Haven’t you been in the situation when after a good dinner you feel “twice bigger”? That of course, is never true in reality, and the fact that a person is actually working out unconsciously all the time, while sitting, standing, walking, and even eating, just adds up to it. You also work your belly muscles while doing press ups and most other upper body moves.
Basic Sit-ups
Basic sit-ups are very suitable if you haven’t been doing any king of work to tone your tummy. Lie on your back on the floor with your legs bent and your feet on the floor. Put your hands behind your head or upper part of your neck. Breathe in and while breathing out use your tummy muscles to lift your torso a few inches from the floor. Hold for a few seconds and go back to where you started. Do this exercise for no more than 20 times.
Reverse Sit-ups
Have your arms down by your sides as you lie down on the floor with your knees in over your chest bent at a 90 degree angle. Use your tummy muscles to gently pull your knees in towards your chest. Hold them for a few second and slowly move them back to the 90 degree angle position.
The Hover
Start the exercise from standing on all fours with your hands stretched all the way down under your shoulders. Come off your knees onto your toes slowly so that you would lean in the way that would concentrate all your weight in your hands and arms. While doing so your arms should be bent a little bit. Try to keep your body in a straight line making sure you don’t arch your back or drop your butt. If that’s too difficult, drop back onto your knees, but try to keep your weight in your hands, so that your tummy muscles will be working while holding you off the ground.
Leg-ups
Sit comfortably on a stability ball and stretch one leg out straight in front of you and keep the other foot on the floor. Use your lower stomach muscles to keep the balance in order not to fall off the ball. Stay this way for up to 20 seconds, and then switch the legs.
Rounded Sit-ups
Sit on the ball keeping both feet on the floor. Then contract your tummy muscles by leaning back gently. Hold the muscles contracted for a few seconds and lift your waist up in one move. Avoid arching your back, and if an exercise makes your back hurt, stop doing it immediately and move on to another exercise. If you feel fine, repeat the move for 15-20 keeping the muscles contracted for a longer each time.
