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FLAT BELLY IN A BIKINI
A mom has a dream: Her flat belly bared with
confidence—even glee—while she cavorts about the
beach in her favorite bikini (yeah, the one that’s tucked in the back of the drawer and hasn’t seen the light of day in five years), kids in tow, footloose and fancy-free. Okay, so the footloose and fancy-free thing just isn’t going to happen now that kids have entered the picture, but a trim and toned stomach, well, that actually can. It’s not easy and you’ve got to have a high level of commitment, determination and discipline (translation: no skipping workouts and no bites of Junior’s mac and cheese). Difficult? Yes. Worth it? Totally.
And guess what? Crunches, planks and oblique twists are not going to flatten that pooch of yours—or trim the side fat! They can certainly strengthen the muscles that lay under it all, but they’re not going to give you the stomach of your dreams.
Here’s what will:
Water, water and more water! Flush out your system. Lay off the sodium (have 1,000 milligrams or less a day) and ditch the alcohol (yes, I said it—alcohol bloats you, so if you want a sexy belly, lay off!).
Cardio. Cardio is the best way to burn calories. Thirty to 45 minutes five times a week is a must. There’s no magic bullet here. You’ve got to do the work—and you’ve got to work hard at it. Get out of your comfort zone and be sure to get your heart rate up.
Varying your workouts. Run one day, bike the next, run hills the next, walk the beach—change it up to keep your metabolism guessing!
Getting to the core of the matter. These five core-strengthening exercises tighten and tone the midsection. When you do them in conjunction with five days a week of cardio and the rest of my tips, your abs will go from flabby to fab in no time.
1 |
Straight-Leg Shoulder Lift With your legs straight, put one foot on the other and have your hands overhead. Lift from your rib cage and tuck it into your pelvis. Lift just enough to get your shoulder blades off the floor. Slowly release and return to start position. |
2 |
Push-Throughs Bring legs straight up to the ceiling and point toes. The lower you bring your legs to the floor, the harder the exercise is. Push your hands out on each side of your legs while tucking that rib cage in and lifting the shoulders off the ground. |
3 |
Bridge with a Leg Kick Bridge your body and straighten one leg while keeping your pelvis completely straight. Do not drop! Bring the leg back down and straighten the other leg. Repeat! |
4 |
Oblique Twists Sit with your legs bent and hold a medicine ball. Your back must be straight and chest should be upright. Contract your abs and twist from hip to hip. Slow and controlled is key, and the farther you lean back, the harder it is. |
5 |
Planks, Planks and More Planks! Straight planks, side planks and one-leg-lift planks—do them all for a killer core and tight muscles! |
For more from Lori, go to www.mommy-moves.com. Contact Lori at lori@mommy-moves.com for a schedule of classes—Mommy-Moves! Fitness Stroller classes, Kids-Move! Fitness and yoga, private training sessions and fitness coaching sessions (also available over the phone).
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