With bikini season here, it is time to set aside the cupcakes and soda and start eating healthy. For me, I LOVE junk food and I’m not the biggest gym rat either. But, I recently discovered five easy toned tummy exercises that really give your abs the definition that you want. After all, who doesn’t want a six pack like Jennifer Lopez? And I am going to share the moves with you!
Exercise 1: The Mountain Climber:
This exercise starts with you on all fours and your hands and feet should be shoulder width apart. The object of the exercise is to extend one leg out, while the opposite arm extends forward. Start with you right leg extending backwards and your left arm stretching forward. Try to hold for six seconds. As you exhale, pull the arm and leg in, toward the abdominal. Make sure you squeeze your abs really tight to get the most out of the exercise. Repeat for 10 reps.
Exercise 2: The Swimmer
Start by lying flat on the floor with your stomach facing downward. Then, lift your upper body up towards the sky and your feet up as well. You should be relaying on your pelvis muscle for balance. Begin moving your arms and feet back and forth as if you were “swimming”. This exercise should be done in twenty second increments.
Exercise 3: Cherry Pickers
Begin by sitting on the floor with your feet on the ground. Lean back into a 45-degree angle or until your abs are engaged. Rotate your torso to the right and then to the left, touching the ground on both sides. This is to be done in 10 reps, but repeated for three cycles.
Exercise 4: The Bicycle
Lay flat on your back with your feet on the ground. Your hands are placed underneath the crown of your head. Similar to the mountain climber, this exercise also requires your arms and legs to move in opposition. Bring your right elbow to your left knee and hold for eight seconds. Same thing on the left side with opposite elbow to knee. Switching back and forth, begin to decrease the counts from eight seconds to four seconds to two seconds and end with eight reps of one-second counts. Repeat three times.
Exercise 5: The Plank
Get in push up position. Hands should be shoulder width apart. Hold for sixty seconds, while pushing through your heels to keep your body aligned.
As always, check with your doctor or health care provider before starting this or any exercise program. What are your favorite ab exercises?
Written by Alexis Fleischer
