midriff.

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Multitasking Moves For Your Bikini Body

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700

If you're working extra hard to get in shape for bikini season, why not try some time-saving moves that will work your core alongside other major muscles? In addition to my hardcore all-abs workout, I've compiled five multitasking moves that will tighten your abs plus other areas you're daring to bare: booty, shoulders, back, and thighs. Here's how to do them.

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4 Planks to Work Your Core

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:50:00 -0700

Planks are always more challenging than they look, and that is just one reason why I love them. They work wonders for your core as well as your shoulders and require no equipment at all. With planks, it's easy to track your progress; the stronger you become, the longer you'll be able to hold the positions. Start by holding your plank for at least 30 seconds and add on in five- to 10-second increments to keep challenging yourself. Here are four planks to mix up your routine!

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DVD Review: 10 Minute Solution Quick Tummy Toners

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0800

I have rarely met a 10 Minute Solution video I didn't like. Lately I can't get enough of Pilates Perfect Body, but I decided to mix up my routine with 10 Minute Solution Quick Tummy Toners. The video promises five 10-minute workouts that all focus on slimming your waist and strengthening your core. Rather than sticking strictly to Pilates or yoga, the video uses both, in addition to a cardio segment.

I expected (and hoped) that a 50-minute ab workout would leave my core muscles pleasantly sore - so I could really feel it working. But in this sense, I was disappointed. I wasn't really sore the next day at all, but I wanted to be. While I enjoyed the workout and found it easy to follow, I felt like it should have worked my abs harder. The yoga abs portion was compelling and would be tough for beginners, but it wasn't as focused on tummy toning as I would have liked. I also really liked the cardio interlude - it was tough but fun - but it lacked core concentration.

Though the segments stressed the idea of whittling away the waist, that idea seemed more symbolic than strenuous. While I'll keep this DVD on hand to mix up my routine, I'm going to keep looking for the ultimate ab workout.

Four Ways to Rock the Plank

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:15:28 -0700

The plank is one of my favorite multitasking moves. It works your abs, your arms, and your back, and you can do it pretty much anywhere, without a bit of equipment. Better yet, it's highly versatile: Vary the moves just a bit, and you've got a whole new exercise. Here are four ways that you can rock the plank.

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