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The REAL Way to Get a Flat Stomach & Perfect Abs

Let's face it, we all want a sexy body with toned legs, buns of steel, and above all, the flat stomach. The cold winter months allow us to cover our body with layers of clothing, but spring break isn't too far in the future. If you want that smoking hot body for your spring break trip to Miami, you need to work on it now.

I have heard too many girls complain about how they constantly do stomach exercises and see no results. Here’s a hint: simple stomach exercises will not make your stomach flatter. If anything, you will only build muscle underneath the layers of fat. In order to lose fat you must do cardiovascular workouts. Cardio workouts raise your heart rate level, making your heart healthy and allowing you to lose calories. Running, swimming, or even cycling are all easy ways to increase your heart rate. Remember that while you do these activities you have to increase the speed and intensity as you continue to exercise for your heart rate to rise.

There are three parts of the abs: upper, oblique and lower. Girls who sit in their rooms doing 100 crunches a night are only working their upper abs, and therefore still have the pudge around the middle of the belly. To only work the upper abs, crunches will work. Sit ups, regular crunches, or even straight leg crunches are good exercises for your upper abs. The “hover” is also a good way to train your ab muscles. While lying on your stomach, push off of the ground, balancing your weight on your forearms and toes. Remember: toes not feet! Hold your stomach tight, and you will be able to feel the muscles strengthening as you exercise.

The oblique ab muscles, or the muscles on the sides of your stomach, take a little more work than the average crunch. A bicycle crunch is a popular favorite, (it actually works all three parts of your abs) while doing a side-plank or windshield wipers are also nifty oblique exercises. To do a bicycle crunch, lie on your back and position your hands behind your head, as if you were doing a normal crunch. Alternate as you touch your elbow to the opposite knee in a crunch style and repeat. A side-plank is very simple. On your side, lift your body up using your forearm for balance, and hold the position. Be careful not to cheat and put all your weight on your balancing arm. Windshield wipers look exactly how they sound. Lie on your back, feet in the air, and swing them from side to side.

Finally, the lower abs. The lower abs are the key component to gaining the glorious flat stomach that every girl dreams of. The best way to work your lower abs is to do the dreaded 6-inches. Lie on your back with your feet together, and raise them 6 inches off of the ground, holding the pose for a few seconds. Do not cheat yourself on this exercise! Raising your feet a foot or even two feet in the air will not help you.

Using these basic exercises can help you get the perfect beach bod for spring break. Keep in mind that pain is beauty.

By: Olivia Lewis | Image: Source

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