Loosen
up your belly abs first |
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Everyone
knows the children's song about the leg bone being connected
to the hip bone, but how many people really take it to heart?
Obviously, everyone knows that the leg bone does in fact attach
to the hip bone; that's not the point. Probably not many people
really stop to think about how related and interconnected the
parts of the human body really are. In an illustration of this
point, the back and stomach muscles are all affected by one
another as they form a girdle around the lower torso. |
It
stands to reason, then, that your posture affects how your tummy
looks, and the strength of your stomach muscles affects your posture.
Stand
Up Straight
This first step to losing a belly is to stand and sit up straight.
This actually has a few different effects. First of all, slouching
accentuates belly fat, so simply sitting up will make you appear
slimmer. Second, proper posture help improves the strength of your
back, which of course makes it easier to maintain proper posture
longer. Third, poor posture leads to back pain, which makes stomach
exercises difficult. Having good posture will make it easier for
you to work out your stomach muscles and whittle down that belly.
Lastly, a nice straight posture enhances blood flow throughout the
body, particularly to the legs and lower back, both of which are
involved in many stomach exercises. So, if you are trying to lose
a belly, the first step is to simply sit and stand up as straight
as possible as often as possible. Do that, and you are already on
your way!
Back
Extension
For the reader familiar with the crunchless crunch, this move will
seem similar but backwards. For this exercise, you will need to
start by lying on your stomach with your forehead on the floor.
You may use a mat or towel to cushion your pelvis and head. Position
your arms by your sides, palms up. Contract your back muscles to
lift your torso off the floor. Hold the contraction briefly, then
release and slowly lower your torso back down to the floor. Repeat
for an entire set.
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