Finding the best exercise for waist reduction
Most people working out to lose weight are also looking for the best waist reduction exercises. Losing belly fat is a common problem for both men and women because it seems everyone’s obsessed with having abs!
Body fat, as a whole, is linked to overall health, but belly fat is also connected to vanity and confidence. More than just the size of clothes, it affects self-image and ultimately a person’s daily emotions. This is probably why more and more people are hitting gyms and yoga studios. They say they want to “get in shape” but really they’re seeking fat loss, better self-image, and improved self-confidence.
In principle, a healthy diet plus regular exercise is the proven formula for weight loss. But what if you are trying to target specific areas like legs, arms or waist? Is there specific instruction on how to get rid of fat rolls? What are the most effective stomach exercises? How long should you plank for a flat stomach? How many crunches will it take?
Many of you probably have the same questions on belly exercises, so let’s get down to business.
Let’s take a look at the most recommended waist reduction exercises.
Crunches: The Holy Grail Of Flat Stomach Workouts
A waist crunch or sit-up is probably seen as the best way to reduce belly fat and the most popular. The basic crunch specifically targets the abdominal muscles when you lift your upper body off the floor to meet your bent or elevated knees.
Planking: This Generation’s Fat Buster
Over the years, planking has also become popular as one of the best workouts, not only for waist reduction, but for overall fat loss. Just a basic plank engages several parts of the body, if done correctly. Plus, it’s easy to do and squeeze into your daily routines.
Basic planking starts with a push up position, palms facing down on shoulder level. The body should form a straight line with the feet shoulder-width apart. Holding this position, even just for a minute per day, can work to tighten your stomach. Several experts claim this can also improve posture and flexibility!
Our desire might be getting rid of fat rolls, but other planking variations can also improve and tone the arms, thighs and glutes.
Should Leg Lifts Be a Part of Tummy Workouts
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Leg lifts seem to be gaining traction as one of the best stomach exercises. Try to Google “easy exercises to lose belly fat fast at home” and it will surely be in the top results. Leg lifts or leg raises can target obliques and abdominal muscles. It may not be proven to be the best exercise for waist reduction but it can definitely be one of the simplest midsection workouts. |
Lying down flat on the floor is the easiest starting position, tighten your core, press your lower back into the floor, then lift your legs to a 90-degree angle – leg lift done! It may seem easy to do, but proper execution and repetition will engage your core and definitely build muscle.
Like planking, different versions of leg lifting can target other areas like thighs and glutes.
Aerobic Exercises: For Overall Fat Burning Action
Among the timeless popular workouts is aerobics or cardio, which is basically any kind of cardiovascular activity such as brisk walking, swimming, running, or cycling. Aerobic exercise can lead to weight loss by driving your heart rate up to a targeted range for a sustained period of time.
HIIT or high-intensity interval training is a newer version of aerobics, where you alternate between an extreme high heart-rate and periods of easier recovery activity. These workouts have been proven to burn a lot of calories, but will this help to get rid of stubborn fat rolls?
But then again, is there a guaranteed way to slim down just the stomach area? Have you tried a number of these so-called best waist reduction exercises but still don’t see any results? I’ll let you in on a huge weight loss secret…
Spot Reduction Is A MYTH
Even the American Council on Exercise says so. The exercises above are helpful when trying to lose weight and build muscle but doing these workouts will not reduce your waistline, or any specific targeted body part. Losing weight happens unevenly throughout the body, just like weight gain.
Imagine your fat deposits as a swimming pool that goes from 4-feet to 10-feet deep, with your “problem areas” as the deepest part of the pool. Draining out the pool happens as a whole. You cannot just remove water from the 10-feet section, which is representative of someone’s “trouble area.” Reducing overall body fat will slim down your problem areas. This is why total body holistic weight loss should be your ultimate goal!
Real And Effective Ways To Lose Belly Fat
Now that we got the myth of spot reduction out of the way, let’s talk about the realistic ways to trim down those problematic fat rolls.
Muscles effectively burn body fat and this is where the stomach exercises and other workouts come in. Never mind what experts here and there call the best waist reduction exercises, look for the best exercise for you and strive to build muscle, period.
But all the exercise in the world will do you no good if your diet is crap! To reduce weight and burn body fat, exercise must be combined with a high quality diet that’s low in sugar and based on whole foods. All of this together with commitment and the right attitude will get you closer to your fitness goals, whatever they may be.
Corey Little Coaching: Your Real Life Weight-Loss Coach
Corey Little, your down-to-Earth, real-life, donut-loving, “lose weight while getting away with as much as you can” weight-loss coach, will guide you through your fitness journey. So enough of following workout programs that claim to be effective, but actually don’t work for you. Here’s Corey’s website for his “Real Life Weight Loss Podcast” to get you started.
Find more information on stomach fat reduction, do not miss Episode #38 – How To Lose Belly Fat. Stop Googling the best exercise for waist reduction and tune in instead!